Young Detroit Builders

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You partied all Friday night to raise money for them, so who exactly are the Young Detroit Builders (YDB)? What do they do? And how do they fit in with the L2G?

The basics are laid out in the name. Young Detroit Builders is a nonprofit organization available to low-income 18 to 24 year-olds without a high school degree or GED. That’s the young part. They’ve got to be from Detroit. Through the program, they’re offered the opportunity to give back to Detroit by building affordable homes in their communities and also deconstructing the many abandoned homes that exist and using the reusable materials to build furniture for Detroit Public Schools. Young. Detroit. Builders. Simple!

But it doesn’t stop with a house. The program teaches these young Detroiters on the job how to build homes and also focuses on learning in the classroom and life skills. Here’s some stats: 99% of participants enter the program reading at sixth grade levels. 73% rack up their math and reading by two grade levels through the program!

Okay, so you might be thinking – this blogger just called 75% Michigan high school graduation rates pretty dismal in her last post; is it really that great to see 73% this week? Get into the statistics! That’s huge! From sixth grade reading levels to preparation for high school and some graduates moving on to get their high school diplomas or GEDs in a 10 MONTH PROGRAM?! We’re talking about the community investing in our youth by giving these young Detroiters an opportunity to invest in themselves through giving back to their community. Think about it. Talk about full-circle!

Education. Youth. Rebuilding Michigan. Recycling. That’s why when we heard about YDB, we had to jump on board! Over the next six to nine months, you’re going to join us every step of the way as we partner with YDB to keep that circle moving. Youth empowering youth; people empowering people. Michigan fueling Michigan. Isn’t that what we’re all about?

YDB Profile & YDB Facts

The Voice: Meg