I am writing to share with you, news of our new nonprofit organization, providing training in the plumbing trade, and tools for success for young people in need of better job opportunities, especially young men and women of color, in the East Bay. I have Operated a local plumbing company in Oakland for over 15 years. My business, The Plumbing Ministry, currently employing 25 people. As an East Bay native and active member of the local African American community, I recognized an opportunity to give back to my community by providing hands-on vocational training and job skills for young people of color. For that purpose, I started the Plumbing Ministry Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. There is a huge shortage of reliable, qualified, highly ethical, plumbing professionals in our region. Good job opportunities can be scarce for urban young people, especially young men of color. The Plumbing Ministry Foundation will tackle both these problems through our vocational education program, LOUPO: Learn Our Unique Plumbing Occupation. The LOUPO training program is committed to enlightening men and women of color with general plumbing knowledge and field experience, in preparation for a career in the trade industry. The program is named after my cousin who was tragically gunned down at 18 years old in East Oakland. I have a deep personal commitment to provide this training, to give urban young people tools and skills that will allow them to pursue a different path in life, one that will help them earn a good living, support their families, uplift, enrich and strengthen the community as a whole. This commitment comes from my own personal experience. Learning the plumbing trade helped me turn my life around twenty years ago. I plan to launch the LOUPO program with a Pilot program of 15 students in September 2021. The 16 week course will educate participants on basic fundamental rules, laws, codes and installation of most residential and commercial plumbing systems. The course will include plumbing systems design, installations, repairs, replacements, alterations and testing procedures. The course will also educate students on project site etiquette, communication, responsibility, hygiene/appearance, and reliability. The LOUPO program is based on the values that I have used to run our small business since 2007: truth, honesty, timeliness, hard work, and the importance of earning the trust of the consumer. The Plumbing Ministry Foundation is currently seeking seed funding to run this initial LOUPO pilot program, including necessary supplies, tools, equipment, and building out a dedicated classroom space. Ultimately, we plan to grow The LOUPO training program to have its own permanent location, training 30-60!people per year and giving back to the Bay Area community.
Sincerely,
Louis Ray
Founder, The Plumbing Ministry Foundation
510-812-2541
tpmfoundation2016@gmail.com
