Green Building

- by Mercy Shammah

Over the past decade the concept of green building has become all encompassing. New ideas are helping broaden what we can do to be a part of the green building movement. Old techniques are on a rise. New green building standards are being developed.  The City of Portland Planning and Sustainability defines green building as “a way of designing and constructing buildings to increase performance and enhance the health and experience for people who work, live and play in these structures.” Considering green building, I’d like to ask two questions: WHAT are they building with and HOW are they building?

“What are they building with?” 

One of the easiest ways to build green is reusing old materials. The Portland area has a great number of companies already doing the hard work of obtaining building materials and making it ready for us to use. Many businesses demolish a building and trash all of the materials while others are taking the buildings down by hand and reusing all of those components. ReBuilding Center among others provide deconstruction services with the aim to keep materials out of the landfill. 

The City of Portland has a full list of companies that salvage materials for reuse in the Metro area. Check their website for to find out where you can source materials for your next project: https://www.portlandoregon.gov/bps/article/368482 

Instead of depleting valuable resources such as trees, constructing with salvaged goods is a more thoughtful way to build. One sustainable building material that is all around us is earth. Cob is made from water, soil and usually straw. Some of the oldest structures found in the Middle East are made of cob and this ancient tradition of building can be found in every continent. Modern cob buildings have seen an increase in popularity. The technique can be seen in many types of energy efficient homes. 

In Elora Hardy’s INKtalks, she speaks about bamboo’s serious potential to sustainable building. Bamboo shoots are ready for harvest in 3 years. A clump will provide 20 or more poles of timber annually. Compare that to genetically superior black walnut timber which takes 25 to 30 years to be ready for harvesting.  

Commonly thought as a luxury, utilizing high end and durable materials that will last is another way to build green. It is important to consider using materials that will not need to be replaced every couple of years which reduces the number of materials used in the life span of a structure. 

“How are they building?”

In addition to what materials we use, how how does the construction process effect green building? One area to think about is energy efficiency with the goal to reduce the amount of energy required for a structure to function comfortably. In our modern day homes, the big energy vampires are heating and cooling which can be reduced with good insulation.

Passivhaus or Passive House is a voluntary design process standard for energy efficient building. The standards include very low energy consumption and pretty air tight insulated buildings. Designers of passive houses want to eliminate the need for heating and cooling, creating a low carbon building. Worried about getting chilly in your passive house? Well, just add body heat. Passivehaus is just one of the many energy efficient certification processes that buildings can receive. Check out this link to learn about other programs: https://www.portlandoregon.gov/bps/article/476319

You may live in a home that was not built by Passivhaus standards. That’s ok. You can still weatherize your home. Weatherization helps reduce the amount of energy homes use. Unlike remodeling, it convertis older, inefficient buildings into to progressive, energy efficient spaces. Weatherization workers complete a number of safety checks and monitor areas that are hidden to the untrained eye to help increase the homes efficiency, safety and air quality. Insulation, air leak fixes and making sure your large energy consuming appliances are running efficiently are huge considerations when weatherizing your home. If getting your home toastier during the winter isn’t enough to get you moving, Energy Trust of Oregon is giving a $100 cash back incentive for your weatherization upgrades. Find more information here: https://energytrust.org/residential/incentives/multiple-upgrade-incentive/multiple-upgrade-incentive/

Advance framing is a building technique that uses minimal lumber. While advance framing isn’t the answer to all of our prayers, it does use less wood and saves energy.

Another way to become more green is to think about where you source your energy from. Wind and solar power have become more popular and more affordable in recent years. These trends are global and show no sign of slowing down. 

Next time you are building and renovating, think green and find a method that works for you.

Preparing for the Trades

- by Mercy Shammah

I had the opportunity of completing Oregon Tradeswomen’s Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program this fall. The program is called Pathway to Success and really sets the bar for preparing women to go into the trades. 

Women in a Man’s World

If you’ve been on social media in the past year, you may have noticed mini movements speaking about inequality for women. Like women refusing to move out of the way and running into men and their sidewalk entitlement.

Women who want to ‘man-spread’ instead of taking up the smallest amount of space as possible.

People want more than a high school prom queen line of questioning for our female celebrities and athletes. People are pushing for gender neutral toys because only playing dress up and brushing hair influences the scope of what girls think they are capable of decades down the line. These movements remind women that it is their world too.

How does this relate to the trades? Oregon Tradeswomen (OTI) has taught us that we don’t have to apologize for our very existence. We can swing a hammer just as good as the men because of the nature of us being human beings. Many women in the program don’t have a trades background or know anyone in the trades. The training program is an introduction to the field and more. The program goes over the rough and tough construction culture, what to expect, how to navigate it and where we can go for support when we need it. The program reminds us that we can be strong and empowered when we are on the job site surrounded by men, some of whom won’t expect much of us and others who won’t want us to be there at all. 

There are very few programs like OTI in the United States yet; women fill just 3% of all trades jobs. Through this program we learn how to find our voices, to feel confident and know that we have the knowledge to back it up. While 2015 has been a strong year in requesting social change for women, Oregon Tradeswomen has been doing this since the late 80s. 

Three Days

Pathways to Success is broken up into three days a week; each day provided us with a different experience. The first day of the week is a classroom day. These are the days where we receive fundamentals for the trades culture, learn about tools and job site safety, learn basic construction math and measurements and prepare for interviews. We get to learn more about each other and our program as we grow in to tradeswomen. 

The second days of the week are our field trip days. We are introduced to many different trades and learn the ins and outs, opportunities that are available and how much we would get paid. For many entry-level positions, the answer is: a lot. We would get paid a ton. In our training of the different trades we were provided with hands on activities which allowed us a better understanding of what exactly we would be doing. We had the opportunity to make things, use power tools and get the physical experience of the work. Enthusiastic recruiters expanded the list of possible careers we were capable of.The last days of the week were our job site days. This is where we would put all that classroom knowledge to use and get a good sense of the physical work we were getting ourselves into. These days could be very demanding yet fun. One of the biggest projects we worked on in my term was Living Cully. It was a strip club strip mall on 60th & Killingsworth that we deconstructed to be utilized for something that will better serve the community. Oregon Tradeswomen has a history in partnering with community organizations for the job site days. It is a bonus for us to be a part of something great while getting our feet wet in the trades. We were the ones who got to tear down those walls which oppressed so many women. Living Cully was just one of our projects, we participated in builds at other locations as well. 

Commitment

This program requires a huge level of commitment for the women looking to graduate. The program is three days a week for seven weeks. You have to find income sources around that schedule as well as figure out childcare. OTI is serious when it comes to timeliness. If anyone arrives late on the first day of training (or within the first week), they are removed from the program and there are a line of women waiting to take the spots of the latecomers. 

Handing in all your homework is mandatory to graduate. In addition, OTI tests on math, measurements, tool knowledge and fitness. During my term they partnered with Fulcrum Fitness to train us twice a week. This helped us become better prepared for the physical test and work. 

Oregon Tradeswomen is putting us out in the job field with their seal of approval. We represent them and we are starting off with as much knowledge and confidence as any man in our trade and then some. We are making a big commitment to ourselves. For some of us we are breaking out of our shell and accomplishing something we never knew was a possibility. For others, they are making a commitment to their children for better and more secure life.

Christmas Tree Recycling and Upcycling

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by Teale Niles

In the US we buy 25-30 million fresh cut Christmas trees each year (1). Those trees don’t have to end up in the landfill now that the holidays are over! Here are four easy ways to recycle your tree (2). And also a few more ideas for those feeling inspired!

1. Curbside Recycling

Live in the City of Portland and have curbside yard debris collection? Cut up your tree and place it completely into your green compost roll bin. This is free! Alternatively, you can place whole trees that are 6 feet or shorter on the curb for pick up on your regular pickup day for a $4.50 fee. Trees over 6 feet should be cut in half. There will be a $4.50 fee for each piece.

2. Environmentally Conscious Recycling (ERC)

This recycling company in NE Portland will take your tree (flocked and unflocked) for a mere $2 apiece!
Mon.-Fri., 7 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sat., 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun., 7:30 a.m-5 p.m.
12409 NE San Rafael
503-253-0867
Online: ecrrecycling.com

3. Bring it to the Boy Scouts

In Lake Oswago there is a 3 day tree recycling event on Jan. 1-3
Drop off your tree, and suggested donation at:
West End Building
4101 Kruse Way
Lake Oswego, Or
boyscouttroop230.org

If you live in Tigard, sign up here for curbside pick up
Jan. 2, 3, 9 & 10, 9 a.m.
503-929-3486

And in Beaverton on Jan. 2, 3 & 9 You can bring your tree to this address for recycling:
St. Andrew Lutheran Church
12405 SW Butner Rd.
Online: troop618.org

4. McFarlane’s Bark

Conveniently located in both Milwaukie and Vancouver, McFarlane’s Bark is charging $3 to recycle each Christmas tree.

Mon.-Sat., 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
13345 SE Johnson Rd.
Milwaukie, Or
503-659-4240

8806 NE 117 th Ave.
Vancouver, Wa
360-892-6125
Online: mcfarlanesbark.com

Upcycle Your Tree

Trees taken to the recycling programs above will most likely get chipped and used as mulch. Which is way better than taking up space in a landfill. But, why stop there? There are tons of other ways to use a used Christmas tree.

Create salmon habitat. The Tualatin Valley chapter of Trout Unlimited will be collecting trees to be placed in streams. Submerged trees act as shelter for baby salmon and also attract microorganism and other critters which the salmon eat. Read the full story here.

Drop off your tree on Jan. 4, 11 and 18th from 9 am to 4 pm
Royal Treatment Fly Shop, 21570 Willamette Dr., in West Linn; AND
Northwest Fly Fishing Outfitters, 10910 NE Halsey, in Portland.

Turn your tree into a backyard bird feeder. Be sure to remove all tinsel and ornaments first. Then place it in your backyard, hang some bird treats on it (such as pine cones covered in peanut butter and seeds) and voila! The winter birds will love you! The tree will start to decompose and before too long you’ll be able to break it apart by hand and use it around your backyard landscape.

Around the nation people and organizations use Christmas trees in creative and resourceful ways. Christmas trees can be used to feed goats, to rebuild sand dunes, and even build houses (3)!  The National Christmas Tree Associations has a huge list of Christmas tree recycling programs from around the nation. Check it out!

Sources:
(1)http://www.realchristmastrees.org/dnn/Education/QuickTreeFacts.aspx
(2)http://redtri.com/portland/where-to-recycle-your-christmas-tree-and-christmas-lights-in-portland/#
(3)http://www.citylab.com/navigator/2015/12/giving-christmas-trees-a-second-life/422169/?utm_source=SFTwitter

Help us plan our new workshops + classes!

At ReBuilding Center we strive to inspire people to value and discover existing resources to strengthen the social and environmental vitality of communities. From the beautiful, old growth wood milled decades ago to cabinet sets gleaned from historic Portland homes, we would like to generate excitement around the wealth of amazing materials that are available to us in the Pacific Northwest.

We are in the process of resurrecting our ReFind shop where we would like to create a space for sharing ideas, teaching skills, creating a culture of safety and building community. Please let us know any and all of your ideas for this community space and fully equipped wood shop.

help us design our workshops + classes by filling out a 8 question survey!


Mississippi Avenue Holiday Passports

You're invited to join in on the first ever Mississippi Holiday Passport event! This holiday season, pick up your passports at participating businesses and collect stamps for prizes. This is how it works:

  1. Pick your passport up from a participating business. (See below.)
  2. Shop and enjoy food + drink on Mississippi Ave.
  3. Receive a stamp for each local business you support.
  4. At 5 stamps receive your Mississippi Ave mug! (You can claim your mugs from The Rebuilding Center, Trailhead Union or Flutter.) 
  5. For every 10 stamps you will be entered in for a grand prize bundle of Mississippi gift certificates. (That means 20 stamps gets you 2 entries, 30 stamps gets you 3 and so on.)

*No minimum purchase is required.

Here is a list of participating businesses:

Black Wagon
3964 N Mississippi Ave

Blue Sky Wellness
3944 N Mississippi Ave

Crow Bar
3954 N Mississippi Ave

Ecliptic Brewery
825 N Cook St

Emerald Petals
3948 N Mississippi Ave

Flutter
3948 N Mississippi Ave

Gumbo Gifts & Gallery
3900 N Mississippi Ave

Gypsy Chic
3966 N Mississippi Ave

Halfpint
3920 N Mississippi Ave

The Herb Shoppe Pharmacy
3912 N Mississippi Ave

Interurban
4057 N Mississippi Ave

Jennyfer’s Boutique
4018 N Mississippi Ave

Land Gallery
3925 N Mississippi Ave

Laughing Planet Cafe
3765 N Mississipppi Ave

Manifesto Shoes
3806 N Mississippi Ave

Mississippi Studios
3939 N Mississippi Ave

Mr. Green Beans
3908 N Mississippi Ave

North Light
3746 N Mississippi Ave

Oregon Deli Co
3560 N Mississippi Ave

Paxton Gate
4204 N Mississippi Ave

PDXchange - Fair & Square.
3916 N Mississippi Ave

Pistils Nursery
3811 N Mississippi Ave Suite 1

Prost!
4237 N Mississippi Ave

Por Que No?
3524 N Mississippi Ave

Radar Restaurant
3951 N Mississippi Ave

The Rambler
4205 N Mississippi Ave

Reading Frenzy
3628 N Mississippi Ave

The Rebuilding Center
3625 N Mississippi Ave

Salty’s Pet Supply
4039 N Mississippi Unit 104

She Bop
909 N Beech St

Sloan Boutique
3824 N Mississippi Ave

Spin Laundry Lounge
750 N Fremont St

Stormbreaker Brewing
832 N Beech St  

Townshend’s Teahouse
3917 N Mississippi Ave

Trailhead Credit Union
3904 N Mississippi Ave  

Hand-crafted Reclaimed Furniture from Urban Industrial NW

Welder/woodworker Greg Hostetter crafts one-of-a-kind reclaimed furniture out of materials he gets at the Rebuilding Center. The rich colors, warm tones and fascinating grains of reclaimed old-growth lumber characterize his pieces and inspire the artist in him.

After too many years working too many hours as a professional TIG welder, Hostetter left his demanding corporate job for self employment. He and his fiancée founded Urban Industrial NW about two years ago—he builds the furniture and she takes care of the marketing. He gets most of his wood from the Rebuilding Center, coming in at least three days a week to find wood with the rustic character he loves, complete with saw marks and blackening from old nails. “The Rebuilding Center is awesome. Everyone is so nice, the pricing is good and they do a lot for the community,” says Greg. “You never know what you’ll find”

Reclaimed wood takes a special eye, according to Greg. It may be hard to see through the dirt and muck accumulating on a board as it sits around for years, but he loves the magic of that “oh my gosh” moment when refinishing reveals the vibrant golden tones within. Not only is reclaimed wood better than newly harvested product, Greg’s glad no one’s cutting down a forest for his furniture.

Life as a craftsman is good for Greg. Instead of working 60 hours a week for a big company, he gets to spend more time with his family and express his creativity. 90 percent of his work is custom orders, and he puts the rest in his Etsy shop. View his work there and on his Facebook page and get inspired for Creative Reuse!

New to PDX Event @ The Rebuilding Center

Friday, December 11th
6pm - 8pm
The Rebuilding Center
3625 N. Mississippi avenue

Want to meet new people? Do you like to be hands-on? Want to promote reuse? Come to The Rebuilding Center's New To PDX event and join up with like-minded individuals and build a friend base here in your new city!  Local volunteers are a vibrant and wonderful part of the Rose City.  Meet some new folks and help keep usable materials out of the waste stream.  We meet up every second Friday of every month.

Home Repair Help for Cully Seniors

Article by Annelise Kelly

For over 20 years, Portland Community Reinvestment Initiatives, Inc. (PCRI) has reinvested in Portland’s neighborhoods, preserved their diversity and provided tools to help low-income Portland families achieve stability and self-sufficiency.

Other programs operated by the PCRI include:

  • Homeownership Education and Counseling
  • Homeownership Retention
  • Financial Wellness
  • Individual Development Accounts (IDA)
  • Youth Programs
  • Community Centers
  • Community Information and Referral Services

More info on PCRI's website

#GivingTuesday De-nailing Party

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#GivingTuesday is not just about money, you can give back to your community by volunteering time with a deconstruction de-nailing party. Be apart of salvaging resources for reuse in a fun and hands-on way! We’ve created a special event this #GivingTuesday, December 1st at a site on NE 9th (near Broadway). Come prepared with steel toed boots. 

Forecast: looks like it isn’t going to rain! But it will be cold, so dress for the weather.

A few other things to remember:

-We can provide all volunteers with steel-toed boots. If you have your own, please wear them. Otherwise, let us know your shoe size and we'll have some ready for you!

-Volunteers that are under the age of 18 must have a youth waiver signed by a parent or gaurdian.

-Denailing requires gloves and eye protection, so please supply what you can.  We have extras for volunteer use, but it is nice to use your own!

Our Deconstruction services offer an affordable and sustainable alternative to conventional demolition. Working by hand, our crews salvage for reuse up to 85% of a buildings major components. A crucial step in these materials' journey towards reuse is the extraction of their nails, screws and staples. 

Team up with other volunteers and help us do our part in keeping more building materials out of the waste stream!

Here’s an article on GivingTuesday’s website on what it means to give through volunteering!

OR


Friday Sale, Giving Tuesday + Holiday Tree Lighting

We’ve got some holiday fun lined up for you!

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WE ARE CLOSED ON THANKSGIVING

but reopen the next day for a...

FRIDAY SALE

November 27th
15% OFF all light fixtures & glass shades
50% OFF all tile
Regular hours: 10AM - 6PM

then on Saturday...

HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY

November 28th
Mississippi Commons (between N. Failing and N. Beech St.)

  • Starts at 5PM / live entertainment at 6PM
  • Free treats, cocoa and teas provided by Oregon Deli Co., Townshend’s Tea Company and New Seasons Market
  • Pick up your Holiday Passports - shop and dine on Miss. Ave. participating businesses for prizes and a chance to win the GRAND PRIZE.

After you've enjoyed a big sale, joined us in a community even, it's time to give back.

GIVING TUESDAY

December 1st

10% of proceeds from purchases made at the Rebuilding Center as well as many other business on Mississippi Ave will go towards Boise-Eliot/Humboldt School. We are proud to be a part of this opportunity to support our kids. Shop at The Rebuilding Center to raise funds for Boise-Eliot School on #givingtuesday! #Oregoniansgive

Trashcans for Sustainable Mississippi Ave

Katy Wolf (Boise Neighborhood board member) talks about our involvement with the Mississippi Ave trashcans that were installed 13 years ago. Because they are paid for by the street and not the city, it can take years to properly deal with the maintenance requirements. We helped move and scrap some of the cans that were beyond repair, others we committed to trying to mend the cracks. Right now Sustainable Mississippi - a Portland, OR neighborhood is drafting plans for new trashcans - check the link for more info. Thanks Tom! Thanks Jarod!

"A BIG thank you to Tom Patzkowski of the The Rebuilding Center for helping to take care of some of the most neglected trash cans on Mississippi Ave. It's not well known, but all the cans were installed about 13 years ago through a community partnership, and the Cloudburst pickups are paid for by the Mississippi Ave Business Association (not the City). However, because it's not anyone's responsibility to actually maintain the cans, it can take YEARS to get maintenance addressed.

The can at Interurban was cracked beyond repair, and had to be thrown out. The one from the John Palmer house was moved there instead, and it has cracking but may be reparable, so Jarod from Rebuilding Center will try to repair it. Thank you!

If you're interested in this topic, you may want to check out a draft plan of recommendations on creating new cans for the street (www.sustainablemississippi.com/trash-can-project.html). The plan won't move forward without business owner and association leadership, so until then, we'll keep repairing what we have and leaving it up to individual business owners to provide exterior cans if they are able to. We appreciate the service that providing cans adds to our community livability, health and hygiene, and that the HMBA pays for their pickup service.

Also, a side note that Williams Ave. Business Association is moving forward with a trash can committee to create new cans. More coming on that soon."

- Katy Wolf, Boise board member

Go to Sustainable Mississippi Ave's website

Reclamation Administration article, "Drowning in Demolition"

Adding to the list of reasons why deconstruction is beneficial: water conservation.

In this eye-opening The Reclamation Administration article, Sara Baiali recounts a morning biking past the demolition site of the old Wonder Bread HQ and notices the hoses wetting down all the materials. She later discovers that those hoses are not only pumping more than a gallon per square foot of building being demolished but that the water is actually being landfilled for the hazardous waste it accumulates in the process!

Deconstruction does not consume water like demolition because it does not require the dust suppression technology required by Oregon and EPA guidelines. Save thousands of gallons of water that is going into our sewers and landfills! Share about deconstruction.

Link to article

Home Fixated talks Keen + Rebuilding Center

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Read the full article here.

Close to home, we toured the Our United Villages ReBuilding Center. The ReBuilding Center is a huge, warehouse-like facility that accepts the region’s largest volume of used building and remodeling materials. Their goal is to keep as much of this material as possible from ending up in a landfill. They even have their own DeConstruction Services unit, which can dismantle pretty much any building, salvaging up to 85% of its major components for reuse. Some materials, such as cement and drywall, end up getting crushed and recycled. Much of the remainder is available to the public at a very reasonable price. Everything from a small piece of trim to a huge timber beam from an old industrial building, plumbing fixtures, doors, windows, mantels, hardware…if it was in a building, you’ll probably find it here.


KEEN Utility partnered with Our United Villages in 2014. After donating 28 pairs of boots to the center’s full-time volunteers, they donated another 40 pairs of steel-toed shoes to establish a Volunteer Shoe Library. DeConstruction volunteers can check out a pair, sort of like you would at a bowling alley, only without the big heavy balls, cheap beer and greasy pizza. This keeps their tootsies safe and comfortable while they spend the day de-nailing lumber, stacking and bundling materials, grading lumber, and so on.

Building The Commons: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays weekly

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Building The Commons at Rebuilding Center: Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from  10:30am to 3:00pm weekly until the project is complete

Time Commitment: Jump in when and where you can! It would be best to see the project to completion, yet we’re happy to involve anyone who’s handy in a wood shop (or wants to be). 

Here's a chance to get involved, hands-on, in some Creative Reuse! The Rebuilding Center has been working with a team of designers to create a wonderful new space. Help renovate The Commons to serve as a welcoming place for the community. When completed, The Commons of The ReBuilding Center will show off dozens of volunteers' work and commitment while telling the story of Our United Villages through salvaged building material.

We are forming a team of carpenters to see this vision out! If you are interested in carpentry and cabinetry, contact Dave to put together a time to meet with the team!

City of Portland Offering Deconstruction Grants

The Rebuilding Center has been on the forefront of deconstruction in Portland since our first project in 1999. As Portland develops at a breakneck pace, the value of this sustainable practice is increasingly recognized. Now the city is onboard! Grant awards range from $500 for partial projects, to $2,500 for full deconstruction, and are limited to projects involving the full removal of a house or duplex within Portland City limits. The first round of funding ends December 31, 2015, so get those applications in! Go to ExploreDecon.com for more grant info or learn more about our services on our Deconstruction page.

Tile Mosaics

Next time you’re visiting Rebuilding Center, be sure to visit the bathrooms! Mosaic artist and long-time staffer, Mayela Alvarado created the bright and colorful recycle sign in the Women's room. And Dan Borg brings our logo to life with this triple-hammer still life in the men’s room.

“I get so much pleasure in taking items that have been discarded and transforming them into lasting works of art” says Dan—and all our customers feel the same way! Check out more of Dan’s work at www.borgmosaics.com.

Mayela says that the Women's bathroom tile mosaic piece was only her second project after the mosaic class she took!

Come by our tile section to create your own reclaimed masterpiece.

Volunteer Spotlight: Shabani Butoyi

Shabani started volunteering at Rebuilding Center in July 2015. With his passion for helping people, he finds the work here rewarding and enjoys the variety of ways he can be of service, and the variety of people he meets. He also enjoys sports: he runs and plays basketball, and volunteers at his school for track meets. Shabani came to Portland with his family from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, seeking a better life as refugees. With his passion for helping people and his ambition to become an engineer or doctor, we know he’ll keep making a better life for himself and his family as well as his community.

Thanks Shabani!

Trade Show Training: Wednesday, November 11th

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Trade Show Training
November 11th
6:30pm to 7:30pm

Time Commitment: After training, 3 - 8 hour shifts available throughout the year. Each event is different and flexible, so let us know what works for you!

Once a year, we offer this training to those of you who enjoy getting out in the community and connecting with people at events. We go to Trade Shows, Fix-It-Fairs, Sunday Parkways, Environmental Expos and many other community events. Tabling at these events is all about building connections and sharing your experience with, and knowledge of, The Rebuilding Center. We have a great line-up of community events on the schedule and look forward to involving all of you in the community outreach and information sharing. 

You will receive an email reminder 24 hrs prior the the event. Sign up below:

Volunteer Leader Training on Wednesday, October 28th

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Volunteer Leader Training:
Wednesday, October 28th
6:30pm to 7:30pm

Time Commitment: After training, 3 hour shifts - on your own schedule! Volunteer Leaders fill slots on the schedule as they see fit.

It’s that time again where we provide you with an opportunity to take the reigns of our leadership and community engagement efforts by getting trained as a Volunteer Leader! VL’s have the unique opportunity to act in a guiding, delegating, and supporting role for the many projects underway at The Rebuilding Center. The training consists of two parts: a one-hour class room portion when we review the position and go over some of the basic responsibilities, and a shadowing portion alongside a Salvage Specialist staff member.

We spend the classroom hour going over the Volunteer Leader Handbook so you know where to find all the resources you need to excel as a leader. The shadowing portion allows you see, first-hand, where and how you can use your new knowledge! Ranging from material identification and common usages to pointers on how to work effectively with diverse populations, the training is geared towards empowering existing volunteers to take a more involved role with our communities through leadership. 

To sign up, email volunteer@rebuildingcenter.org

 

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