Summer camp teaches students about construction

In partnership with Rock Solid Construction & Development, Inc., the St. Petersburg Housing Authority (SPHA) hosted a summer construction camp for students in grades 8 through 12 at The Legacy at Jordan Park. 

It took place from July 21 to 31. 

Co-created by Rock Solid owner Okoye Morgan, the experience is a part of the company’s Protégé Mentorship Program. Morgan’s business was involved in the redevelopment of the Jordan Park community, which took place between 2022 and 2023. 

“One of the things that I saw in that community, being a native of the St. Pete area, is the lack of exposure to opportunities that may not be present in certain environments,” Morgan explained to the Catalyst. 

“The inspiring part was to take the opportunity of the years that I’ve been in business and so many areas and aspects and expose the youth to those types of experiences.” 

Students were taught skills such as assembling, measuring and cutting. They also got to learn more about other trades that are part of construction projects, such as plumbing and electrical. 

Additionally, the camp educated participants on professionalism and career options. “Students met a lot of partners who work in the construction field as well,” SPHA Youth & Family Services Coordinator Le’Vontae Camiel added. 

The goal was to provide a comprehensive experience for attendees, Camiel said. During the camp, students used the skills that they learned to build bird houses, among other projects.  

“They learned an array of things from team-building to problem-solving to everyday aspects of the construction industry,” Morgan explained, “which included development, engineering and architecture standpoints as well as trades and how all these components come together to build a structure.” 

The inaugural camp introduced participants to “a different avenue outside the standard college degree,” Camiel added. Future experiences are planned.

Morgan and his team will continue to work with students who showed a passion during the camp. 

“We’re following some of the students who have interest in our field of construction and development,” he explained. 

“We have partners also that would like to be part of that process so we can direct [these students] to some paths that they never expected or even knew existed.” 

For Morgan, it’s all about making a difference in the community and investing in the future. 

“We want to see change, but we need to create the change that we want to see,” he said.