“Men and women leaving prison deserve a livable wage and a better life for their families. With your help, it will happen!”
June Koegel, President and CEO, Volunteers of AmericaNorthern New England
Men and women not only learn the skills necessary to get a job in the construction field, they also gain the confidence to lead honest, independent and lucrative lives. A recent grad of the program said Building Futures set her on a "path to become who she wants to be, where she wants to be."
One of the many challenges faced by men and women as they transition out of prison, homelessness, and other life obstacles is the difficulty of earning a livable wage. As a way to help find meaningful and financially viable work, we have developed a training program to certify individuals in construction through the nationally recognized National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER).
When men and women who leave prison are able to secure a job that earns a livable wage, ont only is the risk of recidivism reduced, but a person's self-esteem and self-reliance is dramatically enhanced. In short, they have the chance to turn their lives around.
If you would like to learn more about how you can contribute to the Building Futures program, please contact Julia Wilcock at Volunteers of America at 207-373-1140. We need tools, building supplies, mentors and donations of any size. Together, we can help Maine men and women start a new life and provide a bright future for their families.
This program is possible in a large part to the generosity and support of:
A generous grant has been provided to the program by the following. We are truly grateful for their generosity and belief in the program, the women we serve and their dreams for the future. Thank you!
Associated Builders and Contractors of Maine; Bangor Savings Bank; Key Bank; Maine Community Foundation; Maine Department of Corrections; Maine State Housing Authority; Maine Women's Fund; Major League Baseball Player's Trust; Merck Foundation; Sunshine Ladies Foundation; Tri-County Workforce Board/Eastern Maine Development Corporation; Vermont Works for Women; Women's Re-entry Center; Women Unlimited; and Women Work and Community. Thank you!
Please join us and help make dreams come true!
with a proven curriculum...
WE HELP PEOPLE FIND INDEPENDENCE AND HOPE
-- 2010 graduate of the Building Futures program.
"The skills you learn in class
can be used in all walks of life,"
for people who need it the most...
WE PROVIDE A NEW START, A NEW LIFE
Now, thanks to the support of a wide coalition of organizations, we are “building” on that success with the Building Futures program, which teaches men and women construction trade skills and more.
The prison gate has become a revolving door for many men and women. But our Transition and Reunification program, in partnership with the Maine Department of Corrections, is giving former prisoners and their families a fighting chance. In fact, participants in this program have a greater than 80 percent chance of a successful transition from prison.