A Graduation Day Carved in Stone at The Green-Wood Cemetery

In the shadow of a magnificent nineteenth-century mausoleum, fourteen young New Yorkers–many from under-served communities–recently graduated from a unique ten-week training program at The Green-Wood Cemetery earning them the essential skills to start a career in masonry restoration.

The program, called Bridge to Crafts Careers, is an innovative partnership among four organizations: Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow (OBT), the Brooklyn-based workforce development organization; the International Masonry Institute, a labor-management partnership between members of the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers and the contractors who employ them; the World Monuments Fund; and The Green-Wood Historic Fund, the not-for-profit organization that supports educational and cultural programming at Green-Wood.

Under the skilled guidance of Neela Wickremesinghe, The Robert A. and Elizabeth Rohn Jeffe Director of Restoration and Preservation at The Green-Wood Cemetery, and Paul Silva, instructor from International Masonry Institute (IMI) Local 1 Bricklayers and Allied Crafts workers , the students, nine men and five women aged 18-27, learned stone setting, pointing, and other skills necessary to work on historic buildings and structures. They have earned their OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) cards and certifications for supported scaffolding, and most have completed the 16-hour certification for swing scaffolding as well. Each of these is required by the NYC Department of Buildings to be hired for construction and masonry jobs.

The trainees, some of whom have faced challenges including housing insecurity, behavioral and mental health challenges, or involvement with the justice system, received stipends as part of this paid internship program. For ten weeks, the students worked tirelessly to restore the unique nineteenth-century mausoleum of shipping magnate and mayor of San Francisco, Cornelius Kingsland Garrison (1809-1888). The structure, made of marble and granite, with zinc ornamentation, was selected because of its significant deterioration over the last 140 years. The trainees’ work included delicately removing old mortar by hand, installing new historically accurate mortar, and performing stone repair, pinning, cleaning, and patching.

On site for the graduation ceremony were Richard Moylan, president of Green-Wood; Liliana Polo-McKenna, chief executive officer of Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow; Elimarie Garcia-Cosme, programs coordinator from the World Monuments Fund; and Roy Ingraffia, National Director of Industry Development and Technical Services for the International Masonry Institute.

Mr. Moylan said, “The Bridge to Craft Careers graduation day is one of the most anticipated events on my calendar. Our graduates, young people who have worked hard to overcome adversity in their lives, are now ready to join the next generation of masonry workers. They should be very proud of all they have accomplished. I wish them much success in their new careers as stewards of preservation in New York City. I also would like to thank Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow, the International Masonry Institute, and the World Monuments Fund for their partnership and vision.”

Addressing the importance of training craftspeople in this field, Ms. Garcia-Cosme noted that “this program addresses the crucial need of skilled craftspeople in the essential field of historic preservation. Without the availability of such craftspeople to work on our historic buildings, our heritage is at risk.”

Ms. Polo-McKenna, added, “OBT’s partnership with The Green-Wood Cemetery, International Masonry Institute, and World Monuments Fund has enabled us to build a path to careers in construction. The Bridge to Craft Careers program is a unique and much sought-after training that teaches skills in masonry restoration and prepares young adults for apprenticeships and full-time employment. With support from NYS Regional Economic Development Council, we have been able to sustain this collaboration, creating opportunities that would have otherwise been inaccessible. We are thrilled to continue this partnership with our neighbors at Green-Wood, and excited to celebrate another graduating class."

The graduates, who will receive one year of follow-up services from OBT, are now eligible to apply for a good-paying apprenticeship with Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 1 New York, jobs in the trades, and higher education to pursue careers as project managers, architects, estimators, or other related fields.

The proud graduates include: Britney Adams; Carlton Ashley; Steven Butler; Aniyah Carr; Matthew Dellolio; Efeh Iboje; Sherika Glasgow; Maximillian Gustafson; Oluwafewa Ogunmola; Jaquel Owens; Francis Rosario; Martin Schneider; Millka Solomon; and Kernell Warner

Complementing the hands-on training, the program included presentations on careers in historic preservation from potential employers, college options, personal finances, and how to write a resume. The students also practiced interviewing skills, basic project management, time management, and developed their abilities to work as part of a team through group exercises.

The program is generously supported by The Achelis & Bodman Foundation, the McWhelan Fund, The Pinkerton Foundation, the NY State Regional Economic Development Council, and the members and donors of The Green-Wood Historic Fund.