From Nashville Post Business:

Among the 183 community organizations netting this year’s crop of YouthBuild grants is the YMCA of Middle Tennessee, which will get $625,000 to help young people finish their education and prepare for the work force.

Participants in YouthBuild programs include individuals who have been in the juvenile justice system, youth aging out of foster care, high school dropouts and others. In addition to receiving academic and occupational skills training, these young people develop leadership skills and participate in community service opportunities. Many YouthBuild participants are learning “green” building techniques, assisting with retrofitting existing homes, and discovering how to help make their communities sustainable and environmentally friendly.