Low-income young people in St. Louis have the energy, talentand intelligence to succeed, but barriers and lack of opportunity prevent themfrom fully realizing their potential. A press conference held on April 20, 2015formally welcomed the YouthBuild-NorthsideRegeneration program to the City of St. Louis to help address these issues.The Department of Labor awarded $1.1million to the St. Louis Agency on Training and Employment (SLATE) lastyear to create a construction skills training program in partnership withRanken Technical College. The program is committed to rebuilding the City's 5thWard while helping local residents to learn skilled trades.
The funds are serving 75disadvantaged youth ages 17- 24. City of St. Louis Mayor Francis G. Slay notedthat "these grants are part of a broadereffort to invest in the future of our nation's youth and give them a helpinghand up the ladder of opportunity."
YouthBuild, a nationwidecommunity-based alternative education program, targets young people who may bestruggling perhaps they've been in trouble with the law, dropped out of schoolor became a parent but who are looking for a second chance and a positivedirection for their lives.
Through a partnership with Ranken Technical College,dedicated learners and workers are receiving valuable skills, using them atwork sites, and getting paid for doing so. Emphasis is placed on leadershipdevelopment, financial literacy, academic enhancement, technical skillstraining in construction, community service, and securing permanent employment.
YouthBuild participants work on homes alongside membersof the Associated General Contractors of St. Louis, which represents dozens oforganized labor unions. These contractors and laborers provide advice andexpertise to the program.
"YouthBuildwill directly connect to the ongoing efforts by so many organizations to renewour urban core," Michael Holmes, Executive Director of SLATE, said.
At this time, four cohorts totaling 44 youth havegraduated from the program with astonishing results troubled youth embrace theopportunity to become responsible young adults with a commitment to work,education, family, and community. The program has taught them hands-on constructionskills, while giving them a sense of personal responsibility and a willingnessto give back to their neighborhoods.
Randy Bolden, 21, who previously struggled withattitude, underwent a life changing transformation after attending YouthBuild's2-week 'mental toughness' workshop. "Ihad to suck up my pride and become a man. The program prepared me for the realworld, it gave me a career to fall back on so I wouldn't have to be out on thestreets making the same mistakesI want to be a provider for my family, a rolemodel for my little brothers and sisters," he said.
Now age 20, Michael Murphy, admitted to followingthe wrong path prior to YouthBuild and ending up in jail, alone and broke. "I make better choices now. I try to geteverything done the way it supposed to be done and don't take shortcuts. Thisprogram makes you smarter," he said.
Overcoming barriers and keeping youth motivated canbe a challenge, according to YouthBuild Coordinator, Shekima Hunter, but emotionalas well as educational support is essential. Her staff act as a second family,a fact appreciated by participants. "When you get a great support system likethis, you can't help but appreciate it and try to live up to it," Murphy said.
Mario Lopez, 23 and a father of two, was able tograduate the program in spite of problems with babysitters, agrees: "When I started missing days, they [mentors]immediately helped with child-care situation. YouthBuild program is a win-winbecause if you need employment and education, it will provide with both."
The program starts students with obtaining educationor better education, enrolls them in the HiSET (high school equivalency)program, if needed. Once students pass their academic tests, they move on tolearning construction skills in trades such as carpentry, electrical, drywalls,painting and others. Students receive a $7.65/hour stipend while they work onconstruction sites. After that, participants go through career building piecewhich prepares them for future employment in construction, and exit the programupon obtaining employment.
In addition to low-income African-American youngmen, the program has attracted a number of women six of them will begraduating the program this year.
YouthBuild dovetails with the City's Building UnionDiversity (BUD) program at SLATE, which introduces minorities and women tonearly a dozen of the building trades as pre-apprentices. Those whosuccessfully graduate from the program are guaranteed an interview with one ofeight participating unions for a full-time job.
BUD is achieving its goal of encouraging diversityand inclusivity in the building trades. The first BUD class started in fall2014, with 18 young adults accepted into a seven-week pre-apprenticeshipprogram run by union apprentice instructors. BUD holds four classes per year.To date, over 25 people have graduated the program, almost all already have full-timejobs.
Other partners assisting with strategic direction,recruitment, support, evaluation or job development of these efforts includethe Associated General Contractors (AGC) of St. Louis, Construction CareerCenter, St. Louis Public Schools, the St. Louis Development Corporation, theMissouri Division of Youth Services, MERS/Goodwill Industries, St. Louis JobCorps, Preferred Family Health, the Small Business Development Center (SBDC),the 22nd Circuit Court Juvenile Division, the St. Louis City Juvenile DetentionCenter, Missouri State University and the local St. Louis Workforce DevelopmentBoard (WDB).
"YouthBuild is more than atraining program, it is where the seeds of hope, confidence and lifelongsuccess are planted. The true impact will last many years and decadesinto the future," said Rosalind Mack, MERS/Goodwill Industries.
To connect to the YouthBuild Program, call (314) 622-3233
Photo (left to right):Mario Lopez, Shekima Hunter, Michael Murphy, Fredrecka McGlown, Randy Bolden.
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