Ta'JAHNAE BUCHANAN CLEVELAND PUBLIC POWER PROMOTES THE FIRST FEMALE JOURNEYMAN LINEWORKER

In the spring of 2014, Ta'Jahnae Buchanan was a senior at Jane Addams Business Career Center, anxious to graduate from high school but unsure of what was next. She recalls her grandmother showing her a flyer and saying, “I think this is something you would be interested in,” further instructing her to attend the informational session for the Cleveland Public Power Internship-Apprenticeship Program. Because she didn't know what a lineman was, she did some research and, from what she learned, said, “This will be fun to learn.”

The Internship-Apprenticeship Program is an opportunity for Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) high school seniors to learn a skilled trade and to receive compensation as they learn. The program was launched in 2008 in an effort to develop linemen in-house due to the aging workforce and retirements leaving a shortage of lineworkers in Cleveland and across the country.

Before the students can enter the Apprenticeship, they work as Interns to familiarize themselves with the organization and the opportunities available. During this time, they attend safety training and pole climbing school and receive CDL (Commercial Driver License) training.

That fall, she and her classmates started Pole Climbing School, learning how to scale a pole 55' in the air. Of the ten students, three were female, and Buchanan was the only one to reach the top. The weeks and months passed, and at each challenge, Buchanan would find success, but in those early days, the thought that she was making history never crossed her mind.

Looking back on the road, she traveled to reach journeyman, she said, “It was hard, and there were times I wanted to quit,” but she credits her classmates and instructors for pushing her and helping keep her motivated.

In late March, Ta'Jahnae Buchanan completed all requirements of the Cleveland Public Power (CPP) Lineworker Apprentice Program, becoming the first female and first African American female to earn this status.

When asked about her achievements, she smiles brightly but is humble in her responses, “It's kind of exciting because I'm leading the way for other people, other women, to come behind me.”

On being the first woman in CPP history, she said, “When I first got here, I didn't realize it was a possibility, but as I continued in the program, different people mentioned I would be the first.”

She continued, “It's kind of exciting because I lead the way for other people, other women to come, I have someone right behind me, so it won't stop with me.” When asked about being a role model, she replied, “I can see that. I'm just here to help anybody that needs help because it is not an easy field. I'm always here to help them through anything.”

Ammon Danielson, Commissioner of CPP, said, “We are proud of the hard work that Ta'Jahnae has put in to reach this pinnacle, and we look forward to the role she will play as a mentor to those following in her footsteps.”

One of her first instructors, Assistant Commissioner Bernie Jackson, said, “Throughout her journey with CPP, Ta'Jahnae exhibited a strong aptitude for the job and demonstrated tenacity, grit, and a strong determination to succeed.”

During a recognition program, Buchanan thanked those who helped her reach this level, including her instructors, Bob Kinstler, and Brian Dean.

As a female journeyman, Ta'Jahnae joins a small but mighty group of women. American Municipal Power, a nonprofit corporation that owns and operates electric facilities with the purpose of providing generation, transmission, and distribution of electric power and energy to its members, notes that of its 133 member communities, only one has a female Lineworker. Nationally, there are 87,715 Lineworkers, and only 5.3% are women.