Wearing orange high-visibility vests as they mount TVs, conduct basic car care, assemble furniture and complete other tasks, participants of Handyman Academy are busy at work on Milwaukee’s North Side.
Program founders Daniel McHenry and AJ Batchelor say learning these skills helps provide structure and mentorship for students with limited support at home.
Handyman Academy, launched in July 2025, is a youth program that equips students with handyman skills to help them build confidence and independence.
“Everything that I’m teaching them are things that I know,” McHenry said. “I wanted to create more resources for single mothers so they could keep their children out of trouble and focused.”
Inspiration for the program
McHenry is a self-taught handyman and owner of the moving company Lift N Go Express. He said after a decade of hands-on work, he wanted to shift from physical labor and pass his skills to inner-city teens, especially those in single-parent households.
“So many mothers poured their heart out to me about the struggles in helping their boys,” he said.
Nearly half of Milwaukee County children are estimated to live in single-parent households as of 2023, according to Federal Reserve Economic Data.
McHenry was a troubled teen who grew up in Chicago and the North Side of Milwaukee with a single mother. Although she taught him basic skills like how to change a tire, he learned other things on his own after losing his biological father. His stepfather was incarcerated.
“The skills I teach in this program are skills that a lot of women can’t really teach their boys,” he said.
McHenry later partnered with Batchelor, owner of AJB Handyman Construction Service LLC and a resident of the Garfield neighborhood. Batchelor was already teaching youths and others handyman skills.
“I typically find people off the street who are in need of money and instead of me giving them money, I show them how they can make it through my business,” Batchelor said.
Becoming a handyman
Handyman Academy offers winter and summer sessions, with students meeting two to three hours weekly.
During summer sessions, participants learn outdoor skills like how to change oil or tires on a car. Winter sessions focus on learning how to use different tools, reading instructions to assemble different items and safety.
To ensure each student is familiar with the tools, McHenry designs worksheets and quizzes for them after each lesson.
“To teach someone how to fix and build something, they need to know what proper tools to use first,” McHenry said.
Once they complete the program, students are celebrated with a graduation and handed a personal toolkit.
Recent graduates of the program include 15-year-old Naiem Bell and 13-year-old Leiyah McHenry, the daughter of Daniel McHenry.
Bell said he appreciated all the skills he learned, but valued teamwork the most.
“A lot of the stuff I’ve been taught, I can’t do all of this alone,” Bell said.
Leiyah McHenry enjoyed the practical activities of the program like learning how to change a tire, an experience she never had before.
“I do think that when I’m older and have my own car, I’ll be able to change my own tire now,” she said.
Her biggest challenge was learning how to mount a TV.
“It was hard to mount the TV at first because I’m so short, but my dad was there to help me,” she said.
After completing the program, Bell assembled a 55-inch TV he received on Christmas.
“I have more ambition to do things now,” Bell said.
Apart from building skills, McHenry and Batchelor also mentor the children by engaging in conversations about entertainment, business, leadership and other topics.
“I had a good mentor at the Boys & Girls Club when I was little and now my mentor has passed,” Batchelor said.
“Our community needs more Black men like us who will step up,” McHenry said.
Helping the kids stay on track
Early in the program, Batchelor and McHenry encountered challenges with the participants.
McHenry said some students were initially rebellious and felt forced to attend, but after creating a comfortable environment, many of them opened up more.
“There was a child who was used to playing video games all day and now he’s active and helps around the house,” McHenry said.
Batchelor said some mothers rely on him to help keep their children on track.
During his free time, he offers paid handyman opportunities to students who need additional support.
“I want these kids to do better because Milwaukee can be a terrible place at times,” Batchelor said.
McHenry said he spent approximately $5,000 out-of-pocket for each course, but he hopes to turn the program into a nonprofit so that parents won’t have to pay $150 for registration.
Plans for expand
McHenry and Batchelor are looking for a permanent space to hold sessions and expand the program. Previous sessions were held at the Midtown Shopping Center and at 8201 W. Brown Deer Road.
“We’ve been through two different locations already, but we’re looking for a place to really call home and somewhere to call our own,” McHenry said. “A place that’s convenient for our students, parents and doesn’t have restrictions.”
McHenry also hopes to collaborate with entrepreneurs, cosmetologists, painters and others to host a workshop highlighting different industries and skills that children can be involved in.
“Everybody isn’t going to be a handyman, so I have to expose them to different areas,” McHenry said. “I think we all have something to offer to the community that can help the youth out.”
Leiyah McHenry and Bell appreciate how the program has guided them in a positive direction.
“I think this program is important in Milwaukee because it keeps kids out of the streets and shows them how to be successful,” Leiyah McHenry said.
“This is really good for people who don’t have father figures around,” Bell said.
For more information
Youths ages 11 to 17 interested in joining the Handyman Academy can register in April and May for spring and summer sessions by emailing Dmchenry1989@gmail.com or messaging the program on Facebook or Instagram.
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