{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Pitch Playground","title":"Hard Hats, Soft Skills: How Aaron Frumin's unCommon Construction Prepares Students for College and Career Success ","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":1757,"description":"What if students could earn school credit, get paid, and build a house—all in one semester? Aaron Frumin, founder of unCommon Construction, is making that a reality. Based in New Orleans, unCommon Construction is a nonprofit apprenticeship program that places high school students on job sites, where they learn hands-on construction skills while developing the soft skills they need to succeed in life and work. From teamwork and communication to resilience and professional attitude, students walk away with much more than a paycheck—they leave equipped to take on life’s challenges and seize new opportunities.\nAaron’s journey started far from the job site. After dropping out of college and joining the Red Cross post-Katrina, he discovered a calling to serve. That calling eventually led him from the classroom to the construction site, and finally to founding unCommon. The organization blends education with real-world experience. Aaron shares how a need to leave a positive “thumbprint” on the world drives his work.\nHe pitches unCommon to Spencer Sherman, principal consultant at Education First, and together they explore the ins and outs of how unCommon’s new community center can serve as an innovation hub and expand the organization’s reach. They dig into the importance of user-centered design, creating sustainable funding models, and what it takes to truly prepare young people for college, careers, and life.\nEpisode Highlights:\n01:57 Aaron's Journey: Volunteering After Hurricane Katrina 07:25 The Birth of unCommon Construction10:11 A Day in the Life of a UCC Student14:29 Impact Stories: Transforming Lives Through Construction18:50 Expanding the Vision: The unCommon Community Center20:01 Mentorship and Pitch Improvement27:19 Key Takeaways \nLinks & Resources:Aaron Frumin unCommon Construction Spencer Sherman Education First \nAbout the Host, Nicole Jarbo:\nNicole Jarbo is the host of Pitch Playground and the CEO of 4.0. An entrepreneur and 4.0 alumni herself, Nicole took...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/RHUvVCiJgJMSGBHcrSAokswObgokSFYeF2yzaGy3ask/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS80M2Mx/ZmU1NGI4NDhiZDFh/NmM3NjhmMjlhYzY0/MWE2OC5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}