YouthBuild Global

💙 "When I made the decision to join YouthBuild, I was looking to gain practical skills and work toward real goals. What I didn't realize at the time was how much it would shape me as a person."

Josiah Martinez joined Northern Manhattan while facing many life challenges. During orientation, he shared his goal: "I want to join YouthBuild to push myself out of my comfort zone and support others in their goals."

Since then, Josiah has exceeded expectations. He became a finalist in the New York City Department of Education's Soapbox Competition, speaking powerfully about housing insecurity. He testified before the New York City Council Committee on Children and Youth and rallied outside City Hall in support of continued funding for YouthBuild programs.

Josiah earned his Customer Service Certification, obtained his High School Equivalency diploma, and began a paid internship. Now, he serves as an alumni ambassador and peer mentor for the current cohort.

🎓 Josiah is pursuing his dream of becoming a social worker, providing guidance and support to underrepresented communities.

Congratulations, Josiah! Your future is so bright ☀️

Finding a Voice in New York City After facing significant barriers that made it difficult to succeed in a traditional school setting, YouthBuild Northern Manhattan graduate Josiah exceeded expectations and became a strong advocate for young people facing similar challenges.

💡 What happens when young people have access to professional creative spaces and the support to explore their potential?

YouthBuild Rockford has partnered with Icon Studios to provide hands-on creative arts education for young people in Rockford, Illinois.

🎶 From music recording to video production, young creators are learning new skills and discovering pathways to their dream careers.

Icon Studios opens new ‘creative hub’ for Rockford - Rock River Current By Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — A Rockford-based production company cut the ribbon on Friday on its new studios designed to serve as a hub for artists, musicians and other creators. Icon Studios has moved into a new home at 728 N. Prospect St. The facility was renova...

🤝 Partnerships create opportunity.

A heartfelt thank you to Hyatt Regency Houston for their incredible partnership with YouthBuild Houston and YouthBuild Global. Through job shadowing experiences and career exploration opportunities, Hyatt Regency has helped our participants gain valuable hands-on experience while opening doors to meaningful careers in the hospitality industry.

We're proud to celebrate this partnership and the participants who have successfully transitioned from job shadowing to employment!

Global is !

Interested in contributing to meaningful, mission-driven work in a supportive and inclusive environment? Consider applying to one of our open positions:

✔️ Program Operations Associate, Full Time
✔️ Department of Labor YouthBuild Technical Assistance (TA) Coach, Contract

Visit youthbuild.org/careers to apply.

🧡 💙 We're pleased to share that the Centering YouthBuild Love study has been published in Children and Youth Services Review.

Conducted by Boston University School of Social Work and Global, the research highlights how YouthBuild staff foster belonging, respect, high expectations, and authentic relationships that support young people's growth and success.

🔗 Click the link below to read "'I felt like that was my second home': A qualitative study of adult engagement with opportunity youth in a workforce development program."

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190740926003294?dgcid=coauthor

Photo Credit: Michael Christopher Brown/ redfitz

Thank you Grainger and congratulations, YouthBuild Lake County graduates!

We are pleased to announce that Global has been awarded a new contract from the U.S. Department of Labor, continuing its role as the federal technical assistance and capacity-building provider for a national network of DOL YouthBuild grantee programs.

The contract reflects the DOL’s continued confidence in YouthBuild Global’s ability to support high-quality program implementation, strengthen local program capacity, and advance the proven YouthBuild model across the country.

https://youthbuild.org/youthbuild-global-awarded-contract-from-usdol/

Congratulations, graduates!

👏 We're thrilled to spotlight YouthBuild Greater Stark County (Project REBUILD Inc.), where participants aren't just learning construction skills—they're becoming leaders and mentors in their community.

Through a unique partnership, young people mentor younger students in after-school programming, developing leadership abilities while becoming positive role models.

The program also offers a customer service career track, giving participants the flexibility to explore different pathways and discover careers that align with their goals and strengths.

🌟 YouthBuild Greater Stark County emphasizes developing the whole person—building confidence, professional experience, and meaningful community connections that extend far beyond the classroom or jobsite.

YouthBuild Greater Stark County YouthBuild Greater Stark County is sponsored by Project REBUILD, which empowers young people and adults in Stark County to build brighter futures through education, workforce development, life skills training, and community revitalization opportunities. Through the YouthBuild Greater Stark County pr...