State Senator John F. Keenan, D. Norfolk & Plymouth Counties, and State Representative Tackey Chan, D. Quincy, joined the Quincy YouthBuild Graduation ceremony to honor thirteen (13) graduates on Wednesday afternoon, September 11, 2013, at the Salvation Army Chapel, 6 Baxter Street, Quincy, MA.
The graduates, ages 17 to 21, included: Luis Arrendell (17), Jimmy Lee Clermont (21), Adam Gladney (20), Joey Ingemi (18), Paul Lally (19), Russell Page (20), and Meaghan Rivera (18) from Quincy; Darius Brown (18) from Boston; Andrew Johnson (20) from Abington; Andrew Trull (21) from Randolph; and Anthony Cefalo (18), Hewnal Faulk (18), and Patrick Gaskell (20) from Weymouth.
Quincy YouthBuild / AmeriCorps operated by Training Resources of America, Inc. (TRA) provides comprehensive training to young people ages 17 to 24 who meet low-income guidelines, are not in school, have not received a high school diploma or GED, and demonstrate a willingness to work hard for personal and community change.
Students receive instruction in GED preparation, self-esteem, life, leadership and work readiness skills, volunteer/ community service opportunities, and construction skills training utilizing a community housing rehab or new construction project which helps create quality low-income housing in Quincy and surrounding towns. Extensive support services include counseling/ case management, job development/ placement assistance, as well as transition to higher education and follow-up services.
Most of all, the program offers opportunities for personal growth and development. As graduate Meaghan Rivera says, “Thanks to YouthBuild I am no longer afraid of better. This program has taken me out of my comfort zone and forced me to become comfortable with the uncomfortable. Before YouthBuild, I did not know anything about goal setting and the perseverance it takes to achieve goals. My new mindset has opened many doors for me. I am currently enrolled in a college preparatory program and receiving college credits, all because of YouthBuild! If it were not for this program and the staff, I would still be on the streets making poor choices. I am now able to build a better future for myself."
Through a partnership with Neighborhood Housing Services of the South Shore, this year’ s class learned building and construction skills by helping to rehab properties at 28 Hayden Street and 20 Holmes Street in Quincy and 50 Pierce Road in Weymouth. They also participated in a transition home project for Father Bill’s at 15 Elm Street and a new construction project located at 1110-1118 Sea Street, both located in Quincy. All housing units are designated for homeless individuals, low-income families or veterans.
With support from the Corporation for National Community Service (CNCS) / Massachusetts Service Alliance, the program has also enabled the youth to participate in numerous community service projects, increasing their awareness of their civic responsibilities and empowering them to give back to the communities in which they live and work. It also enabled the young people to earn AmeriCorps education awards to help pay for college. Youth members were responsible for helping to recruit a total of 50 community volunteers who assisted the youth in a variety of community service projects for the Audubon Society, Prison Book Program, the U.S.S. Salem, Friends of the Homeless of the South Shore, the Salvation Army, Home for Little Wanderers, Lakeview Manor, 1000 Southern Artery Senior Citizen Center, German Town Neighborhood Community Center, Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church, and the Martin Luther King Breakfast. The youth also participated in the annual YouthBuild State House Day as well as the YouthBuild Carpentry Challenge competition and basketball tournament.
An ardent supporter of YouthBuild, Senator John F. Keenan said, "Congratulations to the students that are graduating from the Quincy YouthBuild program. Their hard work and dedication is admirable. The life skills they have learned in the Quincy YouthBuild program will serve them well in the next stages in their education and careers."
In addition to Senator Keenan and Representative Chan, collaborating agency representatives, family and friends were on hand to congratulate the graduates as they celebrated their accomplishments and prepared to move on to their next steps.
Operated by Training Resources of America, Inc. (TRA) since 2001, the Quincy YouthBuild Program receives funding support from the U.S. Department of Labor, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education – YouthBuild Funds, and local businesses and organizations.
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