Woodworking program launched at TJJD's Mart facility

The Waco Tribune Herald has an item today on a woodworking program at the Texas Juvenile Justice Department facility in Mart recently launched by a local volunteer. Reported the paper ("Building their future: Youth offenders learn woodworking skills, life lessons in lockup," Jan. 11):

Two TJJD youth work on a child's chair.

Jesse Watkins, a former Waco Independent School District teacher and administrator who has enjoyed woodworking as a hobby for 25 years, is trying to reinvigorate the program at the Mart facility.

He hopes to partner with organizations in the community to procure more scrap wood and gather ideas for projects the boys can complete and then donate.

Learning woodworking has the potential to teach the boys vocational skills that eventually could help them land a job, Watkins said.

But, more importantly, they learn virtues such as patience, perseverance and teamwork as they see a project through from start to finish, he said.

“They feel better about themselves because even though they are in a rough situation, they can still learn some good things, something that will help them in the future,” Watkins said. “It gives them confidence.”

The program is looking for donated materials and nonprofits with project ideas: "To donate supplies to the woodworking program at the Texas Juvenile Justice Department lockup in Mart or to request a project be done, contact community relations coordinator Katherine Davis at 297-8483 or email her at Katherine.davis@tjjd.texas.gov."