In 2021, with no funding and nothing more than a wish to time travel, Roberto Gomez began laying the groundwork for Cornerstone Craftsman, a youth mentorship and trades training nonprofit in Alexandria.
“I remember thinking to myself… if I knew everything I know now at 12 or 13—and had someone with lived experience come talk to me—what would my life have been like?”
At the time, Gomez owned a remodeling business, writing proposals and managing construction projects. His work gave him a behind-the-scenes look at both the craft and business side of the trades industry. Giving kids the head start he never had was the drive he needed to build something bigger.
Breaking Barriers to Opportunity
The longtime Alexandrian began cold-calling City departments (juvenile probation, parks and rec, the detention center), searching for someone who would hear him out. He wanted to pave the way for underserved and strategically undervalued youths to gain access to high-paying jobs, safer communities, and economic mobility.
“I was just trying to figure out if there was someone I could connect with who would listen to my vision. At that moment, it felt like I was going back in time to try and essentially save myself by helping kids here in the City,” said Gomez. “I started making calls, and one thing led to another.”
For the next three years, Gomez did what he could—initially running workshops for neighborhood kids on everything from painting to electrical work, using living rooms of friends and family as makeshift classrooms.
As the waitlist grew and the costs piled up, Gomez knew he had to turn his passion project into something more sustainable.
“I started losing sleep over it. I felt responsible,” said Gomez. “We have an easy opportunity to disrupt the school-to-prison pipeline.”
For Gomez, Cornerstone doesn’t just offer alternatives to incarceration; it creates a path to stability and security for kids and their families. “The trades are just the vehicle. The real impact is giving someone a way to feed themselves, stay safe, and feel like they belong. That’s the secret sauce.”
Community Partnerships to Fuel Growth
Catching wind of his work, the Alexandria Police Department donated a space to carve out an initial home base for students. One thing led to another, and soon Gomez connected with AEDP’s Small Business team through introductions from local community members.
“I’ll never forget, we sat down for lunch after I gave them a tour of my little closet-sized space. They didn’t have to show up in person, but they did. And that meant everything to me.”
With AEDP’s support, Gomez was introduced to Dr. Gladys Kamau, an AEDP Small Business consultant. Working with her, along with nonprofit attorney Jennifer Gniady, he was able to bring Cornerstone to the next level, officially earning its 501(c)(3) nonprofit status.
From Living Rooms to a Learning Lab
Today, Cornerstone Craftsman empowers dozens of underserved youths, equipping them with the tools (literally and figuratively) to lay the foundations for a brighter future.
The nonprofit currently serves 36 pre-apprentices with another 26 on a waitlist, thanks in part to its collaboration with the City’s Summer Youth Employment Program. Each week, students—mostly young men between the ages of 12 and 17—put on safety gear and practice patching up holes in drywall or learning which wires NOT to cross when installing electrical. (Hint: Steer clear of the “hot” wire!)
“Two of our guys started their own painting company. Others are apprenticing or in GED programs. One of our pre-apprentices now sits on the Alexandria Community Safety Forum. That’s what opportunity does,” said Gomez. Earlier this year, the nonprofit celebrated a grand opening with a room-packed ribbon-cutting ceremony where Mayor Alyia Gaskins spoke on Gomez’s devotion to the City. “Anyone who has interacted with Roberto and the young men in this program knows that this is about transformation,” said Gaskins. “It’s about creating opportunities. It’s about building up our young people so that they can push forward innovative ideas and solutions in our community.”
Gomez ensures every kid completes a construction safety course to become OSHA certified, paving the way to higher-paying career opportunities in the field. The new location at 2111 Eisenhower Ave., Suite 102, is equipped with a “Learning Lab” for resume help and tutoring. Monthly grocery support is also offered to participating families in partnership with the nonprofit ALIVE! Alexandria.
Beyond serving socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, the program addresses deeper systemic needs. A recent report from the US Chamber of Commerce finds there are 78 available trade workers for every 100 open jobs.
“We’re about to face an incredible labor shortage. Why not train the kids who are already here, who want to live and work in their own city?”
What’s Next for Cornerstone Craftsman?
Most recently, Gomez has been working with Cornerstone’s Board of Directors on a strategic plan to serve more youth and ensure the nonprofit grows sustainably in line with its mission. Meeting the labor workforce shortage head-on, he also plans to share his model with neighboring communities. With over $300,000 raised this year and expanding, Alexandria remains at the heart of Gomez’s work. “If we’re going to build in Alexandria, let’s build with Alexandria. Not just physically, but socially and economically.”
To learn more, get involved, or support Cornerstone Craftsman’s mission, visit cornerstonecraftsman.org.
Interested in setting up your own nonprofit? Our AEDP Small Business team can walk you through the steps and answer your questions. Schedule a free one-on-one consultation to get started.
Photos courtesy of Hannah Haley.