Community Builders Program Launches with Benches for RNLA

by Lee Buchanan April 05, 2022 in Case Studies, Community Builders, Partnerships

The new Would Works Community Builders Program (CBP) launched last month with three stellar Community Builders--Javier, Shirley and David (left to right).

CBP provides employment and training in advanced woodworking and furniture fabrication to exceptional Artisans who have completed our Beginner Builder Program and want to continue to improve their skills.

This Spring, CBP is designing and building custom entryway benches for the Willowbrook housing site, a new seven-unit permanent supportive housing site in South LA for formerly unhoused individuals. Would Works is collaborating with Restore Neighborhoods LA (RNLA) and the local architecture firm arquitectura y diseño to design a series of outdoor furniture pieces for the WIllowbrook complex (site renderings below). The entryway benches will be shared by all the adjoining studio apartments.

restore neighborhoods LA, would works, custom furniture, permanent supportive housing

The Community Builders have just finished the design and prototype phase of this project, where they learned techniques of scale-model making as a prototyping tool.

entry way bench, would works, community builder program, restore neighborhoods LA

The final benches will be made out of red gum eucalyptus from Sherman Oaks, CA salvaged and milled by our friends at Angel City Lumber, and hand selected by WW Artisans.

angel city lumber, would works, outdoor furniture, made in LA

The entryway benches are customizable for size and part of our upcoming outdoor furniture line.

Check back to see the rest of the line this summer including our outdoor communal dining tables, dining benches, and individual outdoor seating.

Sneak peek of the bench assembly below!

Also in News

Building Bright Futures with the Fall/Winter Young Makers Cohort

January 18, 2023

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.

A Trip to the Snowy Angeles Forest

December 27, 2022

This winter Would Works staff and Artisans from our Community Builders Program accompanied our friends from Angel City Lumber (ACL) on a trip to the Angeles National Forest where we acquired large fire damaged pine logs that we'll be turning into outdoor furniture this Spring!

Would Works Celebrates 10 Years!

December 12, 2022

We enjoyed hosting our community of Board members, volunteers, case workers, past and present Artisans, customers, vendors, supporters and friends for the Sawdust Soiree--a celebration of 10 years of Would Works. We hope this is the first of many in-person public events we will host in our new, light-filled workshop space in LA's bustling garment district.