Voices of VU: Gregory Trainor, Philadelphia Community Corps
In 2011, Philadelphia Community Corps was incorporated as a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation, revitalizing blighted neighborhoods by deconstructing abandoned buildings. By 2014, job training, tax benefits for property owners and the Philly Reclaim retail experience were added to the business model to ensure exponential growth and long term sustainability for Philadelphia Community Corps.
This month’s VU partner spotlight is Gregory Trainor, founder of PCC. Learn more about Greg below!
Tell us about Philadelphia Community Corps and how you got involved with them.
I founded Philadelphia Community Corps in 2014. The original inspiration was all of the abandoned housing in Philadelphia. I wanted to create a program that could take on abandoned housing blight in Philadelphia. I made it a deconstruction organization because if we’re going to be taking down vacant buildings why not make it a deconstruction job training program? Deconstruction creates seven times as many jobs as demolition while keeping reusable building materials out of the landfill and preserving our city’s architectural heritage.
Gregory Trainor, Founder of PCC
What’s been the most rewarding part of your time at PCC?
Personally, I love exploring old, abandoned buildings and getting to see places no one else does, but my favorite part of the job is when I get to tell a job trainee that we found them a job. Our primary mission is job training and workforce development, so the ultimate goal is that we help these people earn job that could turn into a sustainable careers. The biggest factor in whether someone stays out of jail is whether they have a job waiting for them when they get out. That job is a lifeline for these people. Telling them the good news is a great feeling.
Has Covid impacted PCC and the need for your services to the community?
Covid hurt us pretty badly. The pandemic interrupted our job training programs, which are critical to our ability to process all of the building material donations we receive.
On the other hand, there were a lot of people coming to Philly Reclaim for materials because they were all stuck at home on DIY projects. In the spring of 2020, we wanted to help all the people stuck in their houses during the lockdown, so we gave out free eCoupons. We ended up giving away $30,000 worth of building materials to people!
Does the weather influence your workload at PCC?
Snow and rain make life difficult for us at the building material reuse center. Our projects can usually keep going, but at the reuse center, we have lots of things stored outside, like reclaimed lumber. It’s hard to sell building materials when they’re all frozen together!
What is your favorite part of Philly to explore?
Any place that’s off the beaten path. It’s the feeling that you’re seeing some rare, that not many people have seen, and having a unique experience that I love most. Even just turning down some weird hidden side street that everyone normally drives right by.
What has been your go-to meal/local restaurant for the colder weather?
I get really bored going to the same places, so I can’t say I have a go-to restaurant, but for delivery food, it’s steamed dumplings. I usually order from Mandarin Palace in Center City.
