WO MEN O F AC HI E V E M E NT
NORA
course during her master’s studies. She learned how much people’s quality of life can be improved when they can age in their own home, but such jobs are a neglected niche in the construction industry. “It really was a lightbulb moment,” Nora says. Her early idea for a nonprofit that trains women in construction took its final form during this time. “It dawned on me that we’d need a great hands-on training opportunity for this training program,” she recalls. “[I figured] why not make it aging-in-place so that we can fill this gap and learn while they’re doing it?” Over the past two years, the crew has completed nearly 200 jobs. The cohort participants have ranged in age from 20 to 62 and are highly diverse. “We’ve had everyone from a single mom in the rural part of the county to a Ph.D. [student] who was just looking for a new opportunity,” Nora says. Plenty of the participants have struggled with barriers to secure FOUNDER AND CEO, employment. They may have criminal backgrounds or be in recovery. Nora says the key to their success in the program is the confidence HOPE RENOVATIONS and support that it focuses on fostering. In addition to hard skills, students receive training in networking, interviewing and intercommunication skills. So s a former recruiter far, three-quarters of the 61 for companies graduates have gained employment like Lowe’s and in the industry. IBM, Nora ElSince its 2020 launch, the Khouri Spencer nonprofit has received national has a passion for attention and widespread support. bringing women She has received calls from all into these male-dominated spaces. over the world, from Nevada to She attributes her Lowe’s employee Ghana, seeking to replicate Hope discount to helping her discover an Renovation’s model. Last year, Nora was honored as one of 10 additional passion for DIY home CNN Heroes, and recently, she was repair and remodeling. So when awarded The National Association Nora left the corporate world to of Home Builders’ Woman of the pursue a master’s degree at UNC’s Year award. Her rapid success, School of Social Work – her Nora chats with trainee Bri Kaplan while the crew practices woodworking. As part of their training, the although gratifying, is also her undergraduate alma mater – she saw cohort builds dog houses to hone their construction skills. an opportunity to merge the two biggest challenge. interests in a nonprofit. “It’s all fantastic and better Hope Renovations prepares women for careers in the construction than I ever could have expected, but it’s really hard to manage all trades with hands-on training and community-centered projects. Nora that as a startup,” Nora says. incorporated the nonprofit in 2017, the same year she finished her When she was a recruiter, she says one of her bosses impressed upon master’s. It officially launched in 2020. her the importance of not only hiring for skills, but hiring for passion. The program runs for 15 weeks, including nine weeks of handsThis advice helped her build a lasting leadership team that has carried the on training in the workshop and a six-week paid internship with the nonprofit through a hectic 2 ½ years. Hope Renovations construction crew, which is made up of women and “I have a team of 16 incredible people who are totally passionate nonbinary people. The crew works three days a week on aging-in-place about what we’re doing,” she says. projects, which provide critical repairs and renovations, such as wheelchair With all that’s on her plate, Nora jokes that her favorite hobby is ramps, comfort-height toilets, lowered countertops and widened doorways, Hope Renovations. When she does find the time to relax, though, that allow older adults to stay in their homes as they age. she enjoys gardening, beach vacations and exercises classes at SPENGA. Nora saw the opportunity to incorporate an aging-in-place component As a double Tar Heel, she also loves to attend UNC sporting events into the model of Hope Renovations during a social entrepreneurship with her husband, Brian Spencer. “Chapel Hill has always had a magic for me,” Nora says. “To be able to be back here, running this dream organization and helping people, By Emily Davis I’m a very, very lucky person.”
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chapelhillmagazine.com
May/June 2023