Skill Building Class Inc. Makes an Impact in the Community

By Nicole Thomas

Skill Building Class Inc., founded in 2019 by Joshua Hicks, is a nonprofit organization based in Homosassa, Florida. The program is 12 consecutive weeks and creates a space of early education unlike any other. It brings youth, ages 10-15, and the community together by creating a space for early education where volunteer instructors, who are local business owners, teach a specific trade and share their knowledge and materials while offering professional mentorship. Sessions are held on Wednesdays at 5:00 PM -- 7:00 PM, running from January 3rd to March 26th.

"It is essential that youth are able to learn how to take care of themselves and be provided with community resources that discover and establish confidence, work ethic, and the sense of resilience," says Joshua Hicks.

Five years ago, when Hicks wanted to start the program, one of his friends said it could never be done, but Hicks was determined to make it happen. "It goes to show that everyone's life's expectations are different, and we have to pursue our ambitions and life goals with as much confidence as the person who states it's impossible," says Hicks. "A great percentage of our best ideas are shot down by merely self-defeat, after basing our life upon the opposing judgement of others."

Students in the program this year will learn valuable skills, including toolbox building, gardening, cooking, digital media, communication and team building, welding, timber framing, electrician work, plumbing, roofing, and bird house building. Upon completion of the program, students celebrate their achievements with a graduation ceremony and learn practical skills like tying a tie.

Skill Building Class Inc. brings excitement and makes a monumental impact on students. A former student, Aj, was empowered to start his pressure washing business, Aj's Enterprise, at only 16 years old after he graduated from the program.