A unique training opportunity, during the installation of a massive construction project in the Westlawn Gardens neighborhood, was invaluable to members of the YouthBuild program as they begin considering construction fields for a career option.
The community-based program, funded by the U.S. Department of Labor, divides time the youth spend between the construction site and the classroom, where they earn their GED or high school diploma. It aims to groom them to be community leaders, and prepare for college or other postsecondary training opportunities.
YouthBuild, a program of the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee, includes significant support systems, such as mentoring, follow-up education, employment, and personal counseling services; and participation in community services and civic engagement.
Members of the YouthBuild construction training crew recently had the opportunity to work hand-in-hand with a seasoned construction team that is installing a massive underground stormwater detention system in the Westlawn Gardens neighborhood.
The Milwaukee Independent visited the site after much of the foundational work had been completed, when three of the young men from the initial program visit, Tracey Underwood, Darren Washington, and Isaiah Macon, were invited back to further participate in the project as an opportunity to earn further experience and enhance their skill package.
