Young Detroit Builders

I am a student at Wayne State University, and for one of my classes during the fall 2009 semester I was required to fulfill a learning service requirement. So, various different representatives from schools and other organizations came and spoke to our class to let us know about how we can help each one of them. I chose to volunteer at Young Detroit Builders (YDB). Ms. Jennifer Boyd, English Instructor at YDB, came and spoke to our class, and she inspired me to volunteer for them. At first I was a little apprehensive because I knew I would be tutoring students who were either the same age as me or older, but it turned out that there was no reason for that apprehension at all. After the first couple of weeks volunteering there, I felt comfortable with the students and staff. Everyone was extremely nice and friendly. Ms. Boyd and the other staff members made my time there thoroughly enjoyable. Also, it is so very evident that each one of the staff members whole-heartedly wants the students to succeed. They do not consider what they do as just a "job." All of the staff members do everything that they can to see the students pass the GED test. And the students try their hardest as well. I started tutoring about once a week at YDB in late September and I plan on continuing that as long as I am able to.

I have had nothing but pleasant and good experiences with YDB. I have been employed here for the last five months and I have witnessed nothing but positive results. This program give young adults the chance to reestablish their lives and really make something negative into a positive.

I originally volunteered with YDB as part of a requirement for an honors class at Wayne State University, and though I was somewhat nervous about how it would go, I have found volunteering here extremely rewarding and fun. The students that study here are trying to make a positive change in their lives and community, and the work that they do is truly amazing. Though we were only required to perform 20 hours of service, the students who chose this as our specific site gave much more time simply because of our love for the staff, students, and organization as a whole. The only downside to working with YDB is their obvious lack of resources. Though they have most of the absolutely necessary essentials needed to stay afloat, they do not seem to have the extra funds available that would allow them to truly expand and grow to their full potential. Because this is such a great organization that gives high school dropouts in Detroit a second chance to get an education and gain construction and life skills, the more that they expand and grow can only lead to more rebuilding and reshaping of the city of Detroit. As a part of the class that introduced me to YDB, we had to give a small something back to whichever organization we chose, and my classmates and I decided to try to fundraise and hold a raffle, which showed us all how tough times are today and how much everyone and every business is struggling. Though we raised only a small amount, the staff could not have been more appreciative and receptive of our efforts. I have found the people involved at Young Detroit Builders to be so empowering and inspirational that I plan to stay here and give whatever I can to help them continue their mission. Though six months ago I never knew they existed, YDB has become a priority in my life that I plan to continue to balance along with a full-time college schedule and part-time job, because, even though that initial honors class is over, I could not be more excited to donate my time and skills each week to help out this amazing organization. With so many cities everywhere now facing many of the same problems that Detroit has faced for years, I think that it is amazing that there are groups like the Young Detroit Builders who work so hard to do what they can to make a difference in their community by engaging members of that community to educate, rebuild houses, and learn life skills that could be one small step in repairing the city of Detroit. Please endorse the Young Detroit Builders and help them to continue to rebuild and transform the people, buildings, neighborhoods, and city of Detroit as a whole. Thank you!