YouthBuild = Tools for Life
Since 1995, YouthBuild has helped motivated participants aged 16 to 24 earn their high school equivalency certificate, learn marketable job skills, and develop important leadership skills—all while earning a paycheck!
Hi Friends,

We’re so excited to share with you what’s been going on at YouthBuild North Central. We wanted to give you an inside peek of the few amazing things we were able to do recently.
Spec house building in the Highland Meadows neighborhood! Built by our YouthBuild Crew!
See more information about available homes at Highland Meadows on our website:
The above pictures are from the house in Highland Meadows. Our crew installed the insulation and painted the inside of the home. The crew has really been working hard on making this a beautiful home for a family.
Earth Day April 24th, 2021 - YouthBuild helped with tree measuring. YouthBuild also started their Garden thanks to a donation of potting soil.
Congratulations
Hard work paid off and these three YouthBuilders earned their TASC this past quarter. Great Job!
We are proud of each of You!
  • Bethany Fortney
  • Eddie Eli Gripper
  • Dylan Cool
This month we say goodbye to Morgan Swisher our AmeriCorps VISTA. Morgan has spent one year of volunteer service with YouthBuild. Morgan's focus during this year has been YouthBuild Recruitment. The Covid 19 Pandemic forced YouthBuild to shut down in 2020, Morgan had to work from home for half of her service year.

Despite that, Morgan successfully:
  • Developed a YBNC Recruitment Handbook,
  • Updated our list of Community Partners and Resources,
  • Created Instagram and Twitter accounts to reach a wider, younger audience,
  • Interviewed graduates and created a recruitment video which was featured in the RCHA 40th Anniversary Gala.
  • Wrote YouthBuild NCWV's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policy

Morgan - thank you for a great year. We wish you well as you transition from YouthBuild in West Virginia to your next adventure in California and possibly another VISTA Year of Service.
Volunteerism Focus for January to March 2021

  • Homestead School Community Center – scrape and paint Homestead School Community Center
  • WV State Park, Cass Village & Scenic Railroad – remodel men's bathroom at Cass Country Store, Cass WV State Park.
  • Elkins Make it Shine Litter Clean up
  • Youth Health Service Food Bank food distribution
Sharell Harmon

YB USA Celebrates Alumni Sharell Harmon, during Black History Month, as an inspiring young leader!
Sharell Harmon is a 2015 Graduate of YouthBuild NCWV
We are also saying to farewell Sharell Harmon, our Program Assistant. We will miss Sharell but could not be prouder of her and her journey in professional development. After weighing multiple job offers, Sharell has accepted a position with Philanthropy WV in their Membership and Operations department where she will share her passion to improve Appalachian Communities.
Philanthropy West Virginia is the central resource for companies, of all sizes, which are committed to community involvement, giving, and corporate responsibility in West Virginia and central Appalachia.
It has been a year since the passing of our dear friend, mentor and teacher,
Loren Fortney.

His legacy lives on at YouthBuild through the Loren Fortney YouthBuild Fund which is will provide scholarships to YB grads and provide financial support to the YouthBuild program.
Painting for a Cause Fundraiser is being planned for May 25th in the Evening.
Socially Distanced and Mask Required.
$25.00 will get you in the door.
All net proceeds will go toward the Loren Fortney YouthBuild Fund. Click button below to be added to the invite list for this fun and exciting event.
Did you know that your Amazon purchases can support a charitable organization? We have an Amazon Smile account to benefit our Youthbuild North Central WV program. Just click on the link below and go through the steps to choose your charity. Choose "YouthBuild/Highland Community Builders" as the charitable organization (they are the non-profit that our YouthBuild Endowment contributions go to.) Once you have your charity all set up, .5% of all of your purchases will go to the YouthBuild Endowment Fund as long as you purchase through your Amazon Smile account. Thanks for helping us help youth in our community!!!
Funding Provided By: DOL-ETA YouthBuild North Central
This Program is 79% funded with Federal Money. The total federal funding amount is $1,095,117. 21% / $296,968 is funded by non-governmental sources.