Our Mission
The Still Building America project promotes awareness of the skilled trades as viable career options for our country’s next generation. Americans haven’t forgotten how to work with our hands, but our education system has struggled to properly present and foster a blue collar career as anything other than a Plan B, if at all. By paving a way for our youth to explore the blue collar world, getting tools into their hands, inspiring them to create, repair, and problem solve, and empowering them with fun educational opportunities beyond the traditional classroom experience, we are still building America.
Why It’s Important
With our education system placing a heavy focus on national assessment test scores and pushing 4-year university admission, American students are unable to focus on the vast career options that are actually available to them. If young people are shown that a successful future only comes through a high test score or a university acceptance letter, they are often left feeling defeated. This perpetuates a cycle of hopelessness and increases the chances that our youth will continue to face joblessness, lack of opportunity, generational poverty, illegal drug use, and high crime rates. So many young people are at high risk in impoverished areas like our hometown of Detroit. They need opportunities to explore, dream, and express themselves outside of textbook math, science, and reading. It is amazing, however, how the desire to learn those things increases when you have an interest or hobby that requires those skills.
What We’re Up To!
- STILL BUILDING AMERICA PODCAST presented by the FMA Podcast Network! **The introductory episode launches Thursday, September 26, 2024** Still Building America is back! This time in podcast format. In this reintroduction episode, Darla and Josh Welton discuss the origins of Still Building America and what’s in store for upcoming episodes. They reiterate the mission behind SBA, which launched in October 2014 and aims to share stories of diverse individuals in the skilled trades, from welders to entrepreneurs to metal artists. Stay tuned to future episodes and check out nearly a decade’s worth of inspiring Still Building America interviews on thefabricator.com.
- FREE WELDING WORKSHOPS for STUDENTS! We hold as many FREE welding workshops for Detroit high school students as possible! (Teachers/Mentors: please contact darla@browndogwelding.com for more info)
- A Still Building America Children’s Book Series is in development that will introduce kids to the trades through storytelling. Each book will focus on a different skilled trade or job where you work with your hands.
#GOALS
- EDUCATE: Offer free school presentations and interactive and hands-on projects led by enthusiastic industry professionals, such as welders, auto technicians, electricians, millwrights, and other highly skilled tradespeople.
- ASSIST: Offer assistance to high school welding students who need to build portfolios for SkillsUSA competitions.
- DONATE: Still Building America children’s books to Detroit Public Schools students.
- DONATE: Still Building America Tool Kits to middle school students. Each kit will include a colorful instructional and project idea booklet, along with ideas for resourcing free materials for practicing.
About the Founders
The Skilled Trades have played an important role in the lives of Josh and Darla Welton of Brown Dog Welding, LLC in Detroit MI. Darla’s grandmother worked as an industrial sewer for The Chrysler Corporation, her grandfather and uncle have worked as industrial union plumbers, her father retired as a millwright from DaimlerChrysler and an instructor in the apprenticeship program, and her older brother is currently a millwright at Ram Truck. Josh, of course, started welding as a millwright apprentice for DaimlerChrysler in 2002, where he would work as a journeyman for 7 years, and then more recently as a driver/mechanic/fabricator at General Dynamic Land Systems. Josh and Darla’s love and appreciation of the blue collar world drives their desire to increase awareness of the viability of skilled trades jobs for the next generation of Americans. Josh is a fierce supporter of the shop floor worker and is becoming an increasingly important voice in leading the conversation on the perceived skills gap and actual wage gap. His successful Still Building America column with TheFabricator.com highlights the stories of young, driven, and enthusiastic skilled tradespeople in the U.S. who are continuing to pave the way for the industry. Josh and Darla want to use their passion to encourage and educate with their Still Building America mission.
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Funding the Project
Project to be funded through sponsorships and by a percentage of profits from the sale of Still Building America merchandise, including books, clothing, tool kits, stickers, novelty items, etc. Customers can also purchase the books and tool kits for personal gifts directly, OR books can be purchased and directly donated to students. Still Building America is a passion project of Brown Dog Welding LLC, a community-minded, for-profit business.
Sponsorship & Support
Our team is currently seeking additional sponsors. If you or your business are interested in partnering with us or sponsoring this initiative, please email darla@browndogwelding.com for more information. We’re still building America – together!
