In their latest training project, Joseph Selestewa and his carpentry class from the Community Employment Carpentry Apprenticeship Program transported and set up a large custom-made mobile puppet stage at the Creative Ki: studio at Two Waters on September 11.

According to Selestewa, the puppet stage is intended for future youth- and family-oriented health education programming projects for the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. The idea came from SRPMIC Health and Human Services Department Chief Public Health Officer Nancy Mangieri and video production editor Frank Turfler from the IT Department, Selestewa said.

Assistant Human Resources Director Crystal Banuelos and Workforce Development Manager–Apprenticeship Program James Smith asked Selestewa if the carpentry class could provide assistance in building the stage.

“As the carpentry instructor, I thought [building the stage] would a fun project for my apprentices,” said Selestewa.

The stage, which measures 8 by 16 feet, took approximately three weeks to build, from the initial drawings and mock-up to the finished product.

Carpentry apprentices Anthony Grey, Nathaniel Seota, Eric Loring, Shauntai Thomas, Lloyd Lewis, Randy Jackson and Reynolds Enos opened the stage and playfully opened the custom-made Dutch door from the set and said hello from the window. The Dutch door, which opens from the top, bottom or both, is made of two-by-fours.

The main framing is built with one-by-fours (to reduce weight), plywood paneling and stained cherry wood.

“A lot of engineering went into this project to make all the features work,” said Selestewa. “The students and I are very proud to give back and to be part of this project for the Community.”