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Teaching Museum Fosters Love of Classic Cars
Community leaders are coming together in Gig Harbor, Washington to reimagine education. Students in Henderson Bay High School are some of the first in the nation to experience a new classic car restoration mentoring program.
Jim Sullivan at his Gig Harbor, Washington teaching Museum.
Jim’s Classic Garage and Auto Museum is the fulfillment of a life-long dream for its founder. It is already being widely praised by community leaders. After a successful career in commercial real estate, Chairman and Founder, Jim Sullivan, envisioned a program where students could develop a love of classic and muscle cars in a supportive and freestyle environment. Sullivan saw firsthand how students without a life vision or hands-on mentoring were less likely to thrive and succeed.
Student Amanda Gómez and Teacher-Technician Jeff Bartle prepare a 1964 Ford F-150 for sandblasting in a freestyle learning environment.
Mr. Sullivan came up with a plan to establish a school where professional automobile technicians teach classic automobile restoration skills. Students are taught to value and respect the vehicles, their craftsmanship and the stories behind each car. Introducing younger people to classic cars and teaching them to work on them builds self-esteem and a sense of accomplishment. The goal is that through teaching, hard work and skill development, students learns all aspects of how these great machines are built. There’s no better way to learn than to jump in and do it. The program empowers students who might not be destined for college and who need tangible skills as they enter the workforce
The program utilizes the work of Sullivan’s restoration garage as well as his team of trained technicians.
A research study by the University of Chicago Crime Lab, in partnership with Chicago Public Schools and local nonprofits, found that counseling and mentoring actually work. There is growing evidence that a violence-reduction program directly leads to a significant decline in violent crime arrests among participating teens.
Community leaders suggest that not only is it possible to prevent youth violence, but the returns on investment are high. The study found that benefits to society compared to program costs–comparing the costs of violent crime to counseling and mentoring program costs–measured as high as 31 to 1.
Sullivan and his team believe the study because they have witnessed the results firsthand. Jim’s Classic Garage and Auto Museum is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that supports other local organizations. Visitors to the Museum are always welcome to take a photo with a classic car and are encouraged to donate $5 to Children’s Hospital in Seattle.
For more information on the Museum and how to donate, contact Jim Sullivan at (206) 406-1313 or email him at jim@jimsclassicgarage.com.