#youthbuild boston

[bac-connex]

I am Ben!

My name is Ben Duggan. I am a first-year Master of Architecture student. I am originally from Ontario Canada and have been in Boston for the past few months.

I am working at YouthBuild Boston this week and am super excited!

[go-bac]

It has been an amazing and humbling experience collaborating with our GO Roxbury group. I graduated with my M.Arch at Wentworth in 2019 and worked in the realm of healthcare architecture before I started my current job as Designery Program manager at YouthBuild Boston. I feel like I have landed a dream job being able to introduce high school students to architecture. Students of color and low-income students typically do not have exposure to architecture while in grade schools. I, alongside my coworkers, aim to bridge the diversity gap within the profession.

We continue that mission with our BAC students. The site model pictured will be used as a tool for the community to critique and provide feedback on the design of the United Neighbors of Lower Roxbury’s community garden. As we finish the site model, we will start thinking of what that interaction will look like. It’s been a pleasure working alongside Aatman, Elizaveta, Maiya, Michael, and Utsav. They introduce more perspectives within our pedagogy and we will use what we learn in future endeavors.

One of the things Emily and I are working on concurrently is an outfit for the IIDA Fashion show. This is community couture. We imbue traditional South Asian, South East Asian, and African fashion in our designs. The fish net cape will have embedded images of our cohorts, exemplifying the power of creative agency given to Boston’s diverse youth.

[najaamplee]

PROMISE NIGHT GALA

Editor in chief: Najaam Lee Contributing location writer: Mitchell Acks Photo Credit:  America’s Promise Alliance and Associated Press

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On April 18th, 2017, America’s Promise Alliance Founding Chair Gen. Colin L. Powell (Ret.) and current Chair Alma J. Powell commemorated the organisation’s 20th anniversary with Recommit to Kids | The Summit for America’s Future. The Summit was held at the Marriott Marquis Times Square, followed by The Promise Night Awards Gala, honouring individuals and organisations who are leading efforts to make a difference in young people’s lives.

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These individuals have dedicated their lives to improving the lives of children and are committed to making the promise of America real for every child.

“Our honorees are extraordinary leaders in their fields, pulling out all the stops to make the promise of America real for every child,” said Alma J. Powell. “We look forward to celebrating their successes, following their careers and their example as they continue to do all they can to help children reach their full potential.”

The 20TH ANNIVERSARY PROMISE OF AMERICA Honourees include

Kenneth Chenault, Chairman and CEO American Express Company; Common, Hip-Hop Artist, Actor, Film Producer, and Poet; Arne Duncan, Managing Partner, Emerson Collective; Dorothy Stoneman, Founder, YouthBuild USA; Bryan A. Stevenson, Founder & Executive Director Equal Justice Initiative.

Performances for this beautiful evening included Andra Day, Two-Time Grammy Nominated Singer/Songwriter; Kenny G, Jazz Saxophonist; Boys and Girls Harbor Choir; Austin Paul Jr. Musician, Apollo Theaters rising new star; 76 Degrees West Jazz, Funk, Soul and R&B Band.

The 2017 PROMISES HEROS: Malcolm Mitchell, Super Bowl Champion of the New England Patriots, and Andra Day, Two-Time Grammy Nominated Singer/Songwriter.

It was such a pleasure to attend and cover this event. With all the chaos going on in our world today, it was quite refreshing to experience this cause and see there is still hope for all of us including our younger genereation, whom, if we give of ourselves will definitely have the brightest future ever.

  ABOUT AMERICA’S PROMISE ALLIANCE

America’s Promise Alliance is devoted to helping to create the conditions for success for all young people, including the millions currently being left behind. Our work is powered by our belief that all children are capable of learning and thriving, and that every individual, institution and sector shares the responsibility to help young people succeed. For more information, please visit, http://recommit2kids.org/

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Najaam Lee Art and Healing

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    GOSH!ABOUT: America’s Promise Alliance 20th Anniversary Summit PROMISE NIGHT GALA Editor in chief: Najaam Lee Contributing location writer: Mitchell Acks Photo Credit:  America’s Promise Alliance and Associated Press…

[bac-connex]

A Communicative Mentor

*awkward pics for the win :)*

YouthBuild Boston, as a whole, could be described as mentorship. Everyone is a mentor to another helping each other every process of the way. Neil has successfully shown us that throughout our days at YouthBuild Boston. He shared his experiences and have opened us up to other mentor's experiences in the field. Which we have come to learn that goals will be achieved but not always in the way planned out or percieved and you might even get a few surprises along the way. Neil has always been considerate and open to help us along with anyone who seeks his mentorship. We're all so grateful for his guidance and the experiences we have faced during our days at YouthBuild Boston.

We <3 YouthBuild! We <3 Neil!

[bac-connex]

A Giving Mentor

The qualities of a mentor that I believe are the most important are patience and kindness. A mentor should have the patience to guide a mentee through whatever path they have been set on and the kindness to share their mistakes.

Youth Build Boston embodies this wholly in the education they provide. It comes in many different forms, from giving mentorship in building trades to providing design education guided by people who are passionate working with kids watching them succeed.

We had a few mentors here at YouthBuild Boston. Neil who is in charge of design education programs and his team of lead designers. We were very fortunate to have them with us with week hearing their personal stories in architecture and being able to see so many different perspectives on how to grow in the industry.

[bac-connex]

A Hungry client

Today we had the opportunity to visit a variety of sites and locations that have been the focus of a project run by YouthBuild Boston. Thornton St. farm run by Haley house is a farm run with the intention of giving all food that it grows back to the community. Speaking with Duncan, a project manager at YouthBuild Boston, he explained to us how extremely rewarding working with the students has been in addition to the impact their projects make in the community

[bac-connex]

A charitable client

Duncan, a Project Manager at YouthBuild Boston showed us and a few Lead designers around the sites he had worked on before. He also talked about his process of getting where he is today; opened his own construction program that at first allowed ex-cons o get hands on and learn a life skill which would possibly land them a career. Now he also teaches students who join the program and help towards the same way.

This pop-up store located behind UP Academy interested me the most with its compelling modern design while still obtaining the classic pop-up store platform. Students would be able to sell products of what is grown right out of the backyard that would be to the left and in front of the store.

[bac-connex]

A Underserved Client

At Youthbuild Boston they tackle smaller projects for people in immediate need which can have big impact.

Today we went around touring several of their projects learning what the need was and who they were built for. These projects ranged from builds for elementary schools to storage sheds for other non profit groups. They use these projects to teach students basic building trades while at the same time get these kids their GED's to prepare them for the job market. The clients at YBB is everyone involved from design to construction using it as an opportunity to teach people who overwise would not have had any other opportunity. The recipients of the builds are often people who are in the most vulnerable of society.

[bac-connex]

It looks like a cooperative environment

*the models were moved and does not resemble original set*

Inclusivity is very well established at YouthBuild Boston through all programs and collabs. The site model shown above indicated the efforts and result of a variety of students who joined YouthBuild Boston. They got to experience a walkthrough hosted by the UNLR, the ones uncharge of the site and the whole process. The students were able to cooperative and learn through another organization besides YouthBuild Boston which gifted them real life experiences to build towards future careers.

[bac-connex]

It Looks Like a Place for Collaboration

At Youthbuild Boston intercultural competency is a core element of how this place functions. Youthbuild touches nearly every community in Boston collaborating with other non-profits and architecture firms to bring design based solutions to under served communities.

Today we talked about all the different programs and people involved bringing positive change to the Boston area. One of the projects that promotes cultural competency was the collaboration between YBB, and other non-profits Bikes not Bombs and Haley House. Understanding the community and their needs is a crucial step in beginning to address the problems that YBB attempts to address. This project addresses the problem of food deserts and food swamps in Boston. It aims to bring fresh produce to the people in these underserved areas increasing the health of the community. It is also a flexible design which allows it to change depending on the need of the community such as, a mobile library or a bike repair station.

Having this understanding of the people you serve is the beginning of how we can help tackle chronic issues in neighborhoods.

[bac-connex]

Workplace Observance

As an non-profit organization, YouthBuild Boston embodies inclusivity and diversity not only in a community aspect but also in the many possibilities offered. While many non-profit organizations do have the same inclusiveness of community among other things but YouthBuild Boston successfully captures this work ethic. It encourages others including the many collaborations YouthBuild Boston has that gives the receivers a full experience of the workforce.

[bac-connex]

Workplace Embracement

Here at Youthbuild Boston, we took a tour around the main office meeting all the people who help run the organization. From first impressions every person we ran into was incredible nice and willing to give time to explain their role in helping run the wide ranging programs that Youthbuild Boston runs.

This was interesting to me because I know how sometimes office culture can be a negative experience. Personally seeing this type of behaviour for myself I want to make sure the place that I work and the people around me have a positive experience. Fostering this positive workplace culture can be difficult to maintain because it largely depends on the people at the top setting the example. Youthbuild Boston seems to attract people who are friendly and willing to share and build each other up. Which a reflection of their slogan I Build, I Serve, I am.

[bac-connex]

Workplace atmosphere

Our day at youth build was a lot of fun. We had the chance to walk around surrounding neighborhoods around their main office and see projects that they had worked on in the past and upcoming project locations. Their office located within a repurposed fire station contains several classrooms which helps them to achieve a large amount of community outreach. The atmosphere in the office felt very positive and comfortable. It felt like you could be comfortable and feel welcome there anytime and not some cold concrete shell.

[bac-connex]

Hao Miao’s Intro…

Hi, I’m Hao Miao and I’m a current BArch student right out of high school last year. I have always loved to build and design for as long as I can remember. This externship will help me become more inspired and experienced in my future works that thrive to help people bring out their creativity.

[bac-connex]

Hi everyone! I’m Brett Loverin, this is my second semester at the BAC as a BARCH student after transferring from a community college in California! I am super excited for the opportunity to get out into an office and meet some people at YouthBuild Boston this week!

[bac-connex]

Check out YouthBuild Boston's Schedule in January 2024!