A nonprofit is offering brand-new life to billboards, while helping people discover a new objective in life. Mile High Workshop’s Second Chance Series offers work chances for those who need them most.
” Mile High Workshop exists to help bridge the gaps for people that have barriers to work and reintegrating right into the labor force. We offer individuals who have a history of substance misuse, incarceration and steady housing issues,” said Landon Anspach, production trainer at Mile High Workshop.
Mile High Workshop takes material from plastic billboards as well as turns them into multiple-use tote. It’s a 2nd chance for the product and also the staff members that make them.
” One of the important things our stitch shop does a fantastic task at is making banner bags out of recycled as well as recycled vinyl. We give them a work as well as give them a steady income. We service task abilities and also life skills to transition into the workforce full-time,” said Anspach.
MHW staff member, Antonette Smith, knows firsthand that second possibilities do not come very easy. Now she’s stitching away the preconception, bag after bag.
” It’s rather difficult especially when you have a criminal history. You need to go with a great deal of bureaucracy. A lot of firms don’t wish to employ people that have been via the system. Once they find out, some reject you away,” said Smith, that has been with MHW for 2 years. “They didn’t look at my history. They accepted me for the individual I was, and also right here we are! I went from participating to a full-time staff member, so I have actually obtained my 2nd chance.”
For the Second Chance Series, Anspach claims most companies agree to contribute the signboards to them. He says whenever clients have the possibility, they send them to MHW.
” We deal with companies who collaborate with people coming out of prison, sober living homes, halfway houses, different points like that. We have a lot of links in the community and they send them our instructions,” stated Anspach.
The nonprofit raises funds for concerning a 3rd of its operating budget. The rest originates from the clients and the items workers make for sale. MHW additionally creates job possibilities by assembling and also making products for company partners like Kong and also Charlotte’s Webb.
” We think that there is excellent in everybody. When provided a possibility as well as a 2nd possibility, people that are determined and wish to see their lives change will certainly utilize this as a jumping off factor right into something larger,” stated Anspach.
Smith states MHW has inspired her to start her own stitching company, and one day, provide someone else a 2nd possibility.
” They revealed me that there are a lot of points you can do, if you have individuals sustaining you as well as backing you,” stated Smith.