YouthBuild Newark

What YouthBuild Newark does

YouthBuild Newark, Inc. (doing business as Opportunity Youth Network / Newark Opportunity Youth Network) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2002 and headquartered at 571 Central Avenue, Newark, NJ. It serves opportunity youth ages 16-24 who are disconnected from school and the workforce, delivering a combined high school equivalency diploma and career technical education (CTE) program across construction, allied health, and technology pathways. Core technical components include NCCER Core Curriculum and craft-level credentials, OSHA safety certifications, allied health credentials (CNA, CMA, phlebotomy, EKG, ServSafe), and a newer fiber optics splicing track delivered with RampUp America. Comprehensive wraparound services — mentoring, career counseling, stipends, childcare and transportation support, life skills, and post-graduation alumni engagement — accompany the academic and vocational curriculum. LEAD Charter School, New Jersey's first alternative public charter high school for opportunity youth ages 16-21, operates as an embedded educational partner implementing the YouthBuild model under the OYN umbrella.

The organization's revenue model is grant-dependent: 80% of the disclosed $1,875,000 YouthBuild Newark DOL program budget is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor, with the remaining 20% from non-federal sources, supplemented by corporate and foundation grants (Uneeda Bolt & Screw, Prudential) and individual donations. Services are delivered free of charge to participants; participants receive stipends rather than fees. Go-to-market is community-led — referrals from probation officers, social services, schools, alumni, and partner organizations drive enrollment, with marketing conducted through website-published Stories of Transformation, public advocacy at the New Jersey Statehouse, and conference presentations at the Aspen Institute, MIT Center for Constructive Communication, and Citizens + Scholars Summit. The organization holds no patents, trademarks, or proprietary technology assets beyond the federally affiliated YouthBuild model and standard industry-recognized credentialing curricula. Its primary customers (in the funder sense) are government grant-making bodies; in the participant sense, individual opportunity youth in Newark and Essex County, NJ.

Strategically, YouthBuild Newark positions itself as a backbone convener rather than a single-site operator: it coordinates the New Jersey Opportunity Youth Coalition across six cities, partners with Newark Public Schools on Uplift Academy, and operates LEAD Charter School inside the public school ecosystem. The 2024 signing of the NJ YouthBuild Act established a statewide grant program that materially expands its addressable funding pool and reinforces its role as the state's lead operator in this category. No AI/ML capabilities, technology acquisitions, or product pivots into software are evident in the source data; the organization's growth vectors are policy advocacy, employer-validated CTE diversification, and coalition-based geographic expansion rather than technology platform development.

Name

YouthBuild Newark

Legal name

YouthBuild Newark, Inc.

Website

https://youthbuildnewarknj.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

YouthBuild Newark is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving opportunity youth ages 16-24 in Newark, NJ, combining high school equivalency instruction with industry-recognized credentials in construction, allied health, and fiber optics, delivered through its LEAD Charter School and a statewide opportunity-youth coalition.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Newark

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Grants: Primary funding from U.S. Department of Labor grants. Total DOL program cost is $1,875,000 with $1,500,000 (80%) from DOL federal funding and $375,000 (20%) from non-federal sources.
2. Corporate and Foundation Grants: Private grants from corporations and foundations such as the $1,500 grant from Uneeda Bolt & Screw Co. Founder's Fund and grants from Prudential for career pathway programs
3. Individual Donations: Donations from individuals supporting the organization's mission to serve opportunity youth

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

YouthBuild Newark is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that serves opportunity youth ages 16-24 who are disconnected from school and the workforce. It combines high school equivalency education with hands-on career technical training (construction, allied health, technology) leading to industry-recognized credentials, paired with wraparound support services, stipends, mentoring, and alumni job placement.

Product overview

YouthBuild Newark operates as a comprehensive youth and community development nonprofit offering multiple interconnected programs. The core YouthBuild Workforce Development Program combines high school equivalency education with career training across Construction, Allied Health, and Technology pathways. LEAD Charter School serves as the educational partner, providing alternative high school education for opportunity youth. Programs include NCCER construction certification, OSHA safety credentials, fiber optics splicing training via partnership with RampUp America, and healthcare certifications (CMA, CNA, phlebotomy, EKG). Support services encompass mentoring, career counseling, stipends, and life skills, with alumni success programming providing job placement and ongoing engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LEAD Charter School: First alternative public charter high school specifically designed to serve opportunity youth ages 16-21 who are not participating in school or the workforce, implementing the YouthBuild model of education and workforce development

Products and services

• YouthBuild Newark Workforce Development Program A comprehensive youth and community development program offering young people ages 16-24 the opportunity to earn a high school equivalency diploma while gaining hands-on job training for in-demand careers, including construction, technical training, and career pathway development.
• LEAD Charter School New Jersey's first alternative public charter high school specifically designed to serve opportunity youth ages 16-21 who are not participating in school or the workforce, implementing the YouthBuild model combining academics with career and technical education in Construction, Allied Health, and Technology pathways.
• Construction Career Pathway Technical construction training offering NCCER certification, OSHA certifications, solar panel installation credentials, and weatherization training. Students learn hands-on skills including tile installation, baseboard removal, painting, and building maintenance.
• Allied Health Career Pathway Healthcare career training program offering certifications in Certified Medical Assistant (CMA), phlebotomy, EKG, CPR, and Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), preparing students for employment in healthcare settings.
• Fiber Optics Technical Training Hands-on technical training program, in partnership with RampUp America, teaching fiber optics splicing and installation, preparing students for careers in telecommunications and broadband infrastructure.
• Support Services Comprehensive wraparound support including mentoring, career counseling, life skills training, core management, and stipends for participants to remove barriers to success.
• Leadership Development Civic engagement and social justice awareness programming that develops young people as community leaders through community service projects and advocacy training.
• Alumni Success Services Post-graduation support including job placement assistance, transition help, and ongoing alumni engagement to ensure continued success.

Quantifiable outcome

• 750+ young people certified with NCCER and Weatherization certifications since 2008
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• LEAD Charter SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLEAD (Literacy, Education, and Development) Charter School is New Jersey's first alternative public charter high school specifically designed to serve opportunity youth ages 16-21. An initiative of OYN, LEAD implements the YouthBuild model combining education with workforce development, offering career pathways in construction, allied health, and technology.
• RampUp AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRampUp America operates a fiber optics training program in Newark. Four YouthBuild Newark/LEAD graduates enrolled in hands-on technical training to learn fiber optics splicing. CEO James Walker described OYN's model as 'probably the best I have seen in terms of preparing students to be easy to teach in a workforce program.'
• New Jersey Opportunity Youth Coalition (NJOYC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide network of organizations dedicated to reconnecting opportunity youth to education, employment, and career pathways. OYN serves as the backbone organization, coordinating coalition programs across the state to create connected pathways and shared advocacy.
• NRP GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConstruction company that provided internship opportunity for LEAD Charter School graduate Zacore Hall, made possible through a grant from Prudential that increases access to career pathways.
• Essex County CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudents in the fiber optics program will meet with Essex County College about pathways into higher education as part of their program completion.
• Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of CarpenterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Newark Workforce Development Board to offer a six-week Building Maintenance program covering safety, flooring, door hardware, and sheet rock installation. Helped graduate Ahjhir 'AJ' Jones earn membership in Local 787 Union.
• Newark Workforce Development BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters to offer Building Maintenance program helping young people earn union credentials and employment.
• Yendor Theatre CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNewark-based theater program that supported student Michael Williams through mentoring. Artistic Director Andrew Binger reconnected Michael with LEAD Charter School and supported his academic recovery.
• Community Food Bank of New JerseyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLEAD graduate Ny'Jae Williams completed a three-month program at the food bank after graduation, earning ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification and working in bulk production. Currently collaborating on a healthy cooking series on TikTok.
• District 1199J Training FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAllied Health track participants at LEAD have opportunity to enter District 1199J's apprenticeship program. Helped place graduate Maridania Rodriguez at Park Crescent Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center.
• Uplift AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership between YouthBuild Newark (OYN) and Newark Public Schools resulting from redesign of NPS's alternative education program. YouthBuild components embedded in public school setting.
• Hopeworks CamdencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity-Based Organization and founding member of NJ Opportunity Youth Coalition. Provides trauma-informed care, skill development, and real-world job experience. Trains young people to conduct professional development sessions on building trauma-informed spaces.
• Isles Youth InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of NJ Opportunity Youth Coalition. Provides workforce development program including YouthBuild curriculum. Graduate Gloria Carter completed program, graduated top of class, and was hired to support other young people.
• Trade Unions (Local 787 Union, construction unions)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouthBuild graduates transition into union membership and apprenticeship programs. Graduate Adiya Muftawu is a union carpenter; Ahjhir 'AJ' Jones earned membership in Local 787 Union with 14 industry certifications.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• KIPP New Jersey: Major Newark-anchored charter school network serving low-income K-12 students. Comparable public-charter operator in the same Newark market, with shared target demographics and referral pipelines into alternative education.
• Job Corps: Federal residential workforce program for low-income youth 16-24 offering HSE, vocational training, and job placement. The largest-scale incumbent in the OY workforce space and a key DOL-funded counterpart to YouthBuild.

Direct peers

• Per Scholas: National nonprofit providing tuition-free tech training and career placement for opportunity adults. Comparable workforce-development-for-disconnected-populations model with employer-aligned curricula.
• Hopeworks Camden: Camden-based nonprofit serving opportunity youth ages 17-24 with trauma-informed care, tech and professional skill training, and real-world job experience. A fellow founding member of the NJ Opportunity Youth Coalition with directly comparable mission and OY population.
• Year Up: National nonprofit providing workforce training and corporate placement for opportunity youth ages 18-24, with strong Newark-area presence. Closely comparable OY-targeting model combining technical training, wraparound supports, and employer partnerships.
• NPower: National nonprofit providing free tech training and job placement for opportunity youth and veterans. Closely aligned tech-track peer with employer partnerships and stipend-supported training.
• YouthBuild USA: National umbrella organization for the YouthBuild model. Operates the same construction-plus-education program for opportunity youth ages 16-24 and provides affiliate support, advocacy, and DOL grant administration to local sites including YouthBuild Newark.
• Isles Youth Institute: Trenton-based community development organization running the YouthBuild curriculum for opportunity youth. NJOYC coalition partner operating an adjacent, directly comparable YouthBuild affiliate program.

Regional players

• Newark Workforce Development Board: Local workforce board funding and coordinating training programs in Newark. A direct funder/partner of YouthBuild Newark's construction and union pathways and a regional-scale convener in the same service area.

Peers

• Boys & Girls Club of Newark:

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/YouthBuildNewarkInc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/youthbuild-newark

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about YouthBuild Newark