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image of a man working on a farm

Our business training schools are at the heart of our program philosophy; this is where residents will learn new job and life skills.

Most of our business training schools will provide revenues to support the Project and residents’ daily living needs. Our business training schools operate as enterprises in which each resident acts as both teacher and student by utilizing the “each one teach one” philosophy. Once a resident has mastered a job or academic skill, he becomes a teacher and passes on his knowledge to other residents in a structured training program. We employ no teachers, psychologists or social workers; this is what we mean by being a ‘self-help’ program.

Farm program.

On our working farm, we will use the GROW BIOINTENSIVE ® method of farming, a low-technology, high-yield method which emphasizes soil management and health. This method is highly sustainable, using less water and fewer imported resources than traditional organic or conventional farming methods.

The farm will be the first work assignment for every resident; here he'll be able to recover from prison life, fine-tune his work ethic, and practice the planning, planting, nurturing, cultivating, and harvesting required for both crops and his own life goals.

On our farm, residents will have the opportunity to gain skills in:

  • organic farming methods and management (including research, planning, development, and soil management)
  • construction
  • plumbing
  • well maintenance and repair
  • irrigation and drainage
  • marketing
  • wholesale and retail sales
  • record-keeping
  • small business management

Clerical program

Our office will be operated by our residents who learn basic and intermediate skills as they organize and run our business training schools. A resident can expect to learn:

  • telephone etiquette
  • typing
  • filing
  • operation of small business equipment
  • organizational skills
  • how to write a business plan (for residents who are incubating a business)
  • QuickBooks and other small business software programs

Education program

Project 180 is all about education. Our academic education program will consist of three levels: Adult Basic Education (1st through 8th grade level); GED (high school diploma equivalent); and college prep.

Residents will spend a minimum of ten hours in class per week. Just as in ‘real life,’ homework will have to be scheduled to fit into work and residential life schedules. Learning to budget time and effort will be part of succeeding in the program.

Our goal, albeit an aggressive one, is that each resident will have a GED prior to graduation from Project 180.