The nonprofit organization Hands on Deck has built and restored 316 feet of wooden boats since it was founded by Mark Hawkins eight years ago. On this week’s episode of the NEW Manufacturing Insights podcast, sponsored by Appleton Airport, Hawkins joins co-hosts Ann Franz of the NEW Manufacturing Alliance and Kate Bruns of Insight on Manufacturing to talk about the incredible outcomes the organization has seen, including getting K-12 students to ditch their digital devices in favor of working with their hands.
Hands on Deck received an $89,000 grant in 2022 that has helped buoy it through challenging times, including the COVID-19 pandemic, Hawkins tells the co-hosts on this week’s episode. Today the program is so successful, Hawkins says his biggest challenge is capacity. Its first cohort of virtual students will start Jan. 1.
Hawkins describes the organization as highly diverse, both in student population and the opportunities for volunteer engagement. Hear his reflections on eight years of student engagement, mentorship, creativity and education by listening to this week’s episode, the final NEW Manufacturing Insights podcast of 2024.
NEW Manufacturing Insights is a joint production of the NEW Manufacturing Alliance and Insight on Manufacturing magazine, produced by B.J. DeGroot of Woodward Community Media. New episodes are released on Thursdays and will return Jan. 9. Catch up on past episodes over the holiday break by listening on the Insight website, on Spreaker, or anywhere you get your podcasts.
