Charles was just 17 when he was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole. When he was released after 31 years, his felony record and lack of experience were both obstacles as he tried to find work. As […]
Second chance employment provides a win for the formerly incarcerated person who gets to experience the dignity of work; the community wins by reducing recidivism and crime; and employers win by gaining access to valuable talent.
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Prior to Constructing Hope, Edward didn’t really have a plan for the future. He wasn’t always obeying the law and found himself in quite a bit of trouble. After being released from incarceration and with a felony […]
Flashback to early 2017. Lawrence found himself jobless, borderline homeless and overall not a happy dude. He jumped from job to job when he could get them, and just tried to get from one day to the next.
Lawrence ended up […]
For 25-plus years, Constructing Hope has, well, built hope among those looking to get into the construction industry. It’s worked with nearly 1,300 people, introducing them to trades that, by generating skills and paychecks, has effected positive change.
The group captured the attention of Dave Dahl, […]
Dave Dahl, himself a former inmate, will match donations to Constructing Hope, which provides construction jobs for people just out of prison. View Video
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 […]
Jani Turner had opportunities growing up. She took those opportunities for granted. Her parents had all but given up on her. After losing her daughters twice to the system, due to her addiction, her parents fought to keep them. It […]
Figuring out what to do with your life is a challenge for anyone. Students are often told to get their bachelor’s degree and find their passion and they’ll eventually be rewarded by landing their dream job.
For most people, it’s not that simple.
Along the way, Isis Harris in Portland, […]
Pat Daniels, executive director of Constructing Hope in Portland, Oregon, joined us for our virtual Speaker Series event in early May to discuss the work her organization does helping former incarcerated individuals learn the skills needed to enter the trades. Daniels was joined by Raleigh, who spoke of the […]
