NYCHA’s First YouthBuild Cohort Graduates with Skills, Confidence, and Community

Twenty-year-old Jordan Lewis wasn’t sure what to expect when he walked into a YouthBuild orientation earlier this year.  

He signed up for the program because he needed something to do but soon learned the program was more than just a way to pass time. “It gave me the means to advance in whatever career I want to be in,” Mr. Lewis said. “It wasn’t just something to do but also something to help build my future.” 

Mr. Lewis is one of 14 recent graduates of NYCHA’s first YouthBuild cohort, part of a $1.3 million U.S. Department of Labor-funded initiative to provide young people ages 17 to 24 with education, construction training, leadership development, and pathways to employment. The six-month program, managed by NYCHA’s Office of Resident Economic Empowerment and Sustainability (REES), provides a stipend and combines classroom learning, hands-on training, and guidance to help participants build technical skills and long-term stability.  

NYCHA’s YouthBuild partners are the Central Brooklyn Economic Development Corporation (CBEDC), Brooklyn Public Library, and Northeast Brooklyn Housing Development Corporation. 

In the classroom, Mr. Lewis and his cohort learned construction skills and safety training, including OSHA, Site Safety Training (SST), and National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) construction technology credentials.  

“Watching the first cohort grow, persevere through challenges, understand the goals of YouthBuild, and ultimately fall in love with the program was the greatest joy,” said CBEDC Program Manager Sister Tara Muhammad. “They felt a great sense of accomplishment receiving their OSHA and SST cards. They left the program feeling more confident and formed a bond with one another that continues today.” 

The cohort’s first construction project was to build a shed; this taught them important skills, including framing, masonry, plumbing, carpentry, as well as how to operate and handle power tools.  

“We built the shed from the ground up outside of Marcus Garvey Center,” Mr. Lewis said. “We cut all the wood, put everything together, and then took it down.” 

The cohort was trained by Majied Muhammad, Senior Instructor at Genesus Construction. Mr. Muhammad, who has more than 40 years of experience as a mason and has trained young people for over 20 years, said, “This is the best class I have ever taught.”  

Building and tearing down the shed prepared them for their major capstone project of fully renovating two affordable housing apartments under the supervision of certified construction instructors. The apartments were provided by development partner Northeast Brooklyn Housing Development Corporation (NEBHDCO). For many of the participants, including Mr. Lewis, it was their first time doing renovation work. 

“We patched holes, painted, installed new light fixtures and outlets, refinished floors, and laid tile,” Mr. Lewis said. “I had never done anything like that before. But we all helped each other out. The instructors encouraged us, made sure we were safe, made sure we were actually learning, and made sure we never felt like we weren’t smart enough to do something.” 

That mutual support among his cohort was Mr. Lewis’s favorite part of the program: “It gave me a sense of community, because we all came from different NYCHA developments and we came together and helped each other out.” 

“Watching our YouthBuild participants grow over the course of this program has been nothing short of inspiring,” said REES Community Coordinator Timilehin Awonusi, who managed the YouthBuild program. “Each step on the job site, in the classroom, and within themselves shows their determination to rise, improve, and create better futures. Their progress is a reminder of what happens when young people are given opportunity, guidance, and a community that believes in them.” 

Like all YouthBuild graduates, Mr. Lewis will receive 12 months of post-program support, including job placement assistance and advanced training opportunities. He recently interviewed with a plumbing company and is exploring his long-term goal of a career in the healthcare field.  

The second YouthBuild cohort began in early November, and Mr. Lewis often recommends the program to other Brownsville NYCHA young people who need help figuring out their next steps: “I would recommend the program because even though I wasn’t initially interested, I gave it a shot, and it turned out to be something I was very interested in. It also helped me because I was able to get my GED three weeks after graduating and it helped put me on my journey to the career I want in the future.”