Operation Fresh Start

Our Executive Director, Brian McMahon, recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to participate in a Registered Apprenticeship Success panel at the YouthBuild Global conference, sharing Operation Fresh Start's experience preparing young adults for meaningful careers and long-term success.

We're proud to contribute to national conversations about workforce development, apprenticeship pathways, and the support young people need to thrive in today's economy.

A special thank you to Jeff Hunt, Acting Division Chief of the U.S. Department of Labor's Division of Youth Services, for his leadership and commitment to strengthening opportunities for YouthBuild programs and participants across the country.

Thank you to YouthBuild and the U.S. Department of Labor for bringing together practitioners, partners, and leaders who are working every day to create brighter futures for young people.

Thank you, Dane County Executive Melissa Agard, for inviting OFS Executive Director Brian McMahon to join the conversation on environmental leadership as a key priority in the 2027 Dane County Budget Address on Thursday!

We were honored to share how our Conservation Academy empowers young adults to care for our environment while building skills, confidence, and career pathways. It was even more meaningful to have members of our Conservation Academy crew join us and represent the next generation of environmental leaders.

We're grateful for leaders who recognize the importance of investing in both people and the planet. 🌱

We're proud to be part of an important conversation about the future of the nonprofit sector!

On October 6, OFS Executive Director Brian McMahon will join nonprofit leaders from across Wisconsin as a panelist at the Strategic Nonprofit Summit hosted by Contour Consulting. This event will bring together professionals committed to strengthening organizations, building community impact, and advancing innovative solutions to today's challenges.

If you're a nonprofit leader, board member, or community partner looking to learn, connect, and grow, we encourage you to attend.

🗓 Registration closes Monday at 5 p.m.

🔗 Register here: https://www.contourconsultinggroup.com/strategic-nonprofit-summit/

Thank you to Contour Consulting for bringing together this valuable day of learning and collaboration!

🌳🌱 Legacy The Corps Network participants were hard at work this week planting trees near the Eastmorland Community Center in partnership with the Urban Tree Alliance. Through hands-on conservation work, young people are helping expand Madison's urban tree canopy, creating cooler, healthier neighborhoods for generations to come. 🌳💚

Every tree planted represents more than environmental stewardship. It is an opportunity for participants to build job skills, gain experience, and make a lasting impact in their community. We're proud to see our young people growing stronger while helping Madison grow greener. 🌎✨

Congratulations to Director of Legacy and Conservation, Cory Rich, on being selected for the 2026-2027 YouthBuild Global Leadership Fellows Cohort! 🎉

Cory joins a group of 13 leaders from YouthBuild programs across the United States and around the world who will spend the next year strengthening their leadership, deepening collaboration, and advancing opportunities for young people. As part of the year-long fellowship, participants will engage in professional development, peer learning, self-care, and community-building experiences designed to strengthen the entire YouthBuild network.

We're proud to see Cory representing Operation Fresh Start and Madison on a global stage. His commitment to empowering young people and building pathways to education, employment, and leadership embodies the mission we strive to advance every day.

Please join us in congratulating Cory on this well-deserved recognition! 👏

Read more here: https://youthbuild.org/youthbuild-global-announces-second-global-leadership-fellows-cohort/

Celebrating Workforce Development Month!

Workforce Development Month is a celebration of opportunity, growth, and career success. At Operation Fresh Start, we're proud to help young adults build the skills, credentials, and confidence they need to thrive.

Since October 2025, 49 participants have taken the next step toward their futures through employment in construction, conservation, healthcare, early childhood education, finance, and customer service careers. Many more participants are exploring other career fields or higher education.

Thank you to our participants, staff, and partners who make this life-changing work possible, including the Workforce Development Board of South Central Wisconsin, AmeriCorps, YouthBuild Global, and The Corps Network. Together, we're building stronger futures and a stronger workforce for Wisconsin. 💙

Our September newsletter is here! 🍂

From launching three powerful new videos with Clouds North Films to celebrating Workforce Development Month and the successes of young adults building brighter futures, this issue is packed with stories of growth, opportunity, and impact.

See how OFS participants are gaining skills, earning credentials, and taking the next steps toward their goals. Thank you for being part of the community that makes this work possible.

📖 Read the September newsletter: https://conta.cc/46TPZMK

Please join us in welcoming our new Social Work Interns, David and Audrey, from the UW-Madison Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work Program!

Over the next year, they'll be supporting OFS participants while gaining hands-on experience in the field. David brings a unique background as a former environmental scientist and hopes to become a mental health therapist. Audrey will be working closely with participants in the classroom and is passionate about promoting health, joy, and well-being.

We're excited to learn from them, work alongside them, and see the impact they'll make throughout the school year. Welcome to OFS, David and Audrey! 💙

We're proud to see Jasmine Banks, OFS Deputy Director of Empowerment and Strategic Initiatives, featured in UMOJA Magazine! The article highlights Jasmine's lifelong commitment to empowering others, from creating welcoming outdoor spaces for Black and Brown communities to helping young adults at OFS build brighter futures through education, mentoring, and employment training.

Jasmine's story is one of leadership, resilience, and service. Whether she's guiding young people toward self-sufficiency, building innovative programs, or encouraging others to connect with nature and community, she leads with purpose and heart. We're grateful for the impact she makes every day at OFS and throughout Madison.

Congratulations, Jasmine, on this well-deserved recognition!

Read the full article: https://www.umojamagazine.com/article/odyssey-superstar-jasmine-banks/

Odyssey Superstar Jasmine Banks » UMOJA Magazine Embracing Nature and Nurture Want to find lifelong Madisonian Jasmine Banks when she’s not on the job nurturing vulnerable young adults at Operation Fresh Start? Head into nature. You may […]

Congratulations to Jose Sanchez Martinez on completing Build Academy and starting his next chapter as a Roofing Apprentice with Maly Roofing, Inc.!

In just three months, Jose earned his pre-apprenticeship in carpentry, gained new credentials, became a licensed driver, and secured a career opportunity. His supervisors described him as steady, dependable, hardworking, and someone his crew could count on.

As Joe Collins said, “You became the person that I could send people to… just go to Jose, he’ll figure it out.”

Jeff Garretson from Maly Roofing shared that Jose is already making a strong impression on the roof: “He shows up every day. He’s learning quickly… They have nothing but good things to say about you.”

Jose kept his own remarks short and sincere: “I really appreciate this opportunity… Thank you for everything.”

We are proud of you, Jose, and excited to see where this next chapter takes you. Congratulations! 👏