Project YouthBuild enrollment deadline is Thursday (Aug. 18)

Aida Mallard
·2 min read

Established in 2009 and funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, Project Youth Build is accepting applications. The application deadline is Thursday (Aug. 18.)

Jeff Maines, left, construction instructor with Project YouthBuild Americorps at the time, assists Johnathan Davis, 20, next to Maines, Ronaldo Rawls, 18, center, and Greg Sercey, 23, as they use scrapped wood pallets to build furniture with Project YouthBuild Americorps to be sold at a Farmer Markets in 2013.
Jeff Maines, left, construction instructor with Project YouthBuild Americorps at the time, assists Johnathan Davis, 20, next to Maines, Ronaldo Rawls, 18, center, and Greg Sercey, 23, as they use scrapped wood pallets to build furniture with Project YouthBuild Americorps to be sold at a Farmer Markets in 2013.

Project Youth Build is a 9-month educational, occupational, pre-apprenticeship and leadership program for those ages 16–24 who are low-income residents, have dropped out of school, lack a high school diploma, and meet income requirements and other criteria.

The Project Youth Build Enrollment Application is available at www.projectyouthbuild.org

Applications can also be picked up at the Banks-Cosby Youth Empowerment Center at 635 NW Sixth St., online at www.iwionline.org or by calling 352-222-3307 to have an application mailed.

Classes are held from 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday at the Banks-Cosby Youth Empowerment Center and Santa Fe College Blount Center at 401 NW Sixth St.

Jonathan Leslie, executive director of Project YouthBuild, said while enrolled in Project YouthBuild young people have the opportunity to earn their high school diploma, nationally recognized construction and healthcare credentials and an education award to be used for post-secondary education or trades school.

Shamar Williams shared his experience at Project YouthBuild.

“It’s fascinating for me," Williams said. "I’ve learned a lot of new things. I like building things, becoming more independent. I’m definitely soaking up information and continuing to learn. I absolutely recommend this program — good academics, good teachers.”

Leslie said students participate in a rigorous leadership program that helps prepare them for civic engagement and employment. In addition, they spend nearly half of their time completing hands on training renovating affordable housing in the local community.

In the course of the 9-month program, students spend 50% of their time in the classroom working on their diploma coursework, 40 % of their time rehabilitating low-income housing and 10 percent of their week in leadership activities.

Leslie said students receive a stipend every two weeks that is based on attendance and participation.

“We provide a wrap-around support system, such as glasses, dental assistance and transportation assistance," Leslie said. "We try to remove barriers to achieving their educational goals.”

Lauren Levitt, parenting coordinator for the YouthBuild Parenting Program, said the parenting program started two-years ago, and is funded by the Children’s Trust of Alachua County.

“We provide support services, classes, diapers, educational resources, whatever they need,” Levitt said. “The goal is to connect parents to resources that ar available to them in the community.”

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: The deadline to enroll in Project YouthBuild is Thursday (Aug. 18)