September 2, 2025 — Shovels cut into the soil at 893 Old Leonard Ave. as cheers erupted. City leaders, educators, students, and neighbors gathered as community representatives initiated the official action-phase of an exciting project for Columbus City Schools (CCS) students: building a home for a Columbus family.
The ceremony marked the first of two Habitat for Humanity homes that will be built by Fort Hayes Career Center students, thanks to a historical partnership between CCS, the Department of Building and Zoning Services (BZS), the City of Columbus, and Habitat for Humanity - MidOhio.
The groundbreaking set into motion the beginning of a new chapter in hands-on learning, community building, and partnership.
“This empty lot will become a home for a deserving Columbus family—a home that they can be proud to call their own,” said Dr. Angela Chapman, Superintendent/CEO of Columbus City Schools. “Our students are leading the way, supported by dedicated partners, as we continue building pathways for student success and stronger connections across Columbus.”
Building Futures, One Brick at a Time
The partnership began in 2022 as a collaboration between BZS and Fort Hayes Career Center to expose students to construction trades and career opportunities as building inspectors. Students develop skills through “BZS Day” events, shadow days with inspectors, internships, and even a first-of-its-kind paid trainee program that places graduates directly into the workforce as apprentices on the path to becoming state-certified inspectors.
In 2024, the program expanded when Habitat for Humanity - MidOhio and the City of Columbus joined forces with CCS. For the first time, Fort Hayes Career Center students are building real homes on city-owned lots, transforming classroom lessons into tangible community impact.
“This is an opportunity to change lives, not only for the families who will live in these homes, but for the students who are building them,” said Scott Messer, Director of Building and Zoning Services. “Students are going to be able to participate and learn their construction trades on a real project where a house is actually getting built.”
The first house, a 1,458-square-foot two-story home, will be constructed entirely by students under the guidance of Habitat for Humanity supervisors and trade professionals. A second home is scheduled to begin in 2026.
A Living Laboratory
For Brandi Braun AL-Issa, President and CEO of Habitat for Humanity - MidOhio, the project transcends construction and represents education in action.
“This partnership is not just a house; it’s a living laboratory where students will get hands-on construction experience and hopefully learn lifelong skills that will set them apart for the future,” Braun AL-Issa told the crowd. “It will also become a home, a place where a family can be better positioned to leave their unique marks on the world.”
Students will pour foundations, frame walls, install windows, and see every phase of construction unfold with the added reward of knowing that their work will change the lives of a Columbus family. For Fort Hayes students, the project transforms theory into practice, turning classroom hours into community investment.
That sense of purpose resonates deeply with Fort Hayes Career Center carpentry student Amilleonna “Millie” Golden, who interned this summer with BZS.
“Growing up, I watched my mom struggle and that sparked something and I told myself one day I will make a difference somehow,” Golden said. “The Habitat for Humanity house project is making that dream come true.I’m excited to help make a change and not just for this family’s life for many more to come.”
Leaders Grown Here
The partnership is a reflection of the district’s vision for experiential learning. The district’s theme, Leaders Grown Here was on full display at the groundbreaking.
“Today’s groundbreaking is a testament to the determination and leadership skills our students carry within them,” Dr. Chapman said. “It’s a reflection of why we say leaders are grown right here at CCS.”
Among those leaders are Golden who served as a student speaker for the event. Golden recalled how, as a child, she was captivated by the process of building and creating. Now, she said, that same fascination fuels her excitement to help shape a project that will transform a family’s life. Her voice and presence shows how CCS students are stepping up, taking charge, and inspiring others.
“What we're witnessing today is CCS students rising to the challenge, putting in the work to master their job skills, and showing that leadership begins the moment that you commit yourself to learning and growing as a leader,” Dr. Chapman added.
A Community Effort
The groundbreaking also showcased the collective power of the community. Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther applauded the collaboration as “proof of what happens when partnerships move from conversation to action.”
“This house is being constructed on a city land bank lot close to Fort Hayes,” Ginther said. “Students will be able to see this house rise from a vacant lot to a home, and the students who work on it will be able to come back and tell their loved ones about the home they built.”
The day carried special meaning for recent Fort Hayes Career Center graduates already on their career pathways. Jayden Ashford, a 2025 graduate, started his first official day as a paid trainee with BZS that same day, beginning a journey toward becoming a state-certified inspector. As an intern at BZS while he was still in school, he recalled hearing about Fort Hayes Career Center students constructing homes for Habitat for Humanity. To stand on the site and watch that vision take shape before his eyes left him nothing short of awestruck.
“These students will come and learn real skills and actually feel like they are making a difference with what they’re doing,” Ashford said. “They will feel that sense of pride from knowing that they built something with their own hands.”
Columbus Board of Education President Michael Cole echoed the sentiment, reminding the students that their work carries generational impact.
“This is a home built not just with hammers and nails, but with vision, dedication, and heart,” President Cole said. “Every cut of wood, every wall framed, [and] every nail that is hammered is preparing you for a future career. One day soon, the family who lives here will celebrate birthdays in the rooms that you framed. They’ll know their home was built with skill, care, and love by you.”
Building Homes, Building Hope
The Hollins family, a family of four with one on the way, will move into the first student-built home next year. The family attended the ceremony, standing proudly as officials and community leaders celebrated the moment. For them, the project represents stability, opportunity, and hope.
For the students, it represents an opportunity to showcase the skills CCS aims to instill in all its graduates-communication, adaptability and global empathy. Dr. Chapman captured that spirit as she addressed the students directly, offering words of encouragement and pride.
“We believe in you and your leadership abilities, and are committed to providing you with the tools, guidance, and trust to lead on this project,” Dr. Chapman told students at the groundbreaking. “We are so proud of the future you’re creating for yourselves, and we can’t wait to see the day when this lot becomes a home.”
What had begun as an empty lot will soon rise into a family’s home and a powerful symbol of how CCS students, working side by side with community partners, are building more than structures. They’re shaping futures and growing as tomorrow’s leaders.
