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TAP hosts YouthBuild Open House
TAP This Valley Works officially declared its YouthBuild house at 625 Tazewell Ave., SE, ready for renters at an Open House on Tuesday, March 24.
YouthBuild students, who spent nine months renovating the duplex, handed the keys to Annette Lewis, TAP’s senior vice president of programs and director of This Valley Works. The keys weren’t simply “handed,” but were passed from one student to another in a key exchange ceremony. As each student held the keys, they shared personal reflections about the program with the crowd of students, parents, TAP board members, City of Roanoke officials and others who attended the Open House.
“I am very proud to say that the young people that
renovated this duplex not only learned vital technical skills, but they also
learned leadership skills, teambuilding skills and participated in projects such
as weatherizing homes, assisting staff at other non-profits and volunteering at
nursing homes,” Mrs. Lewis said. “Character is being built, leaders are being
developed, and history is being made.”
The key exchange ceremony was followed by a ribbon-cutting.
Marion Vaughan-Howard, youth services superintendent for the City of Roanoke,
and YouthBuild student Teddy Giles, together snipped a wide strip of green satin
ribbon that was draped across the front porch landing.
The students – 18 total – worked under the direction of
YouthBuild Construction Trades Instructor Bobby Fitzgerald. The students’ work
included laying tile and carpet, painting, rebuilding the front porch,
completely refurbishing the kitchen, installing new windows, planting shrubbery,
and creating a stone walkway leading to the front porch.
“All of the students have told me they finally have something they
can be proud of,” said Jo Nelson, who as This Valley Works’ workforce
development program manager, oversees the YouthBuild program.
“They all talked about the teamwork, and being part of a
team, which has been really nice to hear,” she said.