Program edifies, mobilizes at-risk youth with new career training
Construction for a better tomorrow in Northeast Houston has commenced as Comcast donated $15,000 to YouthBuild Houston, a program administered by HoustonWorks USA in partnership with United States Department of Labor, YouthBuild USA, and Houston Habitat for Humanity. YouthBuild Houston is a program that simultaneously addresses core issues facing low-income communities: housing, education, employment, crime prevention, and leadership development.
HoustonWorks hosted a press conference and check presentation on July 20, at a Houston Habitat for Humanity site under construction. The site is in the Milby Park subdivision located on Mesa and Sterlingshire.
“We are grateful to Comcast for their continuous support and investment in YouthBuild,” said HoustonWorks CEO Larry V. Green, Esq. “We are not only building homes, we are building a future for our youth while tackling multiple community concerns that face our city. The program provides participants with a second chance to complete their education, learn the necessary skills to become gainfully employed, and build a hopeful future for themselves and their families.”
In the program, at-risk youth, 18-24 year olds, work toward their GEDs, learn job skills, and serve their communities by constructing low-income housing. Participants receive hands-on training working with Houston Habitat for Humanity and complete more than 500 hours of community service. Additional YouthBuild partners include: The Council on Alcohol and Drugs Houston, Houston Area Women’s Center, AFL-CIO, and the City of Houston.
Since the YouthBuild Program was established last fall, participants have helped build multiple houses, and four participants recently received their GEDs.