Format

Individual Presentation

First Presenter's Institution

na

Second Presenter's Institution

na

Location

Plimsoll

Strand #1

Family & Community

Relevance

This workshop connects to the fifth conference strand, Home, because YouthBuld Savannah is focused on taking at-risk young people off of the streets, helping them transform their lives and rebuild their communities while doing so.

YouthBuild Savannah is a youth and community development program, which helps young who have dropped out of school, attain their GED and/or High School diploma. Catering to youth, ages 16 – 24, participants of the YouthBuild program spend half their time on a job site, learning the construction trade by building housing for homeless and low-income people in their r neighborhoods. The other half of the time is spent in the classroom, reclaiming their education, gaining marketable employment skills and becoming leaders in their communities.

Upon completion of the program, graduates will receive assistance with job placement and/or identifying advanced training/education opportunities.

Brief Program Description

Hear best practices from the YouthBuild Savannah program and learn about how they recruit at-risk youth, keep them engaged during 9 months of programming and what pathways are made available to participants, once they graduate. Current YouthBuild students and/or graduates will share their stories of transformation and you will learn about YouthBuild USA, Inc. the national support center for the YouthBuild movement.

Youth workers, government officials, foundation staff, corporate and non-profit employees are all welcomed to join and learn about America’s best kept secret, the YouthBuild program.

Summary

YouthBuilld USA, Inc. is a national network of 260 programs across the country; hear from the Savannah based program. Learn about the program design, model and best practices, and hear stories of transformation from actual students and/or graduates. All YouthBuild students and graduates are empowered to develop leadership, personal mastery, and community engagement skills through connection with local mentors and participation in youth council YouthBuild programs develop ethical young leaders dedicated to changing the conditions of poverty through global civic engagement.

To date, YouthBuild students have built over 28,000 units of affordable housing in the United States, plus uncounted community centers, playgrounds, and schools worldwide. Previously unemployed youth gain valuable work experience and skills, industry-recognized construction and green building credentials, and a sense of tremendous pride, while improving their own communities. In the United States many earn AmeriCorps Education Awards for their service provided to the community.

Evidence

Numerous research studies have been done on the YouthBuild model and program design, see below for a list that we will reference during our presentation.

  • Life After YouthBuild – Andrew Hahn, Brandeis Study
  • YouthBuild in Developmental Perspective – Ron Ferguson, Harvard Study
  • Pathways Into Leadership – CIRCLE Study
  • Adapting to a Local Context - YB - MDRC Report as of February 2015

Biographical Sketch

TBD

Presentation Year

2016

Start Date

3-8-2016 10:15 AM

End Date

3-8-2016 11:30 AM

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Mar 8th, 10:15 AM Mar 8th, 11:30 AM

YouthBuild Savannah: Helping At-Risk Young People, Rebuild Their Communities and Their Lives

Plimsoll

Hear best practices from the YouthBuild Savannah program and learn about how they recruit at-risk youth, keep them engaged during 9 months of programming and what pathways are made available to participants, once they graduate. Current YouthBuild students and/or graduates will share their stories of transformation and you will learn about YouthBuild USA, Inc. the national support center for the YouthBuild movement.

Youth workers, government officials, foundation staff, corporate and non-profit employees are all welcomed to join and learn about America’s best kept secret, the YouthBuild program.