FOX61’s Keith McGilvery heads to Fresh Start Academy in Hartford where handmade crafts are made as part of our Making an ImpaCT Holiday Gift Guide.
Here at Fresh Start in Hartford, the goal is to help individuals who have either experienced homelessness or have been incarcerated. Once those folks step inside this workshop, they’re learning incredible skills. Either the fine art of woodworking on custom items that would be perfect for your home or give as a gift for the holidays, or in a classroom setting where they are picking up skills to build and renovate homes or office buildings.
Since 2021, more than 70 people have graduated from this program. Roughly three quarters of them, at one point, spending time behind bars.
“All of the different cultures work together, all of the different previous backgrounds come together to show different experiences and build things that are going to be used in the Hartford Community.” – Jenna Columbus, President & CEO of Fresh Start Pallet Productions.
“So, we work as Capital Workforce Partners with the Fresh Start Program, here in Hartford. In Partnership, we funnel folks who have formerly incarcerated or just interested in the Construction field. There are people who just have a need and they are learning.” – Tahari Austin, Program Manager for BEST Chance
What do you want somebody to know when they make a purchase from your team? What should they know?
“They are supporting so much about Fresh Start. They are giving people second chances, to rebuild their futures. Everything is handmade, quality crafted, and you’re really supporting the community.”
Len, you helped us build the Fox61 Habitat Home, that we helped sponsor. You’re at Fresh Start now, you’re teaching some of these young people, your skills as a craftperson, as a construction worker… First of all, congratulations on the new job.
“Thank you so much.” – Len, Fresh Start Instructor
What have you loved about being here?
“Working with the students, it’s extremely rewarding to see them learn something new and see how excited they are about finding new work in the community.” -Len
And Jenna, when you can get someone gainfully employed, that moves the needle when it comes to recidivism, when it comes into running into other problems, speak to that.
“Yea, certainly, so moving barriers is what we’re about here at Fresh Start. So, one of the things we really focus on is connecting folks with jobs after [training.] – Jenna Columbus, President & CEO of Fresh Start Pallet Productions.
If you want to cross something off your holiday list, here at Fresh Start, those custom cutting boards start at about $35, the handmade trees, those go for $40, and if you’re handy yourself, they’re looking for volunteers come the new year.
In Hartford, on our Holiday Tour, I’m Keith McGilvery, Fox 61, Connecticut’s newstation.