toolsupfoundation

Tools Up is creating pathways into the construction industry as a whole, from the job sites to the design table, project management, and development.

The goal is exposure, access, education, and ultimately creating a pipeline of young people who can see themselves not only working in the industry, but also leading, designing, managing, developing, and owning within it.

Learn more about Tools Up Foundation's programs; link in bio

On August 1, we hosted our first-ever TUF Teens Construction Summit, and our teens showed up. 🔨
Families, friends, community partners, and board members filled the room to watch them take full ownership of their work: presenting their vision, sharing what they learned, and standing proudly before a cheering crowd. Guests walked through the projects, cast their votes, and helped award well-earned scholarships and honors.

Hailing from South Shore, Hyde Park, and Phillips High Schools, the all-girls construction development team “The One” dominated the competition, taking home BOTH the Best Community Concept AND Community Favorite awards for their community built for Student Athletes.
A special thank you to Alderman 5th Ward Alderman Desmon Yancy for coming out to support our teens and share words with them, and to the Don Nash Community Center for hosting us.

But the hands-on learning didn’t stop at the presentations. Working alongside industry experts, including hands-on instructor Tariq’s, our teens built two heavy-duty workbenches from scratch, mastering real tools and essential safety protocols along the way. Those benches are staying with us, and future cohorts will train on what this group built.

We are so proud of these young people. They put in the hours, learned the craft, and showed this city exactly what they’re capable of. The future is bright. 💛

Workforce development only works when the people behind it are invested in outcomes, not just enrollment.

At Tools Up Foundation, Victoria Wright serves as Career Bridge, delivering individualized coaching that moves participants from training into employment and registered apprenticeships — backed by direct relationships with unions, contractors, and employers.

Tarana Wroten serves as Program Designer, building curriculum that reflects real workforce demand and pairs technical training with the leadership and life skills that make career success last.

This is what it takes to close the skilled trades gap: people, not just programs.

Meet the Partner: Hugs Inc. Health Career Training

Every TUF student earns a CPR, First Aid, and AED certification before they finish the program. That happens because of Hugs Inc.

Construction has one of the highest injury rates of any industry, and the first responder on any jobsite is whoever is standing closest. We want our graduates to be someone who knows what to do, and we want that credential on their résumé when a foreman is deciding who to hire.

Hugs Inc is a state-approved health career training center in Lansing, Illinois, with programs recognized by IDPH, AMCA, NCCT, NHA, and the IBHE. They also train CNAs, phlebotomists, and EKG technicians.

We are so glad to have this partnership where two organizations in different sectors are building one pathway.

Thank you to the Hugs Inc team.

No one steps onto a job site untrained. Every TUF Teens and Pave the Way Up student leaves OSHA-10 certified - trained to protect themselves and their crew since day one.

Safety isn't an add-on at Tools Up Foundation. It's the foundation.

College debt follows people for decades. Tools up programs don't cost you a dime - you walk out with certifications employers actually want, not a loan statement.