Nick Offerman is a man of many talents. In addition to acting, Nick is a published author and a professional woodworker. He’s also a great example of tonic masculinity. Right now, Nick is involved with a non-profit in LA called Would Works. He serves on its Board of Directors and volunteers as an instructor. Would Works teaches underprivileged young adults woodworking skills to help them get a job in industries like set-building, construction, and carpentry. Nick recently sat down with CBS Mornings to raise awareness about the organization. He mentioned that his own carpentry skills really came in handy when he first moved to LA and spoke about the many benefits Would Works provides beyond just the classes. He also joked that ”[Along] with Jesus and Harrison Ford, I’m one of the three big showbiz carpenters.”

How his carpentry skills saved him: “I sort of put myself into a difficult situation…on the edge of poverty by choice so that I could continue to try and audition for acting jobs,” he explained. “I was so grateful that I learned that I could make a living by making things out of wood with my hands. I built decks and cabins for people. And so, that allowed me, you know, to be my own boss.”

About Would Works: That’s why Offerman teamed up with Would Works, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit that teaches at-risk Angelenos woodworking skills that can be parlayed into a job in relevant fields, like construction, set-building and carpentry. Connor Johnson founded Would Works in 2012 after working as a case manager at a homeless shelter in downtown Los Angeles. Underserved young adults between ages 18 to 30 years old are often referred to Would Works from various L.A. organizations.

The barriers their artisans face: “Our Artisans often face multiple barriers to employment; including housing insecurity, justice involvement, mental or physical health challenges, along with institutional factors such as hiring discrimination and systemic racism. Would Works provides a flexible, creative, and trauma informed space for anyone who Would Work if they could, to (re)engage with employment,” the nonprofit states on its website.

Skills beyond woodworking: Would Works Program Director Michele Liu says the goal of the program is to place participants in full-time jobs where they can use the abilities they’ve picked up in the woodshop. For those who may have little to no experience in the workplace, the skills learned can be a lot more fundamental – such as how to get along with coworkers. “For some people that’s what’s needed in their lives…or for some people it’s about developing core skills. For some people it is about developing the hard skills,” said Liu, adding that the space is welcome to anyone and participants can “get what they need out of it.”

They sell products made by participants to raise money: Would Works sells products like cheese and charcuterie boards, utensils and stools, all made by trainees, to help fund the program.

It’s changed people’s lives: “Its taught me how to work in a team. Its taught me how to work together to finish a project. It’s taught me also how to get into something new but not getting intimidated and pretty much quit,” [Former participant, now board member] Tim Jordan said. He has taken that practical knowledge and hands-on training into his current job, working in a furniture store, where he feels confident to talk about the products with a lot more authority thanks to his time as a Would Works trainee.

‘An organization of empathy’ Offerman, who also sits on Would Works board, and uses his profile to help fundraise for the group, calls it an organization of empathy. Aside from the woodworking itself, Offerman says he loves the “incredibly benevolent and warm humanism going on” at Would Works. “We’re giving people … mental health, counseling, job counseling, life coaching. It’s a place to say, ‘Come on in, I see you, I care about you, I recognize the trouble you might be having. Here’s a sandwich, here’s a bowl of soup. Now, this is a hand plane,'” Offerman said.

[From CBS News]

Would Works sounds like an incredible organization. I love hearing about the local community organizations like this that are hands-on and really make a difference. I went to their website and saw that they actually host 200 workshops each year, which they say provides “over 6,000 hours of paid employment, healing community, and hands-on training.” That’s amazing! The products they sell online are really nice, too. Nick has been one of my favorites since his Parks & Rec days. This just makes me love him all the more!

A few months ago, my kids got into watching these woodworking and soldering videos on YouTube. I looked into getting them classes and discovered that there’s a youth-oriented, non-profit woodshop in my area. They have classes for kids and adults, as well as open woodworking hours. It was founded by a couple of retired gentlemen after they learned that not all schools in my broader area offered shop classes anymore, which I think is so awesome. After hearing about Would Works, I finally signed my kids up for classes this summer.

Photos credit: Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency/Avalon, Avalon.red