In recognition of its continued service to opportunity youth, Job Point’s YouthBuild program has been awarded $65,000 in AmeriCorps funding from a national YouthBuild USA grant. YouthBuild USA is the nonprofit support center for YouthBuild programs across the country.
In operation since 2003, Job Point’s YouthBuild program assists at-risk young adults to advance educational levels, develop leadership abilities, and obtain skills training in the construction field, while building new homes in our community’s most impoverished neighborhoods and improving infrastructure by maintaining and repairing roadways. The program addresses the core issues facing our communities of poverty, graduation rates, unemployment, crime rates and safe, affordable housing. The primary target population is high school dropouts, adjudicated youth, young people aging out of foster care, youth with disabilities, homeless youth and other disconnected youth populations between the ages of 16 to 24. The project places a priority on serving females with or without children, as well as veterans and their spouses. As a result, single-family homes are built utilizing green technologies, then sold to income-eligible individuals or families with down payment assistance available through partnership with the City of Columbia.
The most recent YouthBuild USA grant is one of 70 AmeriCorps awards provided by YouthBuild USA to various YouthBuild programs in the U.S.
The funding is made possible by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the federal agency responsible for AmeriCorps and other national service programs.
This grant will support 26 YouthBuild AmeriCorps members at Job Point.
These young people are focused on building affordable housing and providing community healthcare, conservation, recycling and sustainability, computer infrastructure, and child development services for individuals and families in their community.
Through the grants, more than 1 million direct service hours will be completed by 2,642 members nationwide, and at least 350 units of affordable housing will be made available for low-income individuals and families.
YouthBuild programs across the U.S. help unemployed and out-of-school young people ages 16 to 24 attain their High School Equivalency (HSE) or high school diploma. During that time, they also learn career skills by building affordable housing and other community assets in their neighborhoods while engaging in community service and leadership training. Graduates leave prepared for success in post-secondary education, careers and registered apprenticeships — and as a part of a strong and supportive global community.
Jerrell Morton, Job Point YouthBuild Director said of the grant, “We are overjoyed with another opportunity to serve under the YouthBuild/AmeriCorps umbrella. The funds from this grant will be the ‘hand-up’ our youth need to break the cycle of poverty through education while learning to engage in their civic duties as a citizen of Boone County.”
“Building on our nation’s strong tradition of neighbor helping neighbor, AmeriCorps members will change lives, improve communities and build a safer, stronger and more united America,” said Chester Spellman, director of AmeriCorps. “For 25 years, the AmeriCorps members who pledge to ‘get things done’ have represented the best of America while demonstrating the great promise and ideals of our country. I salute all the AmeriCorps members who will join them and congratulate YouthBuild USA on their 2019 AmeriCorps grant.”
In addition, CNCS will also make available an additional $4.7 million in Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards for the AmeriCorps members funded by these grants. After completing their term of service, AmeriCorps members receive awards they can use to pay for post-secondary education and future job training activities.
“YouthBuild’s comprehensive model unleashes the intelligence and positive energy of low-income young people to transform their lives. This funding helps us bring meaningful change to communities all across the country while allowing our young leaders to build a future that can include a college education,” said John Valverde, CEO of YouthBuild USA. “YouthBuild USA has been an AmeriCorps grantee since AmeriCorps’ inception in 1994, and it’s a significant partnership that helps open new doors of opportunity for our students that they never knew were possible.”
About Job Point
Job Point is Missouri’s premier employment center and Community Development Corporation. Since 1965, we have been linking people and jobs by providing career planning and job placement assistance. We specialize in preparing individuals to enter the workforce, while meeting a critical need of the business community. The organization is headquartered in Columbia, Missouri, with locations in Marshall, Moberly and Sedalia. For information about programs, services and locations please call 573/474-8560. Employers interested in hiring graduates may post job openings at: www.jobpointmo.org/postjob.htm.
About YouthBuild USA
YouthBuild USA is the nonprofit support center for 300 local YouthBuild programs operating in 21 countries, with 252 programs in 46 U.S. states and 48 programs in 20 other countries. In YouthBuild programs, unemployed, low-income, and out-of-school young people ages 16 to 24 work toward their high school diploma or equivalency, while learning job skills by building affordable housing and other community assets in their neighborhoods and engaging in community service and leadership training. Proven effective by the most rigorous program evaluation research, YouthBuild’s comprehensive model gives graduates the confidence and tools they need to become strong, responsible, and ethical young leaders. For more information, visit www.youthbuild.org.
About CNCS
This funding is provided by the Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal agency for volunteering and service. This year marks the 25th anniversary of AmeriCorps. Since the program’s inception in 1994, more than 1 million Americans have served their country through the national service program. Organizations are currently recruiting for AmeriCorps members to begin service this fall. Those interested in serving can learn more at AmeriCorps.gov/Join.
