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About YouthBuild Long Island
YouthBuild Student Focus
About YouthBuild USA
How You Can Help
Partners & Sponsors
Staff Contact
ProblemMany youth on Long Island will not have the opportunity to achieve their full potential. Youth face many challenges such as being from low-income families, being in foster care and homelessness. Given assistance, young adults can avoid dropping out of school, joining gangs, unemployment and jail.
Solution
YouthBuild Long Island, a youth and community development initiative launched by United Way of Long Island, is part of a national program that provides unemployed young adults, ages 18 to 24, the opportunity to transform their lives and roles in society. The program enables participants to continue their education, learn job skills and serve their communities by building green, energy efficient and affordable housing.
The YouthBuild curriculum integrates academics with life skills. Students spend six to 12 months dividing their time between a housing construction site and an education facility, which provides high school and college education programs, job training and career advancement, leadership development, counseling and graduate support.
Results
Participants of YouthBuild Long Island go through a powerful transformation. Thanks to YouthBuild, young people across the nation are changing their lives and rebuilding their communities. They are graduating from school, supporting their families and restoring their neighborhoods.
Housing
Students construct or rehabilitate homes for homeless and low-income people in their communities.
Education
The curriculum prepares students to attain their high school diplomas; GEDs; or attend vocational school or college. Coursework includes math, English, science, technology, social studies and health.
Job Training
Students develop sound work habits, as well as decision-making and time-management skills. They develop career plans and prepare for job interviews. On the construction site, students are offered job training—including Occupational Safety and Health Administration training and certification—basic construction and carpentry skills, career exploration, job readiness and internships.
Leadership Development
Participants learn to advocate for issues that concern them and their communities, and to take responsibility for themselves and their families.
Counseling
Referrals are offered to address issues such as child care, transportation, substance abuse and other matters.
Graduate Support
Graduates will have access to resources and support to assist them as they advance their careers, go to college, build assets and become role models.
YouthBuild Long Island has been granted provisional affiliate member status by YouthBuild USA. Founded in 1990, YouthBuild USA has guided the development of the national YouthBuild network of more than 226 local initiatives, which act in collaboration to improve their outcomes and impact. The program has brought more than $700 millions in federal funds into low-income communities.
Since 1994, more than 15,000 units of low-income housing have been produced by 60,000 YouthBuild students across the country.
With your contribution, young men and women are given the opportunity to continue their education and develop skills that will assist them in establishing a productive life. To enroll one young adult in YouthBuild Long Island for a year, it costs on average $20,000, including stipends. This costs less than many full-time options for unemployed young adults, such as the military, Job Corps or prison. For less than $385 per week, you will be helping one young person to make better decisions and take a more resourceful path in life. Contributions may be made to YouthBuild Long Island online at www.unitedwayli.org by choosing “Donate Online,” or by mail to United Way of Long Island, 819 Grand Boulevard, Deer Park, NY 11729.
The YouthBuild program also need materials to sustain. Check out the YouthBuild Wish List if your company is interested in donating materials.
YouthBuild Long Island was launched in Suffolk County and developed in collaboration with Long Island’s premier education and human service agencies including Education and Assistance Corporation, Family Service League, Youth Enrichment Services and Adelante of Suffolk. Funding is provided by JPMorgan Chase Foundation, Arrow Electronics, Home Depot Foundation, WB 11, Bank of America and Town of Islip Community Development Agency.
For more information, contact Kristen Anderson, housing program coordinator, at kanderson@unitedwayli.org or 631.940.3726.
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