Building Brighter Futures with Crispus Attucks Charter School YouthBuild – A Message from State Rep. Carol Hill-Evans
At Crispus Attucks York Charter School, we know that education is not one-size-fits-all. Since 1994, we’ve proudly partnered with YouthBuild to provide a second chance to young adults ready to rewrite their stories. Thanks to the support of leaders like Pennsylvania State Representative Carol Hill-Evans, that mission is gaining new momentum.
In a powerful statement, Rep. Hill-Evans recently introduced the YouthBuild Pennsylvania Coalition to the public—a collaboration that unites YouthBuild programs across York, Philadelphia, and Allegheny Counties. These programs give students aged 16–24 who left high school before graduating the opportunity to earn their diploma or GED while gaining hands-on job training and career skills.
At Crispus Attucks YouthBuild Charter School in York, students aged 17 to 20 are doing just that, completing their high school education while participating in on-the-job training in industries that need them most. This isn’t just about academics; it’s about transformation. YouthBuild participants don’t just graduate, they grow. They build homes, renovate housing units, and breathe life into their neighborhoods. Over the past three years alone, YouthBuild Pennsylvania students have constructed 66 new homes and renovated nearly 300 housing units. The impact is real, visible, and lasting.
But the influence of YouthBuild goes far beyond physical structures. As Rep. Hill-Evans shared, YouthBuild students are more engaged in civic life, more likely to register to vote, less likely to encounter the criminal justice system, and more equipped to support their families and local economies.
To support the continued success of programs like ours, Rep. Hill-Evans has introduced House Bill 455, a legislative proposal to establish a state-funded grant program through the Department of Labor and Industry. This initiative would provide critical financial support to organizations that offer both educational completion and workforce training to disconnected youth.
The bill emphasizes training in construction and trades—core strengths of the YouthBuild model, but also expands to include other urgent fields like healthcare, child care, and customer service. It’s an investment in the future of Pennsylvania’s workforce—and in the untapped potential of thousands of young people.
To witness this historic moment firsthand, students from Crispus Attucks YouthBuild Charter School traveled to the State Capitol to attend the official press conference. Their presence was a powerful reminder of who this bill is for: the youth who are ready to learn, work, and lead.
To our students: We’re proud of your resilience and drive.
To our staff: Thank you for guiding and mentoring the next generation.
To our community: You can play a role. Reach out to your representatives and urge them to support House Bill 455. Let them know that access to education and job training is not a privilege—it’s a necessity.
Together, with strong leadership and community backing, we can continue to give rise to possible.
#YouthBuildPA #CAYCharterSchool #GiveRiseToPossible #EducationMatters #HB455
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