Hope Renovations' roots go back to when I started doing my own home repairs. I was a corporate HR professional who loved getting my hands dirty in my off-time. And as a woman, something about doing it myself was particularly rewarding. However, as I expanded my hobby and began working on small renovations alongside contractors and tradespeople I began to wonder...
where are all the women?
Fast forward ten years. I decided to leave the corporate world to pursue a Master of Social Work from UNC. While interning at a local homeless shelter, I met many women who were completely capable of doing this type of work. But when I would mention the trades as a potential career path, the answer I often got was, "Nobody ever taught me how to do that stuff. I always figured it was a man's job." The wheels started turning.
Finally, when I took a class in the business school that was focused on aging, things came together. I learned many of the surprising statistics about Aging-in-Place; like that it's the fastest growing segment of the construction industry, but it's also the segment with the least capacity - in today's world, where big construction is booming (and small jobs take time away from big ones), there simply aren't enough people available to do the work.
So I figured it made a lot of sense to put them all together. Help women get the skills to enter into construction careers and get out of low-wage jobs, narrowing the gender pay gap in the process. Give seniors a dedicated workforce to complete the repairs and renovations they need to stay in their homes. And, as a bonus, develop a workforce that will help trades employers fill their jobs and get their work done, ultimately helping our economy. It's a win-win-win.
-Nora Spencer
We inspire hope in women and senior citizens for a joyful and fulfilling future.
We accomplish this by teaching women the skills they need to work in the construction trades, and providing them on-the-job practice in the homes of senior citizens who need repairs and renovations in order to safely and comfortably stay in their homes as they grow older.
Passion: Work with purpose. Create something you are proud of. End every day with knowledge of how you made a difference in your own life and the lives of others.
Equality: Treat all people with respect. Defend those who are different than you. Recognize and appreciate that all people have value, all people are worthy.
Tenacity: Act with confidence. Fully commit to your work, your customers and your team. Show grit in times of struggle. Don’t ever, ever give up.
Curiosity: Take every chance to try something new. Find the learning opportunity in every mistake. Seek to figure things out, and ask questions when you can’t.
Integrity: Be honest. Make ethical decisions and be accountable for your choices. Stand behind your work. Establish trust and protect it like treasure.