Buffalo, New York
Western New York YouthBuild has a long history serving opportunity youth in the Buffalo area. Active since 2002, Western New York YouthBuild has served over 600 young people and built over 25 houses.
Through several industry and community partnerships, Western New York YouthBuild engages young people in a variety of work experience opportunities in fields such as construction, hospitality, and advanced manufacturing. All tracks offer hand-on work experience opportunities, on-the-job training, and placement opportunities in the field.
Staying true to the agency mission of building stronger communities, all YouthBuild participants are engaged in service learning and leadership opportunities throughout their time in the program and beyond. Program alumnus Dion Olbert (2016) said it best when he said that Western New York YouthBuild provided him the opportunity to “build up the community he once had a part in breaking down.”
At Western New York YouthBuild, young people are engaged in active programming for nine to twelve months. They work toward achieving their High School Equivalency diploma, workforce credential(s), and, ultimately, placement in a career pathway or higher education. They then stay connected to the program for twelve months to ensure that their needs continue to be met and they continue to feel supported as they transition into their next step in life.
While our young people are only required to stay connected to the program for twelve months after exit, that is rarely the case. The love and support fostered throughout our program creates lifelong relationships and connections. Ask any Western New York YouthBuild participant and they will tell you: “Once in YouthBuild, always in YouthBuild.”
