In December of last year, we were awarded a Green Equity Initiative Grant from the BECU Foundation. The focus of this grant was very aligned with the Repair Bank mission: Diversify and/or increase efforts to diversify workforce development pathways into “Green jobs.”

The goal of our program is to deploy a new workforce development component to provide furniture repair, refinishing, and reupholstery skills to refugees and immigrants. After months of development and planning, our program is officially up and running!

The State of Repair Businesses

In our previous research into the state of furniture repair businesses nationwide, the need for workforce development came up again and again. We spoke with business owners here in Washington State who were closing up shop because there was no one to take over the business, even though there was a backlog of customers with projects to be fulfilled. The need for skilled labor in this industry is strong, and as our society continues to strengthen the circular economy, the need for repair skills will only increase. Market demand for refurbished furniture sales is conditioned by supply chain disruptions, changing preferences of environmentally-conscious consumers, and consumers who prefer high-quality items over “fast furniture” for a reasonable price. As these businesses are stretched thin fulfilling orders, they do not have the bandwidth to develop their own training program but have provided input into the program design and recruitment process.

Supporting Marginalized Communities

Working with refugee resettlement and integration partners, we learned about the needs of their clients to develop new skills and find employment in their new homes. Our close partner Refugee Artisan Initiative (RAI) built their business model around training and employing refugee women and has committed to redirecting refugee women to our workforce development project. We reached out through our partner agencies including Jewish Family Services Northwest, Multi-Service Center, Neighborhood House, and others to connect with the women who will benefit from this program.  

Development & Launch

From June to July 2024, we hosted the first upholstery training sessions for our internal group of volunteers. Our trainer Cheryl Schneiderhan is a sewist with over 20 years of experience who led our eager volunteers through the process. Over the eight-week course, the team learned how to operate a sewing machine, attach a zipper, sew decorative cording and piping details, create a box pillow, and other valuable upholstery skills. 

Through the learnings we gained from this program, we developed a base and built the training for the first cohort of refugees and recent immigrants. In August we began the recruitment process and the launch of the first cohort began mid-September.

This motivated team of six women brought many existing talents to the program and are progressing in their skills quickly. Many of the items they have worked on are already in the homes of families we have served.

We are very excited to continue working with this enthusiastic team of women from Russia and Ukraine as they continue their skills training in their new trade!

See you at Furniture Repair Bank!

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