YouthBuild Boston Student Work on Display at Boston Children’s Museum
BOSTON, June 24, 2026 – YouthBuild Boston Inc. (YBB) staff and alumni attended the Boston Children’s Museum’s ribbon cutting of their new exhibit, Dream it! Build it! on June 24 to witness how student work is incorporated into the exhibit.
The exhibit aims to inspire children to imagine how they can design the future of their communities and cities by incorporating practical construction techniques with creative designs.
YouthBuild Boston students created an interactive display for the design studio section of the exhibit. The display consists of four collages that showcase different textures, colors, and other qualities of different materials.
The display was designed by students in YBB’s Building Trades Exploration class, which helps young adults earn their high school diploma while learning foundational construction skills. The boards were then built by YBB’s Carpentry Pre-Apprentices using materials donated from local architecture firms.
Because this project is meant for kids to touch, it presented a different challenge from other carpentry project pre-apprentices complete. “The whole process was a problem-solving journey of ‘How can we prevent a kid from hurting himself on this? How can we prevent a kid from tearing this out of the board?’” TJ Santoro, a recent YBB alumnus, said.
By experimenting with different methods of securing materials to the board and sanding down sharp edges, the pre-apprentices ensured it would meet the Museum’s safety and durability standards while maintaining the purpose behind the display. “Seeing it through the eyes of a kid, you’re really just seeing materials and imaging—from just small pieces—the world that can come out of it,” Santoro said.
Dream it! Build it! also features videos of different professionals in construction and design fields, including YBB’s Design Programs Manager, Neil Daniel. Daniel played a vital role in collaborating with the Museum and working with students to create the display. YBB’s programming is focused on adult workforce development, but this project challenged programing to expand how students apply their skills. “YouthBuild's focus is on workforce development for adults,” Daniel said. “We got to participate in a project that starts that project a lot younger by designing something for children ages zero to six.”
For the years to come, YBB will have a legacy at the Museum, and the work done by staff and students will continue to inspire young children to connect with the design industry.
About YouthBuild Boston, Inc.
YouthBuild Boston is a vital community-based organization dedicated to empowering young people in Boston, particularly those from under-resourced neighborhoods like Roxbury, Dorchester, Mattapan, and Hyde Park. Since its founding in 1990, YBB has been at the forefront of empowering Boston’s underserved youth, offering hands-on learning experiences that foster career development, academic achievement, and community engagement. Our programs, which include pre-apprenticeship training, high school completion, community service projects, and youth development initiatives, are specifically designed to equip young people with the skills and opportunities necessary to thrive in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industries.
At YouthBuild Boston, our students play a vital role in community service by applying their skills to support construction needs. Through projects such as renovating spaces, building urban gardens, and creating affordable housing, they enhance their construction abilities while giving back. Each project not only builds structures but strengthens neighborhoods. Collaborating with community partners fosters a sense of service and teamwork, empowering students to drive positive change.
For media inquiries or more information, please contact: Beth Curtis, Director of Development, 617-445-8887, ext. 117, bcurtis@ybboston.org