Michigan Matters Focus: Syrian Refugees In Michigan, Construction Apprentices And Pope Francis

MICHIGAN MATTERS AIRS AT A SPECIAL DAY AND TIME: 11 AM SATURDAY THIS WEEK ONLY!

With more construction taking place across Metro Detroit, the end result is a need for more skilled trades and that includes apprentices.

That was the message of Patrick Devlin, MUST Careers Labor Co-Chair & Secretary/Treasurer of the Michigan Building & Construction Trades Council;  Donna Pardonnet, MUST Careers Management Co-Chair & Executive Director of the ACT Michigan ; and Percy Redd, IBEW Local 58 Apprentice, who appeared  on  CBS 62's "Michigan Matters" to talk about the new MUST awareness campaign touting up becoming an apprentice..

Devlin told "Michigan Matters"  host Carol Cain said there is a need across all segments of construction which is why they decided to launch the apprentice effort in September.

Then the "Michigan Matters" roundtable of Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, businesswoman Denise Ilitch, and Michele Hodges, president of the Belle Isle Conservancy, discussed issues impacting the region  That included Gov. Rick Snyder's proposal to try and bring in thousands of the Syrian refugees to Michigan for a safe haven. That idea found Ilitch and Patterson in agreement on the need to take care of Michiganders first  and then talk about the refugees.

Patterson  predicted Snyder would get push back on his plan from others in Michigan.

Hodges talked about the upcoming Polish the Jewel fundraising event taking place this Thursday  afternoon at Belle Isle.

The annual event draws a who's who from business and politics with folks like Tony Earley (former CEO OF DTE), Terri Lynn Land (former Michigan secretary of state), Ed Deeb, founder of  the Michigan Business and Professional Association and Joyce Hayes Giles in attendance.

Sarah Early, Tony's wife, has been a champion of  Belle Isle and a guiding force in the effort to improve the island in downtown Detroit.

The recent visit of Pope Francis  was also fodder for the roundtable.

Patterson, a lifelong Catholic, thought the Pope was overstepping his bounds and delving  into a bit more politics than he should  Hodges talked about being fired as an alter girl  in the fourth grade as the Catholic Church changed it minds back then about allowing girls to serve in that capacity.

You can hear the conversation by watch "Michigan Matters" 11 am Saturday (special day/time this week only) on CBS 62.