In celebration of YBB’s 30th Anniversary, featured staff and board members reflect on their experience at YBB. This month we feature YBB Board Member Jeffrey Simon, President at Simon Properties and former Senior Principle at Stantec.

“YouthBuild Boston was clearly making a big difference in the lives of these youth.”

I first got involved with YouthBuild Boston in 2010 when I was running the federal stimulus program for Governor Deval Patrick. I had distributed a recovery grant to the organization and wanted to see firsthand how it was being used; so I visited an active job site with Executive Director Ken Smith. Everyone was wearing a hard hat and was absorbed in doing their job, the sum of which would result in the construction of a new house for a deserving family. The YBB trainees were reading blueprints, measuring, cutting wood and hammering. There was a spirit that was immediately evident. I asked one of the young men to tell me what he was doing. He proudly explained to me that he and his colleague were building a wall. They would then stand the wall up and nail it down to the deck of the new house. He was skilled and he was proud. He clearly felt very good about the work he was doing.

“There was a spirit that was immediately evident.”

As I got to know the organization and Ken, I became increasingly impressed. YouthBuild Boston was clearly making a big difference in the lives of these youth. They came from varied backgrounds, but each one had a story of hardship and perseverance in getting to this point in their life. For all, it was the first time in their lives that at the end of each day they could stand back, look at the growing house and say:

“I built that. Without me there would just be a pile of wood.”

Several years later I was asked if I would be interested in becoming a board member and helping to continue the growth of this organization. As a board member, I’ve watched as programs kept persevering through the ups and downs of the economy; as the core house construction skills were combined with training in design; and as new relationships with members of the unions and construction industry were formed. But the focus has always remained the same – making a difference in the lives of a young woman or young man that gives them a skill and puts them on a path to success.

I am proud to be a member of the board and hopeful that the next 30 years will make a difference in even more young lives; and that as the industry evolves, YouthBuild Boston will continue to be an important partner.