Workforce Development

YouthBuild Rochester

YouthBuild Rochester serves young adults ages 18 to 24 to attain workforce skills, education, and gainful employment and is supported by a grant from Constellation Energy Generation, LLC. The goals of the program are for participants to obtain a high school equivalency diploma and/or industry-recognized certificate; increase literacy and numeracy, and obtain employment or enrollment in post-secondary education. Key components of the program include hands-on training in construction and advanced manufacturing, educational instruction to develop literacy and numeracy skills in preparation for the high school equivalency exam (GED), case management services, leadership development, assistance with job placement, and follow-up services.

Participants are also able to take part in the YouthBuild Green Initiative which provides students with training around environmental awareness and the concepts and techniques of green construction. Key partners of the program include RochesterWorks, and the Urban League of Rochester Economic Development Corporation (ULREDC). The program is primarily funded through the NYS Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS), the U.S. Department of Labor, and the New York State Department of Labor

Program Services:

• Intensive case management

• GED instruction

• Sectoral training in construction and advanced manufacturing

• Leadership development activities

• Job placement assistance

• Follow-up services

Navigator

The Navigator Program provides guidance and assistance to out-of-school youth ages 17 to 24 to achieve academic and employment success. The program assists in removing barriers to achievement and provides opportunities for training, career exploration, work experience, and employment, as well as activities related to leadership development and community service. The program goals include attainment of a degree or certificate, improvement in literacy and numeracy skills, and placement in employment or education. The program is funded by the New York State Department of Labor and RochesterWorks.

Gun Violence Prevention Program

The Gun Violence Prevention Navigator program provides services to under-employed and out-of-school youth ages 18 and 24 who primarily live in areas of the City of Rochester experiencing high rates of gun violence including the 14605, 14606, 14608, 14609, 14611, 14613, 14615, 14619, 14621 zip codes.

The program assists in removing barriers to achievement and provides opportunities for occupational training, GED preparation, career exploration, work experience, and employment, as well as activities related to leadership development and community service. The program goals include the attainment of a degree or certificate, improvement in literacy and numeracy skills, and placement in employment or education. The program is funded by the New York State Department of Labor and RochesterWorks.

Growth Opportunities (GO)

The Growth Opportunities program prepares justice-involved young adults ages 18 to 24 for entry into the workforce through job placement and paid work experiences. Services include case management, occupational training in construction, advanced manufacturing and food service, high school equivalency preparation, work experience placements, mentoring, supportive services, and leadership development. The City of Rochester’s Pathways to Peace will provide conflict resolution and violence prevention programming for the program. This program aims to combat gun violence prevalence within the City of Rochester and support public safety and community well-being. In doing so, the ULR will help reduce gun violence and other violent crimes, introduce and prepare youth and young adults for the workforce, help identify career interests for youth, and assist youth attain the relevant skills and work experience to obtain high quality jobs and careers. The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Project B.E.A.M.

Project B.E.AM is an adult re-entry program that provides academic assistance, occupational training, employment placement, and supportive services for justice-involved adults ages 25 and older. Eligible participants must be released from prison or jail within the last 180 days or are currently under supervision (confined in a correctional facility with a release date within six months, on parole, residing in a residential reentry center, on electronic monitoring or home based monitoring, or enrolled in a jail-based work release center). The goal of the program is to help adults successfully re-enter society by addressing their personal and professional barriers and attain the employment skills required to enter in-demand occupations focusing on construction, advanced manufacturing, healthcare and food service. The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor. The program ends September 30, 2022 and is no longer enrolling new participants

Project Steps to Success

Project Steps to Success is a youth re-entry program that provides academic assistance, job training, employment placement, and supportive services to justice-involved young adults ages 18 to 24. This program builds onto ULR’s YouthBuild program, and the goal is to help young adults who were previously or are currently involved in the juvenile or adult justice systems successfully re-enter society. Participants address personal and professional barriers and attain the employment skills required to enter in-demand occupations focusing on construction, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, and food service. Participants receive case management, GED preparation, occupational training, and other soft-skill job readiness training. The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor.

The program ends September 30, 2022, and no longer enroll new participants.

Contact

For more information, contact Sharnita Lovette, YouthBuild Director, at (585) 325-6530 or slovette@ulr.org.

Funded by the U.S. Department of Labor, New York State Office of Children and Family Services, and RochesterWorks!