On Thursday, August 26, 2010, graduation was held at the Cincinnati Museum Center for the Constructing Futures Program.  The keynote speaker is a former CMHA Lincoln Court resident who shared his story of becoming a successful businessman and employer. Mr. West Africa is the owner of Flawless Building Services

Several partners worked together to provide training services to citizens within the region.  The Urban League of Greater Cincinnati, Butler Tech, Cincinnati-Hamilton County Community Action Agency (CAA), Straight 2 The Heart and the Cincinnati Labor Agency for Social Services provided training to a total of 110 individuals through the Constructing Futures Grant.  Enough funding has been provided through the grant to eventually train a total of 320 people.

Twenty-six of the graduates were Public Housing or Housing Choice Voucher participants and successfully completed their training as a result of a partnership between CMHA and CAA.  After graduation CMHA and CAA participants are continuing to meet three day a week through the end of September to provide job readiness training, resume writing, identify employment opportunities and schedule job interviews. 

Seventy percent of those who graduated already have jobs or are entering an apprenticeship program.  Three of the CAA graduates are even moving onto more specific electrician training with the help of CMHA. 

CMHA will continue working with public housing and HCV participants to place them in the remaining 210 training spots available through the Constructing Futures Grant.