Our unique pre-apprenticeship program provides young men and women, ages 12-17, the chance to build a viable career path, earn a livable wage and pursue economic self-sufficiency. By offering vocational career pathways, we are opening doors to alternative education routes and empowering youth with the skills and resources needed for success. 

In 2023, Alexandria City saw an increase in gang-related crimes throughout the city, including a 54% increase in auto theft, a 47% increase in aggravated assault, and a 32% increase in robberies. In addition to juvenile crime rates, chronic absenteeism has grown by 40% from 2018 to now. 

Every day, our teens and young adults stand at a pivotal crossroads, where their decisions can shape their lives and the lives of many in our community. Our mission, our calling, is to guide these young people toward becoming self-sufficient adults, reducing their vulnerability to gang recruitment, criminal behavior, unplanned teen pregnancy, and school dropout rates in our local communities.

With a remarkable 95% program retention rate, our mentees have not only demonstrated their desire and eagerness to learn but have also shown true grit, a testament to the effectiveness of our program. 

With an ever-growing waiting list and a high demand for our services, it is imperative that we increase our program capacity. Expansion of our pre-apprentice program is not just a priority; it’s a necessity to ensure that we can serve more youth and provide children on our waiting list with the same opportunity to learn valuable life skills and advance in their careers. 

By providing meals, transportation, and other support during our programs, we aim to keep our teens out of harm’s way while providing a space for them to apply their skills and intelligence to a professional pursuit.

Through a series of pre- and post-evaluations, surveys, and report card data, Cornerstone Craftsman, in conjunction with ACPS and Social Services, plans to track the improvement of truancy, GPA, family relationships, and mental health. We are gathering data and feedback on some of these indicators through informal interviews and conversations. We plan to place significant importance on producing quantitative and qualitative measures to prove our success in increasing valuable life skills in both career and personal development.