Harambee Citybuilders Apprenticeship Program

Geographic Scope: Chicago, IL (West Humboldt Park area)

Focus Areas: Youth workforce development, job training, life skills, community service, and subsidized home repair assistance

Harambee Citybuilders is a youth apprenticeship program offering training and volunteer opportunities combined with educational stipends. Youth participants contribute to community improvement through tuckpointing (mortar replacement between bricks) services provided to low-income homeowners. The program emphasizes building healthy personal identity, conflict resolution, relationships, financial literacy, and job skills.

Program Components

Life Skills Course:

• Required for all participants
• Educational stipend provided every two weeks for class attendance
• Topics include: healthy personal identity, conflict resolution, relationships, basic financial literacy, and job skills

Volunteer Community Service Projects:

• Required participation in volunteer hours
• Primary focus: Subsidized tuckpointing services for low-income homeowners in Chicago
• Alternative: Service within R CITY's Dreambuilders Children's Program
• Hours vary by participant's track level

Youth Eligibility

• Minimum age: 12 years old
• Maximum age: 18 years old
• Age requirements strictly enforced; applications not meeting requirements automatically rejected

Participant Status

• Youth are NOT employees of R CITY or Harambee Citybuilders
• Status: Volunteer participants in apprenticeship program

Track Levels

Three separate tracks determine:

• Stipend amount for class attendance
• Number of volunteer hours required per day
• Level of responsibility and types of duties during program

Program Structure

Timing Options:

• After school program: Ongoing interviews throughout the year
• Summer program: Late May through early June interviews

Homeowner Eligibility (for Tuckpointing Services)

• Must live in Chicago, IL
• Must own their home
• Home ownership verification required from application information
• Household income verification may be required

Contact Information

Apprenticeships Director: Charnesha Collier

Harambee Coordinator/Tuckpointing: Lance Harris

Organization Address: 3709 West Grand Avenue, Chicago, IL 60651

Notes

• Applications always being accepted for both after school and summer programs
• Interviews conducted on rolling basis throughout the year (after school) or late May-early June (summer)
• Youth earning $600+ in stipends annually must complete federal W9 form
• All youth and parent/guardian must complete consent form before participation

Step 1: Submit Application

• Complete Citybuilders Application
• Applications accepted on rolling basis (year-round for after school; through early June for summer)

Step 2: Interview

• If selected for interview, notification sent by phone or text
• Interview timeline:
  • After school program: Ongoing throughout the year
  • Summer program: Late May through early June

Step 3: Complete Required Paperwork

Before participating in programs, complete:

1. Consent Form
   • Required for all youth and parent/guardian
   • Kept on file
   • Can complete in person OR online
2. Federal W9 Form (if applicable)
   • Required for any student earning $600 or higher in stipends in any year
   • Can complete in person OR online
   • See provided letter for more information

Application Requirements

No specific details provided in website content about application form fields or questions, but contact Apprenticeships Director Charnesha Collier for full requirements.

Program Participation Requirements

Once enrolled, participants must:

1. Attend Life Skills Classes - attend classes and receive educational stipend every two weeks
2. Complete Volunteer Hours - serve required volunteer hours in community service projects (specific hours determined by track level)