toolsupfoundation

toolsupfoundation A 501c3 tax exempt nonprofit, training minorities in construction. Founder

Juneteenth is a reminder that economic freedom doesn't arrive - it gets built.At TUF, we train youth and young adults in...
06/19/2026

Juneteenth is a reminder that economic freedom doesn't arrive - it gets built.
At TUF, we train youth and young adults in Chicago's South Side to enter the skilled construction trades - with zero cost to participants, a paycheck from day one, and industry credentials on the other side.
This Juneteenth, we're thinking about all our graduates who chose to build their independence with their own hands.

History was made right here on the South Side today. The Obama Presidential Center officially opened its doors - a 19-ac...
06/19/2026

History was made right here on the South Side today. The Obama Presidential Center officially opened its doors - a 19-acre campus built for this community, by this community. At Tools Up Foundation, we've always believed that investment in this neighborhood should benefit the people who live in it.

And who knows - maybe the next chapter includes us. 🤝 We'd love nothing more than to see our graduates help shape what grows from this campus.

Happy Juneteenth, Chicago. 🖤🧱

Congratulations Obama Foundation - keep building.

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The construction industry needs more voices like hers at the table.Tools Up Foundation Founder & CEO Dominique Jones wil...
06/15/2026

The construction industry needs more voices like hers at the table.

Tools Up Foundation Founder & CEO Dominique Jones will be a featured panelist at the Chicago Building Congress IDEA Committee Summer Panel & Networking Breakfast - Wednesday, June 17th at Marshall's Landing.

Building a more inclusive and sustainable workforce.
Dominique has spent over a decade in the construction industry. She founded TUF because she saw the diversity gap firsthand and refused to leave it unaddressed. This Wednesday, she brings that mission to one of Chicago's most prominent construction industry stages.
Register at chicagobuildingcongress.org. We'll see you there.

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We asked Anise Robinson one simple question: Would you send your kid to a construction training program?Her answer: She ...
05/29/2026

We asked Anise Robinson one simple question: Would you send your kid to a construction training program?
Her answer: She already did. Twice.
Anise completed our Pave the Way Up Pre-Apprenticeship Program in 2021. Her daughter Aniya finished TUF Teens in 2024. Her daughter Aziya is in the program right now.
When a parent - especially one who's already been through a program herself - trusts us with her children's future, that says everything.

Read Anise's full story in the carousel above. Her answers address every concern a parent might have
TUF Teens is free for participants ages 14–17 on Chicago's South Side. toolsup.org/tufteens

This Mental Health Awareness Month, we want to introduce you to the people who make TUF more than a training program.Blo...
05/25/2026

This Mental Health Awareness Month, we want to introduce you to the people who make TUF more than a training program.
Blossom Well Therapy - a team of licensed counselors and social workers - partners with us to lead our weekly Friday Night TUF Talks. They're real, guided conversations where teens can process what they're going through, build emotional resilience, and develop the kind of inner foundation that makes everything else possible.
Every single participant in TUF Teens meets with their counselor monthly. That consistency matters.
Thank you to Tiffany Lewis and the entire Blossom Well team for showing up for our young people every week. We don't take that for granted.
toolsup.org/tufteens

We sat down with Candice Frazier after she completed Pave the Way Up, and her answers tell you everything you need to kn...
05/17/2026

We sat down with Candice Frazier after she completed Pave the Way Up, and her answers tell you everything you need to know about what this program actually does.
She came in worried she wouldn't remember what she learned. She left with three industry certifications, a mentor who believed in her, and a clear plan for the next step.
Her story is proof that you don't need prior experience, perfect memory, or a college degree to build a real career in construction. You just need a program that shows up for you and instructors who remind you that you're capable.

Read her full story in the carousel above.
If you're interested in Pave the Way Up - Learn More at -toolsup.org/pavethewayup

05/14/2026

Huge thank you to for visiting our students and sharing valuable insight, encouragement, and information about construction development opportunities happening right in their own neighborhoods. We’re grateful for the opportunity our students had to learn from professionals who continue to inspire the next generation. 🛠💪

So you just graduated. Or you didn't. Either way, you're asking yourself - what's next?If college felt like the only opt...
05/12/2026

So you just graduated. Or you didn't. Either way, you're asking yourself - what's next?
If college felt like the only option, we want you to see something else.
This carousel breaks down the real financial and career differences between the college path and the skilled trades path - specifically in Chicago, right now. Not to say college is wrong. To say there's another option that's worth understanding before you decide.
Check it out. The numbers might surprise you.

Here's what sets TUF Teens apart: 100% of our participants meet with a licensed mental health counselor every single mon...
05/09/2026

Here's what sets TUF Teens apart: 100% of our participants meet with a licensed mental health counselor every single month.
Not when something goes wrong. Not as an optional add-on. Every month, for every student, built into the program from day one.

We believe you can't build a strong career without first building a strong person. That's why mental wellness isn't a conversation we have once a year at TUF - it's woven into everything we do.

This Mental Health Awareness Month, we want you to know: if your teenager is in our program, they have consistent access to licensed, trauma-informed mental health support. Period.
toolsup.org/tufteens

At Tools Up Foundation, we believe the young people in our programs deserve a team, a structure, and an outcome they can...
04/13/2026

At Tools Up Foundation, we believe the young people in our programs deserve a team, a structure, and an outcome they can be proud of. Here's what that looks like by the numbers:

Pave the Way Up (Ages 18+):
96% completion rate
53% of participants were women
100% earned industry-recognized credentials: OSHA 10, First Aid/CPR, and NCCER Core

Every one of these participants came in with little to no construction experience. Every one of them left certified, prepared, and pointed toward a real career path.
And it cost them nothing.

If you know a young person in Chicago who is ready for their next step - share this post. Applications are open now, and space is limited.

👉 www.toolsup.org/programs

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