YouthBuild, a ten-month construction skills training curriculum for men and women ages 17-24 who have not completed high school run by the Old Colony YMCA has been in operation in Fall River since August of 2006. As the YouthBuild project heads into 2007, students have been involved in a number of learning and positive work experiences in their home at the Veterans' Memorial Auditorium on Bank Street. Refurbishing the gymnasium floor of the Auditorium was high on the list of projects to benefit the facility that the City provides to the program. Constructing benches for the worksite provides an opportunity to learn woodworking skills that students will soon apply to the construction of housing for low-income families in the city. For more information about the program, contact Director Terry Moran at 508-678-1975.
 

(Top row, left) Josh Harrison begins the process of applying a second coat of polyurethane to the gymnasium floor. (Top row, center) CD-Recreation Program Director Jamison Souza supervises Josh, Justin, Tasha and Tony in their work. (Top row, right) Tony Almeida pauses in his work. (Middle row, left) Louis Gonzalez begins a woodworking project in the woodshop set up in the basement of the Armory building. (Middle row, center) the floor of the Auditorium shines with a newly refurbished floor. (Middle row, right) Juanita Thompson uses a rotary tool to enscribe a pattern in wooden benches that are being constructed for the worksite. (Bottom row, left) Instructor Lisa Schmiedl demonstrates the proper application of glue for Tina Slart as Mr. Souza looks on. (Bottom row, center) Kaimari Mills and Emelson Leonirio assemble one of the benches. Woodworking supervisor Harold Denfeld talks over plans to expand the work area in the basement of the Auditorium with Mr. Souza.