CTI YouthBuild of Greater Lowell
CTI YouthBuild is a program for young adults between the ages of 16 and 24 who have dropped out of school and are ready to embrace a second chance to receive educational and vocational training to achieve success
● Serving young adults between the ages of 16 and 24 who have dropped out of high school and who reside in Lowell and its surrounding towns.
● Services include: G.E.D. preparation, vocational training, one on one case management, leadership development, life skills training, and career and academic coaching
YouthBuild provides education and employment training to prepare youth for careers in construction and healthcare. We help students identify their career and educational interests, develop an Individualized Employment Plan (IEP), and support them to achieve their goals. All participants have access to the core program components as well as participation in specialized occupational skills training according to their individual interests and capacities. The primary components of our training for out-of-school youth include:
Education – GED preparation, computer literacy, financial literacy, life-skills and post-secondary school transition program.
Career Development– On-going employment readiness classes, specialized workshops, job shadowing and on-the-job training through employer partner internships.
Case management and counseling – Comprehensive, goal-oriented case management focused on placement in higher-education, advanced technical training or employment. Support services to address personal challenges such as substance abuse, mental health issues, housing, childcare, and relationship needs.
Graduate Services – Placement assistance, job retention services, and tracking one year after program completion. Continued opportunities for community service, leadership development, and career development services.
Construction- YouthBuild students may choose to learn carpentry and construction skills while they work together to create affordable housing in their community. In addition to hands-on training, YouthBuild students have the opportunity to complete a comprehensive vocational curriculum leading to a certificate valuable to graduates entering the construction trades.
NEW – Culinary Program – Our culinary arts instruction will begin with the food handlers program. The source of our food handler’s curriculum is the Serv Safe food handler program. Our supervising chef is a certified instructor and will be instructing the course to our young adults. further, once students attain their food handler’s certification (serv safe), we will begin our culinary arts instruction using ACFEF’s Culinary Fundamentals program. Through this program, our students will learn basic culinary knowledge and gain practical experience. Through our culinary arts employer and community partners, students are provided internships and job shadowing opportunities throughout the course of the program. Thus far, we have secured internship placements with UMass Conference Inn Center and continue to outreach to other local restaurants. All students will be supported and supervised by our supervising chef.
Leadership Development- One of the most important parts of the YouthBuild program is Leadership Development. By building affordable housing, participating in community service projects, building awareness of issues that affect their community and achieving goals, students graduate with skills and experience that build their self-confidence, enabling them to become leaders within their community. Leadership development opportunities are built into each program component. Students may also participate on the YouthBuild Policy Committee where issues regarding program decisions are made.
YouthBuild students and staff during the annual Massachusetts Coalition Carpentry challenge
