PROVIDENCE, RI - In an effort to help young adults from low-income families earn their diplomas and develop job readiness skills, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) today joined Norman Orodenker, Board Chair for the Urban League of Rhode Island, and Darrell Waldron, Executive Director of the Rhode Island Indian Council, in announcing nearly $900,000 in federal funding for the Urban League of Rhode Island. This three-year, $893,687 grant, administered by the U.S. Department of Labor, will allow Urban League YouthBuild to reach out to Native American and inner-city youth and help them develop the academic, leadership, and vocational skills to successfully transition to higher education and employment in the construction industry. Youths enrolled in the program will receive a weekly stipend of $150 along with job training, medical coverage, tools, and classroom supplies as they build or renovate affordable housing units.

"It's a win for these young people and a win for the community. Urban League YouthBuild does an outstanding job of helping young people who need a second chance to get an education and develop construction, work readiness, and leadership skills. At the same time, the program allows these young people to give back to their community by building and renovating affordable housing units," said Reed, a member of the Appropriations Committee, which oversees federal spending for the program and a senior member of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee. "Investing in our children and helping them realize their full potential will strengthen Rhode Island's workforce."

The Urban League YouthBuild program helps low-income, unemployed, and undereducated youth between the ages of 16-24 to rebuild their communities and their own lives with a commitment to work, education, responsibility, and family. The program incorporates 50% academic and 50% vocational skills training. Urban League YouthBuild will use this federal aid to partner with the RI Indian Council, Community College of Rhode Island, Rhode Island Housing, and several other organizations to recruit and train 34 Native American and inner-city participants. Participants go through a ten-month program of classes and hands-on training with the goal of transitioning to vocational or post-secondary education. After completing the program, YouthBuild students are tracked and mentored for a year by a case manager.

"On behalf of the Urban League of Rhode Island, I would like to thank Senator Reed for his unwavering support of YouthBuild and the Urban League. Our YouthBuild program gives kids the opportunity to get an education and learn important job-training and leadership skills. This federal funding will allow us to expand our efforts and continue making a positive difference in the community and the lives of these young adults," said Norman Orodenker, Board Chair, Urban League of Rhode Island.

Since its founding in 1939, the Urban League of Rhode Island has worked to eliminate racial discrimination and segregation in the state, and has enabled minorities and the poor to demonstrate their full potential and exercise their rights as American citizens. The Urban League implements its mission through a wide range of services and programs such as YouthBuild.

Today there are over 226 YouthBuild programs in 42 states engaging over 8,000 young adults. The Urban League of Rhode Island was one of 96 YouthBuild programs nationwide to receive federal aid from the U.S. Department of Labor.

Senator Reed has been a strong supporter of YouthBuild. Since 1993, Congress has provided $700 million in appropriations for this program, which has leveraged over $1.5 billion in additional public and private investment and allowed more than 76,000 YouthBuild students to produce more than 17,000 units of low-income housing nationwide. However, last year 226 communities were denied YouthBuild funding and over 14,000 young people were turned away from existing programs.