Goodwill Construction Training Program celebrates second graduation in Jackson

JACKSON — Goodwill held its second graduation ceremony Thursday morning for its free Construction Training Program, marking another milestone for the initiative launched last fall.

The four-week intensive program requires participants to attend classes five days a week, spending three hours in the classroom and three hours in hands-on workshop training. Students learn safety protocols, math, tool usage, blueprint reading, rigging and forklift operation.

“We also have a career center where we can help anybody find work, help them with their resume, help connect them to employers, and for some people they want to take that next step of getting training,” said David Meadows, director of career solutions.

Program funded through store donations

The program receives funding through Goodwill’s retail operations.

“The equipment, the tools are funded, in great part, by the revenue generated from the stores,” Meadows said.

Graduates praised the program’s supportive environment and instruction quality.

“Everybody had positive attitudes. The teachers were positive. If we needed to know something again, they didn’t get an attitude. They just showed us again. It was great,” said graduate Ranesha Jenkins.

For some participants, the program represented a complete career shift. Graduate Jamarcus said he entered with no construction background.

“Everything, because before this I had no idea what carpentry even was. Really, what I was good at before this was just breaking stuff. Now, I know how to break stuff a little less and how to fix it better,” he said.

Graduates receive OSHA certification and direct connections to local job opportunities. The program runs approximately every six weeks.

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