It started with four teenagers, a bare trailer, and a bold idea.

These full-cycle students at Marin Montessori School had never framed a wall, driven a screw gun, or wired an outlet. But with guidance from their teachers and the support of local tradespeople, they set out to build something real: a fully functional, transportable tiny bedroom for a young person in need of housing.

Week by week, year by year, Guild by Guild, they did just that.

More than just a structure, the Tiny Bedroom is a testament to what adolescents are capable of when given trust, time, and real responsibility. In a world that often sidelines teenagers, this project placed them at the center of meaningful, purpose-driven work.

Since 2021, students at Marin Montessori’s Junior High have taken on every phase of construction: fundraising, framing, roofing, insulation, electrical wiring, finishing work. What began with a small group of 9th years and an idea—spearheaded by then-Farm Manager Kate Stout—has grown into a long-term collaboration and a real home. Thanks to the generosity of donors, students raised the funds and materials needed to make it happen.

The Tiny House Empowerment Village, created and managed by Youth Spirit Artworks of Berkeley, houses 22 unsheltered young people from Berkeley and Oakland, along with four Resident Assistants. Located on two acres near the Oakland Coliseum, the Village includes 26 tiny houses, two community yurts, and two bathroom trailers. The yurts serve as shared kitchen/dining and living room/makerspace areas. The Tiny Bedroom—an 8-by-16-foot sleeping space—features a walk-in closet and two 120-volt electrical circuits, though it does not have plumbing.

Construction of the Tiny Bedroom began at MMS in November 2021. Working diligently throughout the year, the original crew of four Junior High students framed all the interior and exterior walls, leaving the next phase of the build to the incoming students the following school year.

Installing the floor on the trailer

Carrying framed walls ready for framing

Framing it Up

Over the past 3½ years, several groups of MMS students who chose to take part in the Carpentry Guild have worked to complete every phase of the Tiny Bedroom’s construction. The project has given students hands-on experience in general carpentry, the use of power tools, project management, and the art of teamwork. Most of the work takes place during weekly Guild periods throughout the school year. While all construction is supervised by adults, the vision is to empower students to take the lead and handle the bulk of the building process themselves.

A little help from a forklift

The roofing crew

Framing is complete!

While the students are accomplishing the lion’s share of the construction, they did have some help. Daniel from Catholic Charities helped put the roof on.

Students installing exterior sheathing. A lot of the work last year involved installing the exterior sheathing…

The work this year was mostly inside and included insulation, sheet rock, and rough electrical. The students also trimmed the exteriors of the windows.

 

RCR Roofing puts on our new roof.

We were lucky to have RCR Roofing help us by donating their time and roofing materials to install our new roof this year.

Tony from Lightning Electric shows the students how to wire an electrical outlet.

Lightning Electric donated their time to install the electrical circuit box and stayed around to give the students a lesson on wiring electrical outlets.

This school year ends with us very close to finishing the Tiny Bedroom and getting it ready to donate. We have trim work, door installation, and the floor still left to do. Final work will likely continue this summer and past and current Junior High students are welcome to come out to help. We hope to have the final dedication ceremony after school starts in September. All of the students who have worked on this project over the past five years will be invited to join us in the celebration.

 

We would like to again thank our financial donors, as well as Catholic Charities, RCR Roofing, and Lightning Electric, for donating their time and expertise in helping us complete these two major parts of this project. If you need roofing or electrical work completed on your home, please consider giving Blanca at RCR Roofing and Tony at Lightning Electric a call.