Hope Floats At Seaport Foundation

Apprentice Program Uses Boat-Building To Get Rudderless Teens Back On Course

(CBS)  The Alexandria Seaport Foundation looks and sounds like your everyday, run-of-the-mill woodshop. But as the foundation builds boats, CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric reports, it's also rebuilding lives.

Forty-three-year-old Joe Youcha is the foundation’s executive director — and a lifelong boat builder. He created the Seaport Foundation's apprentice program back in 1993, intending to use boat-building as a way to get rudderless teens back on course.

"It was kind of like, 'you're going do what with who and they're going to get what out of it?,'" Youcha says.

Thirteen years later, more than 250 underprivileged kids — from high school dropouts to former gang members — have come through the program.

"The resources the gangs have to work these kids are drugs, sex, money and violence. And what we have is money," Youcha says.

The kids earn $6.50 an hour, $1.35 above minimum wage. They spend half a day building boats and the other half in class, learning intensive math, science and English.

"Schools don't pay kids to learn," Youcha says. "We do."

But these teens had better toe the line.

"If you're late, you work at minimum wage that day. If you miss a day, you work two days at minimum wage," Youcha says. "If you have three violations within a two-week pay period, you're fired."

Eighteen-year-old Dijon was referred to the program through his parole officer.

"One thing that I got out of this, even that the little correctional facilities couldn't do, is some actual discipline," Dijon says. "I know for a fact, if I was not here, then I would probably be dead or doing a long term (in jail)."

The foundation has a success rate of 75 percent, and three-quarters of those who complete the five-month program graduate with a general equivalency diploma in one hand and a carpenter's union card in the other.

Retired juvenile court judge Steve Rideout says the Seaport Foundation has helped cut Alexandria's delinquency rate in half.

"They become employable instead of a burden on our society where we got to lock them up," Rideout says. "So we need those kinds of programs to help those kids because we can save them."

While money may be a major motivation, the foundation's volunteer staff provides something else these kids desperately need: role models.

"The young hair gets to rub up against the grey hair. And then what happens is, those kids start picking up some of the attitudes," Youcha says. "What we do, fundamentally, is take these disenfranchised kids and get them a start on that path to the American dream."

[cbsnoticias]

This is an excellent news piece. We have many selfless community organizations doing constructive things with our youth in this country. It's a real pleasure to hear good news for a change.

I have seen the results of the Alexandria Seaports Foundation's work in the life of a formerly gang involved young man. He now has a trade, and owns his tools, truck and home. He is a hardworking husband and father struggling honestly and earnestly to provide for his family. This was all possible thanks to the skills and union contacts provided by ASF.

ASF deserves support to expand their model and serve more young people!

Josi Vargas
Vargas & Associates

[teetee29488]

GREAT STORY! WISH THERE WAS SOMETHING LIKE THIS IN SOUTH CAROLINA. AS THE SINGLE PARENT OF A TEENAGE BOY WITH GROWING PAINS,I THINK SOMETHING LIKE THIS SHOULD BE NATIONWIDE! HATS OFF TO THIS WONDERFUL ORGANIZATION! JOB WELL DONE TO THE COMPLETERS OF THE PROGRAM! PROUD OF YOU IN S.C.!

[mbsilver]

Thank you so much for this heartwarming story! I am just astounded at the good works of The Seaport Foundation! These kids who many in society
would never expect to be success stories are finding their way in a very difficult world, and the founder of this organization hopefully will inspire others to create these kinds of programs elsewhere. Joe Youcha has a heart of gold and in these times of such selfishness,scandals, and such horrific news around the world, this story brightened my spirits with its positive message. We are all here on this earth to bring out the best in one another through cooperation, instead of only going the competitive route. The looks on the kids faces said it all, somebody looked at them, possibly for the first time in their lives without prejudice, and with encouragement and belief in them and that their lives had value! I am amazed to say that I live in the Washington DC area and have never heard of this organization before. Here's to many more years of success!!!

[joeshields56]

Enjoyed the story very much. Congratulations to the Alexandria Seaport Foundation and the apprentices. Keep up the good work!

[alidora-2009]

Thanks for the great story! There ought to be more apprenticeship opportunities for youth. Those boys are learning a very valuable trade, and will benefit from it the rest of their lives. Wooden boats are also disappearing, so it's nice to see them being built! The boys on the show looked really happy to receive their certificates- they've been given a golden opportunity and are taking it. This story brought a big smile to my face- it's a terrific way to end the news- with a story of hope and accomplishment! It was really inspiring! Thanks!