Brooklyn Navy Yard Hosts “Weld and Wear” Workshops for Young Adults

On August 8 and 15, sixteen young adults and family members stepped out of their comfort zones and onto the Brooklyn Navy Yard campus, trading an everyday Saturday routine for welding hoods, soldering and sparks. In “Weld and Wear,” a workshop spanning two Saturdays, participants transformed their skills into something wearable, proving that industrial trade skills can be powerful and personal.

The workshop was offered completely free of charge, removing financial barriers and making career exploration accessible to families. The workshop was hosted by The Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation (BNYDC) with funding and support from NYC Her Future, an initiative of the NYC Mayor’s Office of Equity and Racial Justice that fosters positive change for young women and girls of color across New York City. The event was part of the Brooklyn Navy Yard’s growing workforce development portfolio focused on hard skills training and connecting local talent to careers in and around the Yard’s growing industrial ecosystem.

“Programs like ‘Weld and Wear’ show what is possible when we create welcoming, hands-on pathways for young people to explore the skilled trades and see that today’s careers in these fields are high-tech, creative and yes, maybe even cool,” said Lindsay Greene, president and CEO of the BNYDC. “The Brooklyn Navy Yard is home to an expansive industrial ecosystem, and we are committed to connecting the next generation of New Yorkers with opportunities to build skills, discover careers and see themselves as part of the future of modern manufacturing that spans industries.”

“Hands-on experience changes lives, but shared experience transforms communities and relationships,” said Nathifa Forde, Founding Executive Director of NYC Her Future. “Programs like ‘Weld and Wear’ provide the opportunity for young women and their mothers to participate in hands-on welding instruction and jewelry fabrication, learning directly from women artisans who have built successful careers with these skills. The skilled trades are dynamic, accessible and lucrative. Learning together strengthens family bonds while equipping both generations with the confidence and tools to build their own futures.”

“Equity means ensuring that the city has programs that will allow young women of color to discover their talents,” said Afua Atta-Mensah, Commissioner of the NYC Mayor’s Office of Equity and Racial Justice. “Through NYC Her Future and partnerships like ‘Weld and Wear,’ young women of color can excel in areas not previously imagined. The perspective that women can bring to different sectors of the industry is valuable, which is why I am thrilled that we are able to support programs like this that advances New York women.”

The event was designed to give participants fun, accessible exposure to careers in the skilled trades, while building confidence and strengthening family bonds. Over the two sessions, participants learned basic welding techniques, safety protocols and metal fabrication. Each participant was able to apply the skills learned during the sessions to create two unique pieces of jewelry and a bonded display stand, which they could take home and treasure.

One session focused on foundational welding skills and provided a supportive, beginner-friendly environment. Participants learned how to handle equipment, follow safety procedures and work with metal. Led by Michelle Greene Sculptures, a Brooklyn Navy Yard tenant, attendees crafted a jewelry display and gained hands-on experience with TIG welding. In the second session, Future Jewelers Academy shifted the focus to artistry and design as the pairs learned about gems, stone setting and metalsmithing techniques to create custom jewelry pieces.

“Learning an entirely new technique was a wow moment for me. It had been a long time since I challenged myself with something that demanded such patience, focus and attention to detail,” said one of the workshop participants. “From proper posture to the precise way of holding the saw, we were guided through every step of the process. As I settled in, listening to Sade's ‘By Your Side’ through my earbuds, I became fully immersed in the experience. Together, we crafted matching gold plates engraved with our birthdays, sitting side by side as we worked. At the end, we exchanged the pieces with one another, creating a meaningful keepsake and a memory I'll always cherish.”

Beyond the personal takeaways of the handcrafted pieces, the program also aimed to build awareness of career opportunities in a sector facing a growing demand for qualified workers. This workshop represents the workforce development efforts occurring both at the Yard and at NYC Her Future. By providing hands-on experiences in a low-stakes environment, participants were able to spark interest and explore industrial careers, while having fun with a loved one.

About the NYC Mayor’s Office of Equity & Racial Justice
Launched October 2023, the NYC Mayor's Office of Equity & Racial Justice (MOERJ) is dedicated to creating a fairer and more equitable city for New Yorkers. As the city's first centralized equity office, MOERJ is dedicated to working across all city agencies to create the first NYC Citywide Racial Equity Plan, with the goal of implementing policies, practices, and programs that promote social justice. This newly established office encompasses multi-agency bodies such as NYC Her Future (NHF), the NYC Commission on Gender Equity (CGE), the Mayor's Office of LGBTQIA+ Affairs, and the NYC Young Men's Initiative (YMI), along with the collaborative initiatives of the NYC Pay Equity Cabinet (PEC) and the NYC Taskforce on Racial Inclusion & Equity (TRIE). To learn more about how MOERJ is advancing racial justice and engaging with New York City’s diverse communities, visit nyc.gov/Equity or follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook. 

About NYC Her Future

Launched in March 2024, as an office housed within the NYC Mayor’s Office of Equity & Racial Justice, NYC Her Future addresses the disparities that young women and girls of color face across New York City in education, employment, justice, and health. By developing and advocating for comprehensive policies, programs, and partnerships, NYC Her Future aims to holistically support the success of young women of color. To learn more about how NYC Her Future is providing young women and girls of color with the tools to be successful by their own definition, visit www.nyc.gov/HerFutureor follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, X(Formally Twitter), and Facebook.  

About the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation 

Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation (BNYDC) is a not-for-profit corporation that serves as the real estate developer and property manager of the Yard on behalf of its owner, the City of New York. BNYDC’s mission is to fuel New York City’s economic vitality by creating and preserving quality jobs, growing the City’s modern industrial sector and its businesses, and connecting the local community with the economic opportunity and resources of the Yard. BNYDC helps connect local talent to quality jobs via the Albert C. Wiltshire Employment Center and the Brooklyn STEAM Center high school located on the campus. BNYDC’s vision is a vibrant and dense, modern manufacturing community where businesses are provided the stability they need to invest, grow, and thrive and where diverse candidates can attain quality jobs. Brooklynnavyyard.org