The U.S. Department of Labor announced on July 12 the selection of the initial cohort of 207 officials and organizations chosen to serve as Apprenticeship Ambassadors to share their experiences and collaborate with the department to champion apprenticeship opportunities. ABC’s Virginia, New Mexico and Pacific Northwest chapters were among those selected.

In November 2021, Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh announced the Apprenticeship Ambassador Initiative to bring together industry, labor, education, equity and workforce leaders with the department’s Office of Apprenticeship to promote registered apprenticeships to and to develop and expand opportunities for historically underserved people.

The inaugural group of Apprenticeship Ambassadors consists of diverse partners from multiple industries who have shown a willingness to use their registered apprenticeship experience and expertise to promote and expand these programs. The cohort is made up of community-based organizations, educators, employers, industry associations like ABC and more.

The initial cohort has committed to thousands of outreach and recruitment activities, and hundreds of training sessions and promotional meetings. They have also pledged to develop hundreds of new registered apprenticeship programs and resources in their first year as ambassadors. The Apprenticeship Ambassadors will promote registered apprenticeship as part of the department’s commemoration of the 85th anniversary of the National Apprenticeship Act on Aug. 16, 2022. The commemoration will continue through the remainder of the year, and include National Apprenticeship Week, Nov. 14-20, 2022.