YouthBuild program staff can register now! Follow the link below.
GreenBuild Expo in San Francisco – Nov. 14-16, 2012
Follow link for information on this year’s conference and expo:
http://www.greenbuildexpo.org/Home.aspx
YouthBuild San Joaquin students revitalize and restore a piece of Stockton’s history
On March 15th, students from San Joaquin Building Futures Academy (SJBFA) commenced on a new project of great historical significance. They are currently restoring and revitalizing the former U.S. Navy Ship, the USS LUCID MSO 458. SJBFA has joined forces with the Stockton Historical Maritime Museum to restore this vessel, which originates from the early 1950s. For more information on this exciting project, visit the links below…
http://catalog.proemags.com/publication/b8adddaa#/b8adddaa/8
http://sanjoaquinpartnership.blogspot.com/2012/03/ship-offers-education-restoration-we.html
Open Society Story Featuring YouthBuild Fresno
This article from the Open Society Foundation features some exceptional students from YouthBuild Fresno and is definitely worth a read…
2012 Government Education Days
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On April 10th-11th about 130 YouthBuild members descended on the city of Sacramento for the California YouthBuild Coalition’s annual Government Education Days event. Twelve YouthBuild programs from across the state of California participated and with a total of 170 YouthBuild staff and students, this was the best turnout we’ve ever had at Government Education Days.
The first day of the event, Leadership Day, was facilitated by two YouthBuild alumni, Bea Sweet and Noe Orgaz. Bea and Noe led the YouthBuilders through a full day of activities aimed at sharpening the students’ leadership and communication skills and preparing them for their visit to the Capitol the next day.
On the second day, the YouthBuild group headed to the Capitol. In the morning we met with the Coalition’s lobbyist, Ignacio Hernandez, and were addressed by nine different legislators who came to express their support for the YouthBuild movement. After lunch on the Capitol lawn, individual programs visited with their legislators to discuss the merits of YouthBuild and request support for Assembly Bill 2414 (Solorio), a bill that extends the sunset of the California Youth Offender Reentry (Cal-YOR) program, a competitive grant program that provides reentry services to juvenile offenders as they leave local and state facilities.
The YouthBuild members who participated in this year’s event served as exceptional representatives for their respective programs and the statewide YouthBuild movement. They were able to step up and speak out for YouthBuild and share their individual stories and experiences with their legislators, bringing recognition to their under-served communities. Additionally, they were able to meet fellow YouthBuilders from all over California and bring a sense of unity to the YouthBuild movement in our state. All in all, it was a great event!
News Release: Good News for YouthBuild!
Fresno YB receives $800k grant to help troubled youth
YouthBuild Fresno alumnus Ismael Barajas honored by SouthWest Police Dept.
On January 21st, the City of Fresno’s SouthWest Police Department held a “Bringing Broken Neighborhoods Back To Life” luncheon. At the luncheon, the police department thanked volunteers who participated in the community events held in different sections of the City of Fresno.
Police Captain Garner openly thanked the Fresno County Economic Opportunities Commission/Local Conservation Corps/YouthBuild Fresno for their participation and, in particular, thanked former YouthBuild student and current YouthBuild AmeriCorps staffer, Ismael Barajas for his leadership and dependability and remarked “the events would not have been successful without the leadership of Ismael.” Ismael was presented with a special gift to honor his contributions to Fresno community.
On behalf of all members of the California YouthBuild Coalition, Congratulations Ismael!
YouthBuild Santa Rosa Success Story
Nicky came to YouthBuild Santa Rosa with few high school credits (only 55, less than one full year of high school), but he was already 22 years old. He started in the Pre-YouthBuild classroom, recovering both skills and credits.
At the next semi-annual recruitment for the YouthBuild Santa Rosa program, Nicky entered, completed the four weeks of Mental Toughness and was hired by Community Action Partnership.
Over the last year and a half, Nicky has taken and passed the GED, and has passed both the English/Language Arts and Math California High School Exit Exams; he needs to earn only 14 more credits to complete his high school diploma.
Nicky also participated in the Lego Robotics competitions with YouthBuild Santa Rosa, where the Youth Botics team placed 5th overall, competed in two rounds of the finals, and earned the “Rookie Team” award.
In the fall of 2011, Nicky took the Solar Photovoltaic Design and Installation class offered for YouthBuild Santa Rosa students by John Lloyd, and passed the class. In November 2011, GRID Alternatives (www.gridalternatives.org/) was installing solar panels on their first project home in the North Bay, and Nicky jumped at the chance to be involved with the installation.
Since that project in early November, Nicky attended Ground Crew Leader training and Roof Crew Leader training with GRID Alternatives. In late December, Nicky had an interview with Solar Works in Sebastopol that went very well; so well that he was called back for a second interview, which went so well that Nicky was offered a job.
On January 6, 2012 Nicky went to the Human Resources office at Solar Works and completed his hiring paperwork and his first day of work with Solar Works was January 10, 2012!
Prom at Home Sweet Home (HSH) Youth Services in Los Angeles
HSH held their first prom last June, putting on a great big party to celebrate the organization’s achievements with a bit of glamor. The event included a sit-down dinner, deejay, and award ceremony. Prom King and Queen were crowned and the recipients of the best Athlete and Perfect Attendance award were treated to a limo ride. The event was attended by HSH’s 22 graduates and also students from Youth Employment Solutions (YES) in Watts, CA.
According to HSH Project Coordinator Bettye Sweet, “many of these young people never expected to attend a prom – continuation schools don’t have proms – youth authority camps don’t have proms – the gangs don’t have proms – the prisons don’t have proms.” The HSH Prom was a unique opportunity for these students to experience this exciting high school tradition and to have a little fun. Bettye added, “we wanted to give them – not only the drill, but also the frill. A prom was the way to go.”
