Reflections on One Year of YouthBuild USA's Postsecondary Education Initiative

Trevor Easley, Dorothy Stoneman, Jake Gibson, D'Angelo Soriano. Patrick Breton, Keena Graham

The Postsecondary Education (PSE) Initiative of YouthBuild USA and seven participating YouthBuild programs recently reflected on one year of Initiative work with three days of conversations regarding what has been achieved and ongoing challenges for improving pathways to postsecondary credentials for YouthBuild graduates. YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School hosted the convening with a comprehensive and compelling site visit highlighting their approach to academic programming, vocational and technical education work, transition services, restorative justice, case management, and partnerships with employers, credentialing organizations and postsecondary institutions.

Along with directors, instructional leaders, and transition coordinators from participating programs, we were joined by community college partner institutions from across the country, Jobs for the Future, the National Youth Employment Coalition; the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Mott Foundation, the Soros Foundation and an evaluation team from the Heller School at Brandeis University.

Participants also engaged in conversations with MDRC regarding performance incentives for postsecondary completion, with the Early College High School network regarding data systems for improving practice, and with the President of LaGuardia Community College regarding how community based organizations can improve partnership efforts with postsecondary institutions.

Most importantly, six YouthBuild alumni pursuing postsecondary credentials and actively participating in the PSE Student Advisory Board, offered their insights and perspective throughout the conference. You can learn more about these young people and their postsecondary experiences by watching the PSE Student Advisory Board Video:

youthbuild change from Roderick Finch on Vimeo.

For more information about the conference or the PSE Initiative, please contact Scott Emerick.