pat daniels
Hats off…
to Jefferson D Smith, who not only contributed some cash, but took the time to promote what is my favorite cause ever: Constructing Hope.
Please check them out if you haven’t already:constructinghope.org
“Almost everyone I love wants to help level the playing field. One way to do that is to support Constructing Hope. Pat Daniels (pictured — not me) is leading great work to give formerly incarcerated people a second chance at a useful life, through training in the trades. If she’s not an unsung hero, she’s certainly not sung loudly enough. Building a nonprofit from scratch is incredibly hard work — it isn’t thankless, but it is certainly under-thanked. And under-resourced. More should know about her work, and more of us should help.For my birthday this year, I am asking for gifts to Constructing Hope. The symbol and the mission is to level the playing field. Each person served by Constructing Hope adds to our town’s skillset and diversifies the trades (s/o to Maurice Rahming and others on that front) and, as the name says, constructs a bit more hope. https://www.constructinghope.org/leveling-the-playing…/…Then if you can find a level, take a picture, post it, help more people learn about the good work. (My shot is taken at warehouse / gallery of Dave Dahl — big shout out to Dave for his support and for introducing me to the work.)And help level the playing field.”
– Jefferson D Smith
Here is a good example of the inspiring work of my very favorite cause, Constructing Hope (much more to come):
“A native of Jamaica, love brought Veral to the United States. He and his now-wife met when she was on a trip to Jamaica.
After moving to Portland, Veral was looking for employment when his wife introduced him to her friend Pat Daniels. Veral had been doing similar work in Jamaica and thought that Constructing Hope was the perfect opportunity to get his foot in the door and set himself up for a true career to support their blended family.
Veral excelled in the pre-apprenticeship training program, graduating Tier 1. During the class he found a passion for carpentry work. Upon graduation he was accepted into the Northwest Carpenters Union Apprenticeship and began work at Hoffman Construction.
Eight years later, Veral has completed his apprenticeship and is a Journeyman Carpenter. He is still working at Hoffman Construction, currently on the Portland International Airport project. He isn’t done yet though – Veral has a goal of continuing to advance into leadership. Constructing Hope has been by his side, helping to navigate each step along the way.
Veral shared recently that a good start helps to determine the finish, and he considers himself a product of that, thanks to Constructing Hope.”
Last year I posted about Constructing Hope…
and executive director Pat Daniels, introducing folks to an organization that checks all the blanks for me. They teach people what they need to get started with a meaningful career, which is huge, because their success at placing people in construction-related apprenticeship programs is very high.
Last year, due to the virus, they were crippled because due to the inability to run their program they couldn’t get the grants they needed to survive. when I heard this, I was compelled to make a $50K loan, and then I doubled it. By the end of the year, my donation was dwarfed by corporate donations, and now CH is on fire! Watch this video from last summer and then visit the website for more info.