Nick Offerman Partners with Would Works to Empower At-Risk Angelenos Through Woodworking
Nick Offerman is known for playing rugged, self-reliant characters – from Ron Swanson in Parks and Recreation to survivalist Bill in HBO's The Last of Us. But off-screen, he recognizes that many of us could use a little help along the way.
That's why Offerman has partnered with Would Works, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit that teaches woodworking skills to at-risk Angelenos. These skills can lead to careers in industries like construction, set-building, and carpentry.
Would Works was founded in 2012 by Connor Johnson, a former case manager at a downtown L.A. homeless shelter. The organization works with underserved young adults, ages 18 to 30, who are often referred by local organizations.
“Our Artisans face many barriers to employment, including housing insecurity, involvement in the justice system, mental or physical health challenges, and institutional obstacles like hiring discrimination and systemic racism. Would Works provides a flexible, creative, and trauma-informed space for those who Would Work if they could, offering a chance to re-engage with employment,” the nonprofit shares on its website.
Michele Liu, Director at Would Works, explains that the program’s ultimate goal is to help participants secure full-time employment using the skills they’ve gained in the wood shop. For some, the learning goes beyond woodworking and includes basic workplace skills, like how to work with colleagues.
“For some people, that’s exactly what they need… For others, it’s about building core skills or hard skills,” said Liu. “The space is open to everyone, and participants can get whatever they need out of it.”
To fund the program, Would Works sells handcrafted products such as cheese and charcuterie boards, stools, and utensils—all made by trainees.
Former program participants like Tim, who now serves on the board of Would Works, credit the program with turning their lives around. Tim notes that the program taught him vital skills, not just in woodworking, but in life. “It taught me how to work in a team, how to collaborate to complete a project. It also taught me not to get intimidated when learning something new and to keep pushing forward,” said Tim. He now applies these skills with confidence in his job at a furniture store, where his experience as a trainee allows him to speak with more authority about the products.
Beyond woodworking, 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.
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