Building Success - Job Program

BUILDING SUCCESS PROGRAM OVERVIEW

 Rescue Success Workforce Development Initiative

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PROGRAM SUMMARY

Building Success is a transformative 90-day paid apprenticeship program launching January 2026 that creates direct pathways from incarceration, addiction, and homelessness to sustainable careers in construction trades. Participants earn a true living wage per hour while working on actual real estate and commercial construction projects overseen by Rescue Success, learning hands-on skills from experienced supervisors in nine high-demand trades.

The program addresses two critical community challenges simultaneously: Indiana's 38.2% recidivism rate driven primarily by inability to secure living-wage employment, and Indianapolis's construction industry workforce shortage that leaves thousands of skilled positions unfilled. By investing in comprehensive training paired with wraparound support services, Building Success breaks intergenerational cycles of justice involvement while strengthening the local construction workforce.

 Participants will work Monday through Friday, 40 hours per week, gaining 520 total hours of construction experience while earning wages that actually cover rent, food, transportation, and basic needs. This investment in human potential generates measurable community returns: 85% job placement at $19-22 per hour, zero recidivism, and $4.10 in community value created for every dollar invested.

MISSION AND VISION

Building Success transforms lives by providing comprehensive workforce training, practical resources, and advocacy for individuals navigating the challenges of incarceration, addiction, and homelessness. Founded on the lived experience of Roger W. Upchurch, who personally experienced federal incarceration and brings 35 years of construction industry expertise, the program breaks cycles of disadvantage through direct skills development, living-wage employment during training, and sustained post-placement support.

The vision is a community where past mistakes do not define future possibilities, where individuals have access to the training and support needed for successful reintegration and sustained economic stability, and where Indianapolis becomes a model of effective workforce development that honors dignity while addressing real business needs. Through Building Success, formerly incarcerated individuals become skilled tradespeople who contribute to their communities rather than return to the justice system.

THE LIVING WAGE COMMITMENT

Building Success will see that the interns get paid at least 13.00 per hour while in the 90-day program because comprehensive research and lived experience demonstrate that anything less perpetuates the cycles the program exists to break. 

Most workforce development programs pay participants less or nothing at all. 

The living wage commitment demonstrates genuine investment in participant success rather than performative programming. When participants can afford housing, food, transportation, and maintain dignity through self-sufficiency, they can focus mental and emotional energy on skill acquisition, relationship repair, and future planning rather than constant crisis management. This approach recognizes that successful reintegration requires addressing immediate survival needs while building long-term capacity.

TRAINING STRUCTURE AND APPROACH

Building Success operates fundamentally differently from traditional workforce programs by placing participants directly on actual construction job sites from day one. Rather than spending weeks in classroom environments learning theory, apprentices work on real residential and commercial construction projects throughout the Indianapolis area under the direct supervision of experienced construction professionals including founder

Roger Upchurch, who brings more than three decades of custom home building expertise.

Apprentices select from nine construction trade pathways based on their interests, physical capabilities, and career goals: Construction Administration focusing on bookkeeping, estimating, specifications, and project coordination; Excavation and Foundations including site preparation, concrete work, and grading; Masonry covering brickwork, stone, and concrete block installation; General Carpentry encompassing framing, roofing, and interior/exterior trim; Drywall and Painting including wall finishing, taping, painting, and texture work; Electrical covering wiring, fixtures, and systems with apprentice licensure track; Plumbing including pipe installation, fixtures, and systems with apprentice registration; HVAC focusing on heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems with EPA certification; and Landscaping including hardscaping, irrigation, and site beautification.

The 90-day program follows a carefully structured progression. Intern will work on the job and during weeks one and two, apprentices complete foundation work including comprehensive intake assessment, background checks and drug screening, OSHA 10-hour safety certification, First Aid and CPR training, receipt of all necessary work gear and equipment, orientation to construction site culture and professional expectations, and initial project observation while learning basic tool operation and safety protocols. Some of this will be done outside work ours and may not be paid for this.

Apprentices may  begin hands-on work under close supervision at start of program, learn proper tool operation and construction techniques, participate in weekly case manager check-ins to address emerging barriers, attend bi-weekly soft skills workshops covering financial literacy, professional communication, conflict resolution, and time management, receive trade-specific technical training and education, and build confidence through successful task completion with increasing complexity.

During weeks seven through ten, apprentices assume increasing responsibility through more independent work with periodic supervision rather than constant oversight, begin leading specific tasks and problem-solving on job sites, prepare for and complete trade certification requirements, participate in resume development and interview preparation, receive formal employer evaluation and feedback, and access enhanced housing stability assessment and support services to ensure sustainable post-program living situations.

The final weeks eleven through thirteen focus on transition to employment where apprentices complete remaining trade certifications, perform near-independent work on projects demonstrating mastery of core skills, undergo final competency assessments documenting skill development, engage intensive job placement services including

resume finalization, interview preparation, professional references from construction supervisors, and connections to hiring employers, participate in graduation planning and celebration, and establish post-program support coordination for six-month follow-up services.

Each employer may have their own training program and time tables.

SLED CORPORATION

“Saving Lives Every Day”

 SLED Corporation is an Indiana-based non-profit organization determined to be the premier community partner for the formerly incarcerated and the underserved. SLED is  our partner in Building Success and help supply the interns for the program