About The Journey
The Journey exists to prove that you don't need a four-year degree and six figures in debt to build a meaningful, well-paid career. You need real skills, real mentorship, and a real opportunity to earn while you learn. That's what we provide.
The Problem
The American construction industry is facing a generational labor shortage. Over 300,000 positions sit unfilled. 41% of the workforce will retire within five years. Meanwhile, $1.77 trillion in student debt has pushed an entire generation away from the trades — even as demand skyrockets and wages surge.
The traditional pipeline is broken. Trade schools separate learning from production. Apprenticeships are shrinking. And the industry loses nearly $11 billion annually to understaffing — in carrying costs, delayed projects, and homes that never get built.
The Journey is a direct response to this crisis. We embed participants in a real, operating business from day one — and we pay them to learn the skills the industry desperately needs.
Founder
Founder & Executive Director
Donté brings over a decade of hands-on experience in the custom millwork industry — from shop floor fabrication and CNC programming to drafting, engineering, project management, and client coordination. He has personally managed projects ranging from high-end residential kitchens to institutional atriums and hospitality installations across the Denver metro area.
He holds an MBA from the University of Colorado Denver Business School and a BS in Marketing from Metropolitan State University of Denver. He is currently pursuing two doctoral programs concurrently: an EdD in Leadership for Educational Equity at CU Denver, and a PhD in Organizational Learning, Performance and Change at Colorado State University — both focused on whether paid work can become a recognized, portable route to educational and economic mobility.
The Journey is the practical expression of that research question — and a deeply personal one. The same developmental route that changed Donté's own life is being designed so others can learn, earn, demonstrate competence, and advance at the same time. The program is currently in development, with a pilot and university collaboration under active design.
How It Works
The Journey operates through a dual-entity structure designed for sustainability and transparency:
The commercial millwork operation that generates revenue through real projects. This is where participants train — fabricating, installing, and managing work for paying clients. Profitable operations subsidize trainee wages and sustain the program without permanent grant dependence.
The registered nonprofit that receives grants, donations, and government workforce funding. Manages the curriculum, credentials, participant support, and program outcomes. Tax-deductible donations directly support participant wages and program infrastructure.
This structure means The Journey isn't dependent on donations to survive. Commercial revenue funds the core operation. Grants and donations accelerate growth, subsidize trainee wages, and expand the number of participants we can serve.
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