Who We Are
 

The SBWIB YouthBuild program is a pre-apprenticeship program that provides job training and educational opportunities for at-risk youth ages 16-24 who have previously dropped out of high school.  It prepares youth and young adults using career pathways leading to good jobs and promotes the attainment of skills and knowledge necessary for success.  Our program receives WIOA funding by the Department of Labor that enhances programs in leadership, education, and vocational skills training.

 

Re-engaging Disconnected Youth

In the United States, 5.5 million young people are considered "disconnected," meaning they are not in school nor are they working, according to the Opportunity Nation. Based on Opportunity Index data from 2019, 11.3% of California youth ages 16-24 met this definition of disconnected youth. YouthBuild Charter School of California seeks to re-engage these young people, offering them an opportunity to re-enroll in school, complete their credits, and graduate with a diploma, while also providing them with hands-on job training in construction, culinary arts, healthcare, and more. 

 

Authentic Education Through Community Action

In order to meet the unique needs of our students, YouthBuild Charter School of California uses a project-based, inter-disciplinary curriculum model that relies on authentic assessments and applied learning. Students are empowered to take what they learn in the classroom into their communities to promote social justice through volunteerism and advocacy. At the end of each trimester, YCSC students work together with teachers to create a culminating community action project. These projects have included a Health Fair in Lennox, adding fresh food options to a liquor store in East Los Angeles, and a Town Hall event in South LA calling for an end to sheriff violence in L.A. County jails.  

Unlike traditional schools that employ standardized curriculum and classroom practices that often disempower and alienate marginalized students, YCSC’s project-based approach allows young adults to take ownership of their education. In addition to providing a rigorous education, YouthBuild Charter School of California and its local YouthBuild program partners offer students counseling services, college preparation, leadership development, vocational training, and the unique opportunity to revitalize their communities while earning school credit by building low-income housing.

 

Our Mission

Our mission is to cultivate collaborative learning communities in which every student has the right to an authentic education, plays a meaningful role in creating positive social change, and becomes an active participant in working towards just conditions for all.

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Our Vision

Our vision is that all young people, regardless of their circumstances, have access to an education that will prepare them to counter social inequities and realize their full potential. Our school empowers young people to transform themselves and become leaders in their communities. Our school is a haven of trust and respect, where students can prepare for success in careers, post-secondary education and life.