Second Chance Employment Is a Win for Employers and Employees
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. Read More
Story of Hope: Edward Truong, Spring 2015 Graduate
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 background the only jobs he could find paid minimum wage, which wasn’t enough [...]
Story of Hope: Lawrence Archer Fall 2017 Graduate
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 learning about Constructing Hope by complete chance. His [...]
Dave Dahl: Portland’s Killer Bread maker on maintaining hope, giving back and staying well
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, the founder of Dave’s Killer [...]
Dave’s Killer Bread founder to match donations to post-prison jobs nonprofit
Dave Dahl, himself a former inmate, will match donations to Constructing Hope, which provides construction jobs for people just out of prison. View Video
Story of Hope: Veral Powell Fall 2013 Graduate
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 Pat Daniels. Veral had been doing similar work [...]