Building a future

The students at YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School know a lot about fresh starts.

The North Philly school gives former high-school dropouts, ages 18 to 21, a chance to earn a diploma while learning the construction trade.

With the help of a $700,000 grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the young people now will give a South Philly building a fresh start, too.

The ceremony to announce the grant was held last month at 1311 Point Breeze Ave. — the site where students will help construct a four-unit apartment complex with commercial space on the first floor.

YouthBuild Philadelphia works with community developers in South and North Philadelphia to completely rebuild abandoned rowhouses for sale to low-income families. So far, YouthBuild students have completed the full-gut rehabilitation of 57 houses.

Five years after its inception as a HUD program in 1992, YouthBuild grew into a diploma-granting high school. Part of the national organization started in Boston, YouthBuild Philadelphia is now one of the more established schools.

Student Brahim Epps, 21, credited the school for changing his life.

"YouthBuild has given my classmates and me a chance not only to earn a high-school diploma, but to learn life skills throughout the work site and the school site as well," he said in a speech at last month’s ceremony.

A former student at Overbrook High School who dropped out his senior year, Epps enrolled in YouthBuild Charter School in September. Ever since, he has achieved academic honors as well as perfect attendance.

About 180 students are involved in the 10-month program. They join professional subcontractors to assist in the building and rehabilitation of affordable housing units. Students build their own foundations as they work toward their academic goals.

If the students are not able to complete the program within the assigned 10 months, they have the opportunity to take another semester over the summer or in the fall.

"A very small percentage of the students do not finish on time," said Deanne Farrell, the school’s director of development.

After completing the program, graduates are assisted in finding full-time employment or continuing their education.

YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School has had 88 percent of its students receive high-school diplomas, and more than 90 percent of the last three graduating classes have been successfully placed in full-time jobs or continuing education.

Farrell said she was sold on the benefits as soon as she heard about the program.

"I thought it was so wonderful that I left a higher-paying job because I really believe in what they are doing," she said. "The students earn their high-school diplomas and learn job-readiness skills, which they can use in their future careers."

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For more information about the YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School, call Deanne Farrell at 215-627-8671 or visit www.youthbuildphilly.org.