Meet Marc Soberano
“You see another side of our city by seeing the humans behind the societal issues. There’s a lot of circumstance leading up to their life situation, and I can see that there are solutions to it.”
If you’re from Toronto, you’ve seen construction workers. But you’ve never seen them like this.
Beneath the hard hats and yellow vests are individuals with unique life experiences. Marc Soberano has played a major role in the reformation of some of their lives.
At only 24 years old, Marc founded Building Up, a social enterprise that employs underprivileged individuals and gives them a second chance, training them to become competent trade workers, specializing in general labour, contracting and water retrofits.
This business model is changing the lives of hundreds of people. “We run a construction company, but rather than hiring people to take on work, we more so take on work to hire people.”
Marc tells a story of a conversation he had with a man in a difficult situation. “One guy, with scars from bullet holes all over him said to me, ‘Hey Marc, if you give me an alternative, I’ll take it.’”
Marc has found the alternative for people in situations like these, and has created an organization addressing the needs of property owners and community members in need. “I think it was an undeniable thing that should exist.”
Based on the same business model of a social enterprise in Winnipeg, Building Up has employed over 100 marginalized individuals, 86 percent of whom have gone on to be employed by other construction companies.
“It’s about individuals. People getting custody of their kids back, breaking a cycle of going in and out of jail, stopping drugs, finishing high school, getting a job, feeling good about themselves, these little things are a product of everything I do all day. And that’s what it is all about.”
Around 200 people apply to be a Building Up employee every month. “It’s a huge sign that people in our city want to work, and when they don’t have work, in certain neighborhoods people end up with no choice but resorting to crime and other things.”
“You see another side of our city by seeing the humans behind the societal issues. There’s a lot of circumstance leading up to their life situation, and I can see that there are solutions to it.”
Marc could not envision himself working a traditional business life, and has extended his business skills to improving the lives of individuals and giving people the opportunity to succeed. “I don’t understand why anyone wouldn’t work and live a life that is about more than just yourself. It just doesn’t make sense with the things that I care about to do it any other way.”
Marc Soberano is the founder and executive director of Building Up, a non-profit construction contractor that employs individuals in need and provides high quality service. He graduated from the Richard Ivey School of Business and founded Building Up in 2014. He looks forward to its continued growth and its positive impact on everyone involved in the organization.
Check out Building Up on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Head over to their website: www.buildingup.ca
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Jumans of Toronto is a window into the lives and passion of Jewish young adults making their mark in the world. A 50-part series, Jumans is inspired by Humans of New York. If you’d like to recommend someone awesome to be highlighted, please send an email to adina@thehousetoronto.com.
Written by: Adina Samuels