What is Carry Me Productions?
Carry Me Productions is an Arizona nonprofit dedicated to helping veterans and young adults build stable, independent lives through workforce development, career training, and housing stability initiatives. We believe meaningful employment is one of the most effective ways to reduce homelessness and create long-term self-sufficiency.
Why was Carry Me Productions founded?
Carry Me Productions was founded to address the barriers that prevent people from reaching stability. Over the years, we’ve learned that people don’t simply need temporary assistance—they need opportunities, education, supportive relationships, and access to careers.
Why focus on veterans?
Veterans have served our country, yet many struggle with housing instability, unemployment, and transitioning back into civilian life. We believe every veteran deserves the opportunity to build a successful future after service.
Why former foster youth?
Young adults leaving foster care often enter adulthood without the support systems many people take for granted. Stable employment, mentoring, and affordable housing are essential for helping them succeed.
Workforce Program
What makes your workforce program different?
Most workforce programs stop after training or job placement. We focus on the entire career journey by combining education, hands-on work experience, employer partnerships, mentorship, and ongoing support. Through our First Look Employer Program, businesses have early access to trained graduates, creating a direct connection between learning and employment.
Why media?
Media is one of today’s fastest-growing industries. Skills such as video production, photography, podcasting, digital marketing, and storytelling are valuable across nearly every business sector. These skills also encourage creativity, communication, teamwork, and entrepreneurship.
What jobs can participants obtain?
Examples include:
- Video Production
- Content Creation
- Prompt Engineering
- Marketing
- Social Media
- Podcast Production
- Customer Relations
- Technical Communications
- Event Production
- Freelance Media
- Information Technology
- Small Business Marketing
Impact
How do you measure success?
Instead of simply counting participants, we measure:
- Graduations
- Certifications earned
- Employment obtained
- Wage growth
- Housing stability
- Career advancement
- Employer satisfaction
- Long-term retention
What problem are you solving?
We’re addressing the connection between unemployment and homelessness. Stable careers create stable housing, stronger families, and healthier communities.
What does success look like five years from now?
Success means hundreds of veterans and young adults entering careers, stronger partnerships with Arizona businesses, lower rates of homelessness, and a sustainable workforce pipeline that continues creating opportunity for future generations.
Businesses
1Why should my business partner with you?
Businesses aren’t simply making a donation—they’re investing in Arizona’s future workforce. Partners receive community recognition, marketing opportunities, and priority access to trained, motivated job candidates through our First Look Employer Program.
What’s the return on investment?
Businesses receive:
- Early access to talent
- Positive brand exposure
- Community goodwill
- Recruitment opportunities
- Stronger local workforce
- Demonstrated corporate social responsibility
Funders
Why should we invest in Carry Me Productions instead of another nonprofit?
We don’t just provide services—we build pathways to self-sufficiency. Our model integrates workforce development, employer engagement, and individualized support into a sustainable system that benefits participants, businesses, and the community. We believe the best solution to long-term poverty is meaningful employment.
How will you sustain this program?
Sustainability comes from diversified revenue, including grants, corporate partnerships, employer sponsorships, media production services, fundraising, and community support. Our goal is to reduce dependence on any single funding source.
Leadership
What motivates the board of directors?
We’ve seen firsthand how one opportunity can completely change someone’s life. Our motivation comes from helping people move from crisis to stability by creating opportunities that lead to careers, independence, and hope. Every person deserves the chance to build a better future, and we help them access it.
Where do you see Carry Me Productions in 10 years?
We envision Carry Me Productions becoming Arizona’s premier nonprofit workforce development organization for veterans and young adults—recognized for preparing people for meaningful careers, building strong employer partnerships, and reducing homelessness through education, employment, and innovation.