Training the next generation to rebuild a neighborhood they call home

By Adrianne Murchison

Publish Date: June 6, 2025

On a sunny morning in the Old Fourth Ward, ten trainees gathered on the grounds of the former Atlanta Medical Center, wearing hard hats and neon safety vests.

They’re enrolled in an eight-week course at Haliburton Heavy Equipment Operator School, where they’re learning to operate excavators as part of the redevelopment of the 22-acre site by Wellstar Health System.

That morning’s session began with the outdoor huddle — a daily routine that combines light stretching, encouragement, and a bit of talk about the work ahead. As instructor Marcus Haliburton checked in with each of them, one trainee led the group in stretches, warming everyone up for another day of simulator and classroom training.

For several in the group — including Marcus Haliburton — this was more than a job site. It was the place where their lives began. The shuttered hospital was where they were born.

“It feels good to be working at a place where you were born,” Marcus said. Trainee Joshua Williams shared that two of his daughters were born at Atlanta Medical Center.

Another student recalled undergoing a life-saving surgery there in 2016. These shared connections to the space give the training program a deeper resonance. Now, instead of entering through the hospital doors as patients, they’re contributing to what comes next: a mixed-use district of residential living, shopping, green spaces and health and wellness components.

All ten trainees live in the Old Fourth Ward. Most learned about the program through flyers and social media.

The current class ranges in age from 18 to 60, though past students have been as old as 73. The only requirement to enroll: the ability to safely move in and out of the equipment.

During trainings, students spend hours in a classroom and on simulators designed to mimic real construction sites. They practice navigating tasks they will encounter on the job, loading, maneuvering, and operating the versatile excavator vehicle.

“They’ll learn the basic skills of driving and completing different tasks, but the real learning happens on the job,” Marcus said. “No two days— or two machines — are the same. Even the same type of equipment can operate differently depending on the model.”

Students complete the program with four certifications: OSHA 10, earthmoving safety, CPR, and flagger training.

Abdourahman Couibally, 18, is a recent high school graduate and joined the program with long-term goals in mind.

“If I ever want to build a house, I’ll have the knowledge of costs and the skills to possibly build it myself,” he said. “And the excavator is a very versatile machine.”

Haliburton Demolition and Grading — which runs the training school — was founded by Willie Haliburton, who built his first truck from salvaged parts in 1970.

Eventually, Willie was demolishing buildings at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Today, his son, Marcus, is one of four siblings who run the operator school. Drawing on his father’s resilience, Marcus encourages the trainees to never give up.

He often reminds them with a favorite saying: “Remember, Small steps lead to big changes. Keep moving forward.” It’s a message that resonates across generations — and fits the work ahead.