2020 MBI-WORKS Recipients
Cardinal Construction & The Waterloo Career Center
Waterloo, IA
Award: $23,000
The focus of this project is to increase student engagement through the Waterloo Career Center by partnering with a local non-profit community organization, Block by Block, to construct small sheds, which will provide a secure place for families to store outdoor items on their property. The sheds are then donated through Block by Block. The funds are being used to purchase supplies and materials for the sheds and the programming began in the Fall of 2020.
Kingland Construction & The Forest City YMCA After-School program
Forest City, IA
Award: $30,000
The focus of this project is to support an introduction to beginner-level carpentry and beginner-level mechanics programming to engage a demographic that currently lacks extracurricular activities in the community. The funds are being used to purchase supplies and a trailer to initiate the program. The programs through the YMCA that are being supported with Endowment funds include Bridge Builders Jr, Garage Keepers and Grease Monkeys Jr. and will primarily attract 1st-4th grade students.
Bridge Builders Jr. will design, build, and test balsa wood bridges. The objective of this program is to teach the youth how to read and implement building plans, give them an introduction to the design process, address load distribution within structures, expose participants to the various materials used to build different types of structures, and provide an opportunity for experience building a load-bearing structure.
Garage Keepers will teach individuals how to maintain equipment on the newly acquired STEM trailer. This program's learning objective is to get hands-on experience learning what maintenance needs are conducted on equipment, how to perform the maintenance, shop safety and how to work with small hand tools.
Grease Monkeys Jr. will teach hand and power tools operations to disassemble and reassemble parts of Kohler lawnmower engines. The objective of this program is to introduce youth to shop safety, expose them to various hand tools and how to use them, and to educate them on the parts of an engine and what they do.
Programing for Bridge Builders Jr. was able to start hosting classes on July 13, 2020. This program is offered free of charge and registration is required to attend. Grease Monkeys Jr. will be kicking off the first part of August 2020.
Seedorff Masonry, Inc. & The Masonry Institute of Iowa
Strawberry Point, IA
Award: $15,000
The focus of this project is to provide increased awareness among teachers and students about the career opportunities available in masonry and bricklaying. The partnership between Seedorff Masonry, Inc. and the Masonry Institute of Iowa will equip educators with the resources needed to bring masonry into their classrooms, giving students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience and skills needed to enter the workforce upon graduation. Masonry continues to be a lost art that has largely been ignored by high school classrooms.
The funds awarded from the Endowment are being used to purchase classroom tools available for check out, update marketing materials and engage teachers to register for courses offered in partnership with the Masonry Institute of Iowa and several local Area Education Agencies. The course work and materials offered to teachers will be in the form of a “train the trainer” course model.
