Senator Montgomery and Assemblywoman Richardson welcome NYS Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon to DREAMS YouthBuild to meet with student, students and alumni

State Senator Velmanette Montgomery and Assemblywoman Diana Richardson hosted NYS Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon for a visit to DREAMS YouthBuild. The visit included a tour of an affordable housing unit currently being renovated by YouthBuild students and an opportunity to meet with staff, students and alumni.

DREAMS YouthBuild &Young Adult Training Program is Settlement Housing Fund's Brooklyn-based alternative school and vocational training program that helps unemployed, out-of-school young men and women, ages 17-24, obtain high school equivalencydiplomas and job skills, secure employment and go on to college or vocational school.

As a YouthBuild USA affiliate, the program offers paid construction training to students who gain valuable skills and certification from the National Center for Construction Education and Research while helping to rehabilitate affordable housing in their community. Affiliations wtih construction partners like the NYC District Council of Carpenters and private developers, enable our students to be placed in construction jobs. An IT job training track has been added in collaboration wtih our SUNY ATTAIN Lab partner and YouthBuild USA. A dedicated staff provides a supportive environment with wrap around social services, college and career counseling, job readiness and placement, mentoring, leadership opportunities and communityservice projects. Most of our students participate in AmeriCorps.

DREAMS YouthBuild is part of the NYC Department of Education's Pathways to Education program and receives funding from the U.S. Departmen of Labor and the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development. Additional support is provided by the YouthBuild AmeriCorps program and private funders. DREAMS relies on partnerships with other organizations, public officials, volunteers and employers to carry out its mission.

Since the program began in 2007, DREAMS YouthBuild has successfully engaged over 300 opportunity youth from Crown Heights and surrounding neighborhoods in becoming Dedicated, Responsible, Educated, Accountable, Motivated and Self-Sufficient. 

For more information about the DREAMS Youthbuild program located in Brooklyn, call 718.455.4308 or visit http://www.settlementhousingfund.org/dreams_youthbuild.html

To learn more about Senator Montgomery's YouthBuild Act legislation, visit: https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/articles/velmanette-montgomery/senator-montgomerys-new-york-state-youthbuild-act-s8073aa13a

To learn more about Senator Montgomery's work with DREAMS YouthBuild, visit: 

https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/articles/velmanette-montgomery/dreams-youthbuild-members-meet-senator-montgomery-and

https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/articles/velmanette-montgomery/senator-montgomery-and-senate-democratic-conference-call-101

https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/articles/velmanette-montgomery/dreams-youthbuild-lobby-day-albany

https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/articles/velmanette-montgomery/state-senator-velmanette-montgomerys-legislative-report

https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/articles/velmanette-montgomery/senator-montgomery-celebrates-opening-brooklyns-newest-suny

https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/in-the-news/velmanette-montgomery/young-achievers-senator-montgomery-applauds-youthbuild

https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/velmanette-montgomery/senator-montgomery-applauds-youthbuild-graduates

For a copy of State Senator Velmanette Montgomery’s Guide to Youth Career and Internship Opportunities, download the PDF or call 718-643-6140 to request a copy.