Alexandria Entrepreneur Turns Personal Struggle into Opportunities for Youth in the Trades
Alexandria, VA – After building a successful career in the skilled trades, Alexandria resident Roberto Gomez is transforming personal hardship into a powerful force for community change through his nonprofit, Cornerstone Craftsman.
Founded in 2024, the organization reflects Gomez’s belief that young people—especially those from low-income backgrounds—need more accessible pathways to success beyond traditional routes like college or military service. Drawing from his own life experience, Gomez created a program designed to provide direction, skills, and opportunity to youth who often face systemic barriers.
“I saw what was going on around me,” Gomez said. “Young people needed direction, and they weren’t getting it.”
Cornerstone Craftsman offers a modern take on traditional apprenticeship models, combining classroom instruction with hands-on training in fields such as carpentry, electrical work, and plumbing. The program also emphasizes mentorship, character development, and life skills, ensuring participants are prepared not only for employment but for long-term success.
Currently, 28 pre-apprentices are enrolled, ages 12 to 17, each gaining practical experience while building confidence and responsibility. Gomez said the program aims to break cycles of generational poverty while creating a pipeline of skilled, job-ready workers.
Support for Cornerstone Craftsman grew in an unexpected but powerful way when the Alexandria Police Department took notice of the program’s impact on local youth. Recognizing the challenges of juvenile crime, drug use, and teen pregnancy, officers saw the nonprofit as part of the solution and stepped forward to help. As the program expanded beyond a dozen participants, finding a safe, consistent space became a major hurdle. In response, police offered access to one of their satellite offices, giving the organization its first stable home and a strong vote of confidence.
Recognized for its innovative approach and deep community commitment, Cornerstone Craftsman was named the 2025 “Rising Star” at the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce’s Best in Business Awards. The honor highlights emerging organizations that demonstrate exceptional promise and measurable impact.
For Gomez, the mission is deeply personal. Growing up in challenging circumstances, he lacked access to mentorship and exposure to career options in the trades. Though naturally skilled with his hands, he said he spent years navigating odd jobs before discovering electrical work—a turning point that led to a successful business.
A moment of reflection in recent years reshaped his purpose. Gomez realized that if he had been introduced to the trades earlier, his path could have been vastly different. He also recognized the importance of representation in mentorship, noting that many who tried to guide him did not share his background.
“The message may have been good,” he said, “but the messenger didn’t connect.”
Today, Gomez strives to be that messenger. Beyond transforming individual lives, he emphasizes the program’s broader economic benefits, including strengthening the regional workforce and connecting contractors with motivated entry-level talent.
“Our work creates a life-changing ripple effect for youth, their families, and the whole community,” Gomez said.
Although he did not win a seat in Alexandria’s recent special election for City Council, Roberto Gomez captured an impressive 22 percent of the vote—an early signal of growing community support for his vision. For Gomez, the campaign was never solely about holding office, but about amplifying voices too often left out of decision-making. “I can bring voices to the table that are traditionally left out,” he said, emphasizing a broader commitment to public service.
Drawing from his work with Cornerstone Craftsman, Gomez believes many solutions fall short because they are designed without input from the very communities they aim to serve. While he acknowledges the challenges of public office, he remains focused on bridging that gap—whether inside government or out—by ensuring that lived experience shapes policy, not just good intentions.
Though still in its early stages, Cornerstone Craftsman has already gained strong community support, reinforcing a simple but powerful idea: when young people succeed, entire communities thrive.
More information is available at cornerstonecraftsman.org.
