The KTech training program is a high-tech career accelerator program tailored to people who are victims of circumstance or less than ideal career planning. KTech is targeting select students who are at a turning point in their lives – and are motivated to quickly get the professional assistance needed to land them a high-tech career in industry.

It takes skill trades to get things done! That always has and likely always will be the case! It took two bicycle mechanics to prove to the world that an airplane could fly under power and that turning maneuvers were not only doable, but could be routine! What a humbling inspiration for people in all walks of life! These guys “dreamed it, built it, and flew it!”

Huntsville is a town of scientists and engineers – a town with a disproportionate number of PhDs and other high degrees. That’s definitely something to be proud of. And we should inspire and encourage young people to pursue careers in these high-tech areas. But only the students who are ready for those pursuits should be pushed into these disciplines. And we do not need to forget that it takes the hands-on people to get amazing ideas out the door and even in the air as history has illustrated time and time again! And the trade people fluent in skills such as robotics, CAD, CNC machining, welding, and others can have great job stability and bring in above-average salaries!

Lee Marshall has taken her Kids to Love program and turned it into an opportunity for underprivileged and unfortunate people to bootstrap their lives. It kicks them into high gear by providing a platform for empowerment though programs that help transform human beings into self-reliant leaders who show anything is possible given the opportunity and belief in oneself.

KTech is an example of kicking it into high gear by providing an advanced Industrial Robotics program that was set up by industry to generate quality people who will get good-paying jobs where they can make a difference and help fill a need in industry.

You may be familiar with Lee’s school supply drives and other activities to help children succeed in school. Lee has put together a team to help her expand this program to the workforce.

Not only does Kids to Love/KTech help make these children productive members of society and give them opportunities which they otherwise probably would not have, but it also provides a workforce that industry needs. So many times, young people are not encouraged to pursue trades because they are “blue-collar” jobs and not deemed as respectable as “professional” jobs. This stigma has to change! Skilled workers are the creativity and backbone of America.

Trade schools are becoming a dying breed, unfortunately. Kids to Love through KTech seeks to provide a way for foster kids to get the training and experience they need to get jobs in areas where they can excel.

For more information about Kids to Love and KTech, visit www.kidstolove.com. @K2Lfoundation

Stay tuned for Part 2:  My Story. I’ll talk about why this program makes such an impression on me.