Design+Build+Live Green “Cultivating a greener workforce”

What are Design+Build Live Green?

Design+Build+Live Green are a curriculum based, multidisciplary program that targets students in grades k-12.  DBL is YLA’s signature program, a non-profit organization that engages youth in project-based learning activities that bolster their academic, career and life skills.  DBL aims to facilitate young people’s involvement in sustainable practices, both now and in the future.

Why does DBL exist?

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the American public “presently lacks sufficient knowledge, skills, and motivation to understand and implement the kinds of solutions needed to address today’s environmental challenges.”

Development—with the negative side effects such as depletion of natural resources, pollution, waste, destruction of habitats, and warming—is often pitted against conservation efforts. But population growth and the ongoing demand for housing, hospitals, roads and other infrastructure make construction an omnip resent fact of life. As a result, the construction industry is experiencing a sharp demand for sustainable practices that serve to counteract, and, ideally, nullify, the adverse effects. The result has been a remarkable change in the way the industry does business and an expanding market for “green” building and design. It is imperative, then, that students entering into the building trades are prepared with knowledge, experience, and enthusiasm for green and sustainable practices and that they have the wherewithal to tackle environmental challenges. Indeed, the U.S. Green Building Council reports that two obstacles preventing participation in green building include “lack of education” and “lack of awareness”.

How the students get involved?

Participants in the program have several ways to become involved through:  (1) YLA sponsored K-12 Design & Challenge Construction Learning Programs ;(2) integrated in core subjects, (4) offered as an elective; or (5) after-school club.

What do students learn?

DBL’s curriculum is aligned with the National and Virginia Standards of Learning to help reinforce their core subjects especially in the areas of math and science skills. DBL incorporates 3 tiered models for social change into the programs.

Environmental learning to cultivate new leaders and awareness in green education

Steward to develop accountability and responsibility

Marketable skills for teaching our future architects, engineers and builders principles of green building and how development work impacts the environment. 

Team work

Communication

Green Design

Urban Planning

And much more

YLA serves as an effective learning tool in reaching at-risk and minority youth by working with school systems in providing the program and serve as a resource for all classes in the school.

Benefits of the program

DBL gives students:

• A new way of learning and understanding their core subjects such as math and science.

• to bolster youth’s awareness, responsibility and passion about their environment and their community

• an opportunity to receive  hands-on training in sustainable building practices and expand their  marketable skills, knowledge and problem-solving capabilities

• an opportunity for  youth to transfer green awareness and know-how to their families and peers

• an opportunity to  give youth the tools and enthusiasm with which to take action on protecting the environment through youth-led activities

• exposure to experts professionally involved with the built environment, including architects, business leaders, construction professionals, engineers and tradesmen

DBL provides students with leadership skills, direct work experience and a competitive edge in an industry that is quickly evolving to accommodate stricter standards, consumer demand and diminishing resources.

Youth Learning Academy staff conducts workshops in schools, community centers and with other non-profit agencies.

What results do Design+Build+Live Green programs produce?

Youth Learning Academy, Inc Design+Build+Live Green program have introduced over 1000 youth to the world of green building and directly affect 323 students.   Of these, approximately 11% are Hispanic, 52% African-American, 2% Haitian, 30 % Caucasian, and 5% from other backgrounds. Sixty-two percent of our participating youth come from low-income families.

Based on YLA programs, here are the results that a Design+Build+Live Green can produce:

• Youth become environmental leaders.
• Youth groups incorporate environmental projects into their program.
• Youth go on to academic study or careers in environmental fields.
• Youth and youth workers become closer.
• Architects, Construction, engineering and tradesmen professionals become connected with new populations.
• DBL programs have a profound personal impact on underserved young people.
  

If you are interested in starting a DBL program, please call Tammy Cavanaugh, Executive Director at (434) 953-4980 or email youthmotor@aol.com