Hope Renovations, a ten-week pre-apprenticeship training program out of Carrboro, North Carolina celebrated their first graduating class! The graduation ceremony was a COVID-cautious celebration with close family and friends able to attend, face masks permitting. Facebook Live allowed for the larger crowd within their community to show their love and congratulations to the six women who completed Hope Renovation’s intense program.
“We are really excited to celebrate with this first cohort of women, they really deserve it”, says founder and CEO, Nora Spencer. “It’s a big deal and it’s been a long time coming. They have done an incredible job over the last ten weeks.” The trainees completed basic training in carpentry, plumbing, electrical, painting, as well as finishing and landscaping. Their exposure and education into these various fields took place in the classroom as well as training that allowed them to practice their newfound skills on a job site. The job sites that provide this real-world experience are woven into Hope Renovations’ additional mission to help elderly homeowners age comfortably at home by providing necessary updates to keep their homes accessible.
Upon completing their program, this fearless group of women has a better understanding of the options available to them so that they may more confidently continue a path into the area of construction of their choice. With various partnerships and networking opportunities provided by Hope Renovations, they can enroll in apprenticeships with local builders or enroll in continuing education at community colleges nearby.
The ceremony began with a heartfelt message from Nora, “Our team has talked over and over about how we couldn’t have gotten luckier with this first group. [They] really set a high bar for future cohorts…[they] are my dream come true; the skilled trades are not going to know what hit them!” The ceremony was complete with everything you would expect from an inspiring group of women determined to build a better future for themselves and their communities. Meet the first graduating class!
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