Wilmington, North Carolina Non-Profit Provides At-Risk
Youth with Skilled Labor Career Paths to Combat Skilled Labor Shortage

Kids Making It (KMI), a Wilmington, NC non-profit teaching
woodworking to at-risk youth, attributes much of its success to the essential
volunteers who support their efforts. Morgan Chiarelly, the Events Manager for
Kesseböhmer USA, has been assisting KMI with its crucial mission of combating
the skilled labor shortage facing the Kitchen and Bath industry. Students have
one-on-one guidance to secure entry-level positions on job sites,
apprenticeships with area contractors, and or pathways for continuing education
programs at Cape Fear Community College.

Support for Kids Making It comes from grants, fundraisers,
and donations. Additionally, the program seeks long-term partnerships from
companies looking to fill open positions within their respective trades, as
well as professional mentors for KMI participants.

Founded in 1994, the
program has grown from a garage-run-operation into over 6,000sqft of space that
includes a woodworking shop, finishing room, apprenticeship work-space,
crafting/art room, and a retail shop. Kids in the program sell their projects
in the retail shop and keep 100% of the profits. Kids Making It continues its expansion
with the addition of a 4,300sqft timber structure that will house its Skilled
Trade Academy.  For more information, please visit www.kidsmakingit.org or contact (910)
763-6001.

For a short video on Kids Making It please visit  https://vimeo.com/351489399