The Youth Build Story Introduction to Youth

The Youth. Build Story

Introduction to Youth. Build A Comprehensive Youth and Community Development Program

Learning Objectives • • Program components and qualities Centrality of Leadership Development Program culture Sample schedules Key factors for success Your questions Not about contract issues, fundraising, staff building, or DOL performance measures

The Basics of Youth. Build • • Purpose Components Qualities Outcomes

Purpose of Youth. Build To unleash the positive energy of unemployed, young adults to rebuild their communities and their own lives with a commitment to work, education, responsibility and family.

DOL Youth. Build DOL’s Shared Youth Vision for Youth. Build: Preserve the core of the Youth. Build model, including leadership and personal development, and • Promote post-secondary education • Place graduates in high growth, high demand, high income careers • Work cooperatively across federal, state, and local government • Commit to results and impact

Benchmarks of Graduate Success • Pursuing post secondary education • Building towards or maintaining a well-paying and satisfying career • Creating a positive personal and social support network • Engaging in community affairs • Caring for emotional and physical health • Building financial assets

5 components CONSTRUCTION EDUCATION academic skills GED preparation supervised training GED Plus employer expectations vocational skills job readiness skills job/college readiness vocational education LEADERSHIP construction terms pre-apprenticeship decision making cultural events group facilitation program leadership roles public speaking negotiating COUNSELING GRADUATE community service peer counseling RESOURCES advocacy individual counseling college counseling group counseling pre-employment trg case management pre-apprenticeship trg referrals outside career counseling life skills job development goals job placement follow-up

Program Qualities Respect Power Protection Development Firm Challenge Meaningful Work High Standards Teaching of Skills Inspiring Role Models Appreciation of Diversity Awareness of Current Issues Path to Opportunity Social Activities Family-like Support Agency Concern About Changing Conditions

Youth. Build Outcomes • • 77% Average attendance 68% Average graduation rate 71% Average placement rate of graduates $8. 79 Average graduate wage 17, 000 Units of housing built 76, 000 graduates 8, 000 young people now in Youth. Build 226 Youth. Build programs; 96 DOL

Changes in 900 Graduates Before and up to 7 yrs after Youth. Build • • • “Used marijuana” 65% reduction “Used alcohol” 43% reduction “Used hard drugs” 78% reduction “Sold hard drugs” 75% reduction “Arrested” 53% reduction “What age did you think you’d live to? ” 32 year average gain in life expectancy after Youth. Build!

Civic Engagement • 68. 1% • 47. 9% • 46. 5% • 14. 2% • 7. 3% • 1. 3% Registered to vote Participated in a community org. or did volunteer work Voted in one or more elections Taken on a leadership role by serving on a community council or board Got involved in political effort or electoral campaign Ran for office

Attitudes and Feelings • Determination to succeed • Gratitude towards people who have helped me • Pride in what I have known • Self-confidence • Joy and happiness 69. 0% • Fear of failure • Resentment towards system that keeps me and my family poor no matter how hard we try • Fear of violence • Self-doubt • Shame or guilt • Inferiority 18. 5% 68. 7% 61. 4% 57. 5% 50. 4% 14. 9% 8. 6% 8. 5% 6. 8% 6. 6%

Leadership Development at Youth. Build

Good Leadership is taking responsibility to make sure things go right for my… Life Community Family Program

Three Parts to Leadership Development Personal Development Chances To Practice Leadership LD Skills & Knowledge

Key Ideas about Leadership It’s necessary It’s natural It’s about taking responsibility There is an infinite need for good leaders

Benefits of Leadership Development For the INDIVIDUAL young person: strengthened self-confidence increased skills increased knowledge counter feelings of powerlessness wider doors open

Benefits of Leadership Development For the PROGRAM: better program decisions when informed by young people more participant buy-in improves attendance and retention brings positive public attention to program, leading to more support

Benefits of Leadership Development For the COMMUNITY: participants give back to the community young leaders become positive force youth become more engaged in community affairs

Elements of a Leadership Development Program 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Desired outcomes, skills & competencies Staff attitudes, hiring, training LD within each program component Youth involvement in decision making LD trainings and workshops LD experiences and opportunities Leadership opportunities after graduation Measuring and tracking leadership skills

Obstacles to Youth Leadership Development Lack of vision, goals for youth as partners Lack of agency, director, staff support for LD Viewing young people as clients, needing to be “fixed” Insufficient staff development for LD Lack of will or skill to share power Too much willingness to share power Disrespectful attitudes

Ways to Foster Youth Leadership in our Programs Examine agency’s views about youth Emphasize respect for young people Shift youth/adult power dynamic Do staff training on youth leadership development Set leadership goals and objectives Ask youth opinions about everything Set up youth advisory group, act on their advice Look for opportunities for youth to practice leadership- jobs, media, fundraising, etc.

Your Vision for LD? • If Leadership Development was really happening at your Youth. Build program, what would it look like? • What leadership skills, behaviors, attitudes and self-concept would young people leave your program with?

Program Operations • • • Culture Staffing Schedule What to watch Partnerships

Program Culture • Culture is everything; everything speaks • Culture reflects your core program values • How does your design and culture hinder or promote your core values • Research on high achieving YBs: strong culture • Create it deliberately and consciously

The Environment for Success • Structure: clear rules, clear roles, a tight schedule, measurable objectives, reliable systems, traditions • Purpose: personal goals, program goals, public service, construction, transformation, advancement • Authenticity: real work, real success, real consequences in discipline, honesty, compassion • Intensity: lots of success, fast pace, emotions expressed, hard physical work, big issues discussed, celebrations, lots of love

Key Factors in Hiring Staff • Commitment to youth development • Diversity of gender, race, expertise, class, temperament, training, life experience, etc. • Self awareness and self development • Technical expertise & skills • Team orientation • Positive attitude • Leader • Respect for Young People

Sample Program Schedules • • Program meets twice a day to reconnect Note points of program integration Staff planning and meeting time Don’t schedule young people for 40 hours or your staff always works overtime

Manager’s Chain of Influence • Meeting program objectives depends on, • Productivity of the young people, which depends on, • Effectiveness of the staff, which depends on, • Supervision and support from a manager, which depends on, • Resources from the organization.

What to do • • Schedule planning and weekly staff meetings Teach and use group facilitation Teach and use conflict management Post master calendar Be fair and firm to all Get an accountant and insurance Track attendance Build a home

What to Watch-Key Leverage Points • Nature and quality of relationships between staff and students • Attendance/ discipline • Program culture • Planning and coordination • Leadership development • Construction progress • Personal development of students • Team cohesion • Placement activity • DOL objectives

Assembling Partnerships to Support Program Activities • Review list of typical program functions and activities • Check off all program resources provided by the lead agency • Write in partner and supporting agencies that will provide additional resources • Identify gaps in program resources • Collect MOAs and letters of commitment

Your Goal Foster an environment that supports and facilitates youth transformation while meeting DOL objectives

Youth. Build Principles • Respectful, positive, caring, collaborative relationships between adults and youth • In a safe supportive learning environment • Mastering new skills, knowledge and attitudes for school, work, family, and leadership • Building tangible community assets in service to others in need • Creating hope and opportunity for one’s future

The Youth. Build Story “There’s a lot of love in Youth. Build, and some day we’re going to spread it around the world. ” Victor Ortiz, age 17, Youth Action Program (1981)

Youth. Build Participants • 8, 000 Enrollees/Year • 16 -24 Year Old • 72% Young Men • 48% African American • 23% Latino • 21% White • 2% Asian American • 3% Native American • 19. 3 Average Age • 90% Very Low Income • 26 % Homeless prior to enrollment • 31% Parenting • 30% Adjudicated • 27% Convicted of a felony • 87% Need GED or Diploma • 7 th gr. Average incoming reading level

Key Factors for Success • • Fidelity to the model Stable funding and non-cash resources Skillful executive leader Effective collaboration between agencies Staff team with commitment and expertise Effective recruitment and screening of youth Effective outplacement in schools or jobs

The Staff • Culturally diverse (race, class, gender, sexual orientation) • Expertise (skills, knowledge, creed. ) • Team orientation • Tough but flexible • Respect for young people • Positive attitude / Fun • Self awareness/ openness

Teams • • Culturally competent Shared goals/ clear objectives Defined roles/ accountability Effective meeting process Decision making process Conflict management Willing to change Celebrate success

Essential Elements • Profound respect for intelligence of youth • Youth governance • Protection from harm • Meaningful work • Patience • Teach real skills • Positive values • Firm, loving challenge to stop self destruction • • Family-like support High expectations Inspired, adult role models Cultural awareness Global awareness Path to the future Agency commitment to social change • Fun