Latinas Welding Guild helps students explore the trade of welding

It always comes as a shock to kids when they learn that there’s a nonprofit organization in Indianapolis that can teach them the fundamental skills needed to build a copy of the Eiffel Tower.

Many may remember the seven-story replica on display outside the Indiana Convention Center in 2024, when the city hosted the Olympic swimming trials at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Most of the work completed on that replica was done by the Latinas Welding Guild, a nonprofit that has helped introduce the trade of welding and fabrication to hundreds of kids, young adults and adults throughout Indianapolis.

While originally starting in 2017 as a nonprofit that focused on training Latina women, the guild has since expanded its services and classes to Indianapolis middle schoolers, high schoolers and adults year-round.

“We want to create an ecosystem that could build and empower students by getting students into programs, getting them certified, giving them tools to go out and get a job and hopefully have a long-term career,” said Consuelo Lockhart, the Guild’s founder and executive director.

“We want to make sure our students are seen and heard from and feel like they belong in those places,” said Lockhart.

To demystify the industry for teens, the guild hosts its NextGen Welders program every summer, where high school students can gain hands-on experience in group-based projects during an introductory week-long summer camp.

If students decide they have an interest in learning the trade, the guild can help them develop their skills, earn certifications and by the end of the summer, offer career readiness classes.

“It’s all about career exploration,” Lockhart said. “We hope that through these programs, kids can get a little bit of exposure (to the trade) and hopefully spark them to ask that question, ‘maybe I could be a welder.'”

More: There’s now an Eiffel Tower in Indy on Georgia Street. Really.

What is your organization’s mission?

The Latinas Welding Guild is a nonprofit aimed at offering people living in Indiana the opportunity to learn how to weld and other manufacturing classes. The organization originally aimed at empowering women but now supports all adults, youth, and marginalized communities, transcending language barriers to transform lives and bring about lasting change.

How many people do you serve?

In 2024, the Latinas Welding Guild helped educate about 50 kids in middle school and high school. The organization helped 21 of those students become certified welders, with the youngest student being 13 years old.

What is your organization’s No. 1 need?

Latinas Welding Guild’s No. 1 need is monetary donations. The organization offers scholarships to students who may not be able to afford the guild’s summer programs. It receives funding from individual donors, foundations and corporate partners.

How can people get involved?

There are a few ways to help the Latinas Welding Guild:

• Purchasing student-made items: As part of the program, students create welded products like plant stands, nightstands, tables, chairs and other home goods, which the organization sells to guests and supporters. The money made from these sales will be used to support future students. These items can be purchased in person at the organization’s office.
• Purchasing shirts and other items: The organization offers branded shirts, coasters and incense holders on its website. These items can be delivered and will help fund future students.
• One-time donations or become a recurring donor: Donations make an impact in supporting the Latinas Welding Guild in their goal to offer welding classes to residents of Indiana.

About Latinas Welding Guild

Latinas Welding Guild is located at 1936 South Lynhurst Drive at Suite R, in Indianapolis, Indiana. The organization can be reached at 317-601-0177 or at weldingguild.com.

How to help through Season for Sharing

The mission of IndyStar’s annual Season for Sharing campaign is to harness the power of local journalism and you to make a difference in the lives of Central Indiana youth.

Through Season for Sharing, IndyStar collects donations for the Summer Youth Program Fund, a partnership of Indianapolis funders that supports high-quality programs serving more than 80,000 Marion County youth each year. Your gift to Season for Sharing makes it possible for kids to hike, play sports, act, sing, paint, grow food, perform experiments, build robots, solve problems, explore the city, do service projects, gain job skills and earn money during their time out of school.

Last year, the Summer Youth Program Fund was only able to provide 55 cents for every dollar requested. Your generosity makes a big difference in the lives of young people in our community.

To contribute, visit https://indianapolisfoundation.org/season-for-sharing/or mail a check to: Central Indiana Community Foundation, Attn: Season for Sharing, 615 N. Alabama St. Suite 300, Indianapolis, IN 46204.

Because IndyStar covers all fundraising and administrative costs, 100% of your gift will go directly to Central Indiana agencies.