This June, amid the flurry of Home Builders Blitz, an unexpected reunion unfolded. Among the many subcontractors coming out that week was Tyleam Edwards and his insulation crew. But this wasn't his first time stepping onto a Habitat for Humanity site.
"I did a youth program back in, probably like 2016. The program was nice. I got my carpentry license, my GED, all together. The work with Habitat helped connect me with a lot of job opportunities and I've been working in construction ever since. When I got this assignment today and saw it was for Habitat, I came out here wondering if Brad would be here and he was!" Tyleam says.
In the middle of the chaos and commotion of subcontractors arriving, our VP of construction, Brad McHugh, heard his name called and turned to see a familiar face.
"It was awesome to re-connect with Tyleam. I had not seen him in a couple years. Tyleam worked with us through a Youth Build Internship. He was a total class clown back then - he was only sixteen! To see him today, unexpectedly, on a construction site running an insulation crew and seeing how far he's come...it was a really awesome experience being able to re-connect with him." Brad says.
The two had a chance to catch up, and it was clear that even after six years, their connection remained strong. Brad mentioned that it's sometimes challenging to know what the long-term impacts of certain programs will be, but seeing Tyleam years later is the best example of why we continue engaging the community in so many different ways. From participating in a youth program to running a crew contracted for a Habitat build, this full circle moment was truly one for the books!
To learn more about our programs and volunteer options, visit our website https://www.habitatwake.org/volunteer
