Lynn Lester, BVM, visits with participants in the HEART Partnership Program in Dubuque, Iowa, at a home restoration job site.
by Michelle London
On a pastoral stretch of land overlooking the Mississippi River, something amazing is happening in the lives of young adults searching for direction.
The HEART (Housing, Education, and Rehabilitation Training) Partnership, created by the Four Mounds Foundation in Dubuque, Iowa, offers hands‑on workforce training, mentorship, and life skills development for young adults who need guidance. HEART blends trade instruction with personal support, helping participants gain confidence, purpose, and a sense of belonging.
As a Sisters of Charity, BVM Ministry Partner, HEART is not just about learning a trade—it’s about laying a foundation for a stable future.
With support from the congregation and other community partners, HEART has been able to expand and grow its offerings. Plans are underway for a workforce education center at Four Mounds Farm, which will allow additional training choices.
A Natural Partnership
Lynn Lester, BVM, has been an enthusiastic advocate for HEART since she and Becky Bodish, HEART’s workforce education director, were teaching colleagues at Clarke University in Dubuque, Iowa.
“It was a perfect match,” Lynn says of the partnership between HEART and the BVM Community. “What they do with young people is incredible.”
Realizing that not everyone thrives in a traditional classroom setting, the HEART program, which initially served high school students, expanded to include young adults in 2019.
“Some learn better by doing,” Lynn says. “And that’s exactly what the HEART program does. They teach them responsibility and life skills. And just as importantly, they show them that someone cares.”
Meeting Young Adults Where They Are
That care is evident in the program’s flexible structure.
“When people ask how long the program is, we say, ‘As long as it takes,’” shares Becky.
For 23-year-old Andrew Helgerson, that approach made all the difference. He entered the program three years ago. He graduated this past April and began a new job in the lumber department at Lowe’s a few days later. When he first began the program, he had no idea where his life was headed.
Learning Skills and Discovering Direction
Through a range of projects—from home renovations to site maintenance to culinary experiences—Andrew discovered a preference for people-centered work. At the same time, he worked on personal goals, including managing his anxiety.
“I wouldn’t have met those goals if I hadn’t been in the program,” he says.
HEART graduate Andrew Helgerson says the program helped him discover and reach both personal and professional goals.
HEART’s blend of practical and personal development is intentional. Participants earn certifications in fields like construction and safety—often in partnership with Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC)—while also building communication skills, financial literacy, and emotional resilience. Weekly goal-setting and one-on-one mentoring ensures that their growth extends beyond the job site.
Transformation Through Support and Trust
Student Needs Facilitator Kaniyiah Mattison sees the changes unfold daily.
“Students come from very different environments, and we meet them where they are,” she says. “For some, that means learning to manage anxiety. For others, it means learning to trust or imagining a future beyond immediate survival.”
Isaac Anderson, 23, knows that journey well. Growing up on Chicago’s South Side, he spent much of his youth focused on just getting through each day.
“I didn’t know where I was going or what I was going to do,” he says.
After relocating to Dubuque and enrolling in HEART, he began to see new possibilities.
He discovered a passion for building, and his recent experience working with elementary students sparked an interest in teaching.
From Certainty to Hope
Now pursuing his GED, Isaac speaks with a sense of purpose that he once never thought he would have.
Job training, working towards his GED, and his first apartment were all made possible for Isaac Anderson through his hard work and guidance from HEART Partnership mentors.
“This program gave me a whole new life,” he says. “It gave me hope and the confidence to pursue that hope.”
Lynn has witnessed similar transformations during her visits to job sites. She recalls watching students take a house down to the studs and rebuild it from the ground up—learning plumbing, carpentry, and design along the way.
“They’re so proud of it,” she says. “It’s like giving a person a whole new chance at life—a chance at success.”
That success is tangible. Participants’ earnings increase significantly after completing the program, and assessments have shown the changes in their emotional and psychological growth.
“These young people go from having no hope to succeeding,” Lynn says. “They are productive and happy, and that’s because of the HEART staff and what they do and how much they care.”
A unique feature is the program’s holistic approach. Participants are paid for training and benefit from small group instruction, mentorship, and real-world experience. They also work with Kaniyiah on social and life skills.
“We can teach trade skills all day,” Bodish says. “But if you don’t address the barriers in someone’s life, those skills won’t stick.”
A Future Reimagined
For Andrew, a future now feels possible, not just because of the hands-on skills he has acquired, but because of the social skills he has worked hard to perfect. For Isaac, the future includes a growing family and a defined career path.
“The program reveals all the talents and gifts that they never knew they had,” Lynn says. “It gives them the support to build something lasting, both in their work and in their lives.”
About the author: Michelle London is a communications specialist for Sisters of Charity, BVM in Dubuque, Iowa.
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