IUOE Magazine - International Union of Operating Engineers

Education & Training
Youth Helping Youth at
Pittsburgh Job Corps Project
The IUOE Job Corps National Training Fund
has again partnered with a local community organization
for a very positive outcome. Sponsored by IUOE Local 66,
the Pittsburgh Job Corps Center successfully completed
major renovations on a project for Hosanna House, a nonprofit
organization aimed to benefit at-risk families and
individuals located in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania. The
partnership between the organizations created a positive
Sherwood project could not have been completed. He went
on to say that the assisted value of work that the Job Corps
Program has completed in the past two years at Sherwood
totals well over $300,000.00.
Mr. Haynes pointed out that, clearly, the youth of
Wilkinsburg have benefited from the project, but equally
important was that every Job Corps student who participated
in the first year of the Sherwood project went on to become
members of the Local 66 Apprenticeship Program. In
appreciation of the work donated by the Job Corps students,
Mr. Joseph Dixon, (then) lead instructor for the Job Corps
program in Pittsburgh, was presented with the “Angel of
Hope” award for going above
and beyond in making a
difference in the lives of
young people.
The work at Sherwood,
as well as the positive
cooperation between the
Pittsburgh Job Corps Center
and Hosanna House, will
continue in coming years.
Future plans include
improvements to the storm
water management system,
installation of a deck
hockey rink donated by the
Pittsburgh Penguins, removal
of existing tennis courts
and the redesign of a large
parking area.
change for local youth, along with outstanding training for
future operating engineers.
Hosanna House joined with the Pittsburgh Job Corps
Center’s program to create “Sherwood,” a facility open for
youth of all ages, with a goal of helping them discover and
develop their maximum potential in several aspects of
their lives. Job Corps students worked to demolish many
old on-site structures, construct a large retaining wall to
accommodate the building of a new swimming pool, excavate
and grade the pool area and develop an all purpose activity
field. What makes the Sherwood project quite unique is that
youth looking for change through Job Corps helped create a
facility for youth needing a change at Hosanna House.
Mr. Leon Haynes, Director of Hosanna House, reported at
the Ambassador of Hope Gala held in December 2012, that
without the assistance of IUOE Local 66 and Job Corps, the
[top] Pittsburgh Job Corps members construct a retaining wall at
Hosanna House.
[above, l to r] Hosanna House Director Leon Haynes presents
Joseph Dixon with the “Angel of Hope” award. [photos: J. Dixon]
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