Be a Building Hero

I came into the program feeling nervous because I didn’t have much experience with fabrication and power tools. But I decided to embrace being a beginner and learn as I go. The program has become a highlight of my week. I’ve learned so much and pushed myself out of my comfort zone. One of the best parts has been the people. I’ve made new friends and really enjoyed learning and building together. The support from the instructors and other building heroes made it easier to navigate moments where I felt confused or behind. Something I’ve been working on is getting out of my head and not overthinking everything (like getting screws and wood pieces perfectly flush). I learned that making mistakes early actually helps me improve faster. A concept from last week that stayed with me is “iteration.” It helped me shift my mindset away from needing to get everything perfect the first time and more toward just starting. Seeing our benches completed and outside in the sun was a proud moment ☀️. It made me reflect and appreciate how we worked together and kept going through setbacks. I look forward to seeing where these benches will live and make an impact in the city. - Maéva

I feel really anxious when I am faced with the unknown. I was raised to aim for perfection and to be aware of how much materials cost. To address this anxiety, I would overthink and overplan and overwhelm myself. While building the community benches, my teammates and I spent an hour trying to work out how to put the legs together. We finally just started. One side of the bench at a time. It's been liberating to know I can make a mistake and try again. - Erin

Whew!! Three weeks in and your friendly neighborhood Greening Lady @coolnerdsmom is learning so much in the Be a Building Hero Spring 2026 Cohort; benches, coatracks, fabrication design… it’s so much to take in, so much purpose behind what we’re doing and who we’re doing it for. I am grateful for this opportunity. When you’re with a cohort of supportive, doers & thinkers, with diverse trains of thoughts and an openness to other’s input & opinions, it makes it SO worthwhile! We are learning a LOT… I’m hooked! The pride that happens when you actually see that you CAN do it is priceless. I’m planning as I’m learning - so watch out community! Super big thanks to Alex, Caprice, and team for challenging us, but also for supporting us!! May your days be peaceful and green! ~ Elaine @globalthinkinginitiavestinc @coolnerdsmom TinyTrekkersphl

One of my favorite parts of building hero so far is how we can transform what at first seem like a small pile of materials into a beautiful project. Three weeks ago, I would not have noticed the curved edge of wood sanded by a belt sander, or the detail that goes into an angled cut. Learning how to use new tools feels empowering and exciting to think about how future projects could be shaped. I am excited to see how our coat hanger project develops moving forward. -Stephen

Over the past 2 weeks in the Building Hero Project, I’ve been pushed, stretched, and challenged in the best way possible. What started as just pieces of wood turned into something so much bigger—a reflection of growth, patience, and determination. From learning how to use a mitre saw and drill for the first time, to cutting wood (and then cutting it again 😅), every step reminded me that the process matters just as much as the final product. This experience has been:
✨ Growth-inducing
✨ Team-centered
✨ Challenging in all the right ways But more than anything, it’s taught me the power of perseverance, patience, and showing up—even on my off time. Working side by side with my partner, listening, adjusting, and building together showed me what true collaboration looks like. We didn’t just build a table… we built discipline, resilience, and confidence. And this is only the beginning. 💪🏾🛠️ —Nayonna P. #BuildingHeroProject #WomenWhoBuild #GrowthJourney #HandsOnLearning #Teamwork Perseverance CommunityBuilders

I am so honored to be chosen to be a part of the Building Heros Program with Tiny WPA. As a Production Designer, learning more fabrication skills and building something with the community, for the community has been a big goal for me! Though its only the 2nd week, the most challenging part so far is learning to trust our teammates. I am used to working alone or with people that has a similar skill level, but in this environment, we are all on the same page: #1. This is teaching me patience and allowing me to learn ways to get ahead of any possible mistakes, which are bound to happen! I’m so excited for all our builds and the boost of confidence that comes each week! Stay tuned for more! - Jai Monee’ @pointblankstyle @tinywpa

Heyo! I’m Lex, and this fall I joined the 2025 Building Heroes cohort at TinyWPA. This experience has been bigger than benches, planters, or tiny libraries. TinyWPA is a space where people learn to build, design, repair, and imagine what our neighborhoods can look like when we shape them together. And somewhere between the sawdust, the laughter, the frustration, and the small wins, I started shaping myself too. Our first assignment was to build the tallest structure we could climb. No instructions. Just tools, wood, and a group of people figuring it out as a team. I was nervous in that quiet way your body feels first. But we built something real. And when my teammate climbed it, something in me lifted too. A reminder that even with doubt in my ear, I still belong here. Then came the benches. Raw lumber. Angles that fought us. The countersink I kept forgetting to use. The squaring I needed reminders for. And through every misstep stood Cass, Hannah, and Caprice. Patient. Clear. Supportive. They corrected us without judgment and made us feel capable even on hard days. I am grateful for them in a way that sits deep. We brought those skills to Holly Street Garden. We built new benches. Added planters. Replaced worn signage. And so much more that cannot fit here. Watching neighbors use what we made felt like watching the space breathe again. Then design opened up. Illustrator. Vinyl. Portraits carved into wood. Skills I had. Skills I am growing into. A reminder that learning is not a straight line, but a path that keeps expanding. This season has been a quiet transformation. A return to presence. Proof that building is not only about wood and screws. It is trust. Community. Growth. Thanksgiving is tomorrow, and I feel this deeply. I am really thankful for TinyWPA. For my classmates in this cohort. For these teachers. For the way this place has helped me come back to myself. Look out Philly. Lex the Builder is coming through.

Storytime: Came for the bee hives + stayed for the community build 🌻   I reached out to TinyWPA back in 2023 after spotting their sign on Lancaster Ave, hoping to build my own bee hives. Turns out, it was the right place but wrong time, they were moving from West Philly to Brewerytown.   Now, almost one month into the Building Hero Program, and not one lie was told. It’s free, hands on, and filled with learning. Woodshop. Tools. Creative problem solving. Collaboration. Confidence building. All of it.   I’m getting more comfortable with the impact driver, speed square, and power saw. Which is funny, because as someone who works closely with bees, masters of precision and perfect hexagons, you’d think I’d already be built for this. Let’s just say, learning after a 9 to 5 has been humbling.   But, she persists.   Mainly because the people here bring out the good in one another. Creative, passionate, talented folks. All showing up with intention. And, one of them happens to be my former college roommate, Lex. Yes, we had a wait, Darnell, is that you? moment on day one. Because 🤯🤯🤯   Right now, we’re building benches, planters, and more for a community build at the Holly Street Neighbors Community Garden on Sunday, November 9 from 12pm to 3pm.   Address: 323 N Holly St, Philadelphia, PA 19104 Rain date: TBD ✨ We’ll be updating the garden, installing a new fence, new signage, and more. No experience necessary.   And tbh, it’s wild knowing that soon I’ll be building my own bee hotels again, just like I did at Bee Urban( @beeurbanlondon )

Hey there, @_mcbailey here. Today marks the second week of the fall/winter 2025 building hero program. I started week 1 feeling a little nervous and ended the week with a new level of confidence. I was most afraid of using the saw but now I can operate a chop saw effectively and safely!! Caprice, Cass, and Hannah are amazing instructors and really know how to take a step back and let us figure it out. I am so excited to continue to learn and to become a fully fledged BUILDING HERO!!

Hey, my name is Dash and I’ve been interning with Tiny WPA for more than two years now. The amount of strengths I have developed since the training program are crazy to think about. This past week we’ve worked hard on these Philly pretzel and water ice rocking seesaws. And it was so amazing to see a printout on paper turn into a layered image of these treats that I grew up with. This process involved a lot of painting, but painting is definitely my favorite job because it means spending an entire day rolling paint, listening to music, turning plywood colorful, and ruining all of my clothing. Go visit The Oval in front of the Art Museum to admire these seesaws! -Dash