Haley House’s Outdoor Kitchen constructed by YouthBuild Boston is Open

Boston, June 20, 2026 – YouthBuild Boston, Inc. (YBB) celebrated the completion of Haley House’s outdoor kitchen at their urban garden on Thornton Street at the grand opening on June 20th. 

YBB prioritized assisting their community partner while proving hands-on lessons to their cohort of carpentry pre-apprentices. The kitchen includes a counter space, sink, and patio that will allow Haley House programming to prepare their produce onsite. 

“When building for a nonprofit like Haley House, we’re trying to keep the costs down and build it in a way that is sensitive to the budget—and also the scale—of the project,” Jeremy Donovan, one of YBB’s vocational instructors, said. To keep this project affordable for Haley House, YBB used recycled materials for the outdoor kitchen. Because its construction was part of YBB’s carpentry pre-apprenticeship curriculum, YBB was able to provide free labor on the project. 

The pre-apprenticeship program is for young adults in Boston that are interested in entering building trades. Over 12 weeks, students learn foundational construction skills, participate in community service projects, and grow their job search skills.  

Collaborating with other local organizations like Haley House gives YBB students a chance to witness how different members of the community support each other.  Alex Sopin-Vilme worked on the project and was able to attend the grand opening after he graduated. “If anyone were to find themselves in a position where they need to feed themselves, feed their loved ones, or feed others, it serves as a place to do that,” Sopin-Vilme said.