MISSION

Fresh Start Worx employs and trains individuals seeking to improve their lives with a future in building high-quality custom products and, in partnership with community organizations, provides education and training through the Richard P. Garmany Fresh Start Worx Academy.

Our Story

Fresh Start Worx is a Hartford, Connecticut-based nonprofit founded in 2015 by Pastor Rick Kremer. Our mission extends beyond crafting furniture—we rebuild lives through education, employment, and community impact. Starting in the backyard of Grace Lutheran Church, volunteers transformed discarded pallets into benches, providing seating for neighborhood guests at weekly dinners and preventing "loitering." Guided by a retired carpenter, our small workforce grew from building in tents to creating a range of products for local buyers.

This evolution turned an informal group into a training and job creation model, empowering employees with skills and expanding our offerings.

impact

Training

At the Richard P. Garmany Academy at Fresh Start Worx, training is more than learning a trade—it’s about preparing our students for lasting careers. Through our program, students gain hands-on experience in woodworking and construction, while also learning essential job readiness skills like resume building and financial literacy.

Small class sizes ensure personalized guidance, and every cohort has the opportunity to participate in real-world training at job sites. Our support doesn’t end at graduation—we stay connected with graduates to help them navigate career opportunities and ensure they’re set up for success. Our training program is designed to empower individuals as they rebuild their lives, whether it’s learning a trade, refining their job search, or gaining confidence in their abilities.

Employment

At Fresh Start Worx, we do more than offer jobs—we build pathways to personal and professional transformation. Our employment opportunities are designed to foster stability, teach valuable skills, and open doors to a future filled with possibility. Every role we create—whether in the art of high-quality furniture making, hands-on trade training, or team-based operations—is intentionally crafted to empower individuals with purpose and dignity.

We believe that meaningful work can be a catalyst for change. That’s why we don’t stop at hiring. Our holistic approach includes one-on-one mentorship, structured career development, and ongoing support systems that help our team members not only succeed in their roles but grow beyond them. We invest in people—recognizing that each person’s journey is unique and deserves guidance, patience, and opportunity.

Community

By definition, community is a group of people who have a sense of trust, belonging, safety, and caring for each other. At Fresh Start Worx, that sense of community is woven into everything we do. Here, people come together not just to work, but to support one another, to share skills, and to build something meaningful. It’s a place where second chances turn into new beginnings, where mentorship and craftsmanship go hand-in-hand to help individuals create more than just furniture—they build confidence, stability, and purpose.

In this workshop, mistakes aren’t failures, they’re lessons. Growth isn’t just encouraged, it’s expected. And every person here is proof that, with the right community, transformation is possible.

Partnerships

PARTNERS

Capital Workforce Partners | Wheeler Health Clinic |

InterCommunity Health Care | Grace Lutheran Church |

The Home Builders & Remodelers Association of Central Connecticut | Liberty Bank

FUNDERS

LOCAL CUSTOMERS