YouthBuild Lake County

Description

YouthBuild Lake County is a non-profit organization providing education, career training and life skills to underserved youth living in Lake County. We are located in the city of North Chicago in Illinois

Our agency serves 40-80 youth per year, ages 17-24. Through our online high school diploma program, career training, life skills classes, and hands on construction training, our members regain their self worth and commitment to their futures. Our program is able to meet our members where they are academically, emotionally and personally.

95% of our students did not complete high school and have little or no work experience. Our YouthBuild program not only offers high school diploma attainment, but offers unique career pathways that correlates with local and state labor data for in-demand industries. Entry-level industry credential programs are designed to allow the student to advance onto higher level credential programs, thus allowing for more marketability in the workforce. YouthBuild currently offers training in construction, IT, nursing and transportation, distribution and logistics.

During our 2018/19 class year, YouthBuild Lake County served 76 students. 81% of our students received their diploma as of October 2019. 100% of our students received at least one industry-recognized credential (certificate). We also provided over 1090 hours of professional development instruction, had 30 internship placements, 52 job placements and 32 post-secondary education placements.