Bessemer Housing Authority Provides Pathways to Careers in Nursing and Construction

By Sym Posey | The Birmingham Times In order to prepare for a better future, Derrick Moore knew changes had to be made. And he began with himself. Moore was one of nine students who graduated Wednesday from Bessemer’s Housing Authority’s YouthBuild program. He received both his (National Center for Construction Education & Research (NCCER) and Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certifications and served as Valedictorian with Erica Calhoun in CNA. “Sometimes in order to change you have to start with the person in the mirror,” he said. “I realized that in order to change, I must want to change and actually work for it. When you continue to push forward and progress, you can become a better version of yourself.” YouthBuild program is a community-based pre-apprenticeship program that provides job training and educational opportunities for at-risk youth ages 16-24 in Bessemer public housing and the surrounding area who have previously dropped out of high school. The program offers two career pathways: Construction Certification and CNA.  Participants also can learn vocational skills in construction, as well as in information technology and hospitality. Moore and Calhoun were among nine graduates. The others were Marquarius Amerson, Dustani Davis, Sha’Mon Garret, LaDiamond Handy, Aishanae...