Help Us Cross the Finish Line!

Thanks to your generosity during Spring2Action, Cornerstone Craftsman is more than halfway to our 2025 individual giving goal of $70,000—but we still need to raise money to achieve our final goal, and to have a strong start to the 2026 calendar year.

Will you help us get there?

Your gift today will directly change the lives of young people in Alexandria.

Recently, donors like you helped us advocate for one of our 17-year-old pre-apprentices in court. He was facing a long-term sentence in a juvenile prison. But because of his participation and engagement in Cornerstone Craftsman’s program—and our ability to stand by him thanks to supporters like you—the judge saw another path. Instead of incarceration, the court gave him a second chance continuing on the positive upward trajectory he created at Cornerstone Craftsman and stay connected to his community.

In fact, the judge told us, “You have given me another option for this young man.” That statement is a powerful reminder of what your support makes possible. It’s not just about numbers—it’s about real lives, real futures, and real change for Alexandria’s teens.

Your support during the remainder of 2025 will help us to:

✅Increase the frequency of pre-apprentice training at our facility. Currently, youth networks meet weekly. Additional hands-on hours improve job readiness, accelerate skill mastery, and provide a safe, supervised environment that fosters meaningful mentor-mentee relationships—key to positive youth development.

✅ Support our Learning Lab, a vital space for academic tutoring, career readiness and mentorship opportunities with leaders in the construction industry, such as unions and firms.

✅Create opportunities for other high-quality work-based learning and field trips for our pre-apprentices such as job shadowing, service learning, internships, cooperative education and entrepreneurship coaching.

✅Expand our ability to provide critical wrap-around support services to address emergency needs of pre-apprentices and their families.

Cornerstone Craftsman mentors and trains youth ages 12 to graduation—many from communities deeply affected by poverty, crime, substance abuse, and chronic school absenteeism. These teens need more than opportunity. They need guidance, encouragement, stability, and purpose.

2025 is our first full year as a registered 501(c)(3).

Individuals like you have helped us achieve so much. Enabling us to:

Onboard, equip, and activate two 14-person youth networks.
Successfully advocate on behalf of 9 pre-apprentices in court.
Hosted and Attended 10+ Events lead by industry professionals to provide comprehensive career preparation to pre-apprentices.
Provide over 4,500 pounds of healthy groceries to our 28 youth and families, totaling over 120 individuals.
Secured Work-Ready Documents for pre-apprentices to ensure they have the crucial documents, including government issued IDs, necessary for job applications. We cover any costs that come with securing work documents.
Secured 1 driver's license for a youth in our program, and have 3 youth taking driver's ed classes. We cover any costs that come with obtaining licenses and classes.
Help two students launch their own painting business named Wealthy Walls, LLC.
Secure Professional Certifications to ensure youth received OSHA 10 and CPR certifications.
Set up a workshop and classroom facility and acquire a van for safe, consistent transportation.
Provide over 5 civic engagement opportunities to youth in the community, such as working with the Alexandria Police Foundation, and having partnerships with gun prevention group Moms Demand Action, and attending Mayoral Youth Forums.
Got two youth to graduate on time with their class with our Learning Lab program.
Implement a summer learning program for network C3, which in 6 weeks, they completed OSHA certification.

We’ve accomplished all of this with limited resources—and a lot of heart. But we can’t do it alone. Your donation today is an investment in a future where every teen in Alexandria has a real shot at a rewarding, sustainable, and self-sufficient life.

Will you be the one to help us reach our goal?

With gratitude,

Roberto Gomez and the Cornerstone Craftsman Team

2024-2025 Invest in Transformative Workforce Training

Help Alexandria Teens Build Real Careers and Brighter Futures

Team Members