Easterns Blog

At Easterns Automotive Group, we are dedicated to supporting initiatives that make a positive impact in our community. Recently, we had the pleasure of joining 7News’ Brian van de Graaff on a tour of the Zenith Community Arts Foundation (ZCAF) Mobile Woodshop, a unique program bringing hands-on carpentry skills to D.C. students.

The ZCAF Mobile Woodshop is a 20-foot woodshop on wheels equipped with tools and materials to teach lifelong lessons. It serves students at Ballou STAY High School, other schools, and local events throughout the metropolitan area. The pre-apprenticeship program offers professional skills training to individuals pursuing a career in carpentry. Graduates receive certificates that enhance their competitiveness in union-sponsored apprenticeships or other building trade jobs. This investment in vocational training is crucial as the carpentry workforce faces a significant number of retirements and job vacancies.

“It’s important because, according to the National Association of Homebuilders, 50% of all carpenters are going to be retiring in the next five years. So we’re trying to train a new generation of carpenters,” said Margery Goldberg, founder of ZCAF’s Mobile Woodshop.

ZCAF’s programs focus on enriching hands-on skill development, ensuring that manual skills are preserved in the digital age, especially during a time of acute labor shortages in the building trades.

To support this valuable initiative, Easterns Automotive Group, in collaboration with 7News Helping Hands, presented ZCAF with a $2,200 check. This donation will help ZCAF continue to bring woodworking to more students in the District.

“Joel Bassam at Easterns Automotive Group wanted to make a donation to your foundation so that you can bring woodworking to more students in the District,” said 7News’ Brian van de Graaff.

Margery Goldberg was thrilled to receive the surprise donation, exclaiming, “Oh my goodness, I’m flabbergasted. This is so great!”

We at Easterns Automotive Group are proud to support ZCAF and their efforts to equip the next generation of carpenters with the skills they need for a successful future.