Community Programs & Philanthropy 

At BBMI, we focus on empowering families by strengthening  our socioeconomic  vitality and developing strong partnerships with corporate and nonprofit organizations focused on issues that affect the Greater Philadelphia community. We drive meaninful and sustainable solutions to our region's toughest challenges by  aligning all of our financial, capital, and philanthropic resources. 

Our partnerships sustain  working families, at-risk youth, seniors, invididuals with special needs, veterans, and those impacted by the criminal justice system  in underserved communities. We support the development of communities including housing (single, multi-family, transitional),  empowerment zones, and community infrastructure.

As pictured below,  BBMI worked on the Philadelphia Naval Yard Park renovation in 2012 and provided young trainees from the community to gain hands-on experience with the masonry trade with the understanding that employment drives economic stability.  Our Youth Workforce development and employment apprenticeships and job shadows enable young people to transition from school to gainful careers. We create inroads to workforce development including education, tutoring and mentorship, upskilling, service-learning, entrepreneurial opportuntities, and career counseling that inspires and mobilizes our trainees.

Brick and Block Masonry Skills Development Program (BBMSDP)

BBMSDP is focused on young adults between the ages of 18-24 in our communiy who require direction in making positive choices in life. BBMSDP will serve as a pre-apprenticeship training program for ex-offenders and young adults to make a positive transition reconnecting in society.

Our organization was established in 2010 and plans to launch a grand opening of the program in June 2011. As the president and owner of BBMI, Mr. Troy Richards earned a certificate in masonry. Since then, Mr. Richards has  worked in the trade and is known for his talented skills in the areas of building, renovation, electric, plumbing, welding, demolition, framing and building codes. He has 30 years experience in the industry as a licensed contractor.  He has been a member of Brick Layers Allied Craft-Workers Union for more than two decades without any claims for faulty craftsmanship. Over the years, he has worked on many large scale projects at LaSalle University College of Pennsylvania, the former Wachovia Stadium, the Liacouras Center, Woodland Avenue Medical Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. 

While providing masonry services in the Philadelphia area, Mr. Richards noticed that an astonishingly huge number of inner city males lacked substantial employment due to skill gaps. While speaking with males, he realized that many of them were eager to learn a trade. Mr. Richads began to let them come to a few work sites to see what it takes to become a bricklayer along with building concrete foundations, cement garages, and other jobs realted to masonry. He was surpised to find that the young adults were truly interested in learning about the trade. 

BBMSDP offers a facility that includes an array of construction training and mathematical curriculum suitable to meet the economic and social needs of the students and trainees. BBMSDP's targeted outcome is to improve communicaiton skills, life skills, advanced employment placement, family values, structual foundations, and a trade that our students can call their own. 
Click here to support our BBMSDP iniatives.