Would Works to Receive $10,000 Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts

by Audrie Gomez January 31, 2024 in Awards, Partnerships, Press

Would Works is pleased to announce it has been approved by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) for a Challenge America award of $10,000. This grant will support our new Peoples’ Builders Program. Over the last decade, WW has trained hundreds of people experiencing homelessness in LA in the craft of woodworking–providing these people with job skills, the confidence that comes from making tangible change, and building a strong creative community. Still, there are many people we are not reaching in our employment programs. These are individuals who may not be plugged into wrap-around services such as employment counseling or case management, who do not therefore learn about our programs or benefit from our services. In order to reach more people, even those who are not ready to join the workforce, WW is launching a pilot public workshop program to bring woodworking to the people.

“We are thrilled to be a recipient of this year’s NEA, Challenge America award where we will be able to build upon our current programming and expand our reach into the Skid Row community. The process of learning to work with one’s hands contributes to pathways to creative careers for people who are ready to (re)enter the workforce. Thank you to the NEA for supporting our mission.”

In total, the NEA will award 257 Challenge America awards totaling $2,570,000 that were announced as part of its first round of fiscal year 2024 grants.

“The NEA is delighted to announce this grant to Would Works, which is helping contribute to the strength and well-being of the arts sector and local community,” said National Endowment for the Arts Chair Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD. “We are pleased to be able to support this community and help create an environment where all people have the opportunity to live artful lives.”

For more information on other projects included in the NEA’s grant announcement, visit arts.gov/news.

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