Building a New Life, Kaden’s Story
Building a New Life Through OhioGuidestone, Kaden’s Story
Beneath his royal blue graduation cap, Kaden grinned and held tightly to a certificate that officially opens the door to a career in construction.
The usually shy 18-year-old is part of OhioGuidestone’s latest YouthBuild Construction cohort, a pre-apprenticeship, job training, and educational program for youth and young adults.
Getting into the program isn’t easy.
Kaden went through the rigorous Mental Toughness screening and physical challenges to prove he is dedicated enough to complete the coursework and the intense hands-on training YouthBuild requires.
Out of pure determination to change his life, Kaden succeeded.
“I’m excited that I made it this far,” Kaden said, “a few years ago, things were bad, really bad.”
A few years ago, Kaden was serving time for aggravated robbery, committed when he was a juvenile. At 14 he had run away from a violent home and survived on the streets until he was arrested and sent to a juvenile correctional facility.
At the facility, Kaden learned he could overcome the poverty and dysfunction of his childhood by accepting help from the adults around him.
“I could see how resilient he is,” said Amissha Bell, Reentry Case Manager for OhioGuidestone’s juvenile reentry program. “He’s quiet, but well-liked, very kind, and hard working,” she said, “all qualities that made him a good fit for the program.”
The program is a 14-week intensive curriculum designed to help individuals like Kaden develop essential life and emotional skills, equipping them to succeed once they leave the correctional facility.
“It requires a lot of trust, open and honest discussion, and emotional work,” Amissha said, “I wasn’t sure Kaden would go for it, but he did.”
After successfully completing the program and upon his release, Kaden left the facility with a starter kit containing new clothes, some toiletries, gift cards, and his classroom workbook, which he treasures and still uses.
Kaden said he no longer feels like he is alone. Fortified with a team of OhioGuidestone staff, he said, “I have like eight mentors, including Amissha. They all told me to reach out to them when I need help.”
It was one of them who suggested he apply to YouthBuild, where Kaden could earn a paycheck while he pursued his interest in construction.
In YouthBuild, Kaden enjoyed the shared team experience. They bonded as they endured long days in the summer while they learned how to renovate a building, replace flooring, and build other structures, to perfect the skills that will become their livelihood.
Kaden says they are more of a family than a cohort, as he jokingly introduced a classmate as his cousin, before admitting “he’s not blood, but he should be.”
After the graduation ceremony, Kaden hugged and cheered with all sixteen cap-and-gown-clad construction graduates, celebrating the friendships they’ve developed and the beginning of their careers in construction.
For Kaden, it’s also the beginning of a new challenge—for the first time, he’ll experience life on the outside as an adult, without a structured OhioGuidestone program.
But he said he’ll be okay because even after graduation, he knows his mentors at OhioGuidestone will still be there for him, or as Amissha lovingly reminded him, “you got us for life baby.”
Kaden’s next step is to become a construction apprentice and someday, a mentor himself.
Kaden’s story, “Building a New Life Through OhioGuidestone,” is a reminder that with the right support system, determination can open doors to education, career opportunities, and a bright future. Learn more about YouthBuild and explore additional resources and success stories on our site to see how our clients are building a new life every day.