The sound of hammers echoed across the training yard at BuildStrong Academy as Rome lifted his daughter into his arms. She clutched his shirt with tiny hands, her wide eyes fixed on the small house behind them, a house he had helped build board by board. Sawdust still clung to his work boots, and sweat traced lines across his face, but the pride in his smile was unmistakable.
For Rome, this was not just another project. It was the beginning of a foundation he had fought to create for himself, for his children, and for his future in North Sacramento.
Only months earlier, Rome was unhoused, navigating life as a young father and former foster youth with no steady roof over his head. Today, he stands as AcademySTAY’s first resident to graduate from an accredited vocational program, living proof of what happens when resilience meets opportunity.
A turning point
When AcademySTAY opened its doors in Del Paso Heights in October 2024, Rome arrived with little more than determination. The nonprofit, part of the D2 Thrives initiative, provides transitional housing and support for young adults ages 18 to 24 who are aging out of foster care.
For Rome, walking into AcademySTAY meant more than finding a place to live. It meant someone finally believed he could thrive.
“Before AcademySTAY, I didn’t know where I was going,” Rome recalled. “Having a place to rest, to focus, it gave me the chance to really think about my future.”
That chance came in the form of BuildStrong Academy, a nine-week pre-apprenticeship carpentry program run by the Home Builders Institute in partnership with the Building Careers Foundation. Rome signed up and never looked back.
Building skills, building confidence
At BuildStrong, the days started early and stretched long. Rome learned to read measurements, raise walls, and drive nails with precision. He graduated with his OSHA-10 safety certification, opening the door to union apprenticeships and living-wage careers.
“This program didn’t just teach me how to cut wood,” Rome said. “It taught me discipline, how not to give up on myself, and to take pride in what I do. This is not the end. This is the foundation.”
The training program was intentionally designed to mirror real job sites. Students reported at 7 a.m., worked with tools, studied blueprints, and built small-scale homes to practice the techniques they would use in the field. Instructors emphasized teamwork and accountability.
For Rome, these expectations built habits of reliability and discipline that would serve him for years to come.
His mentors noticed the transformation. “Because of his training and commitment, Rome will not have to wait the usual year before testing into the union,” said David Diaz, Career Development Manager at Building Careers Foundation. “He has earned the chance to move forward faster.”
A sacrifice worth making
The path was not easy. Rome’s two children lived in Bakersfield during his training, and the distance weighed on him daily. Every swing of the hammer, every late-night bus ride home carried the quiet ache of separation.
Still, he pressed forward, motivated by the image of his kids seeing him succeed.
The program lasted nine weeks, but the impact of that season of sacrifice will last far longer. Rome spoke often of how the thought of his children fueled him on long days. “I knew I was missing moments with them, but I also knew I was building something for them. I wanted them to see me finish.”
On September 5, that vision became reality. His children sat in the crowd as Rome walked across the graduation stage. The applause filled the room, and for the first time in a long time, Rome allowed himself to feel the weight of pride.
His children were not just watching a ceremony. They were witnessing their father’s transformation.
A community celebration
Back at AcademySTAY, the celebration continued. The smell of fresh cake filled the air as residents, staff, and family gathered around Rome, clapping and cheering. Balloons lined the community room, and the hum of conversation mixed with laughter and applause. Rome’s smile, wide and genuine, never wavered.
“This moment shows what’s possible when housing, mentorship, and community partnerships come together,” said Suzanne Guinn, AcademySTAY’s Marketing and Development Manager. “Rome’s story represents the future we are building at AcademySTAY, a future where every young adult leaving foster care has not just a place to live, but a real pathway to thrive.”
Jenny Davidson, AcademySTAY’s Executive Director, stood beside Lavonnia De Loach from the Building Careers Foundation as they joined Rome in the celebration. “This partnership is something we want to showcase,” De Loach said. “Rome proves what is possible when organizations come together to invest in youth.”
The party was more than just a congratulatory gathering. For other AcademySTAY residents still early in their journeys, it was a beacon of hope. Watching Rome succeed showed them that their goals, however distant they might feel today, could be within reach tomorrow.
More than one milestone
Rome’s graduation is historic for AcademySTAY, but it is only the beginning. The program has space for 58 transitional-age youth, offering not just housing but a launchpad toward education, careers, and independence. Already, AcademySTAY is planting seeds of transformation in North Sacramento, and Rome’s journey is a glimpse of what lies ahead.
The impact extends beyond one individual. In Sacramento County, roughly one in five foster youth experience homelessness within a year of aging out of the system. AcademySTAY provides a crucial intervention point, offering stability where there was once uncertainty. Programs like BuildStrong Academy align perfectly with this mission by ensuring that stability is paired with opportunity.
For Rome, this meant moving from uncertainty to clarity. For North Sacramento, it means investing in a generation of young people who will shape the community’s future.
North Sacramento: a place of resilience
To understand the weight of Rome’s achievement, it is important to place it in context. North Sacramento, and specifically the Del Paso Heights neighborhood, has long carried the reputation of being overlooked. Economic disinvestment, lack of affordable housing, and systemic inequities have created barriers for young people seeking stability.
Yet the community has also been a place of resilience, with grassroots organizations, nonprofits, and residents working together to reimagine what is possible.
AcademySTAY’s presence in Del Paso Heights is part of this reimagining. By locating the program in North Sacramento, the organization signals that the neighborhood is not only worthy of investment but capable of becoming a hub of transformation. Through D2 Thrives, stories like Rome’s are amplified to ensure that success in neighborhoods like Del Paso Heights is seen, celebrated, and replicated.
Voices from the community
Rome’s journey was shaped not only by his determination but also by the encouragement of those around him. His peers at AcademySTAY often watched him leave early in the morning, tools in hand, and return late in the evening, tired but smiling. One resident reflected, “Rome kept showing us that it’s possible. Even when he was exhausted, he reminded us to keep going.”
Mentors at BuildStrong Academy shared similar reflections. Instructors described Rome as someone who always stepped forward to help classmates, whether it was lifting a beam into place or explaining a measurement. That spirit of teamwork did not go unnoticed. “He was a leader in the making,” one instructor said. “You could see it in the way he encouraged others to stay focused.”
Even his children played a role in his motivation. Though young, their presence in his heart shaped his drive. “I wanted them to see that I was building something real,” Rome said. “I wanted them to see me finish what I started.”
The ripple effect
Rome’s success has already begun to ripple outward. His graduation inspired peers at AcademySTAY to consider enrolling in vocational programs themselves. Staff members reported an increase in residents asking questions about training opportunities and seeking mentorship for career pathways.
Rome’s story is proving contagious, sparking new visions for what young people in North Sacramento can achieve.
Lavonnia De Loach highlighted this ripple effect: “When one young person succeeds, it creates a chain reaction. Rome is not just opening doors for himself. He is showing others the way forward.”
The ripple extends beyond AcademySTAY. For the broader D2 Thrives network, Rome’s milestone illustrates the importance of amplifying success stories. These narratives counter stereotypes about foster youth and North Sacramento, instead presenting a vision of resilience, growth, and community.
Looking forward
Rome’s words linger long after the celebrations quiet. “This is not the end. This is the foundation.” For his children, it is the foundation of stability and hope. For AcademySTAY, it is the foundation of a legacy of future graduates. And for North Sacramento, it is the foundation of a movement where resilience is met with opportunity, and young people are celebrated for the lives they are building.
The next graduates are already on the horizon. AcademySTAY residents are enrolling in college courses, pursuing certifications, and reconnecting with family. With every milestone achieved, the narrative shifts further from survival toward thriving. Rome’s success is not an isolated victory. It marks the start of a wave of transformation that is reshaping what it means to grow up and age out of foster care in Sacramento.
Rome’s story goes beyond his own milestone. In North Sacramento, it shows what can happen when housing, mentorship, and opportunity come together to create pathways forward. It is a reminder that behind every statistic is a story waiting to be told, a story of resilience and possibility. And it is a call to action for the community to continue investing in young people, ensuring that Rome is the first of many AcademySTAY residents to walk across a graduation stage with their children cheering them on.
Rome’s journey reminds us that foundations matter. When built strong, they can hold the weight of hope, possibility, and futures once thought out of reach. The foundation he built is not just for himself, but for his family, his community, and the future of North Sacramento.
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