Would Works was so much more than I expected it to be. I felt like I was part of a family. I learned so much more than wood work-- I learned work ethics, responsibility, accountability, and preparation for re-entry into the workforce. Participating in the Would Works program was the very reason I was able to obtain employment and stay employed.
--Glasha Williams, WW Program Participant
By providing work experience and resources to those who need it most, Would Works offers critical support to individuals experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles' Skid Row. But beyond that, trainees build community and life skills in a space were they are treated with dignity and care.
After being adopted at the age of 8, Tim moved from Washington state to California where he built a new life with his adoptive parents. Even though his relationship with them was a loving and supportive one, Tim found himself navigating the challenges of homelessness as a late teen. While unhoused, Tim expressed he had to quickly mature and actively sought a path "off the streets."
Taaj is one of our Artisans who is a part of our Young Makers Program. After serving in the U.S. Airforce Taaj found himself out of work leading to him becoming unhoused.
Meet Taaj, Tim and Quinn – Three of our Artisans in Would Works’ Young Makers Program.
The Young Makers Program provides youth the opportunity to learn the beginning fundamentals of woodworking. At WW they learn to fabricate kitchen products and furniture all the while gaining experience using tools and machines in the wood shop that will prepare them for jobs when they graduate from our program.
What started as forest rubble has transformed into furniture that communicates connection, funding a better future for our community.
Our latest evolution is the Community Builders Program where we train Artisans in furniture fabrication and community led design while employing them to build outdoor furniture for supportive housing sites, service providers, and public spaces throughout Los Angeles, utilizing wood gleaned from the Angeles National Forest.
Nick Offerman Partners with Would Works to Empower At-Risk Angelenos Through Woodworking
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.
WW Featured in 2024 LAist Holiday Gift Guide
Did you see? Would Works is featured in this year's LAist Holiday Gift Guide: 12 one-of-a-kind gifts, handcrafted by LA and SoCal artisans!
LIVE from Would Works - Channel 11's Good Day LA!
In case you missed it, Channel 11's Good Day LA featured Would Works on the show on July 31, 2024! Newscaster Bobby De Castro came by our shop to interview past and current Artisans and shared with the LA community our mission and vision. The Artisans were a natural in front of the camera!
Old California Designs Supports New Southern California Workforce
If you have lovingly restored an old Craftsman home, with its dark wood, stained glass, and hand-crafted built-in cabinets, chances are you’re not going to shop for light fixtures at Home Depot.
You’ll make the pilgrimage to Old California in Orange, which individually handcrafts home goods inspired by historical design.
Our core, restorative skills training program provides a healing, whole-person approach with a trauma-informed safe space and on-site mental health support, which cultivates people’s capacity to learn.
This ensures greater success when we teach our program participants basic employability skills and the ABCs of woodworking.
The opportunity to simply work hard for wages in order to afford the basic comforts of life is a great privilege that many of us in this country enjoy, and even take for granted. Would Works provides people with the dignity of doing good work.
We rely on the generous support of our community partners
Would Works thanks the following funders for supporting our programs
