Don Brown's OFS Journey

Don with Maddie Dumas (left) and Emily Gorvego (right) from the City of Madison Engineering at Don's graduation in May.

When Don walked into Operation Fresh Start in 2022 to join the Legacy Program, he wasn’t sure what the future would hold. After graduating and earning his diploma from the Legacy program, receiving his driver's license through the Drive program, and graduating from the Conservation Academy, he's starting a career with the City of Madison Engineering as a Greenway Conservation Trainee, helping to protect our environment and public infrastructure.

"Don is already making waves," said Maddie Dumas, Stormwater Vegetation Coordinator with City of Madison Engineering. "He communicates well, asks smart questions, and shows up ready to learn and lead. His professionalism really impressed our team." 

Don’s journey at OFS wasn’t easy, but he persevered and:

• Earned his high school diploma in the Legacy program
• Earned his driver's license in the Drive program
• Faced setbacks—and came back stronger
• Overcame his fear of power tools
• Became a trusted leader in Conservation Academy
• Earned the Conservation Gear Scholarship

His story is a powerful reminder that growth happens when you keep showing up—and that second chances can lead to incredible futures.

CareerPoint Launches First-Ever Early Childhood Education Cohort

The CareerPoint Early Childhood Education cohort pictured (left-right): Tye'Ja, Sacora, Amanda, Danasia, Layla, and Shaun.

Monday, June 23, six motivated young adults kicked off their journey to build careers that support and shape the next generation.

This six-week, paid professional development program is designed to prepare young adults (ages 18–24) for success in the high-demand field of early childhood education. Participants will build new skills, gain real-world knowledge, and receive direct support from our team and partners like Reach Dane and the Workforce Development Board of South Central Wisconsin.

After completing their training, participants will move on to specialized education and interviews with employers looking to hire. They will be supported every step of the way by the CareerPoint team.

Build Academy Creates Sensory Station for Goodman Community Center Playground

On June 16, Build Academy participants installed a brand-new sensory station at the Goodman Community Center’s playground, giving kids a fun, engaging space to explore sound, texture, and movement.

From planning to building to installation, our young people led every step of the process. It’s not just about construction skills — it’s about building spaces that bring joy and support learning for every child.

Thank you to the Goodman Community Center for their partnership and for letting our participants leave their mark in such a meaningful way!

OFS Featured in the "Garden Prospect" Blog

We’re grateful to Jake for featuring Operation Fresh Start in his thoughtful blog, "Garden Prospect." 

In a June post titled, "Kinship and Reciprocity," he reflects on community, growth, and mentorship through the lens of OFS Legacy crews working at the Prospect Gardens along the Southwest Bike Path in Madison, where crews have contributed their time and talent removing invasive plant species, such as Bishop's Weed.

"Thank you, Niyah, Kaya, Ollie, Isaiah, and Jay,"  Jake said in his blog. I enjoyed our short time together and your youthful energy, and appreciated how diligently you worked. May all your efforts toward being self-sufficient adults, with the support of OFS, be fruitful. Thank you, Taylor and Ian, for your good work and for being role models for the young adults."

Thank you, Jake, for recognizing the spirit of our young people and the shared work of building and caring for community spaces.

New Licensed Driver!

We’re thrilled to celebrate Milan, who officially earned his driver’s license on June 5 through the OFS Drive Program!

It’s been a long road since November, but with determination and support from our DRIVE program — and a little encouragement from the always-cool Dennis — Milan crossed the finish line.

Milan’s currently crushing it in Build Academy, too. As he put it:

“Going back and forth between DRIVE and Build is a lot of fun. Dennis (Drive Coordinator) is a fun and cool guy to hang out with and learn from."

We’re proud of your hard work and persistence, Milan. Keep building your future — both on and off the road!

Thank you to 4 Lakes Driving School for the continued partnership in helping us provide a free pathway for young adults to earn their driver's license!

Thank You America's Credit Union!

Thank you to America's Credit Unions' Association Services team for their generous donation of 600 backpacks filled with essential supplies!

Backpacks include:

• Lip balm
• Poncho 
• Sunscreen
• Small LED flashlight
• Sunglasses
• Note of encouragement from America's Credit Unions employees

As part of their recent team-building and strategy session, America’s Credit Unions team chose to give back by supporting Operation Fresh Start’s mission of empowering emerging adults on their path to self-sufficiency through education, mentoring, and employment training.

Thanks to their support, hundreds of young people will be equipped and ready as they embark on their journey toward life-sustaining careers. We’re grateful to partner with organizations that believe in the potential of the next generation!

Fun with Physics!

Thanks to Altrusa for investing in the education and curiosity of our young people, OFS was able to use grant funds to purchase physics kits for our Legacy participants.

In June, participants got to put the kits to the test, where they assembled and tested medieval-style trebuchets (catapults) to explore the principles of physics they use every day, on-site and in life.

Also, thanks to our volunteer tutor and mentor, Ben, who helped teach the physics lessons.

Lilly earns Diploma through Options Program!

OFS is excited to celebrate the graduation of Lilly, a participant in the OFS Options Program! 

Lilly recently attained her Madison Metropolitan High School diploma through the Urban League of Greater Madison's Foundations Central Program, with the assistance of our Options Program Coordinator, Trevor.

The OFS Options Program helps young people 18-24 find their best path forward to finish high school while navigating life challenges, and supports them in attaining high school completion. 

🎓 Legacy Graduations 🎓

Congratulations to Sariyah on graduating from Legacy and receiving her high school diploma from the Madison Metropolitan School District!

From day one, Sariyah quietly led by example—focused, dependable, and always on point. She never needed reminders, never missed a beat, and always showed up ready to work.

Whether it was taking charge of pesticide spraying (which she loved) or showing up every day with her PPE in place, Sariyah brought quiet strength and intention to every task.

“She owned her work without ever needing a push," Ian, her supervisor, said. "She was helpful, consistent, and just a joy to have on the crew.”

Whether she was stepping up for tough tasks or offering her signature dry humor, Sariyah made a lasting impression on her crew and her supervisors.

Next up: She will attend Madison College, where she’ll pursue cosmetology with the same quiet confidence and drive that made her shine at OFS.

We’re so proud of you, Sariyah. Your next chapter is going to be great!

Congratulations to Zarie on graduating from Legacy and receiving her high school diploma from the Madison Metropolitan School District!

Zarie brought heart, determination, and focus to every day of her journey—and now she’s ready for the next chapter. Her goal is to become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and begin a career rooted in compassion and care.

We’re so proud of you, Zarie! Your dedication to your future—and your community—shines bright.

🎓 Signing Days 🎓

Congratulations to Kenny on signing with JH Findorff as a laborer!

At just 17, Kenny joined Build Academy and had nearly perfect attendance, a strong work ethic, and a clear vision for his future.

As Build Academy Coordinator, Faith shared, “He came here with goals—get a license, get a car, get a job—and within four months, he achieved them all.”

Joe, his supervisor, summed it up best:

“From day one, Kenny was a leader. People looked to him for direction. He retained knowledge, he taught others, and he worked harder than anyone on the crew.”

Now, Kenny is officially joining the workforce through the laborers' union and heading to Epic’s Campus 6 site with Findorff.

When asked about his journey, Kenny said:

“Thanks to OFS... y’all helped me change my life around."

We are incredibly proud of the determination, humility, and leadership Kenny has shown. His journey is just getting started—but his impact is already being felt.

On June 9, we celebrated Leah, a determined Operation Fresh Start alum, who just signed on to begin her career as a carpenter with JH Findorff!

Leah’s journey at OFS started back in 2019 — filled with challenges, growth, and incredible perseverance. She kept showing up, kept pushing forward, and never gave up on building a better future for herself and her kids.

“She brought strength, care, and maturity to every crew," her Legacy supervisor, Miles, said. She’s a builder in every sense of the word — of projects and of people.”

Leah embraced every opportunity at OFS. And those who worked with her never forgot her impact.

“I’m hoping — and praying — this will be life-changing for me and my kids," Leah said. "I just want to make them proud.”

Leah, you are what Operation Fresh Start is all about — resilience, community, and growth. We’re proud beyond words.

2025 OFS Gala: Save the Date!

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