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I AM FROM... by Marilynn Boyer Class of 2013
I am from pain I am from the home where I’m always to blame I am from the mother who to the streets was a slave And a father who forced me to be brave I am from knowledge Yet I am from a city where no one goes to college Potential is wasted because life has denied it As a victim to the streets, all there is is hiding Still I am from freedom My history is stronger than me settling for being dumb Once I find my path, my family, I will lead them I will give others hope; something to believe in I am from pain But one day these streets will know my name Preventing the slain, giving life back to the estranged And finding a way to keep the hate refrained
Where I’m From by Lori Brown Class of 2013
I am from a place of love and hate. I am from a place where you must finish your plate. I am from a place of joy. I am from a place where the girls are outnumbered by the boys. I am from a place where you are taught to obey. I am from a place where you must say yes and not okay. I am from a place of many colors. I am from a place where you only worry about yourself and not others. I am from a place of happiness. I am from a city that shows no love. I am from the city of brotherly love. I am from a mother that tells me to live for the day. I am from a father that tells me to mean what I say. I am from an environment that is negative. I am from an environment that can be positive. I am from that man above. I am from a couple that fell in love. I am from an education system that won’t give help. I am from the big blue sky. I am from a world of lies. I am from a big universe. I am from a place that can not be rehearsed. I am from a very confused place.
ALUMNI UPDATES: Amika Miller ‘11 is pursuing an Associate’s degree in Human Services at CCP and intends to transfer to Temple University to complete a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work. In addition to being a full-time mom and part-time home health aide, Amika is also a part-time AmeriCorps Alumni member for YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School. Jasmine Myers ‘11 is in her second year at CCP and applying to the college’s Dual Admissions Program to transfer to a fouryear college and obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in Registered Nursing. She participated in YouthBuild’s summer bridge program and has continuously attended CCP since then. Jamal Dempsey’11 maintained two parttime jobs for a year after graduating, while applying to Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology. He is now currently completing his first semester at Thaddeus and hopes to graduate in two years with his Associate’s degree. Tyrik Gass ‘10 – attended Johnson College immediately upon completing YouthBuild’s program and graduated with his Associate’s degree in May 2012. After graduating, he obtained a full-time job at a juvenile detention center and will attend Wilmington University in the Spring of 2013 to pursue his Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources Management. Ayesha Hayes ‘10 has worked full-time as a Certified Nursing Assistant since graduating from YouthBuild. In addition, she has successfully completed the Medical Assistance program at the Pennsylvania Institute for Technology. Ayesha is now pursuing her Associate’s degree for Registered Nursing at CCP. Antonio Cruz ‘10– has worked full-time at Walmart since graduating from YouthBuild. During his time at Walmart, Antonio has been promoted twice and is now working in the Loss Prevention department. Antonio is also interested in pursuing a career as a fire fighter.
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A Green Ribbon-Cutting on Greene Street
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outhBuild students and staff joined with project partners and Germantown residents on Greene Street on the afternoon of August 3rd to celebrate the completion of YouthBuild’s latest building rehabilitation project. Not long ago, the house at 4620 Greene St. was an abandoned structure and an eyesore lamented by neighbors who passed by the corner of Greene and Sylvania. But in 18 months and with terrific support from the Saint-Gobain Corporation, YouthBuild USA, Philadelphia’s Office of Housing and Community Development, and Philadelphia Neighborhood Housing Services, YouthBuild students rebuilt the property into a energy-efficient and sustainable property to be sold to a low-income, first-time homebuyer.
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he house was built using construction products made from recycled materials and engineered to promote energy efficiency and reduce its environmental impact. The house has been submitted to the Green Building Council to be certified for LEED Platinum certification! This is the first house to be completed under YouthBuild USA and SaintGobain’s Building Our Future Together partnership. Approximately 125 students in the building trades program at YouthBuild worked on this house over the course of its renovation; additionally, students in our Information Technology training program refurbished a PC which was donated to the house for the future homeowner to use.
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hile rehabilitating the house, building trade students have learned advanced construction and green-building skills, and learned about themselves. Student speaker Ciera Russum worked on the house as part of the Advanced Construction team and is now enrolled at Thaddeus Stevens
Executive Director Simran Sidhu, Director of Building Trades Don Pinkney, Student speaker Ciera Russum ‘12, and YouthBuild USA Founder/CEO Dorothy Stoneman pose with project partners and community leaders at the ribbon-cutting event. College of Technology. In her remarks she noted that there are connections – both metaphorical and literal – between building renovation and personal growth. See below for an excerpt from her speech!
Refurbishing Homes - and Our Lives
by Student Speaker Ciera Russum, YouthBuild Class of 2012 In the past year, this house was completely transformed. So was my life. When I first saw the house, there were holes in the floor and the wallpaper was peeling all the way down to the brick. It was literally an abandoned house. I had a lot of doubts about whether I could complete the program, and a lot of doubts about whether a group of inexperienced students could rebuild the home. Thanks to our instructors, the Saint-Gobain Corporation Foundation and the building scientists at CertainTeed, we’ve learned new building skills that have opened my eyes to what I can do with my life. Sometimes this year I would come home from working on the house and try out things I’d learned on my mom’s house – like fixing a hole in her ceiling! Before YouthBuild I’d never even picked up a piece of pipe in my life; now I will be attending Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology in the fall to study plumbing. While we’ve refurbished the house on Greene Street, we’ve also refurbished our lives at YouthBuild. I’ve learned important life skills like teamwork, time management, and being able to trust others. I have learned how to take criticism, and how to be a leader who is responsible for the success of a project. Working on the Greene Street Project has given me so much confidence. I had doubted that we could succeed in rebuilding this house, but we did it and it looks amazing. This makes me imagine all the things I used to doubt, that I actually can do. This house makes me feel like I can do just about anything.