YouthBuild Philadelphia Places Dropouts on Path to Career Advancement
Submitted by Amy Kapp
YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School provides former out-of-school youth with meaningful jobs and post-secondary placements upon completion of a rigorous diploma/vocational training program.
In the past five years in Philadelphia, 30,000 students have dropped out of high school. Large numbers of dropouts mean less tax revenue, higher social service costs, less civic participation and high levels of poverty and incarceration. YouthBuild partners with businesses and organizations to reconnect youth to the community and put them on paths toward economic self-sufficiency.
YouthBuild offers certificate training in three high growth industries: construction, technology and nursing. In addition, a Transition Services team ensures that each student develops an individualized plan, whether the plan includes advancement in a YouthBuild-offered vocational track or other career field. YouthBuild provides tools, resources and information so that students can create paths – both traditional and non-traditional – for reaching their destinations.
Over the past 14 years, YouthBuild has developed a network of businesses and organizations that provide graduates with entry-level jobs and internships, apprenticeships, mentoring services and job shadowing opportunities. The school draws on the strength of its local community partners in order to ensure that students advance in the work place and in life. Typically, 80% of graduates are placed in meaningful jobs and post-secondary opportunities within three months of completing the program.
For more information on how your business or organization can partner with YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School, contact Martin Molloy, Director of Transition Services, at 215-627-8671 xt.38, or e-mail info@youthbuildphilly.org.
YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School is a not-for-profit organization that provides out-of-school youth in Philadelphia the broadest range of tools, supports and opportunities available to become self-sufficient, responsible and productive citizens.
YouthBuild offers an innovative 10-month program, which blends a rigorous academic curriculum with valuable community service experience and hands-on vocational training.
Since the program’s inception in 1992, students have rehabilitated more than 60 houses for low-income families, and refurbished more than 1,200 computers for local organizations and schools. More than 1,100 young people have graduated from the program.
Students at YouthBuild earn their high school diplomas and make successful transitions to full-time jobs, post-secondary educations, or further service with AmeriCorps. For more information, visit www.youthbuildphilly.org.
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