Brewer Receives Leadership Award from YouthBuild

(Boston) – Senator Stephen M. Brewer (D-Barre) today was recognized by Massachusetts YouthBuild Coalition with the 2012 Legislative Leadership Award for support of YouthBuild students and programs across the state.

“I am humbled to receive this award today,” said Brewer.  “We need kids who are committed to education and to their futures.  This program prepares youth across this state to enter the workforce and become contributing, thriving members of society by giving them real skills that they can use.”

YouthBuild is a comprehensive youth development program that focuses on education, job training, leadership development, community service, renovation and construction of affordable housing, and strengthening life skills.  Students participating in the program split their time between classroom based instruction and construction work sites as they work towards earning their GED.

In the last fiscal year, the YouthBuild program received $1.3 million in funding from the Commonwealth. This is the same funding the program received in Fiscal Year 2011. 

The program, which was established in 1996, has ten programs in the Bay State servicing the cities of Boston, Brockton, Cambridge/Chelsea, Fall River, Lawrence, Lowell, New Bedford, Quincy, Springfield and Worcester.

According to the Massachusetts YouthBuild Coalition, 58% of participants earn their GED during the program or within one year of graduation and 81.5% of students who complete the program are placed in employment or higher education.

Posted: Thu, Mar 1, 2012
Updated Thu, Mar 1, 2012