Your generosity brings real change! Donate here.

Building Bright Futures with the Fall/Winter Young Makers Cohort

by Lee Buchanan January 18, 2023 in Workshop Journals, Young Makers Program

would works, young makers

As we wrap up our Young Makers Fall/Winter cohort, we wanted to take a moment to celebrate all the inspiring youth that came through the program from our referral partner Jovenes last year. 

Over the last six months, these Young Makers learned to sand, finish, machine and shape our line of solid wood homewares and furniture items such as the Eucalyptus side table Taaj is making here. 

would works, woodworking, los angeles

In addition to receiving paid training in woodworking, the Young Makers also were connected to other job opportunities in the industry through a series of field trips and studio visits such as this trip to Angel City Lumber in October.

angel city lumber, young makers program, would works

They gained sales, marketing, and outreach experience at community events such as WalkUnitedLA, a family-friendly walk/run hosted by United Way of Greater Los Angeles in partnership with the Los Angeles Rams.

events, would works, los angeles

And had the opportunity to share their new skills with the community via our public workshops programs where Quin and Taaj taught participants how to sand and finish wood photo holders.

would works, woodworking workshops, los angeles

All while building a positive, supportive and lasting creative community.

would works, young makersWe're thrilled to have three young makers continuing on to join our advanced Community Builders Program in the Spring and can't wait to see the lives they continue to build both inside and outside of the woodshop!





Also in News

With Heavy Hearts, We Must Announce The Closure of WW at the End of 2025
With Heavy Hearts, We Must Announce The Closure of WW at the End of 2025

November 21, 2025

After 13 years, Would Works has made the difficult decision to sunset operations at the end of 2025. Over the past year and a half, we have worked to position Would Works for long-term success and to better serve our unhoused community in Los Angeles. Despite our best efforts, it has become clear that the current climate is not in our favor. 

Continue Reading

A New Chapter: Beginner Builders Youth Pilot Program
A New Chapter: Beginner Builders Youth Pilot Program

September 15, 2025

On August 23, 2025, Would Works officially kicked off our reimagined paid job training program in woodworking for youth experiencing homelessness, in partnership with My Friend's Place, and funding support from Snap Foundation, Cedar-Sinai Grantmaking, and the Arlene and Michael Rosenfeld Foundation. 

Continue Reading

Nick Offerman Partners with Would Works to Empower At-Risk Angelenos Through Woodworking
Nick Offerman Partners with Would Works to Empower At-Risk Angelenos Through Woodworking

March 05, 2025

Beyond woodworking, Nick Offerman highlights the “incredibly benevolent and warm humanism” at the heart of Would Works. "We're giving people … mental health, counseling, job counseling, life coaching. It's a place to say, 'Come on in, I see you, I care about you, I recognize the trouble you might be having. Here's a sandwich, here's a bowl of soup. Now, this is a hand plane,'" Offerman said.

Continue Reading