SEEDS
of Hope
Agency Newsletter | Fall 2024
Building a New Life Through OhioGuidestone Beneath his royal blue graduation cap, Kaden grinned and held tightly to a certificate that officially opens the door to a career in construction. The usually shy 18-year-old is part of OhioGuidestone’s latest YouthBuild Construction cohort, a pre-apprenticeship, job training and educational program for youth and young adults. Getting into the program isn’t easy. Kaden went through the rigorous Mental Toughness screening and physical challenges to prove he is dedicated enough to complete the coursework and the intense hands-on training YouthBuild requires. Out of pure determination to change his life, Kaden succeeded. “I’m excited that I made it this far,” Kaden said, “a few years ago things were bad, really bad.”
A few years ago, Kaden was serving time for aggravated robbery, committed when he was a juvenile. At 14 he had run away from a violent home and survived on the streets until he was arrested and sent to a juvenile correctional facility. At the facility Kaden learned he could overcome the poverty and dysfunction of his childhood by accepting help from the adults around him. “I could see how resilient he is,” said Amissha Bell, Reentry Case Manager for OhioGuidestone’s juvenile reentry program. “He’s quiet, but well-liked, very kind, and hard working,” she said, “all qualities that made him a good fit for the program.” The program is a 14-week intensive curriculum designed to help individuals like Kaden develop essential life and emotional skills, equipping them to succeed once they leave the correctional facility. continued on page 2