Congressman Steve Israel Visits YouthBuild

Congressman Steve Israel recently visited with United Way’s YouthBuild Long Island students United Way’s E3 Career Training Center in Deer Park. Representative Israel, who secured $1 million in federal funds in the 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Bill for YouthBuild Long Island, discussed the importance of the program for both the future of Long Island’s young adults and growing the local Green economy. Representative Israel also reaffirmed his commitment and support of the program.

YouthBuild Long Island, a youth and community-development program, simultaneously addresses core issues facing low-income communities: housing, education, employment, crime prevention, and leadership development. At YouthBuild, low-income young men and women, ages 18 to 24, work towards their General Equivalency Diplomas (GED) while learning hands-on job skills by building affordable Green housing for low- to moderate-income people and participating in leadership development activities in their communities. The program places a strong focus on Green collar job opportunities in Energy Efficiency, Renewables, Weatherization, Energy Star construction, and Home Performance.

Photo: Congressman Steve Israel visit with YouthBuild students Keif Gardner, Andrew Martinez, Mayer Burns and Shelton Thomas.