Our Programs

TradeWorks Collective offers hands-on learning experiences that prepare youth and adults for successful careers in the skilled trades.
Our programs blend practical skills, mentorship, and community service to create pathways to lifelong opportunity.

Young people working on woodworking projects in a workshop, measuring and marking wooden planks.

Shop class

Our flagship program designed for middle and high school students, Shop Class introduces carpentry, electrical, plumbing, metalwork, and more through hands-on projects. Students learn tool safety, teamwork, and problem-solving while building real structures and completing community-based projects.

A group of teenagers and adults in a classroom assembling or testing virtual reality headsets at tables. The room has a TV on the wall and motivational words on the wall.

Community partnerships

We partner with community organizations and local nonprofits to deliver trade-based day camps, after-school programs, and special events. These collaborations bring the trades directly to youth in our community, creating early exposure and sparking career curiosity.

Two men standing close together, smiling at the camera, in front of a brown poster with white and colored confetti design. One man has a beard and glasses, wearing a light-colored short-sleeved shirt, and the other is younger, wearing a black polo shirt with a Tennessee Volunteers logo and a cap with a deer logo.

work based learning & mentorship

Through partnerships with schools, technical colleges, and industry professionals, students have the opportunity to explore career paths, connect with mentors, and gain real-world experience in a safe, supportive environment.

A view from inside a workshop looking out into an indoor sports court with teenagers playing.

adult skills workshops

We believe it’s never too late to learn. Our adult classes include repair workshops, “Ladies Night Out” tool training sessions, and DIY home maintenance courses, empowering adults to take on their own projects with confidence.

A woodworking workshop with a row of wooden bird houses in the foreground, a drill press in the background, and various woodworking tools and materials scattered throughout the space.

special projects

From building community playhouses to supporting local service initiatives, our special projects bring students and volunteers together to create lasting impact while applying skills learned in the classroom.