ROCHESTER, N.Y. — There’s an emerging trend that’s seeing more and more young people foregoing expensive colleges for trade schools and programs. It helps fill a long-running void for employers.  

In many communities, like Rochester, construction training programs also present an opportunity many young people might not otherwise get. To build a house, it takes a strong foundation — and a plan. Young people at the Rochester YouthBuild program are getting both and Dynesha Dennis is grateful.

“I saw my uncle and one of my brothers always in construction, carpentry, building houses and stuff, and I always wanted to build myself,” said Dennis. “Fix my own stuff.”

She’s getting the training she needs through YouthBuild. The program is run by Catholic Family Charities and Community Services. Young people ages 18 to 24 learn carpentry and other skills, building a foundation from the ground up, toward their collective futures.

“Everyone who comes to the door does not ultimately want to be a carpenter,” said Reginald Walton, YouthBuild administrator. “But we want them to be employable.”

Fifteen students make up the current class, including Jordan Brooks, who was referred by a friend at a local rec center.

“They were like do you want to get a job? And I said yes,” said Brooks.  “And I came here and I like it here. 

The YouthBuild day usually starts in the classroom. As college enrollments continue to decline in the U.S., for some students it’s a more reasonable alternative. 

“Which is why this opened up the door for me,” said Dennis. “Because they are paying you to learn a trade.”

It’s the hands-on experience that’s the most helpful and the most fun, for 15 different students — with 15 different stories.

“A lot of these young people, they've been in the habit of self-sabotage,” said Walton. “This is the opportunity to check that box and say, I completed what I started.”

Getting there takes hard work. Later in the 20-week course, youth builders will help construct a house for Habitat for Humanity. They're building a strong foundation — and leaving with a clear plan.

“I could definitely make a career out of this,” said Brooks. “It’s gonna help me get a job in the long run and help me be successful.”