At a recent visit to our construction site at 27 Centre Street in Roxbury –the renovation and transformation of an historic fire house into the new headquarters of YouthBuild Boston (YBB) – I was awed by the workmanship of the new interior framing and the evident pride of the construction crew. Built in large part by YBB students and graduates, I wanted to learn more about their experiences from the program: How has YBB impacted their lives? And in particular, what is it like to build the organization’s new home?

We talked with Willie Alford, 2011 YBB graduate, now himself supervising student crews at the project. Living independently, financial considerations brought him to YBB. Although Willie had no prior familiarity with the building trades, his love of construction came from the program – as a student he was “just learning to read a tape, and diving face first” into the experience.

And what has the 27 Centre Street project meant to Willie?
“It’s amazing to see the whole construction process from beginning to end, seeing it all come together. Like wow, this is the reason people like doing construction, seeing the beauty in it. And to know you had hands in it. It’s like watching a child grow up (that is if I had a child).”

Now Willie knows what it takes to build a project. “YBB will bring life to the neighborhood. And it has to be perfect because it will be YouthBuild Boston’s home!”

-Deborah