Maple Built, a woodworking apprenticeship that employs, trains, and mentors young men in Nashville, has received the honor from the Foundation and SmileDirectClub. During a time that has been difficult for so many, this SuperGrant provides hope - and so much more.
"As a community-based organization that has been working in Nashville for several years, Maple Built is always excited to forge new partnerships with organizations that care about the city," Maple Bult Executive Director Will Anderson said. "We believe that the young people of Nashville are worth investing in, and it encourages us when we meet others that not only share that sentiment with their mouths, but also with their checkbooks."
According to Maple Built, they exist "to create employment, job-training and mentorship opportunities for at-risk youth," three pillars every young person can build a foundation upon.
When it comes to employment opportunities, Maple Built aims to not only simply provide a job, but also the experience necessary for resume building for the future. Problem-solving comes in the setting of a woodshop by holding workers to standards that encourage hard work and a sense of pride in the finished product.
The mentorship aspect of the program is perhaps the most important, with each employee being partnered with a mentor. One-on-one time helps to forge relationships and allow participants to realize their full potential while reimagining their future at Maple Built and beyond.
"This SuperGrant allows us to diversify the job-skills training that we offer to the young people in our program through the addition of tech components," Anderson said. "Our goal is not just to teach young people, but to create an environment where they develop a sense of confidence in a work environment. Through the generosity of the Preds Foundation and SmileDirectClub, we are also able to maintain our lease at our workshop in North Nashville which allows us to be as proximal as possible to the young people we work with."
Simply put, with the SuperGrant's help, Maple Built is changing lives. That's exactly the vision the Preds Foundation and SmileDirectClub had for the initiative, and the impact in the community is seismic.
That's what the Predators have done in Nashville and beyond since Day One, and the Smashville SuperGrants embody that mission more than ever before.
"Here at Maple Built, we believe that Nashville moves closer to its potential when we all work together," Anderson said. "Therefore, we are honored to work with the Preds Foundation and SmileDirectClub to see the young people of our city discover their true potential."
