Project YouthBuild Able to Serve More Area Youth – Hosting “Rapid Registration” Events

Press release from Project YouthBuild
Project YouthBuild’s most recent grant award from the United States Department of Labor will allow them to serve more area youth, and there are still a few spots available for the Class of 2022. Project YouthBuild is hosting Rapid Registration events on September 7, 9, 14, and 15 from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. for youth to complete all required paperwork and assessments in one visit. Area youth admitted to the program will begin classes on Wednesday, September 22. Project YouthBuild is seeking eligible out-of-school youth for the transformative 9-month program.
“We are excited to have the opportunity to serve more young people and can’t wait for the Class of 2022 to start,” said Jonathan Leslie, Project YouthBuild’s Executive Director. “The pandemic has definitely affected our recruiting process, so we are making one last push to ensure we reach all interested out-of-school youth. Young people and their families are dealing with a lot right now, so we want to make the application process as simple and quick as possible.”
Established in 2009, Project YouthBuild AmeriCorps is a 9-month educational, occupational, leadership, and pre-apprenticeship program for young people ages 16 – 24 who have low incomes and have dropped out of school. While enrolled in Project YouthBuild, young people have the opportunity to earn their high school diploma, multiple nationally-recognized construction and healthcare credentials, and participate in a rigorous leadership development program. Young people spend nearly half of their time renovating or constructing affordable housing throughout the City of Gainesville and Alachua County. Successful graduates are also awarded an AmeriCorps Seagle Education Award to be used for post-secondary education or trades school. Project YouthBuild is an earn-while-you-learn program, and all students receive a stipend while enrolled in the program.
“We are hearing stories of young people’s lives being disrupted as a result of the pandemic. Youth and their families relocating to new cities to live with extended family for affordable housing; 16, 17-year-old youth making the tough decision to work full-time to help with family expenses instead of attending school; older youth dropping out of school to help take care of younger siblings due to school closures or frequent quarantine situations,” said Leslie. “We want out-of-school youth who are struggling to know we are here to help and support them through these challenging times. All students enrolled in Project YouthBuild earn a weekly stipend for their participation, and we provide wrap-around support services to help mitigate any barriers keeping them from achieving their occupational and educational goals.”
Project YouthBuild is now accepting applications for the Class of 2022. Applications are available online at http://www.projectyouthbuild.org or can be picked up at Project YouthBuild’s campus located at 635 NW 6th Street, Gainesville, FL 32601.
The Florida Institute for Workforce Innovation d/b/a Project YouthBuild is a 501(c)3 private not-for-profit organization located in Gainesville, FL. Project YouthBuild’s mission is to support young people in the community through education, employment, and advocacy.