Congratulations to our Program Graduates
Big congrats to Akeem Lattimore and Destiny Jackson—our newest graduates of the Building Value Construction Training Program!
Over the past 12 weeks, they’ve gained hands-on experience in deconstruction, tool operation, and safety practices while earning more than five industry-recognized certifications. Each graduate leaves our program with the skills, confidence, and professionalism needed to launch a successful career in the trades.
We’re especially proud to share that Destiny has been hired by Messer Construction, one of Cincinnati’s leading general contractors. Her success reflects the program’s strong partnerships with local employers who know that Building Value graduates are job-ready from day one. Through paid, on-the-job learning and personalized coaching, our trainees transition seamlessly from training sites to full-time, family-sustaining employment.
Congratulations to Akeem and Destiny—your futures are bright!
From Training to Trades: Deaujha Long
“I’ve only been here a month and I’m already doing way more than I thought I’d be doing. I thought I’d just be moving boxes or taking out trash, but I’m actually getting to work—hands-on, right away.”
—Deaujha Long, Building Value Construction Training Program graduate
Deaujha found our program while searching for something more stable than retail and fashion jobs. Now she’s earning a prevailing wage in the electrical trades because of the skills, structure, and support she gained at Building Value.
That transformation is only possible because of donors, sponsors, and partners like YOU who invest in second chances and skilled careers.
Every cohort member receives:
- Paid hands-on training on real job sites
- Industry-recognized certifications
- One year of job coaching after graduation
- A pathway into a career that pays a living wage
Want to help the next Deaujha? Sponsor a trainee. Donate tools. Fund a certification. Your support doesn’t just train workers–it builds futures.
Support the next Deaujha
Toys for Tots & CAIN Cincinnati
Donations at Building Value
Building Value is proud to support Toys for Tots and CAIN (Churches Active in Northside) this season—and we’re inviting YOU to join us in giving back.
Toys for Tots
We’ve got an official collection bin right here at Building Value! Bring in new, unwrapped toys for children of all ages. Donations will be accepted through mid-December—help make sure every child wakes up to something special this holiday season.
CAIN Food & Supply Drive
We’re also collecting non-perishable food and essential items for our neighbors through CAIN. Every item helps families struggling to meet basic needs this winter. Their most requested items include:
- Bottled water, Gatorades, and drink mixes
- Snack-size chips or crackers
- Microwavable meals (Chef Boyardee, chili, mac & cheese)
- Peanut butter, pouch tuna/chicken, masa flour, cooking oil
- Diapers (all sizes), baby wipes, adult incontinence products
- Personal care and cleaning products
Drop off your donations at Building Value (4040 Spring Grove Avenue Cincinnati, OH) during store hours. Together, we can reuse, rebuild, and restore hope this holiday season.
In the Community: Building Value Partnership Highlights
At Building Value, partnerships are at the heart of our mission. This season, we’ve joined forces with three incredible organizations—Bethany House Services, Scrap2Home, and People Working Cooperatively (PWC)—each working to strengthen our community through housing stability, creative reuse, and homeowner support.
These collaborations not only amplify shared values but also provide hands-on training experiences that help our crew members grow their skills and confidence.
Our partnership with Scrap2Home has given trainees the chance to expand their woodworking and fabrication skills by building custom end tables from reclaimed materials. Scrap2Home’s mission to transform salvaged items into functional furniture for neighbors in need mirrors our dedication to sustainability and reuse.
With Bethany House Services, our team repainted bathrooms to help create a brighter, more dignified environment for families experiencing homelessness. Their commitment to helping families achieve stability aligns closely with our workforce development mission; while they help families rebuild their foundation, we help individuals build careers.
Through an event held by People Working Cooperatively, known as the Prepare Affair, our team volunteered in Northside to rake leaves, clean up yards, and help residents prepare their homes for winter. PWC’s long-standing mission to support older adults and people with disabilities keeps community members safe and housed, and we’re proud to play a role in that effort.
These collaborative partnerships highlight how Building Value blends skill-building, service, and sustainability into every project. If your organization has a community-focused project or volunteer opportunity, let’s work together to make an even bigger impact.
Contact us at (513) 740-1067 or email BSherlock@buildingvalue.org to see how we can work together to make a more sustainable Cincinnati!
New Colored Price Labels: A Smarter Way to Save!
In January, we launched a new color-coded pricing system designed to make shopping easier and savings even better! Since then, we have assigned a different color for newly priced items, and as time goes on, those items will move through a discount cycle.
How It Works
▸Each month, new items will be tagged with a specific color.
▸Those items will start at full price in their first month.
▸Every month after that, they’ll receive a bigger discount—giving shoppers great opportunities to save!
The Discount Schedule
▸Month 1 – Full Price (New Color)
▸Month 2 – 10% Off
▸Month 3 – 20% Off
▸Month 4 – 30% Off
▸Month 5 – 50% Off
▸Month 6 – 75% Off
Once items reach the six-month mark, they will be deeply discounted at 75% off, giving shoppers incredible deals before they’re removed from the sales floor.
For the month of November, all items with PINK labels are 75% off!
Be sure to check the color-coded tags each time you shop so you don’t miss out on amazing deals!
Social Impact Report: Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Cincinnati
Our latest Social Impact Report spotlights a recent deconstruction project at Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Cincinnati, where our trainees worked alongside Jostin Construction. Our crews removed cabinetry, appliances, and fixtures for reuse rather than landfill disposal.
Through this project, four participants—including Brandon Oats, Destiny Jackson, Joseph Jackson, and Dawayne Duke—gained hands-on experience on a fast-paced commercial jobsite, learning how coordination, safety, and sustainability come together on professional builds. Together, the team saved 3,000 pounds of materials from the landfill and recovered 25 salvageable items for resale at Building Value.
How it works
After each project, clients receive a detailed summary showing…
- How many pounds of material were diverted from landfills
- How much waste was reduced
- How those reclaimed materials went on to benefit the community through resale and workforce training
Each report highlights how the project directly supports Building Value’s Construction Training Program, which provides paid, hands-on experience to individuals building new careers in the trades.
Get a Social Impact Report for your next project!
Call us at (513) 740-1067 or email BSherlock@buildingvalue.org to schedule a free consultation and find out how we can help you save money, reduce waste, and make a difference.
Monthly Tuesday Discount Days
You have asked, and we have listened. Starting in 2025, we are rolling out our Tuesday discount days. On select Tuesdays of the month, we will be be honoring different groups with a discount.
Join us for freshly baked cookies and coffee and 20% off on our specialty discount days:
- 2nd Tuesday of the month: Senior Citizens (55+)
- 3rd Tuesday of the month: Veterans and active duty service members
- 4th Tuesday of the month: Our Northside Neighbors in zip code 45223
And remember to use your ArtsWave pass here at Building Value for a 20% discount anytime!
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