14 � HAMMER Magaz i n e , Vo l . 1 6 Nos . 2 & 3 2 0 11 HAMMER Magaz i n e , Vo l . 1 6 Nos . 2 & 3 2 0 11 � 15

Energy Efficient InsulatedConcrete Form ConstructionProject, Brentwood, LI

To prove the point that YouthBuild students are on the cutting edge, a highly energy efficient home inBrentwood, New York was constructed with the aid ofYouthBuild students utilizing insulated concrete forms(ICFs). After pouring footings, in a Lego®-like manner,segments of the wall system were assembled to a pre-described height to define the basement’s groundlevel and concrete was pumped into the forms. The second story was then assembled. Later these ICFswere filled with cement. The basement floor was alsopoured at this time. By the nature of the product and the use of

interconnecting rebar, multiple stories can be added tothe original pour. Framing of spaces for doors and windows was done asthe job progressed. Thehome was originallyintended to be a learningproject house forYouthBuild students buta meeting with UnitedWay’s Rick Wertheim andMark Gunthner of PaulDavis Restoration & Remodeling of Long Island took theproject to a much higher level. Gunthner proposedbuilding a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) 95-ratedhouse using ICF envelope technologies and other energy efficiency and renewable energy components.When Wertheim’s budget did not allow for theseimprovements, Gunthner’s Paul Davis Company andanother of his companies, Home PerformanceTechnologies, owned by Gunthner and Huntington architect Pete Smith, stepped up to the plate with donations of over $40,000 in labor and materials includingmany upgrades (decorativecolumns, stone facade,landscaping, constructionsupervision, and professionalvideography services). Asolar photovoltaic systemwas also installed atreduced cost. This opened afloodgate of further donations.Green Depot donated 50 percent of the cost of the ICFpanels ($7,000); North East Radiant Technology, Inc. supplied the radiant flooring subpanels ($8,000) whileEnergy Master Environmental Solutions provided blown

in cellulose and air sealing (value $2,500). The landfor the home was donated by the Town of IslipCommunity Development Agency.United Way’s community partners and local

businesses working on this project included VCreteConstruction Corp.; Deer Park Sand & Gravel ReadyMix Concrete; Pete Smith, AIA Architect; Long IslandCarpenters Union Local 7; Silicon Solar; GreenBuilding Depot (Giancarlo Porto); Amvick InsulatedConcrete Forms; North East Radiant Technologies;

A far cry from the conventional stick building construction that was originallyplanned for this home, insulated concrete forms dramatically changed the build.

Home Performance Technologies; Energy Master EnergySolutions; and Michael Fairchild Video Productions. The construction of this home was elongated over

two years so that the job site could be used as atraining center for many participants. These includedmembers of United Way, labor unions, East Islip HighSchool Green Career Academy students, YouthBuildstudents, and others. Just how well was this homebuilt? When Steve Couville, a senior trainer forConservation Services Group (CSG) brought his BPItraining class to demonstrate blower door testing, hedeclared that this house had the lowest air leakagehe had ever seen.

Removing a section of the ICF wall where a window will be framed and installed.ICFs are braced temporarily until cement is poured, then removed..

After ICFs are in place, cement is pumped into the form’s cavity.

Dedicated January 20, 2011

14 � HAMMER Magaz i n e , Vo l . 1 6 Nos . 2 & 3 2 0 11 HAMMER Magaz i n e , Vo l . 1 6 Nos . 2 & 3 2 0 11 � 15

Energy Efficient InsulatedConcrete Form ConstructionProject, Brentwood, LI

To prove the point that YouthBuild students are on the cutting edge, a highly energy efficient home inBrentwood, New York was constructed with the aid ofYouthBuild students utilizing insulated concrete forms(ICFs). After pouring footings, in a Lego®-like manner,segments of the wall system were assembled to a pre-described height to define the basement’s groundlevel and concrete was pumped into the forms. The second story was then assembled. Later these ICFswere filled with cement. The basement floor was alsopoured at this time. By the nature of the product and the use of

interconnecting rebar, multiple stories can be added tothe original pour. Framing of spaces for doors and windows was done asthe job progressed. Thehome was originallyintended to be a learningproject house forYouthBuild students buta meeting with UnitedWay’s Rick Wertheim andMark Gunthner of PaulDavis Restoration & Remodeling of Long Island took theproject to a much higher level. Gunthner proposedbuilding a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) 95-ratedhouse using ICF envelope technologies and other energy efficiency and renewable energy components.When Wertheim’s budget did not allow for theseimprovements, Gunthner’s Paul Davis Company andanother of his companies, Home PerformanceTechnologies, owned by Gunthner and Huntington architect Pete Smith, stepped up to the plate with donations of over $40,000 in labor and materials includingmany upgrades (decorativecolumns, stone facade,landscaping, constructionsupervision, and professionalvideography services). Asolar photovoltaic systemwas also installed atreduced cost. This opened afloodgate of further donations.Green Depot donated 50 percent of the cost of the ICFpanels ($7,000); North East Radiant Technology, Inc. supplied the radiant flooring subpanels ($8,000) whileEnergy Master Environmental Solutions provided blown

in cellulose and air sealing (value $2,500). The landfor the home was donated by the Town of IslipCommunity Development Agency.United Way’s community partners and local

businesses working on this project included VCreteConstruction Corp.; Deer Park Sand & Gravel ReadyMix Concrete; Pete Smith, AIA Architect; Long IslandCarpenters Union Local 7; Silicon Solar; GreenBuilding Depot (Giancarlo Porto); Amvick InsulatedConcrete Forms; North East Radiant Technologies;

A far cry from the conventional stick building construction that was originallyplanned for this home, insulated concrete forms dramatically changed the build.

Home Performance Technologies; Energy Master EnergySolutions; and Michael Fairchild Video Productions. The construction of this home was elongated over

two years so that the job site could be used as atraining center for many participants. These includedmembers of United Way, labor unions, East Islip HighSchool Green Career Academy students, YouthBuildstudents, and others. Just how well was this homebuilt? When Steve Couville, a senior trainer forConservation Services Group (CSG) brought his BPItraining class to demonstrate blower door testing, hedeclared that this house had the lowest air leakagehe had ever seen.

Removing a section of the ICF wall where a window will be framed and installed.ICFs are braced temporarily until cement is poured, then removed..

After ICFs are in place, cement is pumped into the form’s cavity.

Dedicated January 20, 2011

LI CAREER CENTER OPENS IN DEER PARKLI CAREER CENTER OPENS IN DEER PARK

HAMMER Magaz i n e , Vo l . 1 6 Nos . 2 & 3 2 0 11 � 11

techniques, as well as high efficiency heating, cooling,and ventilation systems. Students also learn voice/datacabling and structured wiring, CAD, advanced homeautomation, and energy auditing. Some of the trainingstations include the building’s multi-zoned radiant heatsystem, a complete blower door set up, computer training,a geothermal hybrid hot water heater, and more. Thereis a large area devoted to learning the techniques andknowledge relating to blown in cellulose and open andclosed cell spray foam. Also in the building are fullyequipped classrooms and computer workstations wherebasic education and construction skills are taught. Butthere is so much more to the program. YouthBuild’sdaily regime includes everything from calisthenics to concepts of calculus. But it is the heavy dose of nurturingand camaraderie among the students, some perhaps outcasts elsewhere, that make this house a home. The program begins with a two week academic

orientation followed by a kind of boot camp that stretchesboth the bodies and minds of the incoming class. At theend of the 5 day interrelationship, the students havebecome more trusting of each other and accept the factthat no matter where they are coming from, togetherthey will go further.An important part of YouthBuild Long Island is

leadership development. As stated in their Long IslandeNewsletter, “As part of YouthBuild Long Island’s curriculum, students work daily on leadership developmentskills that will not only help them towards meeting theircareer goals, but that will help them in their personalgrowth as individuals. Students learn to advocate forissues that concern them and their communities and totake responsibility for themselves and their families.They engage in enrichment activities, lectures, workshops,team-building exercises, and community events.”Recent workshop presenters haveincluded motivationalspeaker and community organizer MarvinSmith; motivationalspeaker JonathanPowell; Christine Brown from Long Island Cares whopresented a workshop on Stress Management andCommunication; and Simone Wilson, from NationalEmployee Assistance Providers, Inc., who spoke on sexual harassment. As an example of success, YouthBuild Long Island’s

recent student of the month, Kevin Sanchez, 20, fromCentral Islip, looks forward to earning his GeneralEquivalency Diploma (GED) and plans to pursue acareer in law enforcement. Quotes Sanchez, “I like beingaround friends that are striving for the same things atYouthBuild. YouthBuild has changed my life by helpingme be positive about myself, more outgoing, and able tospeak my mind.” Other achievements by YouthBuildLong Island class of 2010 students are notable. Central

10 � HAMMER Magaz i n e , Vo l . 1 6 Nos . 2 & 3 2 0 11

Cover

Sto

ryUNITED WAY OF LONG ISLAND’S YOUTHBUILDUNITED WAY OF LONG ISLAND’S YOUTHBUILD

A t first blush, you’d think YouthBuild LongIsland might be a failure. That is, if you’deven heard of YouthBuild, United Way’s

national hands-on educational and training programthat is built around the construction trades. On LongIsland, it features a curriculum developed by UnitedWay of Long Island’s Senior Vice President ofHousing & Green Development, Rick Wertheim,and a most supportive staff.So why after training in so many aspects of the

construction industry during full time school daysfrom 9 to 3 and beyond for a period of 10 months,do only 25 percent actually stay in the constructionbusiness per se? The answer, happily so, is that theother 75 percent take the leadership developmentaspect of the program to higher plateaus. Many returnto higher education while others, their lives turnedaround and most brimming with confidence, haveentered the workforce in many other industries basedupon a very solid footing courtesy of United Way. What YouthBuild does is recruit members of the

community who are less academically inclined andwhose past history could be less than stellar. Manystudents have found themselves in trouble in a varietyof ways but all come to YouthBuild Long Islandwillingly with the hope that this program willchange their lives. And it does.Enjoying funding from several sources, including

dollars from utility professional Bob Cattel’s foundation and federal money aided by the effortsof Congressman Steve Israel, underserved youngadults, male and female from the ages of 18 to 24

who haven’t been very successful to date find newhope in a brand new facility that has just been dedicated to teach state of the art building trades andoperation of various equipment and systems foundin today’s green and energy efficient construction. The new, multi-story, 5,000 square foot building,

United Way’s Green Construction Training Lab, alsoknown as United Way’s E3 (Energy/Efficiency/Education) Career Training Center , is located at 10Dunton Avenue in Deer Park. It was refurbished ina way that hands-on construction and operation ofnew technology can be explained and mastered.The facility features several training stations wherestudents practice and learn green building techniques,energy efficiency, weatherization, renewables,advanced framing, air sealing, and advanced insulation

article by John Rigrod

Congressman Steve Israel at United Way’s YouthBuild E3 (Energy/Efficiency/Education) Career Training Center in Deer Park, LI. Second from left, YouthBuild graduate and congressional intern Shelton Thomas, Congressman Israel. Right, Theresa Regnante, United Way of Long Island President and CEO.

Various training stations at the E3 Training Center include areas for insulation,blower door testing, radiant heating (shown pre-construction), geothermal, andmore. Artist’s rendering shows additional work training stations to be built.

Mark Gunthner, President of Home Performance Technologies, and United Way/YouthBuild Long Island’s Rick Wertheim with some of YouthBuild LI’s major sponsors and partners, Vincent Mentar, JPMorgan Chase & Co.; Robert Catell, utility professional, Ed Mangano, Nassau County Executive. At right, Michael Cooney, Senior VP Resource Development, United Way of LI.

“I like being around friends that arestriving for the same things atYouthBuild.

“YouthBuild has changed my life byhelping me be positive about myself,more outgoing, and able to speak my mind.”

LI CAREER CENTER OPENS IN DEER PARKLI CAREER CENTER OPENS IN DEER PARK

HAMMER Magaz i n e , Vo l . 1 6 Nos . 2 & 3 2 0 11 � 11

techniques, as well as high efficiency heating, cooling,and ventilation systems. Students also learn voice/datacabling and structured wiring, CAD, advanced homeautomation, and energy auditing. Some of the trainingstations include the building’s multi-zoned radiant heatsystem, a complete blower door set up, computer training,a geothermal hybrid hot water heater, and more. Thereis a large area devoted to learning the techniques andknowledge relating to blown in cellulose and open andclosed cell spray foam. Also in the building are fullyequipped classrooms and computer workstations wherebasic education and construction skills are taught. Butthere is so much more to the program. YouthBuild’sdaily regime includes everything from calisthenics to concepts of calculus. But it is the heavy dose of nurturingand camaraderie among the students, some perhaps outcasts elsewhere, that make this house a home. The program begins with a two week academic

orientation followed by a kind of boot camp that stretchesboth the bodies and minds of the incoming class. At theend of the 5 day interrelationship, the students havebecome more trusting of each other and accept the factthat no matter where they are coming from, togetherthey will go further.An important part of YouthBuild Long Island is

leadership development. As stated in their Long IslandeNewsletter, “As part of YouthBuild Long Island’s curriculum, students work daily on leadership developmentskills that will not only help them towards meeting theircareer goals, but that will help them in their personalgrowth as individuals. Students learn to advocate forissues that concern them and their communities and totake responsibility for themselves and their families.They engage in enrichment activities, lectures, workshops,team-building exercises, and community events.”Recent workshop presenters haveincluded motivationalspeaker and community organizer MarvinSmith; motivationalspeaker JonathanPowell; Christine Brown from Long Island Cares whopresented a workshop on Stress Management andCommunication; and Simone Wilson, from NationalEmployee Assistance Providers, Inc., who spoke on sexual harassment. As an example of success, YouthBuild Long Island’s

recent student of the month, Kevin Sanchez, 20, fromCentral Islip, looks forward to earning his GeneralEquivalency Diploma (GED) and plans to pursue acareer in law enforcement. Quotes Sanchez, “I like beingaround friends that are striving for the same things atYouthBuild. YouthBuild has changed my life by helpingme be positive about myself, more outgoing, and able tospeak my mind.” Other achievements by YouthBuildLong Island class of 2010 students are notable. Central

10 � HAMMER Magaz i n e , Vo l . 1 6 Nos . 2 & 3 2 0 11

Cover

Sto

ry

UNITED WAY OF LONG ISLAND’S YOUTHBUILDUNITED WAY OF LONG ISLAND’S YOUTHBUILD

A t first blush, you’d think YouthBuild LongIsland might be a failure. That is, if you’deven heard of YouthBuild, United Way’s

national hands-on educational and training programthat is built around the construction trades. On LongIsland, it features a curriculum developed by UnitedWay of Long Island’s Senior Vice President ofHousing & Green Development, Rick Wertheim,and a most supportive staff.So why after training in so many aspects of the

construction industry during full time school daysfrom 9 to 3 and beyond for a period of 10 months,do only 25 percent actually stay in the constructionbusiness per se? The answer, happily so, is that theother 75 percent take the leadership developmentaspect of the program to higher plateaus. Many returnto higher education while others, their lives turnedaround and most brimming with confidence, haveentered the workforce in many other industries basedupon a very solid footing courtesy of United Way. What YouthBuild does is recruit members of the

community who are less academically inclined andwhose past history could be less than stellar. Manystudents have found themselves in trouble in a varietyof ways but all come to YouthBuild Long Islandwillingly with the hope that this program willchange their lives. And it does.Enjoying funding from several sources, including

dollars from utility professional Bob Cattel’s foundation and federal money aided by the effortsof Congressman Steve Israel, underserved youngadults, male and female from the ages of 18 to 24

who haven’t been very successful to date find newhope in a brand new facility that has just been dedicated to teach state of the art building trades andoperation of various equipment and systems foundin today’s green and energy efficient construction. The new, multi-story, 5,000 square foot building,

United Way’s Green Construction Training Lab, alsoknown as United Way’s E3 (Energy/Efficiency/Education) Career Training Center , is located at 10Dunton Avenue in Deer Park. It was refurbished ina way that hands-on construction and operation ofnew technology can be explained and mastered.The facility features several training stations wherestudents practice and learn green building techniques,energy efficiency, weatherization, renewables,advanced framing, air sealing, and advanced insulation

article by John Rigrod

Congressman Steve Israel at United Way’s YouthBuild E3 (Energy/Efficiency/Education) Career Training Center in Deer Park, LI. Second from left, YouthBuild graduate and congressional intern Shelton Thomas, Congressman Israel. Right, Theresa Regnante, United Way of Long Island President and CEO.

Various training stations at the E3 Training Center include areas for insulation,blower door testing, radiant heating (shown pre-construction), geothermal, andmore. Artist’s rendering shows additional work training stations to be built.

United Way/YouthBuild Long Island’s Rick Wertheim with some of YouthBuildLI’s major sponsors and partners, Vincent Mentar, JPMorgan Chase & Co.;Robert Catell, utility professional, Ed Mangano, Nassau County Executive. Atright, Michael Cooney, Senior VP Resource Development, United Way of LI.

“I like being around friends that arestriving for the same things atYouthBuild.

“YouthBuild has changed my life byhelping me be positive about myself,more outgoing, and able to speak my mind.”

HAMMER Magaz i n e , Vo l . 1 6 Nos . 2 & 3 2 0 11 � 13

broken windows, and/or exterior doors,addition of insulation to walls or ceilings,and mitigation of health and safety concerns to assure that all dwellingunits receive smoke detectors, carbonmonoxide detectors, etc.YouthBuild Long Island supporters

are many beyond Catell and Israel (whohas obtained nearly $1.7 million forYouthBuild Green Jobs programs).Long Island sponsors and partners also

include J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. (a founding sponsor),the U.S. Department of Labor, Byron T. and Ruth D.Miller Scholarship Fund, Citizens Bank, Citi, The HomeDepot, MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc., National Grid,Office of Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice,Royal Star Associates, TD Bank, United Way of Tri-State,NY Community Bank Foundation, Stephan Schector,Ronnie Renken, and Walmart Foundation. Partnersinclude the Education and Assistance Corp. (EAC),Family Service League, Empire State Carpenters Local 7,Empire State Carpenters Apprenticeship Committee,

Long Island Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, Suffolk CountyDepartment of Labor, Suffolk County Community College,Town of Babylon, Town of Islip, and Village of Hempstead. Judging the impact upon YouthBuild Long Island students,

their academic and behaviorial maturation, and their variedcareer paths, the program is quite a success. With theaddition of United Way’s new E3 Training Center, it isexpected that many more graduates will enter not only thebuilding trades, especially energy and weatherization,but will use their newly-acquired academic, social, and leadership skills at home and in business throughouttheir lives. �

12 � HAMMER Magaz i n e , Vo l . 1 6 Nos . 2 & 3 2 0 11

Islip resident and Policy Committee President, SheltonThomas, 24, was invited to be an intern at the office ofCongressman Steve Israel. “Shelton is proof thatYouthBuild Long Island works”, said Israel. “Through

the training Shelton received at YouthBuild, he has notonly furthered his education and secured a job, but he isnow prepared to enter a new green workforce needed tomeet Long Island’s growing energy sector. During histime interning at my office, he has become outspoken,confident, and eager to learn… I feel fortunate to havemet Shelton and to have been part of his experience.” Mr. Thomas received this year’s Leadership Award presented to the student who has acted as a role model bypromoting positive morale, investing time and effort intosupporting others, building relationships, and activelyworking to encourage community change.Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice selected

Uniondale resident Tosue Gibson, 20, for an internship ather office. He was the only freshman selected from morethan 50 undergraduate applicants to Nassau County’ssummer intern program. Gibson is currently enrolled inthe Criminal Justice Program at Nassau CountyCommunity College. And pursuing and achieving aCertified Nursing Assistant certification is Cassandra

Meade, 21, of Wyandanch, who received her NYSCertified Nursing Assistant license through the LongIsland Educational Opportunity Center of FarmingdaleState College. Ms. Meade plans to continue her nursing

education to become aregistered nurse. All theabove students and manymore credit their variousturnarounds and path tomaturation to United Way’sYouthBuild program. Well beyond the

structure located in DeerPark, YouthBuild studentstake part in manyextracurricular activitiesincluding functions heldby the Advancement forCommerce, Industry, andTechnology (ACIT) and byinteracting with many localcommunity associations.They also have traveled tothe state capital in Albanyto visit with state officialsand are interactive withmany town governmentsincluding Babylon, well

known for its green construction efforts and innovations. Back to the basics, YouthBuild students, along with

construction/green building trainers, program partners,and contractors built a state of the art, sustainable livingresidence in Brentwood, Long Island which has beendeemed one of the most energy efficient homes ever builtin New York State. Reducing energy use by 50 percenthas made the building affordable and sustainable. Priorto construction of this building were countless hours inthe classroom and in thehands-on workshops held atYouthBuild’s new trainingcenter. Under a $3 million grant

from the New York StateDivision of Housing andCommunity Renewal(DHCR), United Way ofLong Island is providingmodifications to specialneeds and group housingunits in Nassau and Suffolkcounties which will saveowners and operators ofthese residences thousandsof dollars in energy costsover the years. Recently, United Way of Long Islandselected four leading YouthBuild students to be hired asteam employees who will work to provide eligible homeowners with measures to improve energy efficiencyincluding an energy audit of the home to identify specificneeds, weatherstripping and caulking around doors andwindows, cleaning, testing, repairs, or replacement ofheating systems, replacement or repair of storm windows,

New, highly energy efficient residence constructed by YouthBuild LI students on property donated by the Town of Islip CommunityDevelopment Agency. The home, made available via the Town’s affordable housing lottery, will reduce net energy use by nearly 50 percent.

Nassau County District Attorney,Kathleen Rice with her office’s studentintern, YouthBuild LI’s Tosue Gibson.

New YouthBuild Long Island students’ program begins with a five day Mental Toughness orientation.

National Grid Senior Program Manager, Robert Allgor, CEMUnited Way of Long Island Senior Vice President Housing & Green Development, Rick Wertheim

Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy visiting with YouthBuild LI students at E3 Center.

Cassandra Meade,NYS Certified

Nursing Assistant

YouthBuild LI Construction Supervisor andConstruction Trainer, Robert Liptak

YouthBuild Long Island sponsor Ruth Dobrin Miller, Byron T. & Ruth D. Miller Scholarship Fund; Elizabeth Morgan,YouthBuild Long Island Director.

YouthBuild LI students with Town of Babylon Supervisor Steve Bellone at Green Up! Conference.

YouthBuild Long Island is a free youth and community development programthat simultaneously addresses core issues facing low-income communities: housing, education, employment, crime prevention, and leadership development.In YouthBuild programs, low income young people ages 18 to 24 work towardstheir GEDs or high school diplomas while learning job skills by building affordableGreen housing for homeless and low-income people and participating in leadershipdevelopment activities in their communities. A strong focus is placed on Greencollar job opportunities in Energy Efficiency, Renewables, Weatherization, EnergyStar construction, and Home Performance.

HAMMER Magaz i n e , Vo l . 1 6 Nos . 2 & 3 2 0 11 � 13

broken windows, and/or exterior doors,addition of insulation to walls or ceilings,and mitigation of health and safety concerns to assure that all dwellingunits receive smoke detectors, carbonmonoxide detectors, etc.YouthBuild Long Island supporters

are many beyond Catell and Israel (whohas obtained nearly $1.7 million forYouthBuild Green Jobs programs).Long Island sponsors and partners also

include J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. (a founding sponsor),the U.S. Department of Labor, Byron T. and Ruth D.Miller Scholarship Fund, Citizens Bank, Citi, The HomeDepot, MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc., National Grid,Office of Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice,Royal Star Associates, TD Bank, United Way of Tri-State,NY Community Bank Foundation, Stephan Schector,Ronnie Renken, and Walmart Foundation. Partnersinclude the Education and Assistance Corp. (EAC),Family Service League, Empire State Carpenters Local 7,Empire State Carpenters Apprenticeship Committee,

Long Island Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, Suffolk CountyDepartment of Labor, Suffolk County Community College,Town of Babylon, Town of Islip, and Village of Hempstead. Judging the impact upon YouthBuild Long Island students,

their academic and behaviorial maturation, and their variedcareer paths, the program is quite a success. With theaddition of United Way’s new E3 Training Center, it isexpected that many more graduates will enter not only thebuilding trades, especially energy and weatherization,but will use their newly-acquired academic, social, and leadership skills at home and in business throughouttheir lives. �

12 � HAMMER Magaz i n e , Vo l . 1 6 Nos . 2 & 3 2 0 11

Islip resident and Policy Committee President, SheltonThomas, 24, was invited to be an intern at the office ofCongressman Steve Israel. “Shelton is proof thatYouthBuild Long Island works”, said Israel. “Through

the training Shelton received at YouthBuild, he has notonly furthered his education and secured a job, but he isnow prepared to enter a new green workforce needed tomeet Long Island’s growing energy sector. During histime interning at my office, he has become outspoken,confident, and eager to learn… I feel fortunate to havemet Shelton and to have been part of his experience.” Mr. Thomas received this year’s Leadership Award presented to the student who has acted as a role model bypromoting positive morale, investing time and effort intosupporting others, building relationships, and activelyworking to encourage community change.Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice selected

Uniondale resident Tosue Gibson, 20, for an internship ather office. He was the only freshman selected from morethan 50 undergraduate applicants to Nassau County’ssummer intern program. Gibson is currently enrolled inthe Criminal Justice Program at Nassau CountyCommunity College. And pursuing and achieving aCertified Nursing Assistant certification is Cassandra

Meade, 21, of Wyandanch, who received her NYSCertified Nursing Assistant license through the LongIsland Educational Opportunity Center of FarmingdaleState College. Ms. Meade plans to continue her nursing

education to become aregistered nurse. All theabove students and manymore credit their variousturnarounds and path tomaturation to United Way’sYouthBuild program. Well beyond the

structure located in DeerPark, YouthBuild studentstake part in manyextracurricular activitiesincluding functions heldby the Advancement forCommerce, Industry, andTechnology (ACIT) and byinteracting with many localcommunity associations.They also have traveled tothe state capital in Albanyto visit with state officialsand are interactive withmany town governmentsincluding Babylon, well

known for its green construction efforts and innovations. Back to the basics, YouthBuild students, along with

construction/green building trainers, program partners,and contractors built a state of the art, sustainable livingresidence in Brentwood, Long Island which has beendeemed one of the most energy efficient homes ever builtin New York State. Reducing energy use by 50 percenthas made the building affordable and sustainable. Priorto construction of this building were countless hours inthe classroom and in thehands-on workshops held atYouthBuild’s new trainingcenter. Under a $3 million grant

from the New York StateDivision of Housing andCommunity Renewal(DHCR), United Way ofLong Island is providingmodifications to specialneeds and group housingunits in Nassau and Suffolkcounties which will saveowners and operators ofthese residences thousandsof dollars in energy costsover the years. Recently, United Way of Long Islandselected four leading YouthBuild students to be hired asteam employees who will work to provide eligible homeowners with measures to improve energy efficiencyincluding an energy audit of the home to identify specificneeds, weatherstripping and caulking around doors andwindows, cleaning, testing, repairs, or replacement ofheating systems, replacement or repair of storm windows,

New, highly energy efficient residence constructed by YouthBuild LI students on property donated by the Town of Islip CommunityDevelopment Agency. The home, made available via the Town’s affordable housing lottery, will reduce net energy use by nearly 50 percent.

Nassau County District Attorney,Kathleen Rice with her office’s studentintern, YouthBuild LI’s Tosue Gibson.

New YouthBuild Long Island students’ program begins with a five day Mental Toughness orientation.

National Grid Senior Program Manager, Robert Allgor, CEMUnited Way of Long Island Senior Vice President Housing & Green Development, Rick Wertheim

Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy visiting with YouthBuild LI students at E3 Center.

Cassandra Meade,NYS Certified

Nursing Assistant

YouthBuild LI Construction Supervisor andConstruction Trainer, Robert Liptak

YouthBuild Long Island sponsor Ruth Dobrin Miller, Byron T. & Ruth D. Miller Scholarship Fund; Elizabeth Morgan,YouthBuild Long Island Director.

YouthBuild LI students with Town of Babylon Supervisor Steve Bellone at Green Up! Conference.

YouthBuild Long Island is a free youth and community development programthat simultaneously addresses core issues facing low-income communities: housing, education, employment, crime prevention, and leadership development.In YouthBuild programs, low income young people ages 18 to 24 work towardstheir GEDs or high school diplomas while learning job skills by building affordableGreen housing for homeless and low-income people and participating in leadershipdevelopment activities in their communities. A strong focus is placed on Greencollar job opportunities in Energy Efficiency, Renewables, Weatherization, EnergyStar construction, and Home Performance.