Meet Travis: Work Experience (WEX) Instructor

For Travis Peterson, working at Home Repairs for Good as a Work Experience (WEX) instructor for the BY Plus program is exactly where he wants to be: serving the community and helping older homeowners live safely in their homes.

Travis (right) instructing BY trainees.

Home Repairs for Good acts as one of the “Plus” partners for the Indiana Construction Roundtable’s BY Plus program, providing the hands-on component that complements the classroom-based “Build Yourself” (BY) curriculum. As one of several WEX instructors, Travis facilitates hands-on workforce development classes. In these classes, instructors are guiding trainees through technical construction tasks before taking them to actual job sites where they provide critical repairs for older homeowners in need. During these classes, the team also coaches trainees on the essential expectations for an employee for long-term employability such as not having your phone during work time, being punctual, follow-through, and even a little conflict resolution if needed.

That’s why his work goes beyond teaching, as Travis serves as a mentor, sharing his own personal journey to inspire trainees as they build their futures in the construction industry. He shares with them how after high school he got caught up selling illegal substances for a little more than a decade. He describes how that time in his life led him nowhere and he didn't like who he was becoming. The shift in his path came when he became a father. Looking at that new little life, he knew he needed to straighten up and make some drastic changes. 

“I went left instead of going right. I wanna teach the youth that there is a better way. You CAN get out and you are NOT a product of your circumstance. You are a builder of your dream, and if you can dream it, you can achieve it,” says Travis.

To start, he realized he needed a career path that was legitimate, reliable, and something he could be paid a decent wage from the get-go. He joined an electrical union as a construction electrician. The heavy demands of the Union helped sharpen and develop skills that would eventually pave the way for him to renovate and flip houses. It turned out, he really enjoyed taking something from a rough, unusable state to being someone's beloved home. It also enabled him to feel pride in what he was doing and let him dream about the future. Unfortunately, COVID-19 and financial constraints along with a growing family put a pause on growing the flipping business. The need for more consistency of a paycheck and more stability in a job became a driving factor in Travis' next move.

A natural communicator and passion to help others not fall down the same rocky roads as he, led Travis to a role with Indy Peace Fellowship. The role was heavy and after a little over a year, Travis was ready to grow in his path again. As timing has a way of presenting doors, Home Repairs for Good had an opening for a WEX instructor. The mixture of mentorship, education and construction seemed like it was made for him. The role revolved around teaching people not just how to use tools, but provide them a glimpse at a career path beyond what they may have ever considered before. It would provide opportunities to build relationships within the community and help put his passion in to practice.

His commitment to the role comes from both his passion for mentorship and his deep respect for the older homeowners we serve. Travis, a proud father of four, grew up without a father in his life and was raised by his mother and grandma. He helped pay bills, and he could always count on dinner being ready for him every night at 5:00 p.m. He learned from his grandma the importance of starting the day on the right foot—which, for Travis, looks like waking up at 5:00 a.m., saying a prayer, making his bed, and doing the “have-to’s of the day,” like sweeping and taking care of the dishes, before getting to “the want-to’s.”

When Travis lost his grandma in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, he reflected on what was a very difficult time in his life. That’s why, for him, going out into the community now to “help grandmas all over the city” fills him with joy. Connecting with them, listening to them, and showing them that there is a nonprofit that actually cares about them and their safety is huge for Travis.

“My job isn’t just about fixing things; it is about being empathetic and being there to listen.” He goes on to share that even though he lost his grandmother, “there’s plenty out there that need to be served and loved and appreciated.”

That’s why he wants to continue Home Repairs for Good’s capacity to do critical home repairs and help fellow community members better themselves. The impact Travis is making on his students’ lives has been clear since he attended one of their first graduation ceremonies as a result of completing the BY Plus program. He entered the auditorium as a passive supporter, not expecting to be called up to speak on stage. He walked up to the stage, saying he felt nervous despite being confident in his speaking ability as he had nothing prepared, but then the sounds of his students clapping for him and cheering his name lifted him up, just like how he provided the same encouragement to them throughout their time together. 

Travis (left) and Duane (right) are both WEX instructors and childhood friends.

Travis reflects on the challenges with finding employment for the workforce development trainees. Often times, those who have struggled in the past with securing employment are overlooked, especially if they're starting from scratch or wanting to pivot into a "straightened out" path.

"I wish more employers would open up their hearts and minds to this community and the demographics we're serving," stressed Travis. "They are employable. They are human beings and they just need an opportunity."

That belief aligns with the core of our mission: helping people have dignity and safety—whether they are older homeowners striving to age safely in place with dignity or trainees working toward a more dignified and secure path in life.

To learn more about our partnership with the BY Plus program and our program partners, click here.