Local YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School graduate earns national scholarship

ROXBURY, MASS., March 15, 2023 — YouthBuild USA has announced that Faron Brinkley, a 2011 graduate of YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School, has been named a recipient of the 2022 Helene D. Stoneman Scholarship and Civic Leadership Program in support of YouthBuild alumni leaders’ post-secondary education and training. The scholarship provides awards of $2,000 to outstanding YouthBuild graduates across the U.S. who have been recognized for excellence in civic engagement, community leadership, and academic achievement, with special emphasis on the student’s academic promise. 

Brinkley is currently enrolled at Morris Brown College to obtain his bachelor’s degree in psychology. The recipients of the 2022 Stoneman Scholarships are pursuing associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees or trade certificates in a variety of fields. Some have recently graduated from their YouthBuild program, while others have been alumni for years and still are engaged with the YouthBuild movement. Winners were chosen from a pool of applicants who submitted a personal essay, a personal recommendation, and college transcripts. 

“We are honored to celebrate our Stoneman Scholars as they continue their educational journeys beyond YouthBuild,” said John Valverde, president, and CEO of YouthBuild USA. “These leaders are forging paths of advancement not just for their own personal growth; but also that of their families and communities. We are so proud of them, their achievements, and all the successes to come.” 

Since 2005, the Helene D. Stoneman Scholarship and Civic Leadership Program have awarded 334 gifts to 173 YouthBuild graduates attending post-secondary education or training, providing $660,000 to assist YouthBuild graduates with their post-secondary education. 

YouthBuild founder Dorothy Stoneman, with her sister Elinor Stoneman Shaffer, established the scholarship in honor of their mother, Helene D. Stoneman. Helene was a child of German immigrants who devoted her energies to the League of Women Voters. She was president both of the Belmont League of Women Voters and the Massachusetts League and a longtime member of the board of the National League. She was an untiring worker for education, civic engagement, and voters rights. This scholarship recognizes YouthBuild graduates who share HeIn YouthBuild programs, opportunity youth — young adults between the ages of 16 and 24 who are neither in school nor employed — pursue their education, prepare for future careers, and grow into community leaders, building brighter futures for themselves and their neighborhoods. With love and respect, YouthBuild partners with opportunity youth to build the skillsets and mindsets that lead to lifelong learning, livelihood, and leadership. Responding to the urgent need for knowledge, training, and opportunity, YouthBuild primarily serves young people who lack a high school diploma and financial resources. The post-program educational tracks of Stoneman Scholars include trade schools, certificate programs, community colleges, four-year colleges, and more. 

YouthBuild USA is the nonprofit support center for a global network of more than 275 local YouthBuild programs in 18 countries, with 220 programs in 47 U.S. states and territories and 56 programs in 17 other countries. 

About YouthBuild 

With love and respect, YouthBuild partners with opportunity youth to build the skillsets and mindsets that lead to lifelong learning, livelihood, and leadership. At more than 275 YouthBuild programs across the United States and around the world, students reclaim their education, gain job skills, and become leaders in their communities. To date, YouthBuild has partnered with more than 180,000 young people to dedicate over 50 million hours of service benefitting urban, rural, and tribal communities. YouthBuild strives to create a world where all young people are seen for their potential and power to transform themselves and their communities. YouthBuild USA – the support center for the YouthBuild movement – strengthens YouthBuild programs through technical assistance, leadership development, innovative program enhancements, and advocacy. 

For more information about the YouthBuild movement, YouthBuild USA, and YouthBuild International, visit YouthBuild.org. lene’s passion for leadership and education.