With the demand for builders increasing across the nation, the Bridgeport community is helping pave the way for students to break into the field.

“Some students are not interested or ready to go to college," says John Torres, of the Bridgeport Caribe Youth Leaders. "So this is another opportunity for them."

Dozens of local kids got a first-hand look at career opportunities in the skilled trades at the Wakeman Boys & Girls Club on Madison Avenue Wednesday night.

“It’s imperative that we provide these opportunities for our teens," says executive director Carlos Collazo. "So that they’re better prepared for the real world."

Industry leaders in the fields of architecture, construction, and engineering took part.

"As like a country," says Anthony Busani, of Stanley Black & Decker. "I don’t think we do a good job of explaining that there are a lot of different opportunities other than a four-year degree and taking on that debt is not always the best for everybody."

Turner Construction Company's Chad McCullough says there are plenty of job openings, and these types of opportunities can change peoples lives for the better, especially financially.

“There are more tradespeople retiring from the trade world than there are people entering taking their place," McCullough says. "We need to do everything we can to get people to understand what a great opportunity the trades represent."

Wakeman Boys and Girls Club also has a fire cadet program in collaboration with the Bridgeport Fire Department.