WHAT WE DO
A Message from our Founder and Former Director
Our social enterprise nonprofit model includes revenue producing services that provide opportunities to earn an income as well as partner-supported programs designed to serve the most vulnerable and the common good.
Customers and municipal partners that hire us and donors who give to us, directly contribute to job creation, the training of under resourced individuals, and the personal growth and life transformation of community members who are healing broken relationships and overcoming addiction and lack of housing.
When our neighbors are...
Vulnerable
At Risk
increasingly stable
stable
SERVICES & Programs
ADULT WOOD TRAINING PROGRAM
In 2020, Next Step expanded its focus on workforce development, launching a recurring 7-week woodworking & job skills training program. This program provides opportunities to sharpen life skills as well as technical job skills in a supportive environment with access to connections for employment in our community. During the training program, participants design and build various wood products individually and collectively. They are trained to safely use machinery, power tools, and hand tools. Structured for hands-on, experiential learners, our Adult Wood Training Program provides valuable employment skills and ultimately job placement in woodworking, furniture making, manufacturing and construction industries.
We’re growing this area of our work and would love to discuss with your organization what it could look like to grow skill development opportunities in our community.
Wood Products Manufacturing
Public Works Program
Construction & Renovation
• Mel Trotter Ministries
• The City of Grand Rapids
• Guiding Light
• Degage
• ICCF
• Kent County Landbank
• LINC
• Family Promise.
NEW YOUTH PROGRAM
Next Step of West Michigan provides a foundation in wood product manufacturing combining technical, occupational, and life skills training for high school students to create career pathways and bridge the skills and employment gap in our community.
Next Step will be at Kent Career Tech Center (KCTC) on Feburary 7 & 8, 2024. Come visit our table!