News Summary
Build UP, an innovative community school in Birmingham, provides students with vocational training while completing their high school and associate’s degrees. The program focuses on equipping youths with essential skills in various trades and prepares them for home ownership. Through hands-on projects, students gain practical experience and contribute to community housing efforts. With a strong commitment to fostering career readiness and financial literacy, Build UP aims to combat generational poverty, positively impacting both students and local neighborhoods.
Birmingham Students Gain Vocational Skills and Pathways to Home Ownership
The Build Urban Prosperity Community School, commonly known as Build UP, is offering students in Birmingham a unique educational experience that combines vocational training with high school and associate’s degree completion. This innovative program not only equips students with valuable skills in various trades such as construction, automotive, electrical, and HVAC, but also prepares them for home ownership, thereby aiming to combat generational poverty.
Currently, students at Build UP, including 17-year-old Simeon Franklin and his classmate Joshua Rose, are participating in hands-on construction projects. As part of their vocational training, they are gaining practical skills critical for employment in the trades. While Franklin is focused on building a shed, Rose is enhancing his expertise with an automotive internship. Both students exemplify the professionalism and teamwork emphasized by the program.
Since its launch in 2018, Build UP has graduated 42 students who have actively contributed to constructing over 30 homes for low to moderate-income families in Birmingham. The school’s efforts are not only improving the educational landscape but also positively impacting housing market values in the Ensley neighborhood, where it previously operated before relocating to Titusville to reach a broader community in need of revitalization.
Comprehensive Vocational Education
Build UP is recognized as the nation’s first early college workforce development high school. The program aims to address critical issues such as educational inequity, lack of career skills, and poverty. In addition to industry-focused coursework, students engage in paid internships, allowing them to earn high-demand trade certifications while receiving practical experience. Currently, 100% of juniors and seniors at Build UP are successfully placed in internships that provide a monthly stipend of $300.
The program also emphasizes financial literacy, requiring each student to open a bank account as part of their training. This preparation extends beyond graduation, with Build UP providing follow-up support for two years to assist alumni with job skills, credit building, and navigating the home-buying process. The tuition fee is set at $10,000 per year but significantly reduced to $50 a month for families through scholarships funded by state tax credits.
Community Impact and Future Plans
Build UP is dedicated to positively transforming disadvantaged neighborhoods in Birmingham. Recent initiatives include a collaboration with volunteers from The Home Depot Foundation and ToolBank USA, who worked alongside students to build picnic tables and park benches. These items will be donated to local educational and volunteer spaces in the Titusville area as part of a nationwide service effort honoring Martin Luther King Jr.
As a testament to its commitment to fostering skilled trade careers and homeownership opportunities, Build UP recently secured a $3 million grant aimed at expanding its programs. The organization plans to open a third school in Selma, Alabama, with the goal of further combatting poverty and blight in more communities.
The successes of Build UP not only highlight an innovative approach to enhancing affordable housing solutions but also demonstrate the crucial role education plays in equipping youth with the skills necessary for successful careers in skilled trades. With a strong community focus and proven results, Build UP continues to pave the way for a brighter future for the students of Birmingham.
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Additional Resources
- AL.com: Birmingham is Home to Nation’s Only Skilled Trade High School
- BBC News: Vocational Education in Birmingham
- ABC3340: Birmingham Students Get Their Hands Dirty with Hands-On Trades Training
- Birmingham Times: Volunteers Build Up Birmingham in Honor of Dr. King
- Alabama News Center: Birmingham’s Build UP Awarded $3 Million to Expand Skilled Trades
Author: STAFF HERE BIRMINGHAM WRITER
The BIRMINGHAM STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREBirmingham.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Birmingham, Jefferson County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Sidewalk Film Festival, Sloss Music & Arts Festival, Magic City Classic, and civil rights commemorations. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Birmingham Business Alliance and the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, plus leading businesses in healthcare, finance, and manufacturing that power the local economy such as UAB Medicine, Regions Bank, and Encompass Health. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREHuntsville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Alabama's dynamic landscape.
