JCCC grad joining Rep. Sharice Davids at State of the Union
Next week, U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids is bringing Overland Park resident Jessica Kidd, a recent graduate of Johnson County Community College's commercial driver's license program, to the U.S. Capitol as her guest for the State of the Union address.
Davids, a fellow JCCC alum, selected Kidd as her guest to Washington, D.C. to highlight her participation as a woman in trucking, who is making a viable career in an industry stunted by a shortage of drivers.
The President's State of the Union address takes place Feb. 7.
Kidd wants to show women they can work in trucking too
Kidd said being selected to attend the State of the Union address felt "like a dream".
She looks forward to hearing more about the national growth of trade fields like trucking — and how women can be a part of it.
As someone who witnessed financial struggles growing up, she said she hopes women and younger generations can gain some hope from the growth of trade jobs.
"This role is not just a man's role," Kidd said. "I'm excited just to see how lives are going to be changed over time. Just being to be able to be living proof that if you put your mind to doing something, you can do it regardless of the stigma you're faced with."
Commercial driving will be a stable job for Kidd to support her family
Kidd now uses her license to assist her fiancé's trucking company and to help financially support her family.
She added that she admired the growth of the commercial trucking field and the financial opportunities that can come with it.
"I come from a family of entrepreneurs," she said. "I've seen the entrepreneurship, and you just have to bust your butt to get there. But it's all worth it in the end."
Davids introduced bills to attract women to commercial driving
The trucking field has seen an employment decrease and resulting supply chain difficulties in recent years, according to industry analysts.
Davids is introducing bipartisan legislation to encourage more women to join the trucking field, according to a press release.
Davids said she also helped negotiate the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, which aims to address workforce and supply chain challenges.
"With the shortage of drivers that we have, this is an opportunity that everybody should be able to make use of," Davids said. "So many of the goods that we have and that we need in our country come through our region, and to be able to be part of that is pretty cool."