April 27, 2006 YouthBuild USA recently received a one-year grant from the Corporation for National & Community Service to fund a project to help build or rebuild up to 300 homes in the small community of North Gulfport, on the Mississippi coast, which was devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Youth Build USA will be hiring 11 new staff members to run the project.

The YouthBuild Katrina Rebuilding Project is comprised of two parts: a permanent residential corps of YouthBuild graduates who reside in North Gulfport for 12 months (the “Graduate Corps”) beginning in June 2006, and 350 current YouthBuild AmeriCorps members who rotate in for two-four week shifts in groups of 35-45 (the “National Teams”). There will be a construction program during the weekdays, and a residential education and living program in the evenings and on weekends. Full-time staff for both parts of the program begin work in June 2006 and continue for 12 months. Participants, traveling staff, and several permanent staff will be located in Gulfport, Mississippi, at the Gulfport Naval Construction Battalion Center.

This project is an exciting, challenging, and serious way to make a real contribution to the lives of real people hit by Katrina. The staff who manage it must be able to work in demanding conditions while caring for the well-being and development of the young adult participants and providing disaster relief through construction. The project will test the leadership and character of all involved. It is also an amazing opportunity to serve.

Here are brief descriptions of the positions:

• Katrina Project Director. Manages the project on the ground in Gulfport. Oversees both the construction side and the residential living side of the project, and interfaces with community and government officials.
• Construction Manager. Manages the entire construction operation, supervises five construction site supervisors, finds and coordinates the subcontractors, coordinates the flow of work and materials, cooperates with local housing partners.
• Construction Site Supervisor (5). Acts as construction foreman on job sites, supervising the work of the YouthBuild building crews of young adults, with the aim of building or rebuilding 300 homes. Hiring five.
• Program Manager. Responsible for for creating, organizing and implementing a safe, educational, and enjoyable residential program for 70-80 young adults during non-construction hours; supervises two program coordinators.
• Program Coordinator (2). Provides counseling, educational, recreational, and enrichment services for the residential program for 70-80 young adults during non-construction hours. Hiring two.
• Administration Coordinator. Provides administration support to the project and is responsible for record-keeping for project and the grant.

YouthBuild USA will begin formal consideration of applications on May 12. The project begins in North Gulfport on June 1!

For full job descriptions, visit www.youthbuild.org