Nonprofit organization relocates from longtime Somerville office to a brand-new social services hub in Roxbury
ROXBURY, MA, October 28, 2020 — In an effort to better reflect and represent the communities it serves, YouthBuild USA, a nonprofit organization that champions opportunity youth, has moved its office to the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston. Coinciding with its first-ever global rebrand, this move opens a new chapter for the organization and is a key component of its five-year strategic plan.
The global support center for nearly 300 YouthBuild programs around the world, YouthBuild USA leaves its longtime home in Somerville’s Davis Square. It joins other mission-oriented organizations in a newly constructed, seven-story social services hub located at 1785 Columbus Avenue in Jackson Square. The new facility is a unique public-private joint venture between Horizons for Homeless Children and WaterMark Development.
YouthBuild USA’s new 14,715-square-foot office will occupy sixty percent of the fifth floor. Housing approximately 60 employees, the state-of-the-art space features collaboration and lounge areas, flexible training and meeting rooms, private phone rooms, a café with full amenities, and a breakroom that will facilitate interaction while allowing for social distancing.
“Our new office is a physical manifestation of what makes the YouthBuild movement unique – using the power of human connection, proximity, and love to change lives for the better,” said John Valverde, president and CEO of YouthBuild USA. “As we implement a safe, phased transition to working in our new office, this move provides us with a renewed sense of purpose to fulfill our mission of building brighter futures for young people while bringing us so much closer to the communities we serve.”
As a global movement with local roots, YouthBuild has championed opportunity youth for over forty years. Worldwide, more than 350 million young people between the ages of 16 to 24 lack pathways to work, training, or school. These opportunity youth are too often characterized by their struggles with unemployment, poverty and crime, rather than by their potential. With love and respect, YouthBuild partners with opportunity youth to build the skillsets and mindsets that lead to lifelong learning, livelihood, and leadership. Responding to the urgent need for knowledge, training and opportunity, YouthBuild primarily serves young people who lack a high school diploma and financial resources.
YouthBuild USA is the nonprofit support center for a global network of 290 local YouthBuild programs in 18 countries, with 233 programs in 46 U.S. states and territories and 57 programs in 17 other countries. Its international division, YouthBuild International, supports local partners to design and implement YouthBuild programs that respond to the challenges faced by opportunity youth around the world.
YouthBuild USA relies on the support of partners and funders that are committed to the organization and the YouthBuild movement. YouthBuild USA’s new office and move were generously funded by the Joseph E. and Rosemarie Corcoran Family Charitable Foundation and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. In-kind donations were provided by Saint-Gobain, who helped create a comfortable and sustainable office space, and Benjamin Moore. Goulston & Storrs provided unmatched counsel and guidance.
Construction began in May 2020 and was completed earlier this month. YouthBuild USA’s new office was designed by Stantec Architecture and built by Bowdoin Construction. WB Engineers & Consultants served as the engineers on the project. Students from the local YouthBuild Boston program helped bring YouthBuild USA’s new office to life – Kairee Voltaire was hired by Bowdoin as an onsite laborer while Dion Millsap assisted K&G Drywall in the drywall installation.
“As YouthBuild Boston celebrates its 30th anniversary, we welcome YouthBuild USA to our neighborhood and congratulate our young people who played a role in building YouthBuild USA’s new home,” said Brian McPherson, newly appointed executive director of YouthBuild Boston. “This is an exciting new chapter for the YouthBuild movement and the young people we serve.” McPherson will lead the organization following the retirement of YouthBuild Boston’s longtime, highly respected Executive Director Ken Smith in November.
The office move coincides with YouthBuild’s first-ever global rebrand that was also announced today. The new branding, which is infused throughout the new office, was designed to reflect the breadth and depth of the YouthBuild network’s work and unify its programs throughout the world with a new visual identity, refined messaging, and new website.
About YouthBuild
With love and respect, YouthBuild partners with opportunity youth to build the skillsets and mindsets that lead to lifelong learning, livelihood, and leadership. At nearly 300 YouthBuild programs across the United States and around the world, students reclaim their education, gain job skills, and become leaders in their communities. To date, YouthBuild has partnered with more than 180,000 young people to dedicate over 50 million hours of service benefitting urban, rural, and tribal communities. YouthBuild strives to create a world where all young people are seen for their potential, and power to transform themselves and their communities. YouthBuild USA – the support center for the YouthBuild movement – strengthens YouthBuild programs through technical assistance, leadership development, innovative program enhancements, and advocacy. YouthBuild programs located outside of the United States are supported by YouthBuild USA’s international division, YouthBuild International.
For more information about the YouthBuild movement, YouthBuild USA, and YouthBuild International, visit YouthBuild.org.
###
