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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.arc-zone.com\/carmenelectrode\/wp-content\/uploads\/Samantha1.png\")
Samantha Farr, the creator of the non-profit organization Women Who Weld, sat down with Arc-Zone\u2019s Joanie Butler to discuss welding training, supporting women in the industry, and how Samantha went from urban planning to welding instructor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Student Teacher<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Over six years ago, Samantha pursued a Master\u2019s degree at the University of Michigan. Although her studies were in urban planning, she knew she wanted to do something with welding but wasn\u2019t sure how and when it would happen. As luck would have it, her courses included completing hours in the fabrication lab. \u201cWithin the first month at school getting my Master\u2019s, I saw the fabrication lab and said, \u2018This is my opportunity, I can take a welding workshop.\u2019\u201d
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Unfortunately for Samantha, welding wouldn\u2019t count toward her course credits but that wouldn\u2019t stop her. With approval, Samantha created an independent study and was able to weld every Wednesday for two hours with welding instructor Mick Kennedy. \u201cImmediately after striking my first arc, I said, \u2018I have to get really good at this so I can teach other women because [they] should have this experience.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n After refining her welding skills, Samantha created Women Who Weld, a nonprofit organization offering free and low-cost welding courses to underemployed and unemployed women. \u201cTypically you start a nonprofit when you have a ton of funding to do so, and I had zero but I knew that I wanted to have a program that was free of charge for unemployed and underemployed women. I really wanted to make an impact on the industry \u2026 and help transform their lives.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Samantha definitely made an impact on the industry, so much so that she\u2019s taken her courses on the road. Samantha, along with her husband Corey, travel coast to coast teaching women of all ages the basics of welding. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In order to keep her program free, Samantha relies on grants and donations, as well as low-cost courses. One of her biggest challenges is funding but no matter how difficult it may get she says she\u2019ll stick \u201cwith Women Who Weld because it\u2019s always on that worst day where you get the call that says, \u2018I just got that promotion!\u2019 and also the strong, awesome community of welders where everyone is so supportive.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Where Samantha finds most of the support in the welding community is online, specifically Instagram. \u201cWhen I first started the Women Who Weld Instagram account, I wondered what was out there and I had no idea how strong the welding Instagram community was. I\u2019m amazed to find accounts like Carmen Electrode that showcase the women out there in the industry. To be able to see that and know we\u2019re not alone. I have friends now, female welders from all over the country that I\u2019ve been able to connect with because of Instagram.\u201d The online community is not only a great place to network and meet new people but it\u2019s one of the places Samantha turns to for learning new techniques. \u201cI watch Welding Tips and Tricks and other various YouTube videos. I also read a ton of books \u2026 [it] helps round out my skill set. I\u2019m constantly learning. I wanna be an expert but it takes time. Until I\u2019m an expert, I\u2019ll ask for help and will continue asking for help because I like asking questions and collaborating with other people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The one person she enjoys collaborating with the most is her husband, Corey. \u201c[He] is the managing partner at Women Who Weld. I taught him to weld a few years ago. He struck an arc and said, \u2018This is awesome, I see why you\u2019ve dedicated your life to this.\u2019 We learn together and teach each other things. It\u2019s a constant learning experience.\u201d To learn more about Samantha and her organization, visit www.WomenWhoWeld.org<\/a> or check out @women.who.weld<\/a> on Instagram.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" One of the core values of the Carmen Electrode brand is empowering women. We strive […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":4569,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[63,65],"tags":[87,88,86,76,84,85,82,83],"class_list":["post-4557","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-new-rosies","category-working-women-society","tag-arc-zone-com","tag-carmen-electrode","tag-flametech-scorpion","tag-lincoln-electric","tag-welding-courses","tag-welding-training","tag-women-who-weld","tag-womens-empowerment","entry","fw-tab-6 fw-tabr-4"],"aioseo_notices":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.arc-zone.com\/carmenelectrode\/wp-content\/uploads\/Samantha5.png\")
Women Who Weld<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Support System<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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