The social enterprise, Quality Hands, will capitalize on the combined experience and expertise of PPL and Rebuild Resources in training and employing under-served populations in contract manufacturing. The initiative is expected to significantly expand its markets and services to existing and new customers while providing employment and job skills training to a population that is among the most difficult to employ.
Since 1972 Project for Pride in Living (PPL) has been helping low-income people become self-sufficient through: employment training, education, housing and support services. PPL recently absorbed the nearby non-profit social enterprise, Rebuild Resources.
PPL’s history of success working with challenged populations is linked to its ability to continually attract (and flourish under) impressive leadership. Janet Ludden who succeeded Kevin Lynch (now the President and CEO of the Social Enterprise Alliance) as interim director of Rebuild Resources prior to its merger with PPL, will serve as the newly appointed president of Project for Pride in Living Enterprises. Ludden joins a leadership team that includes PPL’s Executive Director, Steve Cramer, whose impressive background includes serving as the director of the Minneapolis Community Development Agency from 1999 to February of 2000 and as director of the Hennepin County Department of Housing, Community Works and Transit from February 2002 to August 2003 when he resumed the leadership of PPL.