SHIFT:
Strengthening Humanity Through Instruction, Fortitude, and Tenacity
SHIFT is the overarching program provided by Opportunity. Construction preparatory training courses, life-skills trainings, service coordination, and peer mentorship are the components, for making a SHIFT by Strengthening Humanity through Instruction, Fortitude, and Tenacity. SHIFT is an effective program that promotes a shift in the attitude, paradigms, and relationships for consumers and non-human services professionals, alike.
These shifts will meet personal, vocational, and career goals to make permanent changes in lives with the focus on improving professional relationships, long-term labor market prospects, and even entrepreneurial candidates. Moreover, every consumer of Opportunity will receive all of the services offered by SHIFT, if applicable.
Lastly, any component of SHIFT can be contracted fee for services by other like-minded entities. For more information about SHIFT, email us at info@oppunityphila.org.
These shifts will meet personal, vocational, and career goals to make permanent changes in lives with the focus on improving professional relationships, long-term labor market prospects, and even entrepreneurial candidates. Moreover, every consumer of Opportunity will receive all of the services offered by SHIFT, if applicable.
Lastly, any component of SHIFT can be contracted fee for services by other like-minded entities. For more information about SHIFT, email us at info@oppunityphila.org.
“From The Ground Up…”
A 5-month Residential Construction 101 Course
As the entry point into Opportunity and its flagship program, “From The Ground Up…”: A 5-month Residential Construction Preparatory Training (FTGU), the objective is to teach consumers the fundamentals of the construction trade with a college ‘101-type’ approach. The course is designed for consumers to gain knowledge of the 16 divisions of construction, understand and apply The Rule, develop critical thinking skills, and build upon existing basic and leadership skills in the field of residential construction with hands-on experience through applied knowledge.
The goals of this course are to:
1. Provide hands-on experience for the students according to the 16 divisions of construction
2. Create opportunities to apply knowledge on and off-site
3. Build and develop basic, leadership, and team-building skills
These goals will be accomplished through class time and as otherwise noted by allotting time for consumers to apply the following knowledge learned in FTGU:
1. Theory of the 16 divisions of construction
2. The Rule
3. Career-ready basic skills, such as active listening, critical thinking, public speaking, self-monitoring, reading, and writing
4. Solution-focused problem-solving
5. Tool recognition
The course is a planned, structured, and safe training setting for those interested in a career or entrepreneurship endeavor in the field of residential construction. Prior knowledge or experience in the field of residential construction is not required, but very helpful for the consumers and their peers.
During FTGU's orientation prospective consumers meet Opportunity’s volunteer staff, learn about program expectations, and complete the entrance application, assessments, and the basic Math and English placement tests. The 2-day orientation process determines which individuals meet program requirements through a placement test and a one-on-one interview. Basic adult education refresher courses are offered to enrolled consumers who do not pass the basic Math and English placement tests.
The goals of this course are to:
1. Provide hands-on experience for the students according to the 16 divisions of construction
2. Create opportunities to apply knowledge on and off-site
3. Build and develop basic, leadership, and team-building skills
These goals will be accomplished through class time and as otherwise noted by allotting time for consumers to apply the following knowledge learned in FTGU:
1. Theory of the 16 divisions of construction
2. The Rule
3. Career-ready basic skills, such as active listening, critical thinking, public speaking, self-monitoring, reading, and writing
4. Solution-focused problem-solving
5. Tool recognition
The course is a planned, structured, and safe training setting for those interested in a career or entrepreneurship endeavor in the field of residential construction. Prior knowledge or experience in the field of residential construction is not required, but very helpful for the consumers and their peers.
During FTGU's orientation prospective consumers meet Opportunity’s volunteer staff, learn about program expectations, and complete the entrance application, assessments, and the basic Math and English placement tests. The 2-day orientation process determines which individuals meet program requirements through a placement test and a one-on-one interview. Basic adult education refresher courses are offered to enrolled consumers who do not pass the basic Math and English placement tests.
Laying the Foundation:
Basic Adult Education Refresher Course
Basic Math and English skills are the foundation to success in any field. Consumers who do not pass the Math and English placement tests during the FTGU orientation will transition into the 6-week basic adult education refresher course titled, Laying the Foundation. Opportunity partners with community members to teach the course on an additional day during the week outside of course lecture and hands-on experiences.
Life, Skills, & Training
The third component of SHIFT is Life, Skills, & Training. These are trainings designed to assist the following populations of consumers, returning citizens who are on parole or probation, veterans, adult youth, and those in recovery from drugs and alcohol, to name a few. Information gained from SHIFT includes negative mindsets, emotional intelligence, and situation management, to name a few. This component allows consumers to re-center themselves by creating dialogue that brings their perceptions to the forefront given the Opportunity to make a shift.
Service Coordination & Peer Mentoring
The fourth component of the SHIFT program is service coordination and peer mentoring. Each consumer will be assigned a Service Coordinator who will assist with any situations that may arise while taking the FTGU course. The group peer mentoring serves as a way to reconnect them back to themselves, their fellowman, their families, and their communities.
Labor of Love Rehab Projects
The Labor of Love Rehab Projects (LOL) is the final component of SHIFT. Opportunity knows the associated costs to renovating and rehabbing property, which can be expensive. Thus, LOL targets elderly, physically disabled, small non -profits, and churches to renovate the properties at a reduced cost. As an extension of FTGU, the goal of these projects is to serve as hands-on experience for the consumers.