Operation Fresh Start

As a proud recipient of funds from the United Way of Dane County, we were thrilled to participate in the Community Kickoff event on Wednesday, August 21, at Breese Stevens Field. It was wonderful to see so many members of our community coming together in support of the United Way. As the campaign kicks off, we want to extend a huge thank you to all the businesses and community members who support the campaign and help support the work we do. #PowerofCaringWorkingForAll

OFS would like to give a big thank you to 3M and Findorff for donating self-retracting lifelines to our Build Academy to keep them safe while building houses! Thanks for all you do in supporting our young people!

8 days away!!! 🎉🎈 Block Party Extravaganza! 🎈🎉 Join us for a fun-filled day at our Block Party, brought to you by Operation Fresh Start and Reach Dane! 🗓️ Date: August 29, 2024 🕒 Time: 11 am - 6:30 pm 📍 Location: 2670 Milwaukee Street We’re bringing the community together with a fantastic lineup of activities and free goodies: 11:00 am-3:00 pm: ✨ Free Mobile Dental Unit* from Familia Dental & Vivid Smiles; sponsored by The M3 Foundation 🚚 Free The River Food Pantry Mobile Munch Truck 📚 Madison Reading Bus * Walk-ins for the Dental Unit are welcomed, but if someone is under 18, they will need a parent/guardian permission to participate. 2:30 pm-6:30 pm 🍔 Free Melly Mell's 🍦 Free Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream Company sponsored by the 👮 Madison Community Policing Advisory Board 🎠 Bounce House 🎨 Face Painting 🏰 Playground Fun Plus, there will be Open Houses at Reach Dane and OFS! Explore, connect, and discover the amazing resources we have to offer. Don’t miss this opportunity to enjoy a day of community spirit and connect with various nonprofits and partners dedicated to supporting our neighborhood. Bring your family and friends – it’s going to be an unforgettable day! 🙌❤️ Check out our Facebook event here: https://lnkd.in/gvHXxXJV

Congratulations to Nicky for graduating from the OFS Build Academy and signing with Cleary Building Corp.! Nicky completed his CPR/First-Aid training, OSHA 10 training, earned his driver’s license, and his pre-apprenticeship in carpentry. Reflecting on his time at OFS, Nicky shared, "I got a lot of life skills out of here. I was struggling with stuff at home, and this place gave me all the support I needed. Working here got me through a lot." Nicky found his stride despite initial nerves: "I was socially awkward and anxious at first, but working with the crew helped me grow. This experience has been huge for me—I finally feel like I know what I want." “Nicky’s leadership and care were truly appreciated,” his Build Academy Supervisor, Joe, said. "You cared, you wanted to do it right, and you made it happen. We miss having you on the crew, but we know you’ll do great things." Joe recalled working in freezing temperatures in winter and Nicky would bring the crew hot chocolate. “That's just the guy he is,” Joe said. “So continue to be that person, and you’re going to go far.” We’re proud of you, Nicky! Keep up the good work at Cleary! #ofs #cleary #buildacademy #ofsgrad

Young people who apply and are accepted into the Build Academy program first undergo three weeks of mental toughness training before being paired with a supervisor and putting what they learn into practice working on residential construction projects. OFS Construction Training Manger, Mike Price, spent this week training Build Academy participants in parallel, perpendicular, plumb, level, and square training, as well as tape measure practices. Continue the great work Mike and Build Academy participants! #ofs #buildacademy #training #construction

What a beautiful day for the 18th annual EUA Beyond Design Bike Tour! Operation Fresh Start, Journey House, and Valley Kid’s Foundation were proud charity partners of this event. Thank you to the OFS staff, board members, and past board members who helped volunteer at a hydration station or signed up to ride to benefit OFS. We would also like to thank the many businesses who provided some wonderful items and experiences on our behalf for the silent auction! Thank you, EUA, for choosing us to be part of this incredible event. #BDBT2024

This summer, Lydia Partee, Operation Fresh Start’s CareerPoint Coordinator, led a group of young professionals through the Essential Skills CareerPoint Curriculum: a six-week comprehensive program designed to enhance interpersonal communication, emotional intelligence, and customer service skills. This holistic approach aims to prepare participants not only for their immediate roles but also for long-term career growth. The four young professionals, Latange, Aniyah, Isis, and Tremane, graduated from the program on July 24. The curriculum covered a wide range of topics, including product knowledge, typing skills, and the importance of customer service. Congratulations to Latange and Aniyah for accepting jobs at American Family Insurance! Read more about the CareerPoint Cohort here: https://lnkd.in/eNVyJxWu. #ofs #careerpoint #youngprofessionals #americanfamilyinsurance

Congratulations to Aniya Dietzman on graduating from the OFS Legacy Program! 🎓 Aniya’s Crew Supervisor, Taylor, said that she has shown unmatched commitment and dedication to the program since day one. She quickly became the conservation crew's go-to sweeper, meticulously ensuring that nothing was missed on site. With her keen eye for detail and relentless energy, Aniya was always the first one out of the van, tools in hand, ready to jump into work. Aniya earned her high school diploma with the Madison Metropolitan School District through our Legacy program. Additionally, she received an AmeriCorps Education Award for further education and her pre-apprenticeship readiness training certificate from the state of Wisconsin in Conservation and Urban Forestry. “I trust Aniya wholeheartedly, and even in my absence, I know she is working diligently and helping others stay on track,” Taylor said. “She is someone who motivates and supports those around her. She is someone who truly cares for the well-being of her crew mates and always supports them.” We’re thrilled that Aniya has decided to enroll in a second term at OFS, where she is planning to advance her skills with power tools, plan identification, and money management, while continuing to grow her leadership skills and get a jump start on her career plans. Aniya has also secured an internship with the University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Labs—an exciting step toward her future career! Aniya gave special thanks to her teachers, Justin and Laura, for igniting her love for reading and supporting her every step of the way. 👏 Aniya, we’re so proud of you and can’t wait to see all you achieve next. Thank you for being such an inspiration, and here's to your bright future ahead! 🌟 #ofs #legacy #uwmadison #mmsd

🎉🎈 Block Party Extravaganza! 🎈🎉 Join us for a fun-filled day at our Block Party, brought to you by Operation Fresh Start and Reach Dane! 🗓️ Date: August 29, 2024 🕒 Time: 11 am - 6:30 pm 📍 Location: 2670 Milwaukee Street We’re bringing the community together with a fantastic lineup of activities and free goodies: 11:00am-3:00pm: ✨ Free Mobile Dental Unit* from La Familia Dental; sponsored by the M3 Foundation 🚚 Free River Mobile Munch Truck 📚 Madison Reading Bus * Walk-ins for the Dental Unit are welcomed, but if someone is under 18, they will need a parent/guardian permission to participate. 2:30pm-6:30pm 🍔 Free Melly Mell’s 🍦 Free Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream sponsored by the 👮 Madison Community Policing Advisory Board 🎠 Bounce House 🎨 Face Painting 🏰 Playground Fun Plus, there will be Open Houses at Reach Dane and Operation Fresh Start! Explore, connect, and discover the amazing resources we have to offer. Don’t miss this opportunity to enjoy a day of community spirit and connect with various nonprofits and partners dedicated to supporting our neighborhood. Bring your family and friends – it’s going to be an unforgettable day! 🙌❤️ Facebook Event Link: https://lnkd.in/gXS3e9VN #ofs #reachdane #blockparty #freeresources #madisonreadingproject #mellymells

Congratulations to Joseba from Build Academy for signing with JP Cullen and joining the Carpenters Union! OFS Build Academy Coordinator Faith Neumann said, "Joseba has been nothing but a breath of fresh air to work with since he joined our program." Joseba came to OFS with two goals, to get his driver's license and start a job. His supervisor, Rod, said, "His coworkers trust him and enjoy spending their workdays with him. Supervisors know that if they give him a task, he’s going to get it done. He’s got incredible aptitude, but it’s his character and the trust he’s built that got him hired. He makes OFS proud." A JP Cullen representative said that Joseba shows up every day on time with a great attitude. His willingness to learn and strong work ethic are exactly what they’re looking for in an apprentice. Congratulations, Joseba! We're excited to see all the amazing things you'll achieve! 🎉👏 #ofs #jpcullen #carpentersunion