A community volunteer day is scheduled for Saturday, July 11th at the Van Buren County Construction Academy’s current house build in Keosauqua, bringing together Construction Academy alumni, local contractors, skilled tradespeople, members of The Bridge Church, and other community supporters to help move the project forward before students return to school this fall.
The event will run from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at 108 Timber Ridge Road in Keosauqua. Approximately 20 volunteers are expected throughout the day, working to install roof shingles, windows, exterior doors, and a basement staircase. The home is currently framed and ready for those next major steps. Completing them will allow HVAC and electrical subcontractors to begin their work over the summer so students can continue making progress when they return in the fall.
The Van Buren County Construction Academy is an accredited program through Indian Hills Community College that gives 11th and 12th grade students hands-on experience in the construction trades while earning college credits. Students who successfully complete the two-year program can earn up to 36 college credits and need only an additional six hours in a Construction Lab course to complete their Construction Diploma. The program has been operating in Van Buren County since 2020, and Saturday’s build is the program’s third home and the second built through its partnership with Engage Keosauqua.
The project represents a broad collaboration between education, nonprofits, businesses, churches, and community volunteers — all committed to preparing the next generation of skilled workers while simultaneously creating new housing opportunities in Van Buren County. Engage Keosauqua Director Jasmine Padget said community support has been a defining feature of the project. “It means everything,” Padget said when asked what it means to have community members show up for a student-led build. “This project is about much more than building a house. It’s about investing in our students, showing them that the community believes in them, and demonstrating what can be accomplished when people work together toward a common goal.”
The partnership between the Construction Academy and Engage Keosauqua is also directly addressing Van Buren County’s housing shortage. Once completed, the home will be sold to a qualified buyer, creating a new housing opportunity in the county. Padget said the long-term vision extends even further. “Our long-term goal is to continue building additional homes, including a duplex and a four-plex, to help meet local housing needs,” she said. The home is expected to be completed by the spring of 2027.
Padget said the experience is designed to be transformative for students. “We hope students gain confidence in their skills, experience working alongside professionals and volunteers, and take pride in knowing they’ve built something that will become someone’s home,” she said. “It’s a real-world learning experience that extends far beyond the classroom.”
The community response to the partnership has been strong, according to Padget. “Community members, local businesses, and partner organizations have all stepped up to support the project through donations, volunteer labor, and encouragement,” she said. “It’s been exciting to see so many people rally around both our students and the goal of increasing housing opportunities in Van Buren County.”
