First Lady Witnesses National Service in Action on the Mall

The spirit of national service was contagious this week in Washington. Not only did Congress adopt key legislation to expand federal volunteer programs, but more than 100 participants in the YouthBuild program gathered on the National Mall to build the frame for an energy-efficient house — with the encouragement of Michelle Obama.

The house will go to a woman in Brownsville, Tex., whose mobile home was damaged last year by Hurricane Dolly.

YouthBuild, a federal program that provides money to nonprofit groups to teach low-income young people construction skills and enlist them to build housing for poor people, is marking its 30th anniversary this year. Most of the students who helped build the house on the Mall participate in YouthBuild programs allied with AmeriCorps, the national-service program.

“The message of YouthBuild is so important,” said the first lady, who dropped by for a tour. “Participating in national and community service is not just an escape for the wealthy or for those students who can afford it.”

YouthBuild began in 1978 as a project to renovate housing in New York. Dorothy Stoneman, who started that project, founded YouthBuild USA, a nonprofit group, in 1990, to help expand the program nationwide.

It became a federal program in 1993 and is today active in more than 220 localities. Ms. Stoneman, who was present for the Mall activities earlier this week, remains president of YouthBuild USA, in Somerville, Mass., which offers training, money, and other support to the program.

The recent economic-stimulus package adopted by Congress provided $50-million for YouthBuild.

— Suzanne Perry
(Photo by Dayna Smith for YouthBuild)