Jadis Fencher, age 18, joined Worcester YouthBuild’s Construction Skills Track in October 2019. A self-described “tomboy”, she had recently graduated from North High School and was looking for a new challenge.

According to Adrianna Buduski, Worcester YouthBuild’s Employment Specialist, “Jadis came ready to work and proved to be a shining star on the job site. She was eager to show what girls can really do!”

Jadis learned construction skills at two (2) Worcester YouthBuild worksites:
1) 20 Merrick Street where students completed the new construction of a 900 square foot home, in partnership with Worcester Common Ground, Inc. (WCG), Saint-Gobain Corporation, and YouthBuild USA. The home achieved LEED certification and has since been sold to a low-income, first-time homebuyer. As the gold standard in the construction industry, LEED Certification refers to buildings that have been designed, built, and maintained using green building and energy efficiency best practices.
2) 12 Forbes Street where students are currently building a new 790 square foot home, in partnership with Worcester East Side Community Development Corporation (WESCDC). Upon completion, the home will be sold to a low-income, first-time homebuyer.

Through Worcester YouthBuild, Jadis has also attained her OSHA 10 certificate and Home Building Institute (HBI) Pre-Apprenticeship Certification Training (PACT) certificate.

“Throughout her time in the program, Jadis has shown a maturity and aptitude for work from the get-go. She has excelled with the practical and hands-on training and has stayed focused on her main goal of securing sustainable employment”, says Ms. Buduski. “Once Jadis got her car, she wasted no time applying to work for one of our building partners, Quality Contracting. She has since made a home there, working full-time as a mitigation technician.”

Of her experience, Jadis says, “YouthBuild gave me the confidence to be able to push myself with no fear. Without YouthBuild, I can 100 percent say I wouldn’t be where I am now mentally and physically! They opened my eyes to so many different opportunities and showed me how great I can be when I put my all in. YouthBuild taught me a lot, but their support will always be something I think of to get me going on a bad day – because if they have hope for me, why shouldn’t I have hope for myself."

Congratulations Jadis! You are a great YouthBuild role model!

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Worcester YouthBuild is funded by the United States Department of Labor, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education-YouthBuild Funds, and Saint-Gobain Corporation.

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