Madison College students help out houseless neighbors with shed donation

Talented students from Madison College's carpentry program presented a brand-new storage shed to Porchlight, a local organization helping those facing homelessness.

Student Lee Namtved admired the creation he had helped construct, as it was delivered to the E. Washington Avenue facility. "I like working with my hands, and watching this shed come together has been an incredible experience. Building the walls and floors is a skill I've always wanted to learn," he says. Porchlight will use the shed to store outside equipment, a grill, and other supplies.

The collaboration between Madison College and the Wisconsin Department of Corrections (DOC) empowers incarcerated individuals with invaluable skills that can pave the way for stable employment after their release.

Building skills for life after release

Each week, students journey from the correctional facility to Madison College's Commercial Avenue location, where they engage in hands-on training. Instructor John Stephany says DOC students are his most dedicated learners.

"They study and are focused and really into the program," Stephany says. “They know that this is a path that is open to them, and they know what they want. They are some of the best students that I have ever had. They are truly some of the best students I have ever had the privilege to teach.”

In a job market desperate for skilled workers, these students are equipped with the training necessary to thrive in the construction industry. “With their diplomas in hand, they can step into carpentry and other valuable trades; the opportunities before them are limitless,” Stephany says.

Namtvedt, who enrolled in the intensive 18-week program, has already secured a position at a bustling building component factory where he assembles essential parts for homes. His excitement about the future is palpable.

"The trades need a lot of dedicated men and women to take these classes and build the infrastructure needed in our community," Namtvedt says. “I highly recommend this program; it has top-notch instruction that will lead to a good job and career."