Inspire
Ignite possibility and help people discover opportunity in the trades.
A national vision for workforce transformation
Don’t wait for
opportunity.
Build it.
Build local talent. Build lasting prosperity.
1848 helps communities inspire people to explore skilled trades, connect them with training and employers, and support their journey toward meaningful careers, entrepreneurship and lasting independence.
Real skills. Human connection.The hands-on foundation at Kilroy’s Workshop.
The 1848 mission
Forging Hope into Opportunity.
Revitalizing America’s skilled trades and manufacturing by empowering communities to inspire, train, and transform the next generation of builders.
Train
Connect local talent with skills, mentors, and employers.
Transform
Build pathways to income, independence, entrepreneurship, and purpose.
Locally led. Nationally connected. Built to scale.
A shared mission. A connected ecosystem to carry it forward.
How we fit together
One umbrella.
Many paths to opportunity.
America’s Family is the umbrella. 1848 is the model. A broad training ecosystem brings it to life.
The umbrella organization
America’s Family
The nonprofit home that connects people, partners and resources.
Meet America’s Family ↗ Home of the model
The workforce model
1848
A shared playbook connecting discovery, training, employers and support.
Explore the model ↓ Connecting a nationwide training ecosystem
Our approach to the trades
An “and, and, and” strategy.
Connect America’s training capabilities—not choose one over another.
A cornerstone partner
Kilroy’s Workshop
Hands-on education and 14 years of experience helping shape the model.
Explore Kilroy’s Workshop ↗The ecosystem we aim to engage
- Independent trade schools and their associations. Explore the Association of Independent Trade Schools — www.aitsonline.org
- High schools and community colleges
- Apprenticeships and employer-led training
- Unions, nonprofits and other training providers
Build on what already works. Connect more people to more pathways.
Why now
Too big for isolated efforts.
We cannot climb this mountain one program at a time.
1.7 million
U.S. skilled-trades openings projected each year through 2035—including growth and replacement.
Our response: a connected ecosystem.
Connect local training, employers and practical support through a national model. Help people move from first interest to lasting careers.
Explore the research behind the need
The Alliance for America’s Skilled Trades reports that training produces 55 workers for every 100 needed, and only about half of training entrants finish.
Its September 30, 2026 report covers 124 occupations across all 50 states. The research describes the need; the ecosystem is 1848’s proposed response, not an endorsement by the report.
Read the original research announcement ↗The 1848 vision
Thriving communities.
Skilled people. Lasting prosperity.
We envision an America where every community has the partnerships and pathways to develop skilled careers, thriving businesses, and lasting prosperity.
Partnerships
Unite employers, educators, nonprofits, and civic leaders around a shared mission.
Pathways
Create clear routes to training, careers, and entrepreneurship.
Prosperity
Strengthen families, local businesses, and community prosperity.
How we’re building it: Kilroy’s experience. McKinney as the proving ground. Communities built to scale.
Share what works. Build it locally.
1848’s national reach is the vision—not a finished network. McKinney is the setting for testing and refining the model.
Local leaders shape the programs. Shared standards and lessons help the next community move forward.
Talk about your community →Introducing the 1848 Sherpa
1848 Sherpa: Your AI-Powered Implementation Team
A revolutionary AI platform that empowers communities to build, launch, and operate skilled-trades ecosystems—combining human collaboration with AI-driven execution to achieve more, faster, at a fraction of the cost.
Connect
Unite the right local partners.
Guide
Build a practical community roadmap.
Accelerate
Turn local effort into lasting impact.
Local leadership + shared knowledge + AI = greater community impact.
The playbook provides the steps. The Sherpa helps local leaders put them into action.
Your community’s next step
Start with people.
Not a building.
Find local champions. Understand employer needs. Build a pathway together.
See the eight-stage community playbook
Qualify
Confirm local need, champions and employer demand.
Organize
Form a founding committee and name a local owner.
Assess
Map people, workforce needs, assets and gaps.
Design
Connect training, employment and practical support.
Build
Prepare governance, partners, safety and systems.
Launch
Pilot, resolve gaps and meet launch requirements.
Prove
Demonstrate progress toward meaningful opportunity.
Improve
Share learning, strengthen delivery and renew.
Watch • America’s Family
See the vision.
Press play.
Watch the America’s Family video.
Watch on YouTube ↗America’s Family video
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Listen • 1848 Original Music
The sound of
the movement.
Original music from 1848 Revolution of Hope.
Open the full playlist on YouTube ↗1848 Original Music playlist
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Common questions
A practical place to start.
What is 1848?
1848 is America’s Family’s workforce model, connecting hands-on learning, employers and practical support. Kilroy’s Workshop is a cornerstone partner in an ecosystem designed to engage trade schools, high schools, community colleges and other training providers.
Who should get involved?
Community leaders, employers, educators, nonprofits and supporters can help identify local needs and build partnerships. Start a conversation about your role.
Do we need a building before we begin?
No. The playbook starts with people, employer demand and local readiness—not a facility. Begin by identifying champions, needs and existing resources.
Is 1848 already operating nationwide?
National reach is the vision. The model draws on Kilroy’s Workshop’s hands-on experience, with McKinney identified as the setting for testing and refinement. Contact the team for current availability and local plans.
Start a conversation
Let’s talk about
your community.
Tell us about your community and what you hope to build. No finished plan needed.
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