ReTRAIN’s YouthBuild program is a unique combination of academics, green construction techniques, and energy efficiency job skill training. Students juggle studying for their high school diploma or GED and learning how to build affordable housing, weatherize homes, and provide community service to area nonprofits and other organizations. Two students were generous enough to share what YouthBuild has done for them and what a “regular” day looks like in the life of a teen working hard to create his or her own success.
 
On Fridays all YouthBuilders do community service. Students have helped plant gardens, painted at the Amani Center, helped create the Haunted Forest in Williston, and helped organize a local library.
 
James Porter and Johnne Dang are both seventeen and confident that without YouthBuild, their lives would be very different. James had quit school, had a few run-ins with the authorities, and trouble at home. Johnne was at risk of repeating 11th grade and knew he couldn’t stay back. Both of them found out about YouthBuild through friends.
 
James was a troubled kid. He had enrolled in the program before, dropped out, and reenrolled. “This time I am sticking with it. I had a lot of troubles at home and was sent to rehab. YouthBuild stuck with me and didn’t quit on me, it has made all the difference,” he said. James goes to classes two days a week, and the other two days he is on the job site either weatherizing homes or learning other construction techniques.
 
Johnne had homework problems; he was not receiving the additional help he needed to advance his studies. His grades suffered and his school was not going to pass him to the next grade. Instead of dropping out, Johnne came to YouthBuild. “We use team work and accomplishing our goals to help us do what we need to do. We all came with nothing and get to see things completed. The opportunities and benefits are amazing.”
 
Both James and Johnne have plans: James would like to go into construction after graduating next month, but he is keeping his options open. Johnne will graduate in March 2010 and is looking into getting his associates degree and then his bachelor’s.
 
James summed up the prevailing feeling for most YouthBuild students: “I like the skills and training they give us. Without YouthBuild, I’d be a slacker, not in school.”
 

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