Young Detroit Builders

We are currently looking for a new AmeriCorps Learning Center Specialist.  Please check out our Job Postings page for more information!

We’ve added a Calendar page to keep you informed of upcoming events! Check back often to see what we’re up to!

On February 10, YDB will be hosting an open house for past graduates. Lunch will be provided and staff will give information about GED re-testing and tutoring, as well as career services.

Who Should Attend? YDB graduates both with and without their GED.

Students Who’ve Earned their GED:
1. Job Placement
2. Career Skill Building
3. Resume Writing Workshop

Students Who Still Need to Earn a GED:
1. Get a tutoring schedule and preparation to pass the GED
2. Scheduled date to take the GED test.

The program starts at noon and bus tickets will be provided for the return home.

We hope to see you on the 10th!

On Wednesday, January 20, 2010, Young Detroit Builders (YDB) will host a census advocacy workshop entitled “Dispelling the Myths, Let’s be Counted in 2010.” The objective of the event is to educate the community about the importance of the census and to dispel any myths that might discourage individuals from participating in the census count.

“Many people withhold information and are therefore undercounted because of their fear of what will be done with the information once it is collected. YDB would like to help clear up some of the confusion,” said Indira Pierce, Leadership Development Specialist at YDB.

The census workshop will be held at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church at 1950 Trumbull in Detroit from 5p.m.-7p.m. Guest speakers are Dr. Jerome Reide, Field Organizer for NAACP National, and Brian White from the Census Bureau. In addition to dispelling myths, speakers will also talk about census job opportunities.

YDB selected this particular event as their MLK Day of Service Project because of the connection of the census to civil rights. According to the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights Education Fund, “An accurate census affects the nation’s ability to ensure equal representation & equal access to resources.”

YDB wanted to become involved because they provide services to the same populations that are most commonly undercounted in the census and, therefore, denied valuable resources. So, instead of cleaning or painting, this year YDB students chose to serve by offering knowledge, which could result in major change for some Detroit communities.

Be a part of an event that will support local social agencies and ministries! On Sunday, January 31 at Faith, Troy, in conjunction with a five choir concert, an in-gathering will take place for Young Detroit Builders, Abigayle Ministries, Big Family of Michigan, Samaritan House, Grace Centers of Hope, Latino Mission Society, Mid-Michigan Community Action, LOVE, Inc., Family Counseling Shelter Services, and Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries.  For a list of in-gathering items and for concert details, click here

Young Detroit Builders and Chili’s Grill & Bar are teaming up to raise funds for our program.  Please join us for dinner on Thursday, December 3rd, between 6 and 9 P.M., and Chili’s will donate 10% of your check to YDB.  Please download and print the flyer!

Where:  Chili’s Grill & Bar

402 West 14 Mile Road

(In front of Oakland Mall)

Troy, MI  48083

When:  December 3, 2009

Click here for a map

Click here to check out Chili’s menu

It’s a great time and place to meet friends, family, or that special someone after work or Christmas shopping for a casual meal AND give back to your community during this holiday season!

We are currently accepting applications for two full-time AmeriCorps members.  Please click here for the job description and contact information.

On Monday, October 26, four YDB students – Rhonda Ellington, Danyel Hudson, Sherrell Hunter, and Fatima Todd – had the opportunity to attend the Project Voice Youth Conference in Frankenmuth, Michigan.  The conference was organized by Michigan’s Children and the School-Community Health Alliance of Michigan and featured two guest speakers from the original Freedom Writers, Tony Becerra and Darrius Garrett, as well as workshops focusing on community advocacy.  Click the photo for more highlights and some student comments on the conference.

YDB students (from left) Sherrell Hunter, Rhonda Ellington, Fatima Todd, and Danyel Hudson with their signed copies of The Freedom Writers Diary.

In partnership with the Corktown Residents’ Council, Young Detroit Builders students and staff have been cleaning and boarding up abandoned property in the Corktown neighborhood through grant funding from Community Legal Resources.  We are cleaning Spaulding Courts apartment building and will also be patrolling that area during next week’s Angels’ Night.

Students cleaned out debris from the apartments before boarding up each unit.

Students from our newest cycle, 14B, receive instruction before beginning their first community service project.

New students, Kadeem Pruitt (left) and Alan Graves (right), remove debris from one unit that had been damaged by fire.

The project has also been written up by Model D, click here for the story.

Young Detroit Builders was recently highlighted for their work done through a grant from the Wal-Mart Foundation.  Follow this link to read about it in the Detroit Free Press or click here for the Fox 2 News article.