NBC 10 Photo-Journalist Pete Kane Inspires Students
On the morning of Friday, Dec. 12, 2008, NBC 10 Photo-Journalist Pete Kane addressed YouthBuild Philadelphia's Class of 2009 at the school's winter awards ceremony at the Freedom Theater. Kane discussed his background as a child in North Philadephia, as well as the many challenges and achievements he's experienced over the past three decades as a camera man for NBC. Kane encouraged the students to work hard, persevere, and go for their dreams.

Biography for Pete Kane:

Pete Kane is a photo-journalist at NBC 10 Television News, where he has been employed since 1973. Kane, who was born and raised in North Philadelphia, started as a mail clerk at NBC 10 at age 19. Nine years later, Kane was promoted to NBC 10's news department where he started his photo-journalism career. In preparation for his profession, Kane attended night school at the Berean Institute, transferring to Temple University and eventually the Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science. Kane also provided freelance photography work for The Philadelphia Daily News, The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Bulletin.

Kane was honored in the journalism industry for his courageous coverage of the May 1985 MOVE incident. Kane hid in a house on Osage Avenue for 24 hours, providing live reports and exclusive video coverage of a standoff and shooting that led to a bombing and fire that killed eleven adults and children.

Kane's street smarts and professional performance have earned him many awards, including: the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists' 2007 Lifetime Achievement Award; an Alfred I. duPont Award for broadcast journalism, a National Academy of Arts and Sciences Mid-Atlantic Emmy Award, a 1998 Delaware Valley Press Award, and a Martin Luther King Award. Kane was honored by the 76ers in 2006 as one of Philadelphia’s Hometown Heroes.

Kane is a trustee at Christ Like Pleasant Green Faith Baptist Church in North Philadelphia. He is the co-founder of Young Men’s Fellowship, which mentors young men in making wise choices in life. Kane also works with area DARE programs to educate children and teenagers about the negative effects of drugs and alcohol. During the school year, he can be found participating in career day programs and activities in area school districts.

Kane resides in Cheltenham Township with his wife, Adrienne, and their four children, Tanisha, Steven, Kristopher and Justin.

Make A Difference Day 2008
More than 200 students and staff at YouthBuild Philadelphia served four communities in Philadelphia on October 24, 2008 in honor of the nation’s 18th annual Make A Difference Day. Make A Difference Day is a national celebration of neighbors helping neighbors, with millions of people participating in thousands of projects each year.

Mayor Nutter opened his education speech mentioning both YouthBuild Philadelphia and 2008 YouthBuild graduate Joshua "Suhayl" Ward, who met and introduced the Mayor a week earlier (formally welcoming Mayor Nutter into the YouthBuild family) when he keynoted YouthBuild's Class of 2009 acceptance ceremony.

Excerpt:

"I've talked to students, former students, teachers, parents, and community leaders in a wide variety of settings. I've gone to some of the new programs out there, from a charter school that reconnects former students to their education, to a center that prepares students for the challenge of college. I've heard stories of failure and abandonment. And I've seen young lives filled with the triumph of hope and perseverence.

There was a young man--Suhayl Joshua Ward--who dropped out of high school in 11th grade because he preferred to party...and was arrested for selling drugs. He did not know his father, and his mother was hardly ever around. After several detours, he entered YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School. The charter school became his family, and he became a student leader and graduated, and soon he will be entering college."

Graduation - August 2008
On August 29, 2008, upwards of 40 YouthBuild Philadelphia students received their high school diplomas in front of hundreds of family members, friends and YouthBuild staff members at a special ceremony at Temple University. Dean of Students Ameen Akbar served as the Master of Ceremony for the event, which included speeches by Summer Youth Congress President Kevin Kixon and Class of 2007 Graduate Shardell Martin. Class of 2008 graduate Yolanda Cleveland delivered a special rendition of the song "Thank You" by Ashanti.

Deloitte Impact Day
On June 6, 2008, 25 employees from the Greater Philadelphia offices of Deloitte LLP volunteered at YouthBuild in celebration of Deloitte IMPACT Day and the United Way of Southeastern PA's Day of Caring. The volunteers supported students as they prepared to present end-of-year academic/personal growth portfolios for graduation.

Deloitte employees volunteer year-round with non-profit organizations in order to help strengthen communities. Deloitte IMPACT Day is a celebration of Deloitte's ongoing commitment to volunteerism.

YouthBuild Students Graduate from 1199C CNA Program
On June 4, 2008, sixteen students graduated from YouthBuild Philadelphia's Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) training program with 1199C Training and Upgrading Fund. The students were formally recognized in a ceremony at the Kimmel Center.

Congratulations to Quinesha Butler, Dominique Carr, Rhondicia Cash, Stephon Derrick, Shelly Durbin, Liza Foster, Amanda Keoma, Bangky Kun, LeAnne Laureano, Melissa Martinez, Michelle Martinez, Fatima Matthews, Jazmyne Matthews, Mificia Miller, Amanda Monroe and Tiffany Shubert.

YouthBuild USA Receives $5 Million Wal-Mart Grant
On May 21, 2008, Wal-Mart Foundation announced a $5 million grant (from which YouthBuild Philadelphia received $200,000) to YouthBuild USA in a morning press conference. The announcement was made from YouthBuild Philadelphia's rehabilitation site at 1541 Rowan Street in Nicetown.

Attendees and participants included Wal-Mart Foundation President Margaret McKenna, YouthBuild USA President Dorothy Stoneman, State Senator Shirley Kitchen, Councilwoman Donna Reed Miller, Councilwoman Curtis Jones, and Deputy Education Advisor (for Mayor Nutter) Sharon Tucker. Class of 2008 student Carreather Atcherson and Class of 1995 graduate Lamont Jackson spoke during the event.

The event was covered by a variety of local and national media, including a comprehensive story by ABC6 as well as a brief feature by FOX29 and an announcement in The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Special thank you to Nicetown Community Development Corporation for being such a wonderful host!

Global Youth Service Day
YouthBuild celebrated Global Youth Service Day on the morning of Thursday, April 24, 2008 by providing volunteer services to organizations around Philadelphia. Global Youth Service Day--the largest service event in the world--is one of several special service holidays in which YouthBuild students participate each year to reconnect to their communities.

Our America Town Hall Meeting 2008
Thirty-three YouthBuild Philadelphia students joined 500 young leaders from across the country for the first “Our America” town hall meeting on April 1, 2008 in Washington, D.C. The meeting was organized by YouthBuild USA in partnership with Think.MTV.com to ensure that low-income youth have a voice in the political debate on ending poverty in America.

During the meeting, YouthBuild's Declaration of Inter-Dependence (first written in 1999, updated in 2004, and again in 2008 by the YouthBuild National Young Leaders Council and the YouthBuild National Alumni Council) was read aloud. The declaration represents the thoughts and feelings of more than 76,000 young people who have been YouthBuild students throughout the nation.

Jesse Jackson and Senator John Kerry keynoted the meeting. YouthBuild Philadelphia Class of 2007 alumna Shardell Martin also spoke about improving inequalities within the penal system.

Students Attend Leadership Conference
In late-March 2008, students Carreather Atcherson and Tyrone Roberts attended the 2008 YouthBuild USA Conference of Young Leaders in Washington, D.C. Carreather and Tyrone interacted with 100 youth from across the country as they engaged in educational workshops and leadership development. Congratulations to Carreather Atcherson, who was elected to YouthBuild USA's Young Leader's Council!

Following the conference, both students participated in "Capitol Hill Day," where they educated legislators about the importance of YouthBuild programs.

A Visit from David Eisner
On March 19, 2008, David Eisner, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service, visited YouthBuild Philadelphia's historical renovation sites in Nicetown. Eisner made the visit in order to learn more about the service programming at YouthBuild, which is sponsored by AmeriCorps.

As part-time members of AmeriCorps, students provide more than 900 hours of community service each while at YouthBuild. Those students that complete their service hours and graduate from the program receive an educational stipend, which can be used for education costs at qualified institutions of higher education, for educational training, or to repay qualified student loans.

Katrina Rebuilding Efforts
On the afternoon of March 14, 2008, fifteen students and ten staff members headed to Waveland, Mississippi (one of the communities hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina) to spend five days rebuilding housing during spring break. The students and staff members volunteered their time through YouthBuild USA, which sponsors the Katrina rebuilding efforts of local YouthBuild programs across the country.

The spring break rebuilding trip is part of the school's legacy--providing community service in an effort to transform young people’s lives while revitalizing neighborhoods. YouthBuild Philadelphia has joined rebuilding efforts in Gulfport twice in the past two years, and has constructed two house frames that were sent to Lafayette, La. and Gulfport, Miss. for new homes for families displaced by the Gulf States hurricane.

Martin Luther King Day of Service 2008
YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School joined thousands of volunteers on Monday, Jan. 21, 2008 for the 13th Annual Martin Luther King Day of Service. MLK marks a significant half-way point in the year for YouthBuild students, who dedicate themselves to serving the community as they earn their high school diplomas.