Recently, Hampden County legislators were invited to listen and engage with youth providers, young people and employers around workforce development and state funded youth programs by the Regional Employment Board of Hampden County. This round table discussion let young people voice their struggles to their legislators. State Representative Aaron Vega (D-Holyoke), who has visited the YouthBuild program, told the audience that we can no longer work in silos and to be more collaborative inter-agency or by region. Members of the YWCA YouthBuild Springfield program participated in this event that focused on connecting youth with career opportunities. This was a chance for legislators to get to know youth providers and the youth in the programs and gain an understanding of their needs. The challenges in finding employment as youth was one of the topics that was discussed. A very important subject that was also discussed was, "How funding from the state can help with increased with internship and job opportunities for youth." The legislators were very receptive to the ideas that they hearing, that will help to guide them when they return to the State House. The students from YWCA YouthBuild Springfield learned an important lesson in leadership and came to the realization that their voices can be heard.
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Mental Toughness Training is a period of orientation for students wishing to enter a YouthBuild program. They are exposed to a number of activities designed to prepare them for YouthBuild while determining their readiness to undertake this adventure. Although every site has a Mental Toughness portion, each individual program designs the activities to meet their own needs for a period of at least two weeks. At YouthBuild North Shore, one of the key activities is CPR-First Aid training for all potential students. Not only do they learn a skill that will come in handy if there is an emergency on-the-job or at home, they also acquire the credential that is important to potential employers. During Mental Toughness, potential members explore all 5 of the YouthBuild components. Here, potential members are paired up and tasked with developing their own mini-communities. Through this exercise, they learn about all of the pieces that come together to make a community and how even the smallest park, company, or service can have a large and lasting impact on everyone and everything. All of the activities that take place during Mental Toughness have a real meaning for the success that the young person can achieve in the program. They may not always understand that concept right away, but staff will often hear, later in the program, "That's why we did that activity in Mental Toughness." Just-A-Start supporters came together to recognize Gordon Gottsche, the organizations founder and his contributions to Cambridge and beyond. It was a ‘who’s who’ of people who love Cambridge: state senators and representatives past and present, city councilors and school committee members, dignitaries from the city’s corporate and educational institutions, neighbors, and youth. All came together to recognize the man who founded Just-A-Start and through his passion and perseverance, built the small non-profit into a major player in creating opportunity, strengthening community, and improving the lives of low to moderate income families of Cambridge. “Gordon went about not just fixing buildings, but changing lives,” said state Senator Sal DiDomenico. “Gordon, I hope you realize the impact you’ve had on so many people. I hope you do, but I don’t think you do.” “Gordon has left quite a legacy,” said Cambridge Mayor David Maher. Victor Santos, a graduate of Just-A-Start’s YouthBuild program, said he is eternally grateful for what Gordon started all those years ago. “This community means a lot to me. This is not just a building, this is a home… You started this and I’m proud to help carry on your legacy.” Gottsche, who retired in 2013, started Just-A-Start in 1968. Then, it was a small, grassroots program helping at-risk youths through small projects such as cleaning up playgrounds and parks or basic housing rehabilitation work. Through Gottsche’s stewardship, Just-A-Start has become a dynamic and successful multi-service agency focused on issues important to low and moderate income families: affordable housing, community engagement, workforce development, and educational initiatives. “Gordon embodies all of the characteristics of a really great community development professional,” said Van Spanos. “Vision, creativity, and dedication made JAS what it is today.” More than 100 people came to the ceremony for renaming Just-A-Start’s education center at 1175 Cambridge Street as the Gordon N. Gottsche Education Center, a testament to the number of people Gottsche’s work impacted. “What Gordon has done over these past 40 years is remarkable,” said JAS’s executive director, Deborah Ruhe. “It’s up to us now to not just commemorate what he’s done, but to preserve it and ensure we continue to build on his success.” Dignitaries read proclamations from the state house and city hall. “He has given so much to our community over the years,” said State Rep. Tim Toomey, “Gordon was always fighting for the right thing to do and he didn’t care who he offended or what he said. We owe such a debt of gratitude to Gordon Gottsche, we could name the city of Cambridge after you.” “Gordon has left quite a legacy,” said Cambridge Mayor David Maher. Victor Santos, a graduate of Just-A-Start’s YouthBuild program, said he is eternally grateful for what Gordon started all those years ago. “This community means a lot to me. This is not just a building, this is a home… You started this and I’m proud to help carry on your legacy.” Pedro Vazquez-Calderon got kicked out of middle school in the 8th grade for something that wasn’t his fault. He stayed out of school for four years, and missed out on so much of life that teenagers experience in school. A few years later, his younger sister, Loyda Soto-Calderon, also had a difficult time in middle school, failing 7th grade three times. In her last year, she discovered she was pregnant and her teachers convinced her to drop out, telling her life was going to be far more difficult trying to finish school with a child. Enter: Training Resources of America, Inc. (TRA), a private, non-profit organization that operates a variety of education, employment, skills training, and workforce development programs throughout Massachusetts, including Worcester YouthBuild. As the mother of a small child receiving public assistance, Loyda (age 17) first heard about TRA when she was referred to its Young Parents Program. From there, she learned about YouthBuild, and decided to participate in Mental Toughness. Loyda also convinced Pedro (age 22) to join YouthBuild and try to get his life back on track, despite his doubts. It was especially difficult for Pedro and Loyda, the mother of a then 2-year old son, to come to class every day and meet the demands of YouthBuild because they, along with the rest of their family, were homeless and constantly moving from one place to another - wherever they could find temporary shelter. “We kind of hid it from our teachers till almost the end of the school year because it got to the point where we had to tell them because we were missing school and coming in late. I wish we told them sooner because they helped us get through it a little and they understood our situation,” says Loyda. Despite the obstacles, both Loyda and Pedro exceeded an 80% attendance rate in Worcester YouthBuild. They both earned OSHA 10 and Home Builders Institute Pre-Apprenticeship Certificate Training (PACT) certificates. And they both passed the Massachusetts High School Equivalency Test (HiSET). The HiSET was particularly challenging for Pedro who entered the program testing at 4th and 5th grade levels in math and reading in the Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE). The program director was a little nervous about whether Pedro would be able to make it in the program. But Pedro proved him wrong. Pedro showed up every day, worked his hardest and tried to demonstrate that he could get his High School Equivalency Certificate. After having perfect attendance for the first 5 months, he asked the staff to sign him up for the HiSET. With some trepidation and a lot of hope on the part of staff, Pedro took the Reading and Social Studies tests and passed! Next, he took Math, Science and Writing. After a few days the results arrived, and Pedro had earned his High School Equivalency Certificate! According to Mike Quigley, TRA-Worcester YouthBuild Program Director, “Pedro is the reason why you give a young person, a second, third, fourth and even fifth chance. He’s the type of person who will have close to perfect attendance, and give all he can give in the classroom. But most of all, it’s the impression he leaves on others. For example: putting a hand out to walk a lady up the stairs, spending time with people he hardly knows to share his story, … and always demonstrating a positive attitude, smile, and overall quiet personality. Everywhere we go, somebody has something nice to say about Pedro.” In recognition of Pedro’s special qualities, efforts and outstanding achievements, despite his difficult life circumstances, TRA-Worcester YouthBuild has created the Pedro Vazquez-Calderon YouthBuild Pride Award. It’s an award that will go to future YouthBuild students who display good character, have pride in what they do, and rise above all expectations. It’s an award that will go to a person who can be counted on to help others and who leaves a good impression on everyone he encounters. This plaque will hang in the YouthBuild classroom, and future students, who earn the right, will receive this honor and have their names added to the plaque. As for Loyda, she was the inspirational student speaker at the Worcester YouthBuild graduation held at Mechanics Hall on October 23, 2014. Says Loyda, “I’m so proud that (Pedro) listened to me (and joined YouthBuild). He doubted himself in the beginning and didn’t think he was going to go through with the program. He told me he was just going to try it out and if he didn’t like it, he would leave the program. Now look at him; he got his High School Equivalency Certificate, landed two jobs, and he achieved so much in one year that made those four years look like it never happened. I am very proud of him for staying determined to finish this program, and I thank our teachers and our manager, Mike, for motivating him through this year. (Staff) always pushed us to come to school on time, to be responsible, and to finish our work; in class and at the worksite. Thank you TRA and YouthBuild for giving us this opportunity to make a brighter and better future for all of us and our families.” Where are Loyda and Pedro now? With a small child, Loyda has struggled with child care issues and finding a stable, permanent home. She and her son have finally settled in Maine with family. She has just started a new, full time job and plans to enroll in college next year where she hopes to pursue a career in nursing. She is grateful for the construction skills she learned. “ Now, I can fix things in my house…I can build anything I need, add an extra room, build a table, or just make shelves to put things on,” says Loyda. Pedro is currently working two jobs. In January, he joined the TRA-Worcester YouthBuild staff as the Assistant Worksite Trainer, serving as a role model and assistant instructor on the worksite project. He will also be assuming a leadership role in the Worcester YouthBuild Policy Committee. His long-term goal is to pursue college in the fall of 2015 and become a Worcester YouthBuild Counselor/ Case Manager. A local philanthropist had an idea and as a result, eight young men are now dressed to enter the workforce. Drew Weber is the owner of the Lowell Spinners, a minor league team of the Boston Red Sox. Mr. Weber recently took the young men on a shopping spree to purchase suits, shirts and ties. The well-dressed young men are part of the YouthBuild Lowell program which is operated by Community Teamwork Inc. Mr. Weber was having lunch with staff members from the program and they spoke about a young man in the program who enjoyed wearing a suit. "He was wearing it every day and they said, ' you can't just keep wearing it every day,' " Weber said. "And he said, ' Well, people are looking at me differently. I really feel good about myself.' And all of a sudden the light bulb went off in my head." To YouthBuild participants, the suits open a door to a professional world. "I was grateful because he did that from his heart," said 17-year-old Abdel Santos. Emanuel Santana, 20, picked out a gray suit with a purple shirt and tie. "He wanted us to look nice when we go to job interviews," Santana said. The young men started out with some pretty crazy colors, Weber said, but he ruled out a few items that were "a little bit over the top." Weber is particularly well suited to give clothing expertise -- before buying the Lowell Spinners, he ran a clothing store in New York City. But for him, baseball has also opened a new door. "I always said one of the most fun things about doing what I do is being able to do things like this," he said. "Before I got into baseball, I didn't do things like this. And now I do, and it's a lot more fun doing it than not doing it." This experience had a profound impact on the young men involved. They met someone was interested in their success and willing to take some time and effort make their lives better. Community support is an essential part of every YouthBuild program. Drew Weber is living proof of that! Thanks to the Lowell Sun for parts of this story- Having completed a year at YouthBuild Lawrence, thirty young people from the class of 2014 celebrated their accomplishments during a ceremony held with families, friends and dignitaries. The successful students were: Heriberto Alvarado, Julio Amezaga, Jessenia Aponte, Lorraine Aponte, Joseph Benitez, Rosemary Cabrera, Alejandro Calderon, Robert Connearney, Francisco Cortes, Joshua Davila, Julio Gil, Felicia Gomes, Joseph Gomez, Maria Gonzales, Luis Hiraldo, Destiny Iorio, Joshua Machado, Arleny Matias, Syliane Mede, Daniel Morales, Juan Carlos Negron, Denis Orellano, Jorvanny Ortiz, Kayla Perez, Magalis Ponce, Marilyn Rivera, Jonairi Rodriguez, Luis Rosa, Idolina Ruiz and Jose Vasquez. A number of public officials offered words of congratulations as well as encouragements to the graduates. Mayor Daniel Rivera spoke to the students. He has been involved with the program throughout the year. He was even interviewed by several of the students for a story that was published in the YB Lawrence Newsletter, Orange Wheeler Clip. Mayor Rivera talked to the students about his background as well as some of the decisions that he must make in his role as the Mayor of a major city. They also were able to relate to the mayor as he spoke about the ways in which he volunteers his time to help others in the city. The keynote address was delivered by Wendy Taylor, the Lead Education and Career Counselor at the Collaborative for Educational Services for the Department of Youth Services. Her address echoed the thoughts of the evening, for the students to use the skills developed in the program to build a positive and productive future. She also spoke about the importance of a YouthBuild program in providing a positive atmosphere for young people who are looking to rebuild their lives through education and skill development. Modesto Maldonado, President of the Lawrence City Council also offered his congratulations on behalf of the city of Lawrence. His heartfelt words of encouragement urged the students to move on from this accomplishment as a part of the journey they are on in building a successful future. Each of the students was presented with a citation from the city of Lawrence honoring their achievements. There was also a word of advice to make a reduced size copy to include with their resumes as they enter the world of work. One person who has become a familiar face at YouthBuild Lawrence Completion ceremonies is State Representative, Frank Moran. Rep. Moran has attended for the past three years and has been a strong supporter of YouthBuild in the State Legislature. He emphasized the importance of the skills that were learned through their participation in the YouthBuild program. He also presented a citation from the Massachusetts House of Representatives signed by Rep. Moran and the Speaker of the House. Graduate Luis Hiraldo was presented with the Leadership Award for the 2014 Class. He spoke enthusiastically to his peers about the accomplishments they had all made during the year. In addition to the award that was presented to Luis, other awards were presented to students in the areas of education, construction, community service and leadership. These awards were presented to the students by various staff members. A special acknowledgement is given to the work of Director, April Lyskowsky and the staff at YB Lawrence who have put together such a successful program offered to the students participating in this quality program. The success of these students is a testimony to the dedication, knowledge and ingenuity of this first-rate staff! Recently, the Training Resources of America Quincy YouthBuild program celebrated a successful completion were students at their graduation ceremony. Joined by family and friends, students were able to celebrate their accomplishments during this very eventful year, knowing that they had taken a step forward developing a productive future. The featured speaker at this event was Representative Tacky Chan who represents Quincy in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Rep. Chan has been an avid supporter of the YouthBuild programming Quincy as well as YouthBuild across Massachusetts. It was very fitting that he speak to the students on this important day! More than 130 at-risk youths will have the opportunity to participate in alternative education programs in Lowell and Lawrence while mastering critical job skills, thanks to more than $2 million in grant funding from the US Department of Labor. Community Teamwork in Lowell last week received a $1,067,145 grant for its YouthBuild of Greater Lowell program. YouthBuild Lawrence AmeriCorps, an affiliate of the Lawrence Family Development & Education Fund, received a $1.1 million grant, the largest amount to be awarded by the Department of Labor during this round of funding. “We are thrilled to have qualified for Department of Labor funding based on the quality of our programming and the need in our community,” said Community Teamwork executive director Karen N. Frederick. The Department of Labor funds 322 YouthBuild programs across the country. The latest round of funding awarded $74 million to 71 programs nationwide. The grants ranged from $700,000 to $1.1 million. YouthBuild provides classes that lead to a high school or other state recognized diploma and industry recognized certifications in construction and other fields, including health care and information technology. Leadership are key components of YouthBuild. The goal is to help young people complete their education and achieve economic self-sufficiency. “Community Teamwork’s YouthBuild Program provides hope for some of the most vulnerable young people in the Greater Lowell area,” Frederick said. “This funding not only supports critical education and vocational training, but, equally importantly, provides young people a place to belong and an opportunity to connect to their community in a new way.” The federal grants will support the local programs for two years, according to a statement released by US Representative Niki Tsongas, who presented the checks to the Lowell and Lawrence YouthBuild groups. “Since I came to Congress, I’ve advocated for funding for YouthBuild because I’ve seen firsthand how it provides opportunities for so many young people, giving them a second chance to succeed and to find a new sense of self,” Tsongas said in a statement emailed to the Globe. YouthBuild is a community based alternative education program that provides classroom instruction and occupational skills training to youths ages 16 to 24 who have been in the juvenile justice system, are aging out of foster care, have dropped out of high school, or are otherwise at risk of failing to reach educational and career milestones. “YouthBuild isn’t just about helping individuals; it’s about building a better community,” Tsongas said. The Lawrence program, now in its 20th year, will include 68 participants over the next two years; the Lowell program will have 70, according to Michael Hartigan, a spokesman for Tsongas. “We’re absolutely ecstatic,” said April Lyskowsky, program director for YouthBuild Lawrence. “With this funding, we’ll be able to continue to build capacity and continue our services in the community.” According to Lyskowsky, there are 34 youths currently enrolled in the program who are expected to graduate in December. Over the years, YouthBuild Lawrence has helped about 400 young men and women who are committed to improving their lives, who “come to the program every day, no matter what challenges they may be facing,” she said. Students in the Lawrence program are currently helping to build a single-family home on West Street. When completed, it will be sold to a low-income, first-time home buyer. |
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