U.S. LABOR DEPARTMENT GRANT PROVIDES NEW OPTION FOR NASHVILLE’S OUT-OF-SCHOOL YOUTH
YouthBuild program joins others in Alternative High School Initiative
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (June 23, 2009) -
Mayor Karl Dean announced today that a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor will provide a new option for Nashville students who have dropped out of school to complete their high school education and prepare for a career.
The grant of $625,030 has been awarded to the YMCA of Middle Tennessee to operate a YouthBuild program in Nashville for the next two years. YouthBuild assists out-of-school youth in obtaining their diplomas or GEDs while providing occupational training in the construction industry.
The addition of YouthBuild in Nashville is part of a larger effort to expand high school alternatives in Metro Nashville Public Schools. Starting this fall, the Nashville Big Picture School will be expanded and a Diploma Plus school will be added through the Alternative High School Initiative (AHSI). Dean announced last year that Nashville was selected through a competitive bid process to participate in AHSI by the National League of Cities’ Institute for Youth, Education and Families. The effort was led by the Mayor’s Office and Vice Mayor Diane Neighbors.
“YouthBuild is exactly the kind of program we wanted to attract through the Alternative High School Initiative – it gives students who have dropped out a second chance,” Dean said. “There are no throwaway people in our society. We need to continue to reduce the number of students that dropout of our schools, but we also need to go after those who have already dropped out and get them back on track. It’s the right thing to do from both a moral and economic standpoint.”
YouthBuild USA was developed in 1990. Since 1994 the federal government has awarded grant funding to faith-based and community groups, local and nonprofit housing development agencies and workforce investment boards to operate YouthBuild programs in cities nationwide. The YMCA of Middle Tennessee is one of 108 organizations that received YouthBuild grants this year from the Department of Labor’s regular funding of the program. Another 75 organizations received grants as part of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009, which allowed the Labor Department to further expand YouthBuild.
For the last five years, the YMCA has operated a similar program, Y-Build, aimed at helping young men ages 18-24 get their GED, receive construction training and obtain employment while living in the Y-Build residence. While the Labor Department’s YouthBuild program does not offer a residential component, participants will have the option to apply for Y-Build after successful completion of YouthBuild should they wish to continue their job training. Y-Build is one of nine outreach programs offered through the YMCA Urban Services Youth Development Center, which serves some 4,000 youth each year.
The YMCA will soon begin accepting applications for YouthBuild, which is open to men and women ages 18-24 through an application process outlined by the Department of Labor. Those interested in applying can contact Tim Queener at 615-372-9489 or tqueener@ymcamidtn.org. Thirty youth will be accepted in each of the two years, and will complete a nine-month program, with at least one year of post-completion follow up.
The program will provides GED instruction, construction training through the Tennessee Technology Center, individual case management and assistance with job placement. While enrolled in YouthBuild participants will also build and renovate affordable housing in the Nashville community. YouthBuild will partner with Nashville Habitat for Humanity to provide construction labor to build Habitat homes. Other program partners include Metro Nashville Public Schools and the Nashville Career Advancement Center.
For media inquiries contact:
Janel Lacy
(615) 862-6020
janel.lacy@nashville.gov