The Fall River YouthBuild program held its fourth annual graduation at its Bank Street facility on June 27, 2008. Twenty graduates donned caps and gowns and processed through the doors into the gymnasium that serves as the program's home. The program, 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. Many of the graduates spent time in Gulfport, MS, earlier in the year helping people rebuild homes devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Graduate Antonio Almeida was named Fall River Youth of the Year in March and was one of the speakers at the ceremony attended by about 50 family members and friends. Click here to read the Herald News article about the event.

Click here, here, here, and here to read more about the program. For more information, contact Director Terry Moran at 508-678-1975.
 

(Top row, left) Mayor Correia praises the efforts of the graduates in turning their lives around through the YouthBuild program. (Top row, center) Director of YouthBuild USA Sara St. Laurent congratulates National Honors Joshua Barrett as he receives a special award as YouthBuild Fall River director Terry Moran looks on. (Top row, right) Sopheap Chao, Felix Garcia, Noel Manzer, John Mark, Kaimari Mills, Kevin Pavao listen. (Middle row, left) Community Development Executive Director Robert Laughlin praises the graduates for setting a new direction in their lives. (Middle row, right) Family members and friends applaud the new graduates. (Bottom row, left) New graduate Paul Santos gives a cheer to his classmates. (Bottom row, center) The new graduates pose for a group photo. (Bottom row, right) Noel Manzer, John Mark and Kaimari Mills check out their diplomas.