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Jefferson High School and Greeley Area Habitat for Humanity are in their second year of collaboration to offer non-traditional high school students a Construction Management Pathway Program. Students are tasked with the challenge to build homes for low-income Greeley Area Habitat for Humanity Families, who comprise some of the most marginalized, low-income families in our community.
The Construction Management Pathway Program is an alternative service based approach to learning which offers non-traditional high school students a curriculum structured around the naturally occurring steps in designing and building a home. During construction, students develop skills such as teamwork, dependability, work ethic, communication, problem solving and adaptability. Along with gaining these important employment and life skills, the program hopes to graduate students with a better understanding of their community's needs, a passion for social change, and and awareness of their role in the solutions to these challenges.
Students participating in this program will build a minimum of two homes per year (one home each semester). Approximately 25 students participate in the program each semester.
Students participating in this program are identified as at-risk of dropping out and are often economically challenged. They frequently do not have appropriate outerwear, boots, gloves or coveralls necessary for working outdoors in Colorado winters. Project club members have partnered with the LEADS group of the Greeley Chamber of Commerce to provide coats and gloves for these students. Funds requested for this project will be earmarked for coveralls and appropriate shoes or boots which can be kept in the construction trailer and used for future cohorts of student participants.
Club members will be involved in this project in the following ways:
1. A small group will participate in a fundraiser to raise match funds for a total project budget of $1,500.
2. Club members will participate in a lunch and learn with the participating students during which a Q&A conversation will explore various career paths students may consider. During this lunch and learn, outerwear and gear will be distributed to the students and teachers of the program.
3. Club members will work side-by-side with the students in the construction of these homes.
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