The Academy of Industrial Arts (TAIA) Electrical Training Program is a 10-week program whose goal is to provide regional employers and businesses with the most adept and highly trained workforce. The program is taught by industry professionals and allows students to get hands-on experience. The TAIA has been around for about a year and a half and started out at another non-profit, the Korean Community Development Service Center, however, the program can now be found at the Southwest CDC. Harold Deloach, TAIA’s Director of Education and instructor, refers to the program as his “brain-child”, having cultivated his previous experiences so that he could start this business.
Harold has a background in Construction, Teaching & Education, as well as Training. Before starting TAIA, during the day, he worked in the Philadelphia Prison system for about three and a half years, where he trained minimum-security inmates. At night, he worked for the Kaplan Career Institute as one of their evening Electrical Instructors teaching entry-level Electricians. After this time period, he went to work for the Associated Builders and Contractors as the Assistant Director of Education, where he ran the electrical department at an apprenticeship training center for about two and a half years.
Classes are open to the general public, and Harold encourages those who want to transition into the construction workforce to sign up. TAIA offers two different courses. On Monday nights, he holds the class for entry-level participants. Then on Thursday nights, he has a class for students with more experience as well as those who may have just completed the entry-level class. He likes to keep the classes small, around 12-15 students so that he is able to engage his students as well as having them engage each other. These courses attract people from varying ethnicities, genders, and ages, with students ranging from 16-52 years old.
Harold wants incoming students to know that they won’t feel isolated. Although participation is mandatory, it is also strongly encouraged, since he started this program so that he could create a conducive learning environment for his students. “You’re either going to be engaged by me or as a part of a team. So between me and the other classmates, you are going to get a lot of interaction,” Harold said in an interview.
To look into what else TAIA has to offer, visit their website at https://www.taia-school.com/ or if you are interested in taking a class, contact Harold at 215-840-4796 or info@taia-school.com.
