Man Recognized Decline of American Craftsmanship, Acts

Neil Kaufman saw a pending crisis in the decline of craftsmanship, and the ongoing devaluation of craftsmen and what they create, so he acted, founding the National Center for Craftsmanship.

The Center is currently in the midst of a "deconstruct" project in Fort Collins, Colorado.

 

The National Center for Craftsmanship (NCC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation, enhancement and sustainability of quality craftspeople. The NCC Deconstruct project educates area students and other interested parties on construction skills through the disassembly of three houses on Lady Moon Drive, off of East Harmony Road, that were generously donated by Imago Enterprises.

The project runs through May 31 at 4708 Lady Moon Drive in partnership with the Poudre and Thompson School Districts, Fort Collins Habitat for Humanity, Front Range Community College, City of Fort Collins, Larimer County, community construction contractors, business sponsors, and other non-profit organizations. The reuse and recycling of the materials in the houses will divert a substantial amount of material from the county landfill, and provide for fundraising for NCC through re-sale of salvageable and reusable items. Volunteers, instructors and sponsors are needed to assist in a variety of roles.

NCC and its partners and supporters are developing training on a variety of subjects related to construction skills, LEED certification protocols, as well as green building and sustainable development and construction practices. The project, in line with NCC’s mission of promoting and preserving craftsmanship in all its forms, will provide hands-on, real-world learning opportunities for area high school, junior college, college and adult students interested in the building trades.

A goal the National Center for Craftsmanship in general, and of the Deconstruct project specifically, is to educate the area’s youth, especially those in high school who are not bound for college, about the numerous career opportunities in the skilled construction and associated trades. Through this real-world, real-time project, community youth will be able to investigate these career opportunities and experience sustainability in a meaningful way.

To get involved, contact National Center for Craftsmanship Director, Neil Kaufman at 970-215-4587 or Neil@nccraftsmanship.org. Parties interested in learning about a wide variety of construction skills, as well as instructors, site supervisors and sponsors are needed. Work on the project can fulfill community service requirements for those seeking such an opportunity. All participants must sign and return a release waiver prior to participation – visit http://www.nccraftsmanship.org/deconstruct.shtml for details. The phone number at the project site is 970-206-4666.

About the National Center for Craftsmanship

The NCC is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation, enhancement and sustainability of quality craftsmanship. The organization was established to preserve and enhance existing craft skills, knowledge and expertise in both modern and historic craftsmanship, from construction and manufacturing to art and handicrafts, including but not limited to carpentry, electrical, plumbing, wood crafts, fiber arts and artisan foods. Working with industry, institutional and government partners, we provide education, training, community service and research to support the retention and extension of craft skills at the local, regional, and national levels.

Our organizational vision is a world that sustains a culture of quality, integrity and creativity. We value community and diversity, and strive to preserve and enhance the best practices of our shared experiences. Our mission is to develop to its fullest expression the spirit of craftsmanship that exists in each of us.

As a nation, critical shortages of skilled craftspeople have brought us to a point where businesses are unable to meet the needs of their customers due to a lack of qualified workers. As the current pool of craft workers continues to age, the knowledge, skills, and abilities of a valuable source of economic productivity is quickly concentrating in a diminishing percentage of the population. What remains more troubling is that much of this precious resource is being irrevocably lost.

The National Center for Craftsmanship was created to address these and other specific and important needs in the area of skilled craft labor education, training, and research. From construction and manufacturing to art and handicrafts, the articulation of knowledge and skill through tools and materials is the foundation of quality craftsmanship. The National Center for Craftsmanship is assuring that the knowledge, skills and abilities of our community’s finest craftspeople is passed on to future generations. Won’t you join us and help build the next generation of craftspeople?

Through education, training, research and community involvement, NCC hopes to ensure that the skills and abilities of the finest craftspeople are passed on to future generations. For more information, call 970-215-4587, email info@nccraftsmanship.org or visit www.nccraftsmanship.org.

 

 

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