Building the Future
On the Pine Ridge Reservation, Lakota Funds’ Construction Internship Program empowers young people to launch careers focused on creating community infrastructure
Each workday this summer, 28-year-old Charles Mercado rose at dawn, drove 100 miles round-trip across the reservation, and went to work helping install electrical systems in a brand-new community arts center. As an intern in Lakota Funds’ Construction Internship Program (CIP), Charles was mentored by professional electricians from Murdock Electric–a local, Native-owned company–to gain valuable experience in the trade. With each new skill he acquired, Charles’ confidence and determination grew. Today, thanks to his internship experience, Charles is now a full-time employee at Murdock’s, building his own career as an electrician.
“I’m really grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the Construction Internship Program, because it helped me get my first real job. Before I’d only ever worked day labor,” shared Charles. “Now it feels good to have a steady income–to provide for my family, including my girlfriend and my three children, and to afford the things they need. I’m excited to continue my work with Murdock’s as an employee.”
Charles’ story is a perfect reflection of the internship’s purpose. Established by the South Dakota Native Homeownership Coalition (SDNHOC), CIP helps young people find new career pathways in the construction industry while fueling economic and infrastructure development across reservation communities.
Lakota Funds brought the internship to Pine Ridge because it aligns with its vision for creating "sovereignty through self-reliance.” The CIP is supporting and training a new generation of construction leaders with the skills to build urgently needed homes, schools, hospitals, and more. Fueling that kind of community and economic development is an essential step in combating intergenerational poverty and underdevelopment in Native communities.
“I’ve seen again and again how this internship can really change people’s lives–and Charles is a wonderful example of that,” said Nicole Pourier, Business Development Coach and CIP site manager for Lakota Funds.
“We’re empowering young people with the skills to go get a job, and then to transform that experience into a lifelong career. Not only can Charles now support his young family, but he also contributed to the construction of a cultural arts center that will serve our community members for years to come. I know how proud he is of that, and we are so incredibly proud too.”
The CIP experience goes beyond just on-the-job skills-building. With Nicole’s guidance, interns take part in training essential to workplace safety–like Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) training and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). Interns report that these trainings help to build their confidence on job sites, and make them more attractive to potential employers.
Nicole also engages the interns in powerful financial literacy education. Interns learn about day-to-day budgeting and create Matched Savings Accounts through Lakota Funds to begin saving for long-term goals. Charles shared that the internship’s financial literacy classes taught him how to manage his bills and ensure he is prepared to cover his family’s essential expenses. It’s another element of the internship that supports personal transformation, allowing interns and their families to build assets and invest for the future.
In just a few summer months, this year’s interns contributed to critical infrastructure projects that will touch the lives of thousands of community members. Charles’s work on The Heritage Center’s new building will create a gathering place for cultural education and experiences for generations to come. Other interns worked on the Oglala Sioux Tribe’s childcare building and Indian Health Service clinics in two different communities. Across the board, their supervisors praised them for their hard work and dedication–and were ready to offer them full-time jobs whenever they were ready.
“I’m so incredibly proud of this summer’s interns. And every year, it makes me feel good knowing that I can help the younger generation on our reservation gain the skills and knowledge of finding new ways to work,” said Nicole. “This program is not only providing training for today–it’s creating the foundation for a stronger workforce and healthier communities tomorrow.”