Youthbuild USA requests funding to continue a national americorps vista program that places 50 americorps vista members at approximately 35 youthbuild programs to help opportunity youth gain…

Youthbuild USA requests funding to continue a national americorps vista program that places 50 americorps vista members at approximately 35 youthbuild programs to help opportunity youth gain enhanced critical thinking skills, prepare for placement and success in meaningful employment or post-secondary education, and develop a love for lifelong learning. Within the opportunity youth population, the youthbuild movement primarily serves young people who lack a high school diploma and financial resources; these young people are in greatest need of our support, and they are our greatest source of untapped potential. Youthbuild vista members respond to americorps vista's programming priority areas of economic opportunity (employment/workforce development) and education (K-12 success and college access & success). Specifically, the goals of the youthbuild vista program are to increase the number of youthbuild students who: * acquire a high school diploma or high school equivalency * advance academically in literacy or numeracy * enter postsecondary education * gain employment youthbuild vista members contribute to these goals by securing financial resources, recruiting community volunteers, developing community partnerships, training youthbuild staff and volunteers, and implementing new systems. These capacity building projects closely align with youthbuild USA's mission: with love and respect, we partner with opportunity youth to build the skillsets and mindsets that lead to lifelong learning, livelihood, and leadership. Youthbuild vista assignments are structured so that each vista member can reasonably complete their assignments in one year, while contributing to a larger capacity building goal that can be completed within a three-year cycle. Youthbuild USA is also requesting one vista leader to enhance recruitment of youthbuild vistas, create resources to help guide vista members toward success in completing their assignments, and collect information and data to help improve youthbuild USA's vista program.