Sam Jimenez for City Council - Pathways to Careers in Skilled Trades
The trades built my life, and I believe they can build strong futures for young people in East Palo Alto too.
I’m a blue-collar worker through and through. I know what it means to show up early, get your hands dirty, learn on the job, and take pride in honest work. There’s nothing like fixing something with your own hands and knowing you earned every dollar of it.
Not every kid needs a four-year college degree to make it. What they need is a real shot. We should be pushing more pathways into plumbing, electrical, HVAC, construction, welding, automotive work—real skills that put food on the table, keep the lights on, and open the door to owning your own business one day.
East Palo Alto should be investing in the trades. That means stronger connections between schools, local contractors, unions, apprenticeship programs, and businesses that are ready to train the next generation. Kids should be graduating with options they can actually use.
Our young people don’t need more empty advice. They need tools in their hands, mentors who’ve done the work, and a clear path to a good-paying job they can be proud of.
College is one path. The trades are another. Both are real. Both matter. And every kid deserves a chance to choose.