Bank of America Awards $15,000 to MYBC

The MYBC received 15,000 dollar grant from Bank of America for the purpose of funding future Learning Academies and putting on the Coalition's most popular and successful event, The Carpentry Challenge. Learning Academies, of which there have been two so far, were established last year to train staff on a variety of topics so that they may better serve their students. The most recent Learning Academy took place in Fall River on December 7th and was geared specifically toward educating MYBC staff on the changes in the GED test that will take place in 2014. For more about this event, see the post below. 

The Carpentry Challenge, which has been an annual MYBC event since the Coalition was founded in 1996, takes teams of ten students from YouthBuild programs all over New England and challenges them to build a three-walled room complete with door and window openings using the help of only a blueprint and a coach. Teams will be judged by members of the Carpenters Union on their safety, technique, and overall finished product to determine the winner. The last Carpentry Challenge, which took place in the parking lot of Home Depot in Fall River, drew a number of YouthBuild supporters that included state officials, members of the press, and community representatives from surrounding areas. The competition is something students and staff look forward to all year, and organizing it would not have been possible without the generous support of Bank of America. 

While the location of this year's Carpentry Challenge is still TBA, the MYBC has determined it will take place on May 14, 2013. Students and staff are already preparing for what will be an exciting competition between more than fourteen programs across New England. We hope to see you there! 


Photos from the 15th Annual MYBC Carpentry Challenge