Dream turns reality for Women Build volunteer

It all started with a dream; an actual dream.

Melissa Jeanson, 26, barely knew about Habitat for Humanity when she woke up one morning and reached for her laptop. She had been dreaming that someone was teaching her how to build a house. She looked up Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity (TCHFH) and discovered WomenBuild.

A few emails and phone calls later and Jeanson was signed up as a full-time crew leader for the summer build.

A Minnesota native, Jeanson works in Boston as a Health and Physical Education teacher. She always comes home to the Twin Cities in the summer, and usually works at the YMCA. This year she chose WomenBuild instead.

For a woman who is used to working two jobs in order to make ends meet - she works part time at The Home Depot in Boston in addition to her teaching job - the decision to work with WomenBuild meant a financial sacrifice. But, she said, "I figured I'm young and I'll probably never have the chance to do something like this again."

When asked what made the dream and the idea of working with TCHFH so compelling, Jeanson said the prospect of learning to build a house was exciting and she liked the idea of doing something she had never done before in a supportive, all-female environment. Also, the crew leader position was a good fit with her education experience. "I'm a teacher, so I know how to break things down," she said.

She was also fairly comfortable with the tools, and had some building experience. She calls herself "handy" and recounts the times she changed a boyfriend's tire on the highway and helped another friend remodel a restaurant and bar. Growing up she spent time building things with her dad in his workshop, and when she turned 16 she took a job at Sears. When they tried to assign her to the children's department, she insisted on working in hardware.

In addition to learning new skills and having fun, Jeanson said she learned a lot about Habitat and affordable housing. "Before I came here, I thought they just gave people the houses," she said. "I didn't know they had a mortgage." She says now she can "be an ambassador" for Habitat and housing issues. She also intends to take the experience back to her students and tell them about her time working on WomenBuild.

Though she struggles to articulate her feelings, Jeanson said working on WomenBuild was a life-changing experience and one that she will truly miss. "It's really changed me as a person. I'm so happy right now," she said, adding, "and I didn't have to pay any tuition for it either!"

Contributed by Amy Furan