“I want her to be able to follow in my footsteps and know they will lead her to greatness.”
As Trayveonshay (Tray) Stone, 21, stood watching his fellow cohort participants celebrate, he held his one-year old daughter. When asked how he was feeling, his response was simple: happy.
Tray and eleven other Indy youth were celebrating their recent completion of YouthBuild Indy’s Construction Training program. Led by EmployIndy and in partnership with AmeriCorps, YouthBuild Indy offers participants the opportunity to earn their high school equivalency (HSE), a NCCER construction certification, an AmeriCorps education award, participate in a 3-week work experience (WEX), and be placed in a job, all while getting paid to learn.
Tray shared how he struggled a lot in high school. It was difficult for him to learn in a traditional classroom setting and even when he asked for help, he still felt left behind. Like all of us, he just wanted to fit in. Sports offered a chance for him to connect with others, but when that didn’t work out, he started skipping school and eventually, stopped going altogether.
There are roughly 15,800 youth in Marion County, who are disconnected from education and employment. Like Tray, some struggled in school. Other reasons for disconnection include inadequate access to job training, homelessness, involvement with the justice system, or lack of familial support.
When he heard about YouthBuild Indy through his grandmother’s church, he reached out and got connected.
“I saw a career and an opportunity to make money. I felt like this could be the start of me finding my path,” Tray said. He shared about earning his Indiana HSE, as a part of the program, through Marian University. He went on to express his gratitude for several intangibles he’s taken away from the experience as well, such as learning patience, better communication skills, and dealing with his personal trauma. As a part of the 18-week program, participants also complete the YES Indy Power Huddle, a two-week job readiness experience with a focus on moving from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset.
Tray is currently applying the skills he learned in the program at Godby Hearth & Home, working as an installer. Looking to the future, he hopes to stay in construction and focus on carpentry, which is something he really enjoys doing. No matter where his career path takes him, he feels this experience has helped him “learn how to be a better dad, a better son, a better brother, and a better spouse.”
To learn more about YouthBuild Indy and get connected to future opportunities, visit www.youthbuildindy.org.
