Fresh Start Academy at Fresh Start Pallet Products

Our annual volunteer and donation appreciation event at Parkville Market in Hartford, CT was a fantastic celebration of our community's dedication and hard work. The evening was highlighted by the inspiring stories of two recent graduates from the Richard P. Garmany Fresh Start Academy, whose journeys exemplify the transformative impact of our programs. We also had the pleasure of honoring our incredible volunteers and donors with awards, recognizing their invaluable contributions to our organization's success. The event was filled with fun and engaging activities, bringing together everyone who plays a part in our mission. It was a heartwarming occasion that allowed us to express our deepest gratitude and celebrate the achievements of our volunteers, graduates, and donors.

We were particularly proud to celebrate the success of John and Kevin, who graduated from the academy in September after completing a six week course. Both were hired into construction jobs immediately after graduation, and their achievements highlight the effectiveness of our program. We have been in touch with John and Kevin since their graduation, and they both share how much they love their new jobs. Their stories are a testament to the positive change that our academy can bring, and we are truly happy for them and celebrate their success.

Fresh Start Pallet Products is thrilled to welcome its newest cohort of five students, who began their journey in October and are set to graduate in November. This talented group has shown exceptional promise, with several students excelling in framing and drywall skills. Their dedication and hard work are truly commendable. This class is also working on a special project for the holidays, and we can’t wait to share their amazing creation with you. Stay tuned for more updates on their progress and the exciting reveal! 

Fresh Start Pallet Products is focused this year on expanding student scholarships, operational expansion, the number of graduates and the quality of outcomes for the Richard P. Garmany Fresh Start Academy.

Our goal this year is to enroll 60 students in the academy and have a graduation rate of over 90%.

We are proud to highlight our continued focus on connecting graduates with employment. A recent graduate, Brandon, of the FSA was hired after graduation by the Northside Institutions Neighborhood Alliance, Inc. In his new job as a full-time contractor, earning a living wage, our graduate has been part of the team restoring the Plimpton House, a home on the National registry of Historic Homes.

Brandon Shares: “My experience with Fresh Start was more than a pleasant and enlightening, as well as encouraging. The friendly and patient staff members at Fresh Start bring forth a ‘want-to-win’ attitude. It gives me a ‘we can win’ approach daily. I am looking forward to recommending the Richard P. Garmany Fresh Start Academy to others in the community. Thanks Fresh Start!

One way we are working to increase the quality and depth of support available to our students is with financial literacy training. In May we hosted our visit knowledge session in collaboration with Liberty Bank. The morning session covered important topics like credit scores, spending habits, savings options and budgeting. This new programing will be offered to all new cohorts of the Richard P. Garmany Fresh Start Academy.

We are expanding our curriculum to a holistic perspective and receiving good feedback from the students. With our new knowledge we are honing and refining for even higher graduation and success rates. As a part of our goal to ensure we view students from a holistic perspective. Resume development and Interview skill training has been added to the soft skill development portion of the course.

The FSA has joined a partnership with the Home Builders Institute, a nationally recognized organization supporting home builders across America. In June of 2024 Fresh Start received funding from the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving to purchase the HBI PACT training program, train our FSA educator and begin training the nationally recognized certification allowing our graduates to leave our course with a certificate that connect them with employment anywhere in the country. We are proud of the opportunity to offer our students a more robust curriculum with online courses and a portal connecting them with employers in the area.

We want to thank all our supporters for their generous financial support, volunteer time, and commitment to our mission. Without your support we would not be achieving the kind of outcomes and program improvement outlined in the report.

Links:

• Our Website