For Roberto Gomez, the construction trades are more than just a paycheck. They’re a ticket to the middle class.

“The trades showed me an alternative path to a great living, one that doesn’t rely solely on the traditional college route, which in many ways is becoming obsolete,” said Gomez, who founded Cornerstone Craftsman, a nonprofit that works with at-risk teens and introduces them to the skilled trades. “They helped me avoid dead-end jobs that would have kept me stuck at the bottom of the working class and living close to the poverty line.”

Gomez started the organization in 2021 and about a year later met Washington, D.C., Local 26 Political Coordinator Don Slaiman. They quickly bonded over a shared mission to help the communities where they work and investing in the next generation of tradespeople.

“Roberto comes from a life that’s similar to the kids he works with. He can empathize with them,” Slaiman said. “And he’s completely invested. He always puts them first.”

Gomez started with five teenagers and more passion than funding. Today, he has close to 40 students and a waiting list. He’s also learned how to fundraise.

“Roberto is good at fundraising because donors can see that he’s the real deal,” Slaiman said.

Cornerstone Craftsman, based in Alexandria, Va., works with middle and high school students and stays in touch with them after they’ve finished school.

Part of what makes the program successful is Gomez’s commitment and willingness to help his students in whatever way they need. If that’s a ride to school, Gomez takes them. He’s helped some get their driver’s license.

And when he found out that some kids weren’t coming to school because they couldn’t wash their clothes at home, he installed a washer and dryer at the training facility.

“It’s caring about the individual so they trust you,” Gomez said.

Cornerstone Craftsman’s pre-​apprenticeship introduces students to trades including carpentry, plumbing and electrical, as well as Occupational Safety and Health Administration training. Gomez also teaches them soft skills like how to interview and the importance of showing up on time.

“I’m impressed by how eager and coachable the students are,” said Local 26 Business Agent Cordelia Evans, who’s worked with some of the kids at career fairs. “It’s great to see young people open to learning from experienced tradespeople and excited about giving back to their communities.”

In addition to career fairs, Local 26 has worked with Cornerstone Craftsman by hosting facility tours where students can interact with apprentices, ask questions and get a realistic view of what life is like in the trade.

“I want to make the trades attractive,” Gomez said. “For the students and the parents, because we need them on board too.”

While most of the youth Gomez works with are under 18, Local 26 is there as soon as they graduate. One student is interviewing for an apprenticeship.

“I want these youth to earn money in ways they’ve never seen before in their households and to live a quality of life that truly reflects an equitable lifestyle,” Gomez said. “My hope is that they see the trades as a path to stability, success and to a brighter future for themselves and their communities.”

Local 26 has also exercised its political clout to help Cornerstone Craftsman. Slaiman said the local is negotiating a project labor agreement for work at City Hall and working on language that would include the older Cornerstone Craftsman youth. Slaiman also introduced Gomez to other building trades so they can talk about offering direct entry into their apprenticeships.

“The IBEW has shown up countless times to support us,” Gomez said.

Slaiman noted that Gomez understands that unionized work is crucial to a good career in the trades.

“Roberto sees that the best chance for success is a union apprenticeship,” Slaiman said. “That’s the gold standard for where the kids should end up.”

Cornerstone Craftsman and Local 26 also share a commitment to lifting up their communities and providing a path to the middle class.

“We have a golden chance to give these often overlooked communities access to high-paying, in-demand jobs,” Gomez said. “When people transition from just getting by to truly living, we see a decline in crime and violence, the emergence of strong economic activity, an increase in taxpaying citizens and overall improvements in community well-being.”

Cornerstone Craftsman is able to reach the next generation of tradespeople at an earlier point than an IBEW apprenticeship, Slaiman said.

“It’s a great feeder program,” he said. “It allows us to extend further into the community and get rid of any obstacles. This is how we get these kids to the middle class.”