LOS ANGELES — Explore The Trades will be featured in an upcoming episode of "All Access hosted by Andy Garcia," highlighting efforts to introduce plumbing, HVAC, and electrical careers to students.

The segment will examine how the Minnesota-based nonprofit works with schools and industry partners to promote skilled trades careers and address workforce challenges. The program is scheduled to film Oct. 2, in Boca Raton, Florida, and will be distributed to Public Television stations nationwide.

Founded in 2005 by residential home service contractors, Explore The Trades focuses on introducing students to skilled trades before they choose their career paths.

Since 2021, the nonprofit's educational poster kits have reached more than 1.3 million students and are now used in more than 3,400 school districts, representing approximately one-quarter of the country. The materials are available in English and Spanish, with a separate series for students in kindergarten through fifth grade.

Its Skills Lab Program has also provided equipment grants to 53 schools across 21 states since 2022. Industry partners supporting the program include HVAC and plumbing distributor Ferguson and the Comfort Systems USA Foundation.

Explore The Trades also provides recruiting toolkits for contractors and educational resources for school counselors, career and technical education instructors, and administrators.

The initiative comes as contractors continue to face skilled labor shortages. The nonprofit says the shortage anticipated by contractors two decades ago has materialized and is expected to continue for at least another decade.

The organization also aims to address perceptions of skilled trades careers. Modern plumbing, HVAC, and electrical work increasingly involves diagnostics, connected equipment, energy modeling, and artificial intelligence.

"When a student hears the word 'trades,' we want them to picture diagnostics, innovation, and a spirit of entrepreneurship, because that's what these careers look like now," said Kate Cinnamo, executive director, Explore The Trades. "Tradespeople built this nation, and as technology keeps advancing, plumbing, heating, cooling, and electrical professionals will keep building it for generations to come. The skilled workforce of tomorrow is sitting in classrooms today. These aren't just jobs. They're career continuums that can grow from apprentice to technician to business owner, and our communities simply can't operate without them." 

The television feature will examine how partnerships between industry and education can support career awareness. Schools gain access to industry expertise and equipment, while contractors can connect with potential future employees.

The program, "All Access hosted by Andy Garcia," is a short-form educational documentary series distributed to Public Television stations nationwide. Its features profile organizations and industries for a general audience.