Last week, associates in our Minneapolis office had a rare opportunity to advance affordable housing in our community.
Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity hosted the annual Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project (CWP) at The Heights, a transformational 112-acre environmentally friendly redevelopment of a former golf course on St. Paul’s East Side. Developed by the Saint Paul Port Authority, the entirety of The Heights will provide more than 1,000 housing units, 1,000 jobs and a new community with greenspaces and amenities. Twin Cities Habitat plans to build 147 mid-density affordable housing units on 12 acres across four city blocks over the next five years at The Heights, making it their largest development to date.
According to Twin Cities Habitat, during the week, “more than 4,000 people gathered in the Twin Cities to build homes and cast a global spotlight on the importance of affordable housing,” working on the first 30 homes. The scale of this endeavor is further shown in these fun facts from Twin Cities Habitat:
- 5.5 tons of nails and other fasteners
- 20,000 tools
- 75+ participating sponsors
At the end of a four-unit townhouse building, our associates tackled interior work. During the week, four associates each day and volunteers from a few other organizations insulated, caulked, placed vapor barrier and installed sheetrock in all three levels of the house.
Additionally, Tom Becker, President & Chief Executive Officer of Opus Design Build, continued his participation with the CEO Build, which was held on Thursday.
Hear from some of our volunteers:
Why did you sign up to participate in the Carter Work Project?
Jay Fourniea, Director Design Architecture: The Carter Work Project is a powerful way to give back to communities and help provide something essential—safe and affordable housing. It’s a unique opportunity to collaborate with people from all walks of life, united by a shared purpose.
Brittany Rihanek, Senior Manager of Content Marketing: I believe everyone deserves a safe, comfortable home, and The Heights is going to deliver with 30 homes currently under construction and more in future phases. I highly value the work Twin Cities Habitat has done in the community and continues to do, especially with the Build Forward Together plan. It was an honor to be able to do just a bit of work on one of the homes, and I look forward to the opportunity to return to see the progress and do some more work.
Jeff Walker, Director of Operations: I’ve appreciated the long-standing partnership that Opus has with Habitat for Humanity (including the partnership with Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity on our Founder’s Day volunteer events in Minnesota). I’ve long appreciated the Carter’s support of and work with Habitat for Humanity. It is a significant accomplishment for Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity to host the Carter Work Project this year, especially during the month of President Carter’s 100th birthday. I was fortunate and honored to be able to participate for a day on the project.
Scott Shifflett, Vice President of Construction: Providing stable housing for families crucial. It is a great opportunity to be a part of such a large project and see the great things that people can accomplish when they work together. People from different backgrounds, from different parts of the country, and with unique skills coming together. Each time I am involved with Habitat I learn something new. When they say you get more than you give, I really believe it.
Kristi Erager, Legal Coordinator: I signed up for the Carter Work Project because I think Habitat for Humanity is a GREAT organization, assisting families with the dream and stability of homeownership. I loved that the CWP chose the Twin Cities for their 2024 initiative and wanted to be a part of this historic charitable event.
Joel Prater, Director of Visualization & Technology: Efforts like the Carter Work Project keep me grounded and connected with the community and my past. I grew up in a working-class household. My father was in the trades and many of my family members including myself have also been in the industry. It is refreshing and invigorating to lean on that history and leverage those skills to help others.
What was the highlight of your day?
Scott Shifflett: Listening to a mother’s story about her Habitat home and what it meant for her and her family was inspiring. It highlighted how volunteering makes a real difference in someone’s life.
Kristi Erager: The highlight of my day was being in a vast pool of positive human energy with the common goal of giving back to our community.
Joel Prater: For anyone who has hung drywall before, they will understand: hanging that first sheet of drywall on the celling with holes in it for the light fixture and sprinklers and having it fit.
Jay Fourniea: There was a moment when I stood back and watched the progress we had made as a team, and it really struck me how powerful community collaboration can be. It wasn’t just about hammering nails or raising walls; it was about the camaraderie and knowing that we were creating homes that will change lives. That shared sense of purpose was truly inspiring.
What else would you like people to know about the experience and Habitat for Humanity?
Joel Prater: It is always great working with and getting to know better fellow associates you do not get to interact with in the daily routine.
Kristi Erager: This was a great experience! I especially enjoyed working alongside individuals who do this on a regular basis throughout the U.S. and beyond. They had some incredible stories, and you could see the positive impact being a volunteer has on their own lives.
Jay Fourniea: I encourage everyone to get involved in with Habitat for Humanity because it’s an opportunity to make a real, lasting difference in people’s lives. Whether you're experienced in construction or have never held a hammer, there’s a role for you. The experience of working side by side with future homeowners, volunteers and a dedicated community is incredibly rewarding. Beyond the physical work, you leave with a deeper connection to the cause and the people you help. It’s more than just building houses; it’s about building hope and creating strong, vibrant communities. Join in—you'll not only change lives, but you'll also gain a profound sense of fulfillment.
Jeff Walker: I can’t overstate the impressiveness of the planning, the logistics, the site organization by Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity. There was a noticeable effort to ensure that all on the site felt physically safe and psychologically safe.
Brittany Rihanek: I was so impressed with the professionalism and organization by the Habitat team. They are truly amazing. Every time I’ve volunteered for Habitat, the site leaders have done an amazing job guiding me and teaching me how to do something completely new – and making sure we all did it safely.
***
We were a roof raiser sponsor with a $50,000 grant from the Opus Foundation. The funds raised will support The Heights and Twin Cities Habitat’s Build Forward Together strategic plan to expand homeownership, advance racial equity and engage the community. Since 2009, the Foundation has awarded more than $1.3 million in grants to Twin Cities Habitat.
Thank you to our associates and the Opus Foundation for supporting the Carter Work Project, and to Twin Cities Habitat for being wonderful hosts!