New benches at World Trade Center are crafted with care
NEW YORK (PIX11) -- A place to sit down is a welcome sight for busy people in New York City.
Some new seats have a story in Lower Manhattan around the World Trade Center.
Twelve wooden benches have been crafted with care at Brooklyn Woods. The shop offers free training to unemployed and low-income New Yorkers in woodworking, cabinet making and fabrication.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey partnered with the non-profit organization to hire seven people who were formerly incarcerated to build the furniture.
The agency funded salaries for the workers. The training for the regular seven-week course is not usually paid. It includes classroom and hands-on shop work.
The tools help change people’s lives. The lumber isn’t the only thing being reshaped.
"It gave me confidence," said Eric, a craftsman on the project.
Brooklyn Woods Director Scott Peltzer called it an iconic location and emphasized the importance of vocational training.
A sign by the benches tells the story. Visitors say it gives them a place to reflect.
"One of the things I think about is how this place has come back with a lot of vibrancy," said Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton.
The pilot program could be a model for other projects. It ran 10 weeks.
Graduates also get assistance with job placement. Many are hired for entry-level positions with firms in the city. Brooklyn Woods graduates about 70 people a year.