News And Stories
Representative Karen Clark visits YouthBuild
State Representative Karen Clark looked Tree Trust’s YouthBuild crew members directly in the eyes and asked, “Do you know how much it costs to put someone in jail for a year?” In a split second, Representative Clark answered her own question: “A lot more than it takes to keep them out.”
Representative Clark recently spent the afternoon at a YouthBuild site operated by Tree Trust and its partners Urban Homeworks and the Minnesota Internship Center charter school. A long time supporter of the YouthBuild program, which provides paid training for at-risk youth and young adults, Representative Clark visited a duplex at 2216 Elliott Avenue South in the Phillips-Ventura neighborhood, which she represents.
Tree Trust YouthBuild crew members will renovate and refurbish the duplex’s three-bedroom upper unit. Eventually, Urban Homeworks will lease the apartment to low-income residents at affordable rates.
YouthBuild crew members gave Representative Clark a tour of the property and described the impact of YouthBuild on their lives.
According to one crew member, “[I know that] I built this career, I built this house for other people to enjoy and live in. And that’s a good feeling.”
Another crew member quipped, “[YouthBuild] keeps us out of trouble.”
While YouthBuild participants showed off their construction skills and detailed their plans to lay new tile, rip up carpet and re-face cabinets, Representative Clark offered some pointers in civic engagement. She encouraged crew members to visit the state capital and speak to their representatives. “Remember,” she reminded them, “you’re our bosses. We work for you.”
Tree Trust’s YouthBuild program is funded through the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. The program serves youth and young adults struggling to complete their high school education. The program aims to help them toward self-sufficiency by providing training and hands-on experience in the home construction industry.
Since Tree Trust became a YouthBuild program provider in 2006 31 youth have worked in the program, receiving education, construction training, counseling and construction industry certification.
In addition to working on the Elliott Avenue apartment, workers recently rebuilt an arson damaged home on Bryant Avenue North and renovated another home on Dupont Avenue North.
Tree Trust
2350 Wycliff Street Suite 200
Saint Paul, MN 55114
Phone: 651-644-5800
Fax: 651-644-1469
