Angel DeJesus

Angel DeJesus originally tried to enroll at YouthBuild Boston (YBB) when he was 19. He hadn’t finished high school and heard about the program. But with limited funding available, there was no room for him in the program and he was turned away. A few years later, he realized that his life was going nowhere. He returned to night school at Boston Central Adult High School for three semesters and earned his diploma.

At 23 years old, in September 2008, Angel came back and enrolled at YBB. He had no previous construction experience, but his strong work ethic and eagerness to learn made him stand out as a top performer in the program. He worked on various aspects of YBB’s two projects at that time: a complete renovation of a South End brownstone with a green roof, and a two-family, new construction building that recently achieved LEED Gold Certification. He also worked on commercial renovations to benefit local non-profits.

When asked what he achieved from being at YBB, Angel answers, “I definitely achieved my goal of finding employment, which is what the program is about. Having always had an interest in construction, it gave me a way to get my foot in the door by helping me acquire the skills needed in the construction field. But I also gained confidence – confidence in my abilities, and confidence about where my life is heading. One of the most important things was a way out. I was getting tired of what was going on in the streets. Tired of the violence, shootings, drugs and jail.  It was an opportunity to do something different.  YBB sincerely cared about the way I was feeling. This was a place that cares about young people and what they’re going through.”

As Angel prepared to enter the job market, an incredible opportunity arose for YBB students to work on a restoration project with the PBS home improvement series This Old House. Working with Wellington Construction, Angel helped revive a dilapidated home in Roxbury, and appeared on an entire season of This Old House in early 2010. Of the experience, Angel recalls, “It gave me happiness – happiness about how far I had come.  Happy for the chance and the result. I’m very thankful for the opportunity and thankful for the recognition.”