CANFIELD, Ohio – Flying High Inc. has spent 30 years helping people in the Mahoning Valley rise and develop into the best versions of themselves.
Now with its latest initiative, the Shining Gems Development Corp., Flying High aims to be part of the effort to build affordable housing, while also building up people in preparation for careers.
“We’re really excited about Shining Gems Development Corp. that we’re throwing our hat into the community development arena and building workforce housing,” said Jeff Magada, executive director and founder of Flying High. “We think that ties very nicely with our vocational trades and getting more tradesmen into the field.”
Working closely with the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber’s housing council, Megada said Shining Gems is an opportunity for Flying High to have an even greater impact in the community. While helping be part of the solution for the needs for housing, Magada said he believes Shining Gems will provide invaluable hands-on apprenticeship experience for Flying High participants learning the trades.
“At our core, Flying High is teachers and builders,” Magada said. “That’s who we are. We’re teachers and we’re builders.”
While currently in the planning process, Magada said startup funding has already been secured, and the organization hopes to be ready to launch the program in 2026.
The announcement came as part of Flying High’s 30th anniversary celebration breakfast at Waypointe 4180 on Thursday morning.
Before it evolved into a workforce initiative, Flying High mentored young people and helped them build character while participating in intramural sports with the Austintown Eagles program. Throughout the years, Flying High developed into a workforce and life skills agency that empowers people to overcome challenges and barriers.
Currently, Flying High offers Professional Development Welcome Centers in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties that provide resources for people to help them develop their potential and overcome barriers to employment.
Flying High also offers nutrition-assisted treatment for alcohol and drugs and the Eagle’s Nest recovery housing for men. The organization’s GROW Urban Farm helps people learn important skills in growing food and, through a partnership with ACTION, helps provide fresh food for people in the Valley, especially in food desert areas.
During Thursday’s event, Magada thanked God, all the sponsoring organizations and individuals who have helped throughout the years. Flying Eagle awards were presented to board members James Dipillo and Dave Detec.
Detec, a Valley attorney, drafted the original articles of incorporation for Flying High in 1994. Dipillo, owner of Nicola Vending, said Magada learned the legacy of helping others from his mother, Sylvia Magada.
“Jeff has always had a heart for people. I’ve known Jeff since we were really young,” Dipillo said, noting this was what God called on Jeff to do. “He has done a tremendous job. You couldn’t ask for a better leader.”
Magada said no one can do it alone, and it took the community and partnering organizations to help make a difference in so many people’s lives.
“We are so grateful that we had 300 people come and celebrate us and 30 years,” Magada said. “But it was a celebration of gratitude. … It was about all the people that helped make that happen.”
DeShawn Scott, owner of The D5 Group, a strategic marketing and content development company, served as the master of ceremonies for the event. He said he loves what he does, but his life could have gone much differently. As a young man, he was charged with a felony, and though he went on to get a college degree, finding work with that mark on his record was difficult.
Not only did Magada give him an opportunity to work at Flying High in 2007, but “Chief,” as Scott calls him, put him in a position where he could help others coming back from incarceration overcome their own workforce barriers. Then he led a Flying High program to help youths gain critical job and life skills for employment. Scott eventually got his record expunged.
“He gave me the opportunity to make a difference and also the opportunity to thrive professionally,” Scott said. “From what I’ve seen, when you’re going through those things it’s tough. When you’re running into a brick wall, you have two choices: keep running into it or turn and do something better, go another route. … When you commit to make those changes and go with the ups and downs … it’s a beautiful thing – it truly is.”
Pictured at top: Jeff Magada, executive director and founder of Flying High Inc., speaks at the celebration of the nonprofit organization’s 30-year anniversary.