Story Archive 2007
YouthBuild Recognized at Sixers Game (12/26/07)
YouthBuild Featured on CN8 (10/22/07)
America's Best Non-Profits (10/26/07)
Alum. Inducted into Hall of Achiev. (10/07)
Student Wins M. J. Walker Award (8/9/07)
Natl. Conf. on Volunteering/Service (7/15/07)
Graduations 2007! (6-8/07)
N. 26th Street Ribbon Cutting (6/20/07)
A Visit from Senator Casey's Office (5/8/07)
From Rehab Site to Curfew Center (4/26/07)
National Youth Service Day (4/20/07)
Future Leaders' Mayoral Forum (4/13/07)
Career Challenge (4/13/07)
Student Speaks at Voter Rally (3/12/07)
CNA Graduation (3/9/07)
From Students to Ntl. Leaders (3/3/07)
Martin Luther King Day of Service (1/15/07)
Wyeth Donates 2,100 Laptops (1/4/07)
YouthBuild Recognized at Sixers Game
On December 26, 2007, YouthBuild Philadelphia was recognized during the pre-game session of a 76ers game at the Wachovia Center (vs. Miami Heat). YouthBuild's various community service accomplishments throughout Philadelphia were acknowledged before thousands of people. Upwards of 100 students, staff and friends attended the game to show their spirit and support.
Press Release
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YouthBuild Philadelphia Featured on "Your Morning" on CN8
On October 22, 2007, YouthBuild Philadelphia was featured on an episode of "Your Morning" on CN8 (Comcast Network) with Gwen Owens.
Executive Director Simran Sidhu, alumna Analicia Lindsay-Wilson (now a full-time college student at LaSalle University) and Class of 2008 student Ontra Levi shared insights on their experiences at YouthBuild and the out-of-school youth crisis.
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YouthBuild Named One of America's Best Non-Profits
YouthBuild USA was selected as one of America’s 12 best non-profits by a survey of nearly 3,000 non-profit CEOs and 60 expert interviews conducted for the new book, Forces for Good: The Six Practices of High-Impact Nonprofits, published Oct. 26, 2007 by Jossey-Bass.
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Alumna Inducted into YouthBuild USA Hall of Achievement
2007 YouthBuild Alumna Shardell Martin was inducted into the YouthBuild USA Hall of Achievement at the October 2007 Transformation Institute in San Antonio, Texas. Shardell was also featured in Philadelphia Youth Network's 2006 Annual Report. Congratulations, Shardell!
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Student Wins Michael J. Walker Award
On Thursday, August 9 at the WorkReady Philadelphia Closing Ceremony, 2007 YouthBuild graduate Antoine Devero was presented with a Michael J. Walker Award by Philadelphia Youth Network (PYN) for outstanding work demonstrated during his internship at the Fairmount Park Historic Preservation Trust. YouthBuild matched Antoine with the Historic Preservation Trust through WorkReady Philadelphia's Summer Career Exploration Program (SCEP).
Michael J. Walker award winners exhibit perseverance, a positive attitude, compassion for others and dedication to improving themselves. The awards are intended to honor SCEP participants that mature substantially over the course of the summer--especially students who exceed expectations of program coordinators and monitors.
During the internship, Antoine rehabilitated the exterior of the barn that houses the organization, including: purchasing, cutting and installing materials; painting; and, finishing work. His supervisors were impressed with the high quality of his work, as well as his dedication and professionalism, and offered Antoine a part-time position! Well done, Antoine!
Awards Criteria
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YouthBuild Rallies Volunteers at National Service Project
On July 15, YouthBuild Philadelphia hosted two great service projects for the 2007 National Conference on Volunteering and Service--held in Philadelphia this year.
In partnership with YouthBuild USA, students, staff, union members, conference participants and volunteers from Prudential Fox & Roach, REALTORS joined together to construct the frame of a home that was sent to Gulfport, Mississippi as part of the YouthBuild AmeriCorps Katrina Rebuilding Project. The completed house was presented later to a family left homeless from Hurricane Katrina. YouthBuild Philadelphia and conference volunteers also construct a playhouse for an area recreation center.
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Congratulations, Class of 2007!
On June 21, roughly 140 YouthBuild students celebrated their graduation (or pending graduation) in front of more than 900 family members, friends and community leaders at YouthBuild's 2007 Graduation Ceremony at Benjamin Franklin High School. On August 14, 53 students received diplomas during a late-summer ceremony at Honickman Learning Center in North Philadelphia.
YouthBuild awarded a total of 144 diplomas for the 2006-07 school year. Congratulations, Class of 2007!
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A Ribbon Cutting on North 26th Street!
On the morning of June 20, 2007, YouthBuild held a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony to dedicate a newly rehabilitated single-family home to the 26th Street community in North Philadelphia. Students rehabilitated the home during the 2006-07 school year in partnership with Resources for Human Development.
During the June 20 ceremony, the completed home was presented to new home owner Fay Jones and her children. Michael Nutter and Governor's Office Southeast Regional Director Joseph Certaine highlighted the event.
ABC 6 News CoverageImages
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A Visit from Senator Robert P. Casey's Office
On the morning of May 8, 2007, Erin Wilson, Field Representative for Senator Robert P. Casey, visited YouthBuild Philadelphia's school site, technology training lab (at the Honickman Center and Comcast Technology Labs) and house rehabilitation site at 3018 26th Street. Ms. Wilson also sat down with a group of students and engaged in a formal discussion about their experiences at YouthBuild.
Ms. Wilson was impressed by the program, and enjoyed learning how YouthBuild has helped its students create meaningful career pathways.
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Nicetown Curfew Center Opening 2007 (Former YouthBuild Rehab Site)
On April 26, 2007, the Nicetown Community Development Corporation recognized YouthBuild Philadelphia's construction department during a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of a new curfew center at the Nicetown Community Center. The ceremony included speeches by Mayor John Street and 8th District Councilwoman Donna Reed Miller.
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National Youth Service Day
On Friday, April 20--in celebration of National Youth Service Day--YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School students and staff joined with Nicetown Community Development Corporation (CDC) to clean and beautify Nicetown Park in North Philadelphia. Activities included: planting a number of trees around the playground area (materials were donated by The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society), constructing and planting a community garden, "demo (clearing single-family home units in preparation for rehabilitation)," picking up trash, and general landscaping.
Operation P.E.A.C.E.
Following the service project on April 20, YouthBuild (in conjunction with Nicetown CDC and The Artists United) launched Operation P.E.A.C.E.--a free community hip-hop concert--to unite the city's youth and encourage them to become more aware of the challenges facing their communities. Hip-hop artist Nina Capone hosted the show, which featured performers from five city schools (Bartram, Overbrook, South Philadelphia and Fels in addition to YouthBuild Philadelphia). Other performers included Montana Black and Abyss.
Before the concert, students were able to network with various civic organizations and non-profits (City of Philadelphia, Mural Arts Program, Spiral Q, and The Village of Arts and Humanities) during a free information fair.
National Youth Service Day--the largest service event in the world--mobilizes youth to identify and address the needs of their communities through community service.
To watch a video of student performances by Alicia Fuller, Ariel Bostick, Domonique Williams and Stafford Smith, click here.Back to Top
Future Leaders' Mayoral Forum 2007
In an effort to be heard during the upcoming mayoral election, a group of 27 youth leaders developed and implemented the city's first mayoral forum for youth on Friday, April 13, 2007. Three candidates - Michael Nutter, Al Taubenberger and Chaka Fattah - answered questions in front of more than 600 young people about their stances to city issues related to education, the environment and safety.
YouthBuild was proud to be a contributing partner and to have two students-- Analicia Lindsay-Wilson and Shardell Martin--serve as youth leaders for the forum. Main sponsors include PYN and GPUAC.
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Leadership Philadelphia - Career Challenge
As part of a "Career Challenge" to prepare students for the professional working world, ten executives from Leadership Philadelphia--Team Junto-7--trained students over a three month period in interviewing, public speaking, writing, problem solving and teamwor.
Several top teams of students were chosen to compete in a Career Challenge Final on April 13, hosted and judged by Junto-7.
Congratulations to Advisory Class 5 (Rochelle Downing, Shikeem Dorsey, Hashaan Coles, Oshana McCoy, Debra Eaddy and Advisory Class 1 (Quiana Garner, Domonique Williams and Ashley Young).
The team of executives (Junto-7) from Leadership Philadelphia participating in this year's Career Challenge are:
Bruce D. Armon, PartnerSpeakers:
Saul Ewing LLP
Stephanie Ellis, Director of Commercial Excellence
Wyeth Pharmaceuticals
Jay Feldstein, D.O., Senior VP of Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer
Keystone Mercy Health Plan
Jennifer Kwon, Consultant
Public Financial Management, Inc.
Jean Marie Marchetto, Chief Operations Officer
World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia
Todd Marzolf, Senior Consultant
Lordi Consulting
JoEllen Burns Muntz, Vice President of Operations
Exelon Power
Eric Nelson, Executive Vice President
Philadelphia Workforce Investment Board
Andrew C. Topping, Vice President, Deputy General Counsel
Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
Tracee L. Hunt, Vice President of Human Resources
Philadelphia Coca-Cola Bottling Company
David W. Brown, President/Principal
BrownPartners
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Vote for Homes! Rally
On the morning of March 12, 2007, Terrance Crafton addressed a crowd of people at a Vote for Homes! Coalition rally to kick off the organization's registration and education efforts for low-income and homeless voters. Terrance encouraged young people to vote, stressing the importance of voting for community change. Way to go, Terrance!
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Red Cross Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) Graduation
On the morning of March 9, 2007, eleven YouthBuild students celebrated the completion of their CNA training during a special ceremony at the Red Cross of Southeastern Pennsylvania.
Over the course of four weeks, the students trained at the Red Cross in skills such as First Aid, CPR, taking blood pressure, measuring height and weight, improving blood circulation, etc. Students also completed 72 hours of clinical work, during which they provided direct care to residents at Park Pleasant Nursing Home in West Philadelphia.
The March 9 graduation ceremony kicked off with an inspirational speech by Southeastern Pennsylvania Red Cross President & CEO Tom Foley. Students then received diplomas and awards in front of family, friends and YouthBuild staff.
More students will complete the training in the next month, and graduates will prepare for their state certification exams.
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From Students to National Leaders
Students Claire Angelone and Domonique Williams traveled to Capitol Hill in early March for the 2007 YouthBuild USA Conference of Young Leaders. Claire and Domonique interacted with young people from across the country as they engaged in educational workshops and leadership development.
Following the conference, both students attended Capitol Hill Day where they learned about legislative processes and civic engagement, and educated state legislators about the importance of YouthBuild programs.
Congratulations to Domonique, who was elected to YouthBuild USA's 12-member National Youth Policy Council, and was recently made a national YouthBuild spokesman.
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Martin Luther King Day of Service 2007
More than 230 YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School students and staff joined tens of thousands of volunteers on Monday, Jan. 15, 2007 for the 12th Annual Martin Luther King Day of Service. YouthBuild engaged in seven projects, four of which took place at Martin Luther King High School – the location for Philadelphia’s signature Day of Service event.
The event drew major media attention, and YouthBuild projects received coverage in various mediums. Click here to access some online media clips.
YouthBuild projects at Martin Luther King High School:
Laptop Refurbishing/Training
YouthBuild's technology students - joined by volunteers from Wyeth and Leadership Philadelphia - trained a group of students and community members from KIPP, Bodine High School for International Affairs and People for People (through Wireless Philadelphia) on laptops refurbished by YouthBuild. Each trainee received a refurbished laptop at the end of the training.
The laptops were donated to YouthBuild earlier this month by Wyeth, a world leader in research-driven pharmaceutical and health care products. One thousand laptops will be distributed to organizations serving low-income populations through Wireless Philadelphia.
Disaster Preparedness Training & “Go Kits”
Students in YouthBuild's nursing program along with two full-time YouthBuild AmeriCorps volunteers participate in a one hour “train the trainer” program on disaster preparedness. Each of the participants received a preparedness “Go Kit,” 2,000 of which were assembled on MLK Day.
Play House Construction
YouthBuild construction students and staff construct two playhouses that will be donated to local community centers. The YouthBuild construction crew was joined by various community members and leaders throughout the day.
Anti-violence Panel
Four YouthBuild “Peer Mediators” and the director of case management participated in a panel discussion about violence in Philadelphia.
Other projects in Philadelphia:
Mural Painting (Charter School Facility)
Thirty YouthBuild students and four staff members painted murals that are to be permanently housed at Nicetown Community Development Corporation (CDC) and the YouthBuild technology facility.
Interior Painting (Nicetown CDC)
YouthBuild students and staff - joined by Nicetown CDC and DMi Partners – painted the two-story interior of the Nicetown CDC.
Interior Painting (Community Concern #13 Daycare)Images
YouthBuild students and staff painted the interior of the Community Concern Daycare Center.
Images from the 12th Annual Martin Luther King Day of Service at Martin Luther King High School.
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YouthBuild Receives Major Used Laptop Donation from Wyeth
On January 8, 2007, YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School received the first shipment of 2,100 used laptops donated to the school by Wyeth - a world class pharmaceutical company. Despite the rain, the students were psyched to help unload the laptops and prepare them for refurbishing.
YouthBuild's technology training and refurbishing program offers 32 students per year the chance to compete in a career that has a high opportunity for growth and advancement. The program provides participants with industry-recognized hardware and software training that facilitates entry into the computer technology field.
As part of the program, students acquire excess computers from local and national businesses, perform diagnostic evaluations, complete necessary repairs, and install refurbished computers into qualified, underserved community organizations and schools. Students are responsible for taking donated equipment through every step of the process, from logging and testing to repair, formatting and distribution.
Students learn the necessary skills to operate and navigate various computer programs, as well as to instruct other members of their community to utilize this technology. Students also train in Help Desk support and business and design applications.
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