An Army of Normal Folks - Christina Mendez: The Fashion Designer Who Wound Up In The Trades (Pt 2)

Episode Date: January 23, 2024

While working as a fashion designer, Christina found herself being the only girl volunteering with an army of tradesmen to renovate buildings for nonprofits—and she loved it! The amazing work of Servant’s Heart Ministry has turned out to be her true calling that she never could have expected. Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/premiumSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hey everybody, it's Bill Courtney with an army of normal folks and we continue now with part two of our conversation with Christina Mendes right after these brief messages from our generous sponsors. Hey, this is Reed Isable and Dale Isable, otherwise known as the Brothers Hunt. We're hosting a new podcast, God's Gods Country by Meteater and I Heart Podcasts Gods Country is a weekly drive to the intersection of music and the outdoors Two things that go together like Sunday and some pond fishing or cows and green pastures We're talking to the riders behind your favorite songs about the deer

They've loved and they've lost so I shot an 11 point with a 23 inch inside spread like it was a giant. And somebody stole it. And the story's behind their biggest hits. Well, they hooked that, man. They really hooked that. That's right in 101. And hearing from today's biggest stars

like our friend, Michael Hard Rock Hardy. This record will be the one that it will always define who I am or like just as an artist. So hop on in and ride shotgun with us. We take the back roads with some of the most influential people in country music today. Listen to God's country on the iHeart Radio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

Hey there, I'm Maya Schunker, and I'm a scientist who studies human behavior. Many of us have experienced a moment in our lives that changes everything. A moment that instantly divides our life into a before and an after. On my podcast, A Slight Change of Plans, I talked to people about how they've navigated exactly these moments. Something died in me that day. It never came back. I'm so grateful that something new did emerge, a new me emerged, a new me was born.

I also talked to experts on the science of change about how we can live happier, healthier lives. These momentary experiences of awe, they tend to, through their challenges to your belief system, help us be more resilient. Because as we all know, the only constant is change. So let's make the most of it. Listen to a slight change of plans on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts,

or wherever you get your podcasts. In the new Amy and TJ podcast, Amy Robach and TJ Holmes, a renowned broadcasting team with decades of experience delivering headline news and captivating viewers nationwide are sharing their voices and perspectives in a way you've never heard before. They explore meaningful conversations about current events, pop culture, and everything in between. Nothing is off limits. This was a scandal that wasn't. And this was not what you've been sold. off limits. The Amy and TJ podcast is guaranteed to be informative, entertaining, and above

all, authentic. It marks the first time Roboc and Holmes speak publicly since their own names became a part of the headlines. lines. This is the first time that we actually get to say what happened and where we are today. Listen to the Amy and TJ podcast on the iHeart Radio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Okay, let's return to Christina on what her first job was at Servants Heart. It's an insistent to John, the director. You know, certainly wasn't a promotion from what I was working in the city. I would imagine it was financially a step back, wasn't it? Oh, absolutely.

But I think I had, in the years since I had come back from overseas, it had been this journey of like, I want to do something that has more purpose, that serves the community. I want to do that more often than just my job, than just on the weekends. And so by that point, again, it's funny because I look back and I'm like, it seems like such a spontaneous thing to do, but it was just something that I feel like God had prepared me to want. And so took a pay cut and signed up to serve in this ministry that didn't have a lot of formality and kind of come alongside and help manage the office. So what are you now? So now I'm a director of kind of operations and marketing.

We're still a little small, somewhere in two different hats. But now I basically help the director kind of lead and operate the ministry. So kind of taking vision and how do we create- What does marketing look like? Marketing isn't as fancy as some of these big corporations, but it's a lot of, I mean, I do,

I've designed all the website and all the marketing materials, and I was doing all the social media up until maybe two years ago. And kind of formulating, I added, when I first came into the ministry, there was a rough mission statement, some rough kind of like a brochure that was made.

And so kind of it was fun because I came in to just kind of work in the office, but I got to use all of my creative gifts to kind of figure out, okay, well, how do we, how do we use, how do we brand this in a way that really communicates the heart of what's already happening? How do we make this look as legit than as it is? So, all right. So. So how does it work? A nonprofit as a house for, uh, like, like in North Memphis, there's a thing called a hope house.

Okay. house for like in North Memphis, there's a thing called a Hope House, okay? And Hope Presbyterian Church, which is out in the county, 40 miles from here, not 20 miles from here, put in a thing called the Hope House. And the Hope House was a house that they fixed up and made nice for kids, latchkey kids, to have somewhere to go after school ended and before their parent came home that was safe and there would be snacks and quiet places to do homework and the person that ran the house was there to help with homework and just got it was a it was a transition place between then to school and when parents got home they called them Hope House.

But it was in an old, crappy house and a dilapidated area and they fixed it up. So if someone wanted to put that in New Jersey and had the volunteers for it but didn't have the school to fix it up, would they call you? Yeah, we've got an application on our website. They would fill out an application.

We'd send our project managers for a site visit and Volunteer No staff now we now we've got so at the time the director was doing all of it So the director would go we didn't there was no application actually, but they would call the director would visit kind of reass, and then basically project manage and send out our volunteers with their volunteers if the nonprofit had, and then basically GC the project. Oh, and so, and then all of the labor, all the contractors are volunteers? All, everyone's volunteer.

Except- What about the materials cost? They would pay for materials. Okay. So let's say a project to rehab this place was $50,000. Typically the materials might be 12 to 15 of the labor 35. Sure. You're telling me they take that $50,000 project and with your help reduce it to a $12,000 to $15,000 project. Absolutely. Well, I mean, that's huge.

And you're not actually doing the ongoing work, but you're providing them the space to do their work. Absolutely. Which is why I say you're a nonprofit for nonprofits. Absolutely. It's very cool. That is very cool. It's very cool.

OK, so how long have you been there? So I'm about a little over five and a half years. And so you've gone from this handful of middle-aged guys that taught a 27-year-old girl how to do something other than tote pails of water. I'm never gonna love that down. That's pretty funny. But I'm just thinking like mules.

Anyway, what is it now? So now, meaning like in size? People, yeah. People, so we've got a staff. I think I just scheduled a staff meeting for next week with 15 of us. You're kidding. Yeah, yeah.

How many volunteers? So we've got kind of a blend of volunteers. We've got some people that come like every so often and then we've got regulars. So we probably have over 300 throughout the year, but then between our job sites and our trades program, which we haven't talked about yet, we'll probably have about a hundred consistent ones

that keep us going and then- What is consistent ones weekly? So yeah, we've got a lot of, we have a lot of volunteers that come like almost every Saturday or all of our trades program, which we'll talk about is run completely by volunteers. No, that is unbelievable how much has grown. It is unbelievable. In the midst of all this, you started this trades program.

Yeah. Am I not saying that right? Yep. So what is that? So our trades program is a training and mentorship program. So in 2019, John had our director had this vision to have more intentional training of the next generation because our job sites, as much as everybody cares about training people up, there's still a job to do. So it's kind of a hard environment

to get the project done and train people. So we had this vision for this trades program. He connected with another contractor who was really passionate about it. Obviously, the world knows what's happening in the industry and the need for workers. Well, let's talk about that because that affects my business. passionate about it. Obviously, you know, the world knows what's happening in the industry and the need for workers. Well, let's let's talk about that because that affects my business. Absolutely. I'm in the lumber business, right? And my stuff doesn't build houses, it furnishes it. Softwoods build a house, hardwoods furnish it.

Right. That way, right? Yeah. Yeah. So my stuff goes to make furniture and flooring and cabinets and case goods and molding and mill work, things like that. Well, I'm still able to find enough labor to soldier through.

It's not easy. But I can't tell you how many people I sell product to in the United States. A cabinet shop, for instance, that is having the hardest time in the world, finding one, someone to run woodworking machinery, to miter together parts to make furniture or cabinets or flooring, and then two, when that's made, and there's a construction worker out there.

There's a construction contractor out there who actually is building the house or the business or whatever and needs to install this stuff and build the frame and all. They are struggling mightily to find brick layers and floor layers and framers and oh my gosh, mill rights and guys to hang moldings, trim carpenters, holy moly and roofers and all of this and every year seems to get worse. There's fewer and fewer and like the builders that I talked to tell me what's really scary is not only are there fewer and fewer, the ones they're depending on aren't 40 anymore, they're like 55 and they know in five, six, seven, eight years these guys are going to

retire. Yeah. And there is nobody in the pipeline. No one coming in. Yeah. To continue these skills. Yeah. So that's what's really going on, isn't it?

Absolutely. Absolutely. And everywhere in, you know, obviously I'm new to this world, but I've, being in this world, I've learned that everywhere, all of New Jersey, all of these contractors that are coming out to serve, they're all hurting for workers. And so I think some of our momentum of our growth is because we found a need that needed to be met and everyone gets it. It's like, so he connects with this with

one of our volunteers who runs his own contract, you know, contract and company and Basically we start working on this vision for this trades program, which it would not just teach skills But then the other side of that need is we're in this this inner city of Patterson Where I imagine it's not unlike Memphis, right? Where you've got a whole generation that's kind of struggling to get out of poverty, right? And there's- Yeah, it's true. You've got this world, this industry that needs workers,

but then no one's training this generation. Yeah, you've got this industry that's dying for workers. And people think, you know, to be clear, a guy that's really handy framing, people are happy to pay them 20 bucks an hour or more. Absolutely. So you got this need for what is called skilled labor that is actually because there's such a deficit of that labor, the pay for is really high.

Meanwhile, you got this labor pool who is highly uneducated and untrained, not stupid, uneducated and untrained, begging for jobs, living in poverty, and success is where the two would meet. And you're providing a way for them to meet. We'll be right back Hey, this is Reed is boy and a list of otherwise known as the brothers hunt We're hosting a new podcast gods country by meat eater and our podcast

God's country is a weekly drive to the intersection of music and the outdoors. Two things that go together like Sunday and some pond fishing. Or cows and green pastures. We're talking to the writers behind your favorite songs about the deer they've loved and they've lost. So I shot an 11 point with a 23 inch inside spread, like it was giant. And somebody stole it.

And the story's behind their biggest hits. Well, they hooked that, man. Yeah, they really biggest hits. Boy they hooked that man. Yeah, yeah. They really hooked that. That's, that's right in 101. And hearing from today's biggest stars, like our friend Michael Hard Rockhardy. This record will be the one that it will always define

who I am or like just as an artist. So hop on in and ride shotgun with us. We take the back roads with some of the most influential people in country music today. Listen to God's country on the iHeart radio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Hey there, I'm Maya Schunker, and I'm a scientist who studies human behavior. Many of us have experienced a moment in our lives that changes everything. A moment that instantly divides our life into a before and an after. On my podcast, A Slight Change of Plans, I talked to people about how they've navigated

exactly these moments. Something died in me that day. It never came back. I'm so grateful that something new did emerge. A new me emerged. A new me was born. I also talked to experts on the science of change about how we can live happier, healthier lives. These momentary experiences of awe, they tend to, through their challenges to your belief system, help us be more resilient. Because as we all know, the only constant is change.

So let's make the most of it. Listen to a slight change of plans on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. and perspectives in a way you've never heard before. They explore meaningful conversations about current events, pop culture, and everything in between. Nothing is off limits. This was a scandal that wasn't. And this was not what you've been sold.

The Amy and TJ podcast is guaranteed to be informative, entertaining, and above all, authentic. It marks the first time Roboc and Holmes speak publicly since their own names became a part of the headlines. This is the first time that we actually get to say, what happened and where we are today. Listen to the Amy and TJ podcast on the iHeart Radio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

This was kind of a meeting of the two worlds and the two needs. And so we call it a mentorship program because it's not quite a trade school because you know, trade schools, the cost is skyrocketing. And so our population can't afford that. That's, everybody says, well, the trades are the way to go

and trade schools the way to go. I agree. But how does a person living in poverty pay for trade school? And especially because most of the Pell Grant and that kind of money is only for four year university, and for your universities, for your universities. So there's a problem getting into the trade schools. Right. And even if you commit to a trade school, you better know which trade you want

because the second you sign up, you're gonna pay all this money and then when you get out into the field and you decide, oh wait, maybe electrical wasn't for me. Yeah, each face he sucks but I really like framing. Now I gotta start all over. Right, and I think our director and a lot of these trades guys, they grew up with parents that showed them

all of these things, right? They grew up learning how to swing a hammer and they had this exposure that they could make an educated decision on which to navigate. The trade they wanna follow. Right, but like how can a Patterson kid that can barely afford, you know, one year of this trade school,

let alone all of that, choose a field when they've had no choice. You also never had anybody in the orbit doing any of this work. They don't even, you say HVAC, I don't even know what that means. Right, they don't know what the career holds. What that looks like.

And each one is very different in terms of personality and preferred skills. So even though there's a lot of skills that unite all the trades, there's still, you know, each, you know, each person is fit for a different kind of trade. So you have a mentoring program. Yeah. And now how do you get kids, and I'm saying kids, young adults, teenagers, high school grads, whatever, from Patterson to come to your mentorship program to learn a trade? How do they, how do they know it's available?

Sure. And how do you convince them it's a good thing? And then what does it look like when those kids who largely come from a place where work ethic isn't always well demonstrated, interact with people who have unbelievable work ethic, I've gotta believe there's a cultural clash that happens at first. You know what, it not as much as you'd think. And I think it's because, well, I'll answer a few one question first. Okay. The course that we started with, now we've got four courses running,

but the course we started with is called the CPM course stands for critical path method, which is basically for those that don't know, the process of construction established by the Army Corps of Engineers, that means that says you can't run electrical before there's a roof on. Basically, it's the common sense logic of the process in which you build. And so we call it that. Foundation first, I guess. Right, foundation first. So we call it that because it's a 20 night course

that walks through all of the key trades. So you get three classes on plumbing, three on electrical, and the whole goal of the course is to give a student the basic foundational skills like that are as simple as reading a tape measure, holding a impact driver, hammering nails, but also mentor them into figuring out which trade is for them. So they get to learn. So they're getting a 20 day crash course

from greenfield to finished product. Sure. What it takes to build a house or a structure. And they're getting hands-on experience. They're going to learn how to sweat a pipe and get all the stuff in your hands. And in doing that, then they get to say, well, you know, of that, I really enjoyed this and this. Right.

Okay. And so then what? So basically, they go through the course. We've got different systems in place to kind of check in and feel out where they want to go. And then our goal is at the end of that course, we help them navigate, which is the direction and okay, you know, this kid wants an apprenticeship. So we've got this wide, you know, network of different trades guys that say, Hey, so-and-so is looking for a carpentry apprenticeship, you know, do you

have some space and kind of connect them. Plus, all of the all of the contractors and subcontractors and all these trades guys are there, you know, volunteering anyway, they're teaching meeting, you know, networking learning these candidates by actually teaching them. Yeah. That's phenomenal. It's it's kind of like your best. And they're donating their time and they're donating their time. But in donating their time and they're donating their time but in donating their time They're also finding right the very valuable needs of

Personnel and they're able to evaluate them as these guys are learning absolutely guys are going to learn and that's awesome They're volunteering is really what keeps us you ask that question about you know, that don't necessarily come from this hardworking environment. A lot of what I hear from our students is I wanted to bail, but then I saw how many hours these guys were coming in to teach me after they've spent all day on a roof, you know, to come in and volunteer three hours twice a week for me that I stayed because they're watching these people model. So the actual philanthropic side of it is what keeps people in the program because they recognize the effort. Yeah, I mean a lot of these students come from a world, not all of them, but a lot of them come from a world where they've never really had anyone believing in them. And a lot of them, no male role model is believing in them.

Again, not all. And commitment is not necessarily a paramount word. Right. Right. And so you've got, I mean, all of our volunteers just have this real heart to like really empower these kids and so they're coming into this free program they didn't have to pay for. They're given all these tools and stuff to use in class. They have these teachers that

are coming in after a long hard work day to help give them skills. It's like for the first time they have somebody that's that's saying hey we believe that you've got you've got some skills and you've got some talent and you have the capacity to learn and build a career. And I don't think a lot of them heard of that before. Not to mention, you know, I think a lot of the students that are drawn to this, like, maybe didn't cut it in formal education. And so now for the first time they're like wait Maybe I was made for this kind of work and it's got to provide them hope too. Yeah, absolutely

How rewarding? It's very cool. It's very cool to witness and watch the students journey From the first day of class to the end. This has got to cost some money though. It does stay a class to the end. This has got to cost some money though. It does. Where did all this money come from? We fundraise. We've got partners. We've had the privilege, I mean,

being in the trades industry, I mean, it doesn't take much to approach, you know, someone, you know, a lumber company and say, hey, we want to train up the next generation of tradesmen for them to be like, yeah, we get it. We want to, I mean, we of tradesmen for them to be like, yeah, we get it. We want to, I mean, we've got a lumber company by us, Cuken Brothers, that donate all the lumber every semester.

You're kidding. Yeah. Wow. Just like, and not just them, but all these different companies that are like, we want to be part of the solution. It doesn't, I mean, it doesn't take much. But there is, you know, there's a lot of fundraising. I think I've read.

Did you did you win a grant from Impact? Yes. Yeah, I think. Do you know the founder of that organization, Wendy Steel, has been a guest? Yeah, Alex was telling me. Yeah, such a small world. When she, the very first one she started and she said, you know, Small world when she the very first one she started and she said, you know, she got sick of watching Females work their butts off for two weeks to put together a yard sale on a bake sale to raise $6,000. Wow

Guys raised $20,000 by writing checks at the golf course and she said, you know what women can write checks too How cool and started impact and impact 100 and now I think they've raised a hundred million dollars hundred twenty three million hundred twenty three million hundred thousand dollars at a time and you guys were super in a thousand dollar grant from that chapter up in wherever yeah up in Jersey. In a small world. It is such a small world. We have talked about three different podcasts.

Yes. Since we've started talking. I actually don't listen to that podcast. I think they're actually, I mean, they're going to have to fact check me, but I think they're funding, we're going to start an auto mechanics program in the fall. And I think they funded our lift.

That's awesome. Yeah. So there's another connection to the army of normal folks in that wild. It's very cool. It is very cool. So I found Alex provided this, which I think is really interesting. So new hopes ministry, which helps think is really interesting. So, New Hope's Ministry, which helps families in poverty with a myriad of services, has grown rapidly since we took

on their headquarters in 2018. We helped them transfer another two-floor residential home into a food pantry. The demo was $25,000 and you guys did it for 10 and saved them 15 grand. And that's $15,000 they can put in for service. Another one was in power sports camps. The job estimate to do their thing was $34,800. You guys did it for $9,800 and saved them $25,000. So you really are the nonprofit for nonprofits. And what that, the beauty of it is,

is what you save these nonprofits and go in their pockets, it's just money that they're working to raise to serve. That they can turn around and give. So your work not only saves the nonprofit, but it saves the people they're trying to serve that they can turn around and give. So your work not only saves the nonprofit, but it saves the people they're trying to serve exponentially. And in the meantime, you've got a mentorship program teaching people who really don't have a way to make a living to not only make a great living, but fill needs for contractors that they can't otherwise fill.

I mean, it's a full circle. It's very cool. Philanthropy. It's very cool because, you know, like, there's a lot of efforts that you could say, you know, it's the teach a man to fish kind of concept, you know, you could solve the immediate need. But if you're not figuring out how to create sustainability in that, it'll only go so far. And I think, again, such a quick and so cool to be a part of just seeing the the sustainable impact in all directions that we have this small part,

but it ripples into their ministries and it's very neat. Tell me about Gamar Virgin, am I saying this right? Oh, Gamar. Gamar Virgin. Yes. Tell me about him. So he was in one of our first few semesters of the CPM course. So funny, he came in on like the second day of class,

held up his phone to the director and said, hey, I'm redoing my apartment and I have no idea what I'm doing. Can you tell me what to do? And he's just this personality that's like, I'm gonna figure out, I'm gonna do it. But he came into our program to learn construction, did really well in the program.

What was his background? That is a really good question. So he came, I'm trying to remember if he was born here or he moved here from Jamaica. But I think he was doing work with his father in terms of real estate, was kind of what he was doing work with his father in terms of real estate was kind of what he was doing, but he was trying to make it in the trades. And certainly that gainfully employed.

Yes, definitely not. Didn't hadn't built a career here, basically. And so he went through our program, did really well, and then we brought him on as an intern. And he stayed on staff for, I'm trying to remember how many years, quite a, like maybe like two years, two to three years, and then kind of just grew in skill working, working alongside our staff, then got a job in like leadership management for like a building management, kind of moved on to that. And then now has grown so much that now he runs

his own remodeling company. How does it make you feel? Man, it's just, it's very, very cool. And he, you know, he still comes back every so often and visits class and it's like, He still comes back every so often and visits class. And it's like, it's amazing to see the fruit of the impact in his life, right? Like now he's married with two, two little ones and

has his own company. I mean, and has his own company. This thing changed his life. We'll be right back. Hey, this is Reed Isable. And Dan Isble. Otherwise known as The Brothers Hunt.

We're hosting a new podcast, Gods Country, by Meteater and I Heart Podcast. Gods Country is a weekly drive to the intersection of music and the outdoors. Two things that go together like Sunday and some pond fishing are cows and green pastures. We're talking to the riders behind your favorite songs about the deer they've loved and they've lost. So I shot an 11 point with a 23 inch inside spread like it was giant and somebody stole it. And the story's behind their biggest hits. Boy they hooked that man.

They really hooked that. That's right in 101. And hearing from today's biggest stars like our friend Michael Hard Rock Hardy. This record will be the one that it will always define who I am or like just as an artist. So hop on in and ride shotgun with us as we take the back roads with some of the most influential people in country music today. Listen to God's Country on the iHeart Radio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Hey there, I'm Maya Schunker and I'm a scientist who studies human behavior. Many of us have experienced a moment in our lives that changes everything, a moment that instantly divides our life into a before and an after. On my

podcast, A Slight Change of Plans, I talked to people about how they've navigated exactly these moments. Something died in me that day. It never came back. I'm so grateful that something new did emerge. A new me emerged. A new me was born. I also talked to experts on the science of change about how we can live happier, healthier lives.

These momentary experiences of awe, they tend to, through their challenges to your belief system, help us be more resilient. Because as we all know, the only constant is change. So let's make the most of it. Listen to a slight change of plans on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. In the new Amy & TJ podcast, Amy Robach & TJ Holmes, a renowned broadcasting team with decades of experience

delivering headline news and captivating viewers nationwide are sharing their voices and perspectives in a way you've never heard before. They explore meaningful conversations about current events, pop culture, and everything in between. Nothing is off limits. This was a scandal that wasn't. And this was not what you've been sold. The Amy and TJ podcast is guaranteed to be informative,

entertaining, and above all, authentic. It marks the first time Roboc and Holmes speak publicly since their own names became a part of the headlines. This is the first time that we actually get to say, what happened and where we are today. Listen to the Amy and TJ podcast on the iHeart radio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

The New York Times Do you take the time to look in the mirror and say, wow, look what we're doing? I take a lot of time to sit, reflect, and thank God and all the people that really just mentored me to get here. I'm really passionate about the fact that any of us can make tremendous impact. We just got to know what we're good at and got to use it to serve people. And so, yeah, it's been a wild ride. I would have never expected it, but it's been really cool to be a part of. I have a cool story about a student that I think epitomizes kind of the-

A student? a cool story about a student that I think epitomizes kind of the student. Yeah. Yeah. So actually this past year. So let me just start by saying like my favorite part about our program is that it's not just about skill building, but about like life building and mentorship. And I think our whole program because we're run completely by volunteers. It creates this culture that there's a family that comes out of these classes. And so there's this one student, Kevin, who I think his story kind of epitomizes that. I mean, he came into the CPM course, really fun personality, really clicked with all the teachers and even like I would say about halfway through the course was already doing some jobs with three of the Masons,

one of the contractors just really embodying, really building all these relationships with our teachers. And there's a few that really kind of mentored him throughout the process, but before, you know, by the middle of the course, he was also showing up on Saturdays with his friend, Jared, who was also in the program. And they were coming- To volunteer? To volunteer.

So they were going to class during the week and then coming on Saturdays. And so I just to kind of illustrate the importance that our ministry kind of built in terms of community. First of all, Jared was canceling his paid job just to come and volunteer and work with us, right? And this is not a wealthy kid. He probably needed a good education.

No, I mean two best friends from Patterson, still really young, building their career. But I think the community that was built and the education and the mentorship really, really gave them something that they maybe didn't have before. So you're not only teaching them how to do the work, but how to live? Absolutely. Absolutely. We start every night with a core value and we tie that to the industry and

tie that to life. Um, but one time, Kev, so one Friday night at 2am gets into a car accident, car totaled, you know, like just it was a little, it was a bit of a scary incident. I have permission to share the story, but he comes in the next day, he shows up to the site and he had like, he had no car, had this like dramatic accident and had walked like three miles to get to our site just to volunteer with the crew. And and you know, it's you know, it's just one one little story of his journey. I mean, he there's there's tons of things of the relationships that were kind of built in his life, but

but it kind of shows the impact that our community is, our program is making on these kids that. The guy had a totaled his car, walked three miles and ordered two volunteer. Yes, yes. That is phenomenal. To come up with, to come and volunteer. What's he doing now, Dina?

Yeah, I mean, he's doing, he's working three days a week with one of our lead contractors that teaches the class. He also has got some real estate stuff going on at the same time. He'll pick up work for another one of the Masons that really just, he really clicked with that Mason came part of the family went to the church for the first time with him.

And there's, yeah, it's, there's a lot of really, really cool stories that happen with these students. And, and yeah, it's a really cool to watch. That's kind of how it works in it. You get, you find your inspiration and your payoff and the work you do in the most unlikely places often. Absolutely.

And I guess a story like Kevin is what fuels you to keep going. Absolutely. Absolutely. And I guess a story like Kevin is what fuels you to keep going. Absolutely. Absolutely. Because it's more than, I mean, obviously equipping him with a skill to get a job is incredible. But it's more than that. It's, you know, providing a place where, you know, they want to work harder because they now have the confidence because people have believed in them and gives them the motivation to, you know, grow in life. This all started from, you know, one dude and some guys like your dad wanting to help and just

kind of a loosely organized thing that is now a great organization teaching and serving and being a philanthropy for philanthropies and the other thing I think that's amazing about it is it's scalable. Why couldn't you do this in every city? Well that's that's a thought actually. Tell me about that thought. Yeah so we've been I feel like the last two years we've been in conversations about, okay, how do we take what we have and put it on paper and figure out how to replicate this. There's talks of, there's another town in Jersey that we're in talks of another building

and another location of Jersey where there's talks of planting another location there. I think it's very, I think it could really spread and have multiple locations. Obviously, Jersey isn't the only state that's hurting for workers. No, it's every state. Yeah. Literally every state. Every state.

And so our process has really been the last two years trying to figure out how do we, so of this has been organic and in our heads and how do we put this in a system on paper that we can kind of pass it off and say, hey, let's do another location here, let's do another location there. Obviously, we pay attention to all of the building data and analytics in my business. And one of the one of the the starkest reminders of the shape we're in is that my children are 25, 6, 7, and 8 28, 27, 26, 25. Their generation, what are they? They're not millennials, what are they? Generation, what are my kids? They might be low end millennial into Gen Z.

Yeah, they're definitely, whatever they are, they're definitely low end of that. But anyway, I think they are Gen Zs. I think they are. That generation is the first generation, No, I'm not gonna say this wrong. That generation has waited longer to marry and by property. It's the longest waiting generation in American history. But as a result, these kids are ready to get out of their parents' basement. They're ready to quit renting.

That generation is finally starting to enter the market, the housing market, and as a result of the housing market, the furniture market, as a result of the furniture market, the flooring market, and it's a very large generation. And because baby boomers are still living, there's fewer and fewer used houses becoming available. So you've got second hand homes being lived in longer and a large generation who hasn't been buying now entering the marketplace. And as a result, there is a seven year estimated deficit of housing coming up over the next decade. Seven year deficit of housing, both single family and multifamily, meaning standalone homes and condos or apartments.

Right. Right. At the exact same time, there is 60% fewer people in the trades than there were 10 years ago. So we have a seven year deficit of housing with a massive demand coming up and half of the people available in our country to build these structures than there was only 10 years ago. What does that mean? Housing is going to be expensive because it's supply and demand. There's huge demand, less supply, less people to build the supply, thus is driving housing up and that is exacerbating the problems of overly expensive housing in places like Manhattan and LA and San Francisco where you see this homeless bin.

Which is also why you see housing in places like Texas and Florida and Tennessee absolutely exploding because it's much cheaper there and there's still some labor available. Yeah. Yeah. So when you put all of that together, when I hear your story, I think there's a need for your organization literally in every city in the country. The training part, the mentoring part and the growing the the non-profits part that are getting involved in doing this work. I mean, I think the little thing that you guys now have grown into a big thing in that area could grow

into a national thing with with a lot of welcome welcome mats by contractors and cities. I mean, so do you want to export it or do you want to just share the idea with others to do it? Yeah, I mean, or both kind of both. Actually, funny story, we had this group from Wisconsin that found us online, reached out and said, hey, we want to do this. Can we come and learn? They flew out to New Jersey, stayed with our director for like, I don't know, maybe like four days,

kind of learned all these things, went back, started asking around, and we have like a meeting in a week or two, just talking through the minutiae, they formed a board, they formed an organization. And in that way, we just want to help them start their thing. Which is beautiful. Which is beautiful. And that's in keeping with your whole philanthropic mentality.

Right. I mean, we don't need to profit from it. I mean, we see a need and we want, we want to, our heart is that we want to equip other people to take the skills that they have been given, the resources they've been given, the resources they've been given, and to serve the community. And if it means inspiring other groups to do it, I mean, you know, our world's better for it. And clearly you're doing it in Wisconsin, but why not the rest of the country? Yeah, that's a fair point.

So that's kind of what we're trying to systematize our back end to figure out how we can kind of be prepared to do that. So if anybody wants to start their own or partner with you guys, which you'd probably be open to either. Absolutely. Absolutely. We've been in the process of like copywriting our curriculum and kind of really trying to formalize these things so that, you know, we can be kind of a catalyst to other people

stepping up and doing it in their own communities. So if somebody listening to us wants to do this, how do they get in touch with you? Yeah, I mean, I would say reach out on our website. I mean, they could reach out. We've got an info email. I see all of them. So tell me what it is. Yeah, so it's info at servantsheartnj.org. Tell me what it is. Yeah, so it's info at servantsheartnj.org. But say that slower. You said it like somebody from New Jersey, from Memphis. That's right.

Info at servantsheart. Servants plural heart. ServantsheartnjasinNewJersey.org. Got it, and they come to you. And they come to us. Fill out our contact form, email, send an email. One last question. Still got to be pretty much a male dominated thing.

Yes. What's it like for you? You're now mid-thirties, I guess. I'm trying to do the math from what you're showing. Mid-thirties, female, you know, fashion person that thought they'd be toting pales to the mules. That's to the mules. Totem pales to the mules. Yeah, and now this male dominated construction thing, is there any chance that girls see

you and say, hey, I can do this too? Because that, because we don't need to limit this opportunity and need to half the population. Absolutely. For sure. Yeah, I mean, it's been a wild, very cool experience coming from like only ever working with women to only working with men. But it's been really cool because I just feel like

I work with the coolest group of guys and girls now. We've have a lot of girls. They are coming in now. Yeah, absolutely. Our sites are filled with females. Um, but and, and actually with our program, we graduate about 15% females. That's awesome. Our program, which is really cool.

Going into what traits? All of them going. Yeah. Like different ones. We've had different interests, you know, all around, but we've got, I feel like there's been a decent amount interested we have a welding course that are going into welding, but I mean, part of,

I mean, part of my heart when I, I'm still serving on Saturdays because I just love being around the volunteers. Even doing it all, you still volunteer on Saturdays in your own organization. You know, I mean, I'm paid to be there. I'm not a volunteer. I can't take all that credit, but I still love working alongside the volunteers.

And I do. I really, I love being able to serve with the females because, yeah, I think it's fun to watch things click as they learn and the confidence kind of developed. This summer, I hosted a program called Girl Shop Talk, which was a woodshop and Bible study for teen girls. And it was just- Woodshop and Bible study for teen girls. They are something I haven't heard yet. Yeah, it was a weird combination,

but it was just the coolest because I had all these 13 to 16 year old girls come in and I rallied up some of my friends who are handy and it was really cool watching them go from being terrified of a chop saw to just like kind of hammering. Yeah, it was the first time, I'm kind of on the outskirts watching all these trades guys engage with these students. And it was the first time, you know, I'm kind of on the outskirts watching all these trades guys

engage with these students. And it was the first time I was like, no, I get to be in the teacher end kind of empowering these girls. What's your favorite trade? I mean, I really like carpentry but I've become the go-to Tyler on site. Really?

Yes, so I've tiled a lot of bathrooms. In the last five years. And ironically enough, that's what's your first? And it was my first one. Your first thing. It clicked, and it was, it's, it clicked, and it's stuck. Have you learned enough that you could build a house? You think you could do it?

With guidance? No, I couldn't build a house myself, but I think I could do, I could do a decent amount. I mean, I, I've sat and formulated all the curriculum with the trades guys so I learn I now I can I know enough to be dangerous Yeah, but I think I could help did you ever think sitting in design school? No, it would have never ever crossed my mind. But it's I was I was telling Alex in the car, you know, I look back and it's just like I would have never expected any of the stuff that I've done in the last few years. But it's weird until you try something you don't

know if you're made for it. And it's just I would never go back. It's just the coolest environment. I've loved, I've loved learning construction and being around all these guys and really meeting needs and our tangible needs in our community. Christina Mendes, the daughter of two hardworking children of immigrants from Cuma, Puerto Rico, growing up in New Jersey in a really average middle class hardworking family whose parents always gave and I guess illustrated you the importance of service. And here you are, a former fashion designer running a nonprofit both teaching kids, young adults, how to enter the trades in a very needed capacity.

And being part of running a philanthropy for philanthropists, a nonprofit for nonprofits and changing lives in the process, what an amazing story. It's cool. Well, your work is amazing. Your work is needed. Your work is appreciated and your humility is, I guess, passed down to you naturally. Bless your parents and bless you and thank you so much for joining me. Thank you so much for having me. This was so fun. And thank you for joining us this week. If Christina Mendes or another guest has inspired you in general or better yet to take action by donating to Servants Heart Ministry, by starting something like it in your own

area or something else entirely, please let me know. I'd love to hear about it. You can write me anytime at bill at normal folks dot us and guys, you can ask anybody who's emailed me, I will respond. And if you enjoyed this episode, please share it with friends and on social. Subscribe to the podcast, rate and review it. Become a premium member at normalfolks.us, all the things that can help us grow an army of normal folks. I'm Bill Courtney. I'll see you next week. Hey, this is Reed Isable and Dan Isable, otherwise known as the Brothers Hunt.

We're hosting a new podcast, Gods Country, by Me, Deeter and I, Heart Podcast. Gods Country is a weekly drive to the intersection of music and the outdoors. Two things that go together like sunday and some pond fishing. Or cows and green pastures. This record will be the one that it will always define who I am. So hop on in and ride shotgun with us. We take the back roads with some of the most influential people in country music today. Listen to God's country on the iHeart Radio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. I'm Jason Flom and you're Maggie Freeling. Hey, Jason. Every day we learn about another person

who shouldn't be in prison. 58 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit. So glad you're home. If you want to be part of this work, listen to Wrongful Conviction. The podcast where we hand the mic to innocent people to hear their stories. How do you send someone innocent to prison?

Listen to new episodes of wrongful conviction with Maggie Freeling and Jason Flamm on the iHeart radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts. Beauty Translated Season 3 is coming soon with what? A second host? I'm Carmen Laurent, and this season I am joined full-time by world-renowned Janie Danger. Janie, what are we talking about in season three? We're talking about life Carmen. Beauty translated is about the many fragmented lives spreading across this rich tapestry of the trans experience. And the all new Beauty Translated Love Line

at 678-561-2785. Listen to Beauty Translated Season 3 on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Bye. Bye.