Eric Cross, Portmouth, is joined by his fiance, Carmen Moore, and their 11-year-old son, Martice Moore, to celebrate his completion of the Building Trades Academy 12-week training program.
Eric Cross invited his fiancé and his 11-year-old son to help celebrate completion of his training at Tidewater Builders Association’s Building Trades Academy. But this wasn’t just any class of students.
Cross was part of a pilot program for 10 students coordinated by Portsmouth Sheriff Bill Watson to provide job skills to non-violent offenders.
Cross’s conviction was overturned on appeal and he could have left the training program when he was released, but he continued to attend every day for the entire 12 weeks. He wanted to receive his certification in electricity and in heating and air conditioning.
With a background in roofing and painting, his skills played a key role in the completion of the community service projects the class completed, including installation of a new roof on the cafeteria at the Chesapeake Services Center in Portsmouth — part of the hands-on training the class received.
Cross, 41, hopes to join other BTA graduates who have been placed in maintenance jobs at multifamily housing communities.
See Barbara Ciara’s coverage of the class graduation on WTKR-3.
