Our Story

This particular table happened to have been built by a formerly-incarcerated young man who was working his way out of the Chicago criminal legal system. As Revolution Workshop’s founders pulled up their chairs around his impeccable craftsmanship, a transformational conversation began.

At that time, a staggering 37% of Chicago’s Black residents ages 20-24 were unemployed—and the numbers aren’t much better today. When people lack resources and opportunity, the whole city suffers.

Our country is also navigating an acute talent shortage and lack of diversity in the construction sector. Though good paying jobs are available, employers struggle to find the skilled workers they need to fill them.

Around the table, we asked: what if these two problems have a single solution? What if we could uplift the folks in our communities who’ve historically had fewer opportunities to build family-sustaining careers by training them to meet the needs of the construction industry?

Revolution Workshop provides training and job placement in the construction sector to dedicated individuals from our city’s most under-resourced communities.

Together with our employer and union partners, we develop a consistent pipeline of highly-skilled, collaborative, and reliable construction workers who have the tools and resources they need to succeed.

By doing so, we’re setting a new national model for economic advancement —transforming lives, worksites, and cities by filling the jobs that need to be filled with the people who need them the most.

Revolution Workshop isn’t your typical workforce development organization. We’re a community: a family of change-makers who believe in the future we can build together.

actions matter more than words.

lived experiences vary and everyone deserves a chance.

dismantle broken systems and amplify the voices of the underserved.

be who you say you are, and do right by those we serve.