MOLINE, Ill. — 12 to 15 students from Rock Island High School, Thurgood Marshall Learning Center and Black Hawk College are building new homes and refurbishing existing properties in the Quad Cities community.
"We define 'SUCCESS' as the progressive realization of a worthy goal. They have to start somewhere then determine the direction they want to go and work the plan — be goal-oriented,” Rufus Greer Jr., YouthBuild QC's executive director, said.
YouthBuild Quad Cities, in collaboration with Project NOW, provides access for children with behavioral issues or who have been in and out of the justice system. The organization teaches them life skills that they can apply once they graduate from school and get out into the real world.
Students in the program meet on-site with licensed contractors in the construction industry and get a hands-on learning experience. Once the homes are completed, they are given to domestic violence survivors or those transitioning out of shelters.
To register a student in this program, they must meet the following criteria:
- 16 and 24 years old
- Have not earned their high school diploma or GED
If both of those qualifications have been met, people can call YouthBuild Quad Cities at 309-788-0899.
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