I Am Project HOME: Paul Dunnaville
“I am passionate about helping people, giving people a hand. The Project HOME mission lines up with things I want to do personally in the community.”
Music has always been a core part of Paul Dunnaville’s life. So has a deep passion to help people, especially youth. So when he was called about an opening at Project HOME’s Honickman Learning Center Comcast Technology Labs (HLCCTL) as a part-time music instructor, he couldn’t say no.
For years, Paul had been splitting his time between his music production company and different nonprofit stints working with troubled youth or persons with behavioral health issues. The opportunity to work with Project HOME’s young people allowed his gifts to flourish.
With a child on the way, he needed full-time work, and his colleagues at the HLCCTL saw his strong work ethic and commitment to the Project HOME mission. He was offered full-time work, adding on responsibilities as a job coach in the Adult Learning and Workforce Development Program. “The timing was perfect,” Paul says.
Paul currently splits his responsibility between working to provide adults with employment opportunities through Adult Learning and Workforce Development and providing enrichment to youth and adults through the Music Production class. He takes special pride in his role with Inner Power, a record label created by some of the talented students at the HLCCTL that became a vehicle for tremendous musical creativity.
Giovanda Richardson, manager of the Teen Program at the HLCCTL, sees Paul as more than just an instructor – he’s a life coach. “Paul constantly pushes his students to reach their personal and artistic best.” His colleague Erich Smith says, “Paul's energy and dedication has led to life-changing employment and careers for many.”
Paul loves the relationships he forms in his work, particularly with the young people. “It’s great to see them develop, especially when you know where they’ve come from. You see them start in very raw, tough places and grow in so many ways.” Many of the young people, he notes, come from one-parent families and are in need of mentors and father figures. Working with these young people is humbling and meaningful to Paul as he raises his own two- and four-year-old children.
“I am passionate about helping people, giving people a hand” Paul says. “The Project HOME mission lines up with things I want to do personally in the community.”
We are grateful that we can provide Paul with opportunities to express his passion and use his gifts.
