LAGRANGE, GA (WXIA) A group of Georgia teens is making a big impact on their community this summer, while also keeping themselves busy.

Dylik, Dennis, Deion, and Jalen are learning about tools, safety, and building picnic tables as part of their new jobs with the Lagrange Housing Authority’s maintenance department.

They all ended up there for the same reason– they wanted to stay out of trouble by avoiding gangs.

CEO Zsa Zsa Heard hired them on the spot.

Now the chairman of the housing authority board wants these jobs to become big stepping stones, and Heard wants to team them up with mentors who can help them find their purpose.

“I hope that they will learn a lesson. That it will make them our next lawyers, doctors, teachers and then they will go out to tell other young ladies and men about what Ms. Heard is trying to implement here,” Chairman Michael Jackson says.

Heard also wants to team the four up with mentors who can help them find paths toward future careers.

“We want to put them to work not just to give them a job, because we can’t be a Band-Aid,” Heard said. “We have to do this and be long-term, so they can continue to work but put them in places where they can learn some other skills.”