OUR VOLUNTEERS SHAPE LIVES
The volunteer-apprentice relationship is the cornerstone of our Apprentice Program and is one of The Seaport Foundation’s greatest assets. Volunteers work one-on-one and in small groups to guide apprentices through the Apprentice Program curriculum; honing their skills, building their confidence, and developing resilience. This work takes time and patience, and our mentors find it highly rewarding.
Volunteers begin their time at ASF by learning about the many aspects of the Apprentice Program in order to identify the areas where their talents can be most helpful:
- Training in the use of hand and power tools, wood joinery and finishing work such as sanding, painting and varnishing;
- Mastering the workforce skills identified by the U.S. Department of Labor and supported by its Workforce Development programs (e.g., attendance, punctuality, teamwork, problem-solving, responding to supervision);
- Developing critical life skills (e.g., time management, decision-making, personal budgeting; anger management; self-care and mindfulness);
- Overcoming personal/emotional challenges and building healthy habits;
- Obtaining a GED; and
- Conducting a job search and interview process, and/or applying to college or a technical training program
Volunteers select the topics in which they feel they can help apprentices the most and the methods they are most comfortable using:
- Tutoring apprentices one-on-one in an academic subject;
- Working side-by-side with apprentices on woodworking, maintenance or boat-building projects; or
- Mentoring apprentices on a more personal level, either individually or in small groups.
Do you have a skill or interest you’d like to share with the Apprentices of The Seaport Foundation?
Contact Kathy Seifert at seifert@alexandriaseaport.org.
Orientation for mentoring, tutoring, and maintenance volunteers is held periodically on Tuesdays. The Seaport Center is open between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm, with the lunch hour beginning at noon.
If you are interested in learning more, just stop by or email Jimmy Gottfried at gottfried@alexandriaseaport.org.