Life Skills Development
Life skills development allows trainees participate in individualized, one-on-one instruction within a classroom setting. The focus of this session is to provide them with practical tools and strategies that will support a successful transition and reentry into the community.
Life Skills Development: Restoration Through Craft and Confidence
Every Monday, CentrePeace closes its store to the public—not to pause our mission, but to deepen it. This sacred rhythm creates space for transformation, where the focus shifts entirely to our trainees and their journey toward restoration.
In the morning, the classroom becomes a sanctuary. Trainees engage in life skills development—personal growth, non-violent conflict resolution, and financial literacy. These aren’t just lessons; they’re invitations to healing, reflection, and forward movement. Each session is designed to rebuild what life may have fractured: confidence, clarity, and the ability to choose a different path.
We love it when the workshop hums with purpose. Under the guidance of master craftsman Bob, trainees learn the art of furniture repair and refinishing. Here, broken and damaged items—often salvaged from the trash—are lovingly restored. Each piece becomes a metaphor for the human spirit: damaged, perhaps, but never beyond repair. When a newly restored item reaches the sales floor and finds a new home, it’s not just a sale. It’s a moment of pride, a tangible reminder that beauty and purpose can be reclaimed.
Restoration in Action
Whether in the classroom or the workshop, Mondays at CentrePeace are a living testament to the power of grace and grit. Trainees don’t just learn skills—they rediscover their worth.
What Trainees Say
“This is the first time I have ever done anything like this. I didn’t think I wanted to work in the shop and work on projects but it was amazing. I hadn’t ever painted anything either. I was pretty sloppy at first so thank you for your patience and teaching me how to do it right.”
One former trainee took his love of woodworking to a new level, now crafting custom cutting boards, shelves, and end tables. He shared: “Sanding saved my life. After I left jail, every time I felt the urge to return to my old lifestyle, I threw myself into my work and would sand a piece. I’ve been clean for five years now. That’s the best feeling in the world. I got custody of my son, and I’m teaching him woodworking skills—it’s building a great relationship.”
This is the heart of CentrePeace: restoration not just of furniture, but of futures, families, and faith in what’s possible.
