The purpose of Step Up Construction is to transform men’s lives from relational brokenness and financial poverty to becoming present fathers, husbands, community participants, and employees in the workforce through life on life mentorship and on the job training in construction projects.
Tom, Anthony, and Andrew, co-founders of Step Up Construction, were driving in the car to a jobsite. As they stopped at the crosswalk they saw a young man who happened to be one of their own employees, still wearing his uniform with the Step Up logo. He was pushing his brand new baby son in a stroller, holding hands with his partner and ready to settle into family life for the evening. It was a scene that depicted stability, love, and connection.
It is a moment that can only be fully appreciated when you understand the journey this young man has taken to get here. Having grown up in a fatherless home marked by hopelessness, how did he arrive at this moment of stability and promise? How did his trajectory shift from the broken path he seemed destined to follow as a child? This young man’s story is a tangible, real-life testament to the very mission Step Up was founded to fulfill.
Step Up Construction is a social enterprise that is a branch of a non-profit called Inner City Youth Alive. It is run by three men named Tom Cameron, Anthony Ho, and Andrew Braun. Their purpose is to transform men’s lives from the relational brokenness and financial poverty they experienced growing up to becoming present fathers, husbands, community participants, and employees in the workforce. They do this through life on life mentorship and on the job training in construction projects. Step Up Construction: A step in the right direction.
Anthony Ho
Tom Cameron
Andrew Braun
A Dream Begins
It all started when one day, Tom, an employee of Inner City Youth Alive (ICYA) with 20 years of trades experience, came across some tools. After asking around, he discovered that there had once been a construction program that had since fizzled out, leaving the tools untouched and gathering dust. It only took six words to get those tools off the ground.
“Could we start this up again?” he asked the executive director. Soon they were able to pilot a new branch of ICYA called Step Up Construction. The goal was to hire some of the struggling young men in the community, provide them with work, and give them spiritual and emotional mentorship. Scripture revealed to these co-founders a powerful picture of Jesus, who discipled those around Him by walking alongside them and sharing in the rhythms of daily life. This is the hope for the young men working for them as they “do life” during their workday.
Tom began recruiting younger men in need of work, and together they took on light renovation projects throughout the city. He remembers fondly his first hires.
“They showed up in suits and ties for the interview. They just wanted to be given a shot.” And that’s what they were given. As the men showed up for work, Tom was able to give them on-the-job training and provide mentorship in a way that many of these men had never experienced throughout their entire upbringing.
A Foundation Cemented
Part of the beauty of Step Up Construction lies in the inherent risk it embraces. It’s not just about taking a chance on someone with little construction experience and training them on the job—it’s also about hiring a team of individuals whose resumes might fall short but whose potential shines through. That’s where the founders of Step Up have seen God at work. They have found people willing to take a risk on these young men and have seen the young men rising to the challenge to deliver quality work.
Whether it was rebuilding a deck or tackling larger projects, taking a risk on these young men consistently proved to be a positive and rewarding decision. This was especially highlighted in their partnership with Pier Solutions, a bridge restoration company.
“They were taking a risk for guys that are still pretty green, but the projects that we did for them and the quality of work was really good. It was a win-win for us and them because they were able to fulfill their project, they were able to support us, and then it allows us to invite others into our social purpose. This partnership showed that we could still turn a profit while supporting these guys,” Andrew said.
Their partnership with Pier Solutions served as clear proof that their social purpose could successfully generate a profit. Kingdom work and business success can work together.
Kingdom work and business success can work together.
Building a Business
Step Up has experienced rapid growth, with numerous construction projects needing completion and even more men eager for the opportunity to work and transform their lives. Anthony, Tom, and Andrew have had to continually adapt and refine their business model to keep up with the rapid growth and expanding opportunities.
They are committed to ensuring that their mission and vision remain uncompromised, even as the business continues to grow and evolve.
“We want to make sure that our focus will always be Jesus. What we also need to focus on is how we are building up individuals, how we are protecting our staff from burnout and from carrying too many things,” Anthony adds. In some ways, they are still figuring it out.
One of the blessings of growth is their business being “in the black.” Even with a strong social purpose, they still need to make money to stay afloat.
“We are doing vocational discipleship and trying to lead these guys to Christ,” Anthony adds, “but we have to be good stewards of what God has given us. What do you do when you get a cheque? We show the men by example of our business how to be good stewards.”
When the men see the business thriving—paying its bills, compensating employees, and operating successfully—they begin to mirror that success in their own lives, applying the principles to manage their own bills, groceries, and responsibilities. Part of Step Up’s impact lies in creating a model for these men to witness and experience, helping them internalize these lessons and apply them to their own lives.
They have taken their business to the next level by hiring project coaches to provide additional support and equip the men with even more skills. This one-on-one guidance not only helps the men grow in their trade but also impacts their personal lives. Some employees have progressed from not knowing how to use a tape measure to working full-time and paying their bills within just six weeks. Beyond the practical skills, the emotional and spiritual growth these men experience is equally transformative.
Part of Step Up’s impact lies in creating a model for these men to witness and experience.
Step Up and Dream
Looking ahead, Tom, Anthony, and Andrew see countless opportunities for growth as they focus on building a future-forward organization. They envision their employees rising through the ranks to eventually become the leaders of the organization. Anthony highlights the strength of the neighborhood brotherhood as a vital asset to their mission, fueling both their vision and their cause.
“They are going to be the ones to impact their community in a much larger way, because they are from here. They can show their peers that they had a bit of a struggle but got on their feet, and invite others to do it too.”
These three men dream big, with other goals that extend far beyond their current work. They hope to see Step Up replicated in low-income communities across Canada, bringing mentorship and transformation to even more lives. Their vision includes expanding beyond construction into other trades and creating opportunities for women and families to experience the same mentorship and life change through Jesus. At the heart of it all, they are fully committed to stepping into everything God provides, working with the men He has placed in their care. And they won’t stop until the vision is fulfilled. In their words: