build(h)er Detroit
Donation protected
Hello World!
My name is Naidra and I want to be a builder. If you've met me, you probably realized pretty quickly that I'm chocked full of ideas and ways to create space for people to live and work. From strategizing on how to get a utility trailer for a car or bike to transport materials across the city - to thinking of ways to transform a residential space to a live/work community, complete with gardens, a movie theatre, and a park designed to help people learn to train & socialize their dogs.
Currently, I'm interested in purchasing and rehabilitating properties as creative spaces to rent out to folks like me (creative, of varying income, with wide interests & career ideas, and who may/may not have a dog that society views as aggressive). I also want to build a series of little houses around Detroit proving that a) it's possible, and b) that anyone can use locally sourced materials to create a cool spot to live that is comfortable, sustainable, potentially off-grid, and doesn't require a 30-year mortgage.
(example of a little house. Photo from: http://bit.ly/1c8Fe7v)
I own and run a business, Invictus Custom Woodwork, LLC, where I repurpose wooden pallets into functional art like tables and chairs. I also make jewelry and paddles and shields for fraternities and sororities. Check out my work at www.getinvictus.com. Eventually, I'd like to incorporate building little houses into my business model.
So, I do own a company, and I do make things. Now, it's time to step up to the next level.
This coming Monday, I will be starting the course to obtain my residential builder's license with the Detroit Training Center. This certification will enable me to get to what I am really passionate about: creating space for people to live and work without the societal barriers that limit what that space looks like.
I've tried approaching this issue in a lot of different ways (like earning two degrees, and starting Invictus), but none of them have given me the practical skills and experience that I need to build or renovate structures. The bottom line is simple: I want to be a builder, but I need to learn how.
The story behind it all starts when I was 2 years old...maybe 4. I've always had a passion to build things, but was not really encouraged to actually do it. It's been "you're too small," or "girls don't do construction," or "just own a company that builds things." So, I took up Architecture in high school and tried my hand at Engineering in college, but still haven't had the opportunity to really get my hands dirty enough to advance my business.
Please help me out by donating to this campaign to pay for the builder's licensure course, the certification for the State of Michigan, and to get bonded & insured to be able to legally work as a contractor. With your help, I can join the carpenter's union and start the 4-year apprenticeship program to gain the necessary skills and experience that I need to be a successful little house-builder.
This is a small step toward my overall career goal. Please consider helping me out by donating to this cause. If you can't donate, help me spread the word! The course is 5 weeks long, so I have that much time to raise the funds to move forward.
Thanks a million!
My name is Naidra and I want to be a builder. If you've met me, you probably realized pretty quickly that I'm chocked full of ideas and ways to create space for people to live and work. From strategizing on how to get a utility trailer for a car or bike to transport materials across the city - to thinking of ways to transform a residential space to a live/work community, complete with gardens, a movie theatre, and a park designed to help people learn to train & socialize their dogs.
Currently, I'm interested in purchasing and rehabilitating properties as creative spaces to rent out to folks like me (creative, of varying income, with wide interests & career ideas, and who may/may not have a dog that society views as aggressive). I also want to build a series of little houses around Detroit proving that a) it's possible, and b) that anyone can use locally sourced materials to create a cool spot to live that is comfortable, sustainable, potentially off-grid, and doesn't require a 30-year mortgage.
(example of a little house. Photo from: http://bit.ly/1c8Fe7v)
I own and run a business, Invictus Custom Woodwork, LLC, where I repurpose wooden pallets into functional art like tables and chairs. I also make jewelry and paddles and shields for fraternities and sororities. Check out my work at www.getinvictus.com. Eventually, I'd like to incorporate building little houses into my business model.
So, I do own a company, and I do make things. Now, it's time to step up to the next level.
This coming Monday, I will be starting the course to obtain my residential builder's license with the Detroit Training Center. This certification will enable me to get to what I am really passionate about: creating space for people to live and work without the societal barriers that limit what that space looks like.
I've tried approaching this issue in a lot of different ways (like earning two degrees, and starting Invictus), but none of them have given me the practical skills and experience that I need to build or renovate structures. The bottom line is simple: I want to be a builder, but I need to learn how.
The story behind it all starts when I was 2 years old...maybe 4. I've always had a passion to build things, but was not really encouraged to actually do it. It's been "you're too small," or "girls don't do construction," or "just own a company that builds things." So, I took up Architecture in high school and tried my hand at Engineering in college, but still haven't had the opportunity to really get my hands dirty enough to advance my business.
Please help me out by donating to this campaign to pay for the builder's licensure course, the certification for the State of Michigan, and to get bonded & insured to be able to legally work as a contractor. With your help, I can join the carpenter's union and start the 4-year apprenticeship program to gain the necessary skills and experience that I need to be a successful little house-builder.
This is a small step toward my overall career goal. Please consider helping me out by donating to this cause. If you can't donate, help me spread the word! The course is 5 weeks long, so I have that much time to raise the funds to move forward.
Thanks a million!
Organizer
Naidra Walls
Organizer
Detroit, MI
