Local YouthBuild Program Directors Recognized for Commitment to Low-Income Youth
SOMERVILLE, MA, February 18, 2015 — YouthBuild USA, Inc. today announced the winners of the 2015 National Directors Association Awards, recognizing four program directors and one coalition for exceptional service to their communities. Directors were honored at the 2015 National Directors Association Meeting in Arlington, Virginia, after traveling to Washington, D.C. to exchange ideas for best practices working with low-income youth, and to advocate for federal funding of the U.S. Department of Labor YouthBuild program.
“Directors of local YouthBuild programs have a fundamental belief in the talent of every young person, and have a major impact on the lives of low-income youth across the country every single day” said Sangeeta Tyagi, President of Youthbuild USA, Inc. “We are deeply grateful for their unwavering commitment to helping thousands of young people rebuild their communities and their lives.”
The 2015 award winners are:
- YouthBuild USA President’s Award for Director of the Year: Jennifer Lawrence, Executive Program Director of Career Services at Northeast Parent & Child Society, was recognized for her commitment to the young people of YouthBuild Schenectady, and for her ability to engage youth in her community.
- YouthBuild USA President’s Award for Service and Solidarity Award: The Georgia YouthBuild Coalition was recognized for its collective efforts to engage local, state, and national leaders for the continuation of YouthBuild in the state of Georgia.
- YouthBuild USA President’s Award for Support of Young Leaders: Andrew Jope, Program Director of ReSource YouthBuild in Burlington, Vermont, was recognized for his deep connection with all students in his program, ensuring that all are heard, respected, and valued.
- YouthBuild USA President’s Award for Innovator of the Year: Anthony Hubbard, Program Director for YouthBuild Providence in Providence, Rhode Island, was recognized for bringing new opportunities in training pathways, instructional approaches, and partnerships to the youth of YouthBuild Providence.
- YouthBuild USA President’s Rising Star Award: Sonia Sanchez, Executive Director of LA CAUSA YouthBuild in Los Angeles, California, was recognized for her leadership and collaborative spirit that have allowed LA CAUSA YouthBuild to grow and deepen its quality and impact in the community.
About YouthBuild USA, Inc.
YouthBuild USA, Inc., based in Somerville, MA, is the non-profit support center for over 250 local YouthBuild programs operating in 45 states and the District of Columbia. It also sponsors the YouthBuild International effort that has generated over 100 local YouthBuild programs in 14 countries worldwide. YouthBuild is a 36-year-old program model designed with and for young men and women, ages 16 to 24, who left high school without a diploma, are unemployed, and come from low-income families. During a full-time program for 6 to 24 months, students spend half their time in an individualized and supportive classroom and the other half of their time on a construction site learning construction skills while building affordable housing for homeless and low-income people in their communities. For more information, visit www.youthbuild.org.
