Mentoring for Life
Some of the most visible and transformative efforts of Builders of Hope can be seen in the work-mentor program HopeWorks. This adaptable program offers those with serious barriers to employment – the homeless, ex-offenders and at-risk youth – the opportunity for on-the-job training in the growing field of green construction. Program participants work on Builders of Hope construction crews to gain both building trade and life skills. Since its inception in 2007, HopeWorks has trained and mentored more than 70 people and had frequently hired graduates as full-time employees. The program is integral to Builders of Hope’s effort to rebuild homes and transform lives.
The Challenge
The American dream feels out-of-reach for many people in our country. Upwards of 3.5 million Americans are homeless, more than 4 million at-risk children grow up in distressed neighborhoods, and each year hundreds of thousands of ex-offenders are released from our prisons. The road to employment is challenging for these demographics, and HopeWorks provides opportunities to change their lives.
A Solution
HopeWorks is a six-month work-mentor program that offers the chronically unemployed an opportunity for a fresh career start and the chance to learn a new trade and re-establish themselves in mainstream society with marketable job skills. The program reaches diverse demographics, but the participants share a common history of chronic underemployment and poverty.
Potential participants are identified through partnerships with organizations such as local rescue missions, workforce development organizations, state departments of corrections and the Veteran’s Administration. Identifying the right people is critical to the success of the program – both candidates that are ready to commit to growing and changing and mentors that are prepared to patiently teach and nurture. Through partner organizations participants have often already received responsibility and life skills training, improving the chance of a success in HopeWorks. The program is designed to provide participants with a practical skillset for future employment and to support them in strengthening their people skills, character, teamwork and craftsmanship.
From start to finish, the focus of the program is on future success – not the participant’s past. A handbook that clarifies expectations and consequences creates an open and clear understanding of the commitment necessary to enter and be successful in the program. Weekly individual assessments are standard practice, providing structured time to focus on the individual. This is time for feedback, constructive criticism and recognition for a job well done. Program participants learn at different speeds, and the measure of success work ethic, willingness to learn effort. The focus is on making progress, not the speed at which one masters a task.
The job focuses first on the basics such as keeping the worksite safe, clean and ready for business; daily tasks such as the removal of debris, gathering tools, sorting recyclables. This creates a routine. Gradually participants learn deconstruction techniques and gain general knowledge of green construction and landscaping concepts. During the course of the six-month training, participants are involved in virtually every aspect of deconstruction and reconstruction of rescued homes and leave the program with basic knowledge of the complete building process.
By using its innovative Extreme Green Rehabilitation as a venue to teach workplace competencies, Builders of Hope is creating a workforce ready for 21st century green collar jobs. Partnerships with third-party verification entities directly impacts the relevance and marketability of the skills taught to HopeWorks participants.
After successful completion of the six-month curriculum, participants receive a certificate of completion at an emotional graduation ceremony. They also receive a recommendation for hire from Builders of Hope. Participants are now ready for entry-level specialization programs or apprenticeships in the licensed construction trades. Partner organizations provide help in placing graduates in appropriate permanent positions.
As HopeWorks participants give back and make a meaningful contribution to neighborhood revitalization efforts, their views of themselves and the positive impact they can make inevitably transforms their world views and lives.
The dearth of work-training programs for the chronically unemployed beckons an infinite waiting list for HopeWorks. As Builders of Hope expands to rescue homes and multifamily housing in more communities around the country, the HopeWorks program can expand to help rescue many from their barriers to employment.
Ex-Offenders
Ex-offenders arguably have a harder time finding employment than any other group as they carry the label with them indefinitely. Many have been imprisoned for non-violent crimes for five years or less, and a second chance could help turn their lives around. Without outside help, parolees face discrimination and the chance of returning to prison is heightened. With ex-offenders making up more than 90 percent of HopeWorks participants, Builders of Hope welcomes ex-offenders back into society after release from prison.
Mike White
Mike White joined the Builders of Hope’s construction team through the HopeWorks program at age 40. Formerly addicted to drugs, he was out on the street. Mike recalls the day in 2007 when he became fed up and went to the Durham Rescue Mission for help. He was hungry and broke. The Rescue Mission fed Mike and assigned him a bunk bed in the basement. After staying there for a week, he started to detox and made a decision to change his life. The mission supported his efforts and Mike has never gone back to his old habits. He now works as a permanent employee on the Builders of Hope construction crew. Mike loves demolition including working under houses to remove wiring. Mike now has a savings and a checking account and his own apartment furnished by the Rescue Mission. He meets a credit counselor regularly in hopes of establishing credit history necessary to qualify to purchase a Builders of Hope.
At-Risk Youth
Matching adult mentees with troubled youth has proven to be an effective part of HopeWorks. In a pilot program with the City of Durham, NC, Builders of Hope tailored its work-mentor program to engage disconnected young men and women ages 18-24. These youth are often expectant or young parents and are not in school or working. They lack strong connections to an adult support system and have been involved with the criminal justice system.
The pilot program offers pre-GED/High School diploma preparation, occupational skills training, paid internships, worksite mentoring and on-the-job green building training at Builders of Hope construction sites. Builders of Hope partnered with Durham County to critical support to the teens – such as childcare and transportation.
Through the course of each training cycle, youth are paid for their work, providing immediate income. They receive technical instruction and practical experience in worksite safety, equipment use and basic licensed trades. More important are the daily skills they develop – punctuality, communication, problem solving, teamwork, respect for authority and conflict resolution. The results are promising, and 85 percent of the graduating class is now gainfully employed.
A partnership has also been developed with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school system. Since 2010, HopeWorks has conducted trainings in five schools, focusing on at-risk youth and students with cognitive challenges. Students are taught soft skills such as team work, accountability and responsibility. They participate in deconstruction at Builders of Hope project sites, working to gain skills and learn about green building. To maximize impact, this program plans to offer paid internships similar to those inDurham to allow students who want to pursue careers in construction the opportunity to dive deep into the business.
Jamal
At age 8, Jamal and his younger brother came to live with their dad inNorth Carolinain 1998. Things were OK until high school. Jamal wanted to keep up with his friends who were in the band or played football. He tried out for football but realized he didn’t like getting hit. He tried wrestling for a few months, then ROTC, but nothing stuck. At 15 he and his brother moved out of their dad’s house because the teens thought he was too strict. They moved in with the mom of a half-brother. Jamal was cutting grass, then working at Bojangles and the airport while still trying to go to school.
Trouble started when a friend picked him up from work in a stolen car. He was charged and lost his job. This was followed by his brother’s involvement in a robbery. At 18, Jamal spent nine months in jail. Things went downhill from there – fighting on the street, no work, a pregnant girlfriend – he was a convicted felon and that made it nearly impossible to get a job. He ended up in jail again for a year.
He tried to find work again when he was released but he was always rejected because he was a convicted felon. One day at Roses department store, he lied on his application, aced his interviews and was hired. On his first day of work the manager called him into her office. She said that he was the best candidate for the job, but because he lied on his application, she couldn’t keep him.
Jamal couldn’t seem to rise above his past and now he had a baby to support. He started selling marijuana. Through his brother he found out about HopeWorks and started in the program in January 2011. Immediately upon hearing he was hired into the program, Jamal went home and flushed all the drugs he had down the toilet.
Jamal says he loves what he does and that he doesn’t consider it work. He loves tools and working with his hands; he’s learned carpentry, improving his math skills and learning about people. Now Jamal is a mentor-in-training where he is teaching others his new skills. Jamal says he is learning everything he can and has been offered two other positions where no one asked about his criminal record. He doesn’t feel stressed about money and sees a bright future for himself.
Give Back
