DIRECTOR OF SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

I am a father of 8 who has spent the last 20 years in the East Kildonan, Maples and North end of Winnipeg. I am also an Ojibwe FN from NW Ontario, with a background in residential renovations and construction. I am familiar with the North end and challenges that confront the people and community where I serve. I have a heart to share the love of Jesus I found with others and a desire to see families restored and men rising up to change communities and families they are part of. I’m pleased to be part of the mission that Jesus has called us to trough helping young men gain valuable works skills and ethics while daily having the opportunity to help encourage and exemplify the change that is possible through Christ.

PROJECT COACH

I have been in the construction business most of my life and learned most of my skills through practice, my father, family, and friends. I grew up in north western Ontario. I love the outdoors and have done a lot of fishing and trapping. I am currently working at Step Up as a Project Coach and I love the work as well as the program. I hope my future will remain here as I get the privilege of passing down my skills to the youth in the program as well as grow in my own faith and as a person. I hope to inspire more young adults to keep o the right path and grow as well.

PROJECT COACH

I am a craftsman at heart with an eye for detail who puts a big emphasis on high quality workmanship. My background consists of lots of concrete, structural renos, playgrounds, pergolas and other experience. I’ve been hard at it for over 12 years. I have always found myself naturally leading men to make heathy choices in their personal life throughout out the years. Now as a Project Coach with Step Up Construction, I supported and encouraged men in a way that I have never done before. I say, “Now I can’t do it without a team behind me. teaching the guys is a huge aspect of the job, but the most rewarding parts are the talks you get to have about Jesus and seeing the men engage and desire growth.”

I value family life and am father of two boys. I’m married to my lovely wife Dynel. As a family we live in the North End and are intentional about building healthy community. We also value church and spend time engaging with the Winnipeg Centre Vineyard Church.

Growing up in the outdoors, I am always ready for an adventure. I enjoy canoe trips, fishing, hunting, hikes, and cooking.

PROJECT COACH

I am a married man who has been blessed with 4 daughters. I was drawn to work with Step Up as it combines several things I love in life. As I have come to embrace the reality of my sonship in Christ my life has been transformed by the parental love of God. I have a passion to share with my brothers and sisters who God is and who they actually are in Him. Step Up gives me the opportunity to come along side young guys, work with my hands while sharing what God has given. I really like when I'm into a 100-year-old house and it is down to the studs. Rebuilding and redesigning a run-down home into a new home that will be someone's place of rest feels sacred to me. Life has been full of variety for me as I have had the privilege of running a small construction company, starting and running charity birth centers in the Philippines, doing homecare work, staying at home with my kids, doing lots of renovations, and hosting conferences. I love variety!

DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL ENTERPRISE

My passion and heart, a life’s mission, is to see men of all ages empowered, built up and given a chance to carve out a new direction. Championing men on, to be dads, husbands, son’s and men of valour in their community. Walking along side men in a caring, loving, gracious, and affirming work environment has a precious way to build relationship and promote men’s growth. I am a Father of 4, married to the most amazing woman. I have been in and around working with my hands since I was home schooled at the age of 12. Our home was up on blocks. I asked my dad what is going on, he said it is our summer project. And the journey began. Step Up is a step in the right direction for our crew members and clients. As we transform the clients project, our men are being transformed before the client’s eyes. Partnering with Step Up is changing the community one person and project at a time.

LEAD HAND

I was hired by Step Up in June of 2023 as a lead hand for one of Step up Construction’s jobs at St James Bridge and I really enjoyed helping prepare the younger men to be job ready. It was an amazing experience to see them all grow as well as myself. I am super happy with this company as they helped to be more confident in myself as a person and as a team member. I really like working along side all the guys at Step up and this job is definitely a place that I feel comfortable working at. This company and the people here all showed me respect and in turn I respect this company. I was lead to this place by God and ever since coming to Step Up things changed dramatically for the better and now me and my family are going to moving in to our own house.

LEAD HAND

LEAD HAND

“I like it where we can come into work and be ourselves”

3 years ago Charlie had a different lifestyle that had him watching his daughter grow up through pictures and phone calls. After 18 months incarcerated Charlie was able to be there for his little girl and since then has 2 more kids and is soon to be married. His daughters are 4 years old, 2 years old and his newborn son is 3 months old. Joining the Step Up crew has taught him many different life skills. “Taught me how to be a father and just to be there and be with God. Teaching me lots of experience about family, friends and things that I didn't know when I was growing up.”

Your donations to Step Up and ICYA allow people like Charlie to find a new path and spend time with their loved ones while also working a stable job .“They're helping people in the community, taking them off the streets and providing them a good home, teaching them life skills and that's gonna teach them a lot

“I feel like [God] is connecting with me a lot and guiding me to my path that I need to be through his works and I'm glad to be in his works and helping people, cause when I started I was in a bad place and had different thoughts and now he's coming around and showing me a lot.”

“We’re not just employees, we’re family, like real family. Not just a word that people throw around all the time, everyone’s real close.”

Morley has been a part of the Step Up family for 1 year now. Upon completing 3 years at Stony Mountain Morley joined the Step Up team. Step Up has been an opportunity for Morley to gain experience and work with people from the same area that have similar needs. Step Up provides consistency with work for Morley to still have family time with his 12 year old son and his 6 month old daughter.

“I don’t know where I would be right now if it weren’t for this.”

Your giving helps foster a community where Morley can dream about owning his own business one day. “What they give really helps the community... this really shows people that not everyone from [the North End] is [to be looked down on].”

“There’s always a way out, you just gotta try and look for help... be willing to ask.”

“I like the organization, the way people can get together without being judged and the fact that everyone encourages each other… It’s like a big family almost.”

Before working at Step Up Jordan struggled with the influence of the people around him, struggling with not having good friends. “I got influenced to do things I never would have done on my own. I wasn’t too much involved with God that much. A couple years ago I was pretty close and got drawn away and then things got worse. But over time things got better and I ended up drawing myself back to God within the time I was with Step Up.”

Jordans faith journey has grown immensely during his time at Step Up with the encouragement to seek assistance, ask questions and regular devotions and prayer. Step Up has taught Jordan many skills that are beneficial for the future and encourage him to follow his dream of attending culinary school at Red River College.

“Overall Step Up is one of the best places I’ve ever been, there's a lot more other jobs you can choose out there but nothing is gonna compare to the way this job will make you feel and the way that it will help you out. There's a lot of different things they can do for you but you gotta be willing to seek and sooner or later you'll find it.”

“It’s not constantly about work... it’s about making yourself a better person”

Alex has been working at Step Up for nearly 1 year. He began his work at Step Up after hearing how much his brother enjoyed it. “What makes [Step Up] stand out is that anybody could become a part of Step Up.” Alex’s time at Step Up is geared towards his 2 main goals of “become a ticketed carpenter and one day of heading the build of his own house.

“The jobs we take in the North End are to help and change the North End and that’s our primary goal.” Your giving helps foster a community unlike many others. “They’re not only investing their money in Step Up Construction, they’re investing their money into a community and a group of guys that could call themselves a family.”

“Everything flows through God. That’s what I’ve learned. I can see it with my own eyes”