Providing hope, faith, and purpose to at-risk and high-risk young people in U.S Virgin Islands.
My Brother’s Workshop is a non-profit Virgin Islands charitable corporation. It has been organized to provide hope, faith, and purpose to at-risk and high-risk young people in the USVI by offering mentoring, counseling, paid job training, education, and job placement.
OUR MISSIONMBW is unique because of its individualized programs for our youth with a holistic approach with heavy emphasis on mentorship and counseling and education.
"I believe that MBW is important for the USVI because it helps our younger generation to change their lives by providing them the opportunity to learn different trades for everyday life. MBW helped me accept the keys to maturity and responsibility, job-wise and in life itself. I learned about responsibility, leadership, maturity, growth, being a mentor for other kids, patience and the trade of carpentry. MBW has been a very big aspect of my life. It changed me for the better. Being the foreman for the MBW Cafe was my favorite program. From what I learned at MBW, I found a career path.....dreams do come true! "
LaToi was a trainee with MBW for 2 years and became a Junior Trainer and then eventually a trainer, for a total of 4 1/2 years with MBW, and now, she is practicing carpentry with home remodeling in the Georgia area.
"My Brother's Workshop is one of the few life lines available to the youth of the Virgin Islands. It is a safe haven, where you can get lost in your aspirations to be greater than the people before you. When you work with MBW, it doesn't feel like a company; it's a family. "
Aaron was with MBW as a trainee in the workshop for 11/2 years. He graduated from MBW and moved to New York to further his education and finished a two year academic program. He now plans to relocate to Florida to start his career.
"Ever Since I left MBW, I've been following MBW Cafe and Bakery online on Facebook to see how they are doing after the storms and really how great the organization is going. MBW game me the chance to be a part of something great and positive and that helped me a lot. If it wasn't for MBW, I wouldn't be where I am today. Now, I see MBW doing all the stuff for the people of the island and this is very heart warming after the hurricanes. I can't thank you all enough for what you are doing. MBW must be running back and forth and tired and stressed. I thank you for all that you did for me and now for the VI."
Kamal started at the workshop as a trainee and was transferred down to the cafe to become one of the first four trainees as we opened the cafe in 2015. He showed leadership and excellent customer service skills and graduated from MBW after one year. He is now in serving in the Army, where he can use his skills and leadership.
“I don't need to do the stuff I was doing before. With MBW I had people who believed in me.. believed I could do something with myself. Before it was all negative... now I'm positive. I really liked working with all the guys in the program and now at this job – .. the guys here have my back. And MBW got me this job!"
Steven was in MBW for 14 months before graduating, where he received four job offers. Steven has been at employed locally in St Croix for almost two years now – starting as a laborer in the yard, to going on delivery runs, to operating a forklift in the lumberyard.
75% of trainees do NOT have a high school diploma
60% of trainees were previously involved in juvenile justice programs
35% of trainees were previously gang involved
65% of trainees have either a physical disability or learning disability
10% of our trainees are homeless when they first come to MBW
Several of our trainees have gun shot wounds, and all of our students have experienced childhood trauma ranging from seeing and having loved ones murdered and physical abuse and emotional abuse.
Success through our program means you either obtain employment, further your education, or enroll in the military.
In 2007 we had 4 trainees. Now MBW sees 130-150 trainees annually using the holistic approach for each one.
MBW saves millions of tax dollars per trainee because the costs of incarceration and unemployment are very high.
You can help change people's lives in so many ways. Help someone have a brighter future today!
We cannot be successful without the continued support by our donors, volunteers, and community.
We are always seeking individuals who are wanting to use their skills and talents.
Find out more about our amazing graduates and what they have to offer your company or organization.
