DETROIT – Detroit high school students are gaining hands-on experience designing and building furniture from scratch. Through a program with Atlantic Impact, they are diving into carpentry, design, and problem-solving.
These young creators are not just making things -- they are developing real-world skills that can open doors for their futures. Each piece they build is unique, with many showcasing Michigan pride.
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“This has opened up the door for them to see that there is a career for them, not everyone is going to go to college,” said Nino Tanzini, lead instructor for Atlantic Impact.
The program encourages creativity, one cut, sand, and stain at a time. Some furniture pieces take days or longer to complete as students work to perfect every detail.
When students see their finished work, Tanzini said, “You see that little thing click in their head, ‘Man, I really did this, someone really cares about what I did,’ so it’s a nice reward from my side to be able to say I was a part of that.”
The apprentices are also sharpening their entrepreneurship skills by preparing to sell their creations to the local community.
“Building your communications with people, you build bonds with people, some of these people that buy stuff might come back or have recommendations on us building something for them,” said Ashley Sigala, a Hope of Detroit graduate.
Beyond skill-building, the students are having fun throughout the process.
“There’s so many emotions. I feel happy. I remember when it was just plain wood,” Sigala said.
These pieces were made by five apprentices ready to take on their next adventure.
For more information, visit Atlantic Impact’s official website.