YouthBuild deepens Board expertise with New appointment and two returning leaders. Ken Loy joins the Board of Directors; Cliff Johnson and Kathy Witsil return after previous service. From left to right: Ken Loy, Cliff Johnson, and Kathy Witsil. YouthBuild Global, headquarters for the YouthBuild movement, has announced the appointment of senior aerospace and defense executive Ken Loy to its Board of Directors. The organization also welcomes back Cliff Johnson and Kathy Witsil, both of whom previously served on the Board and have now returned to continue their service on behalf of YouthBuild Global's network of local programs and the young people they serve. Loy brings more than two decades of leadership experience in the aerospace and defense industry, including chief executive roles at Hensoldt Inc. and Marshall USA, where he delivered sensor, electronics and aviation solutions for U.S. military members. He also served 21 years in the U.S. Marine Corps as a helicopter pilot, flying in combat and conducting flight tests of experimental aircraft. Loy is mentor to many young professionals and an engaged alumnus of the University of Southern California and Georgetown University. "Ken has spent his career leading teams through difficult challenges and supporting people on their paths to recognizing the power and potential in themselves," said John Valverde, president and CEO of YouthBuild Global. "That same belief in collaboration and community is at the heart of everything we do at YouthBuild. We're grateful to have his leadership and perspective on our Board as we continue to open doors for young people around the world." "Leadership is about connecting people with the tools and confidence to succeed," Loy said. "That's also an integral part of the YouthBuild mission. I'm honored to work with the organization and all of its team members do the same for young people around the world." Johnson and Witsil return to the Board, continuing their longstanding commitment to YouthBuild and providing deep institutional knowledge of the organization and the overall youth services field. Johnson's connection to YouthBuild spans more than 35 years, dating back to the first YouthBuild program in East Harlem, New York. He worked alongside YouthBuild founder Dorothy Stoneman to draft the original legislation authorizing YouthBuild as a federal program, and he leveraged his position at the Children's Defense Fund to organize support for its enactment. Johnson first joined the YouthBuild Global (then YouthBuild USA) Board of Directors in 1992. He went on to serve for 21 years at the National League of Cities, empowering municipal leaders across the country to improve outcomes for children, youth and families, and currently provides consulting support for nonprofit organizations in Washington, D.C. "Cliff has been part of the YouthBuild movement from the very beginning," said John Valverde, president and CEO of YouthBuild Global. "More than three decades later, his knowledge, perspective and deep passion for championing young people are as valuable to this organization and network as ever. We're honored to have him back at the table, and grateful for our continued work together." "I've had the privilege of helping YouthBuild grow from an idea into a national network and now a global one," Johnson said. "Returning to the Board means continuing to invest in the young people who are building better futures for themselves, their families and their communities. I couldn't be more thrilled." Witsil is a retired financial services executive with more than 25 years of leadership experience at JPMorgan Chase and its predecessor organizations, where she led operations, product management, customer experience and strategic information initiatives across consumer and small business banking. A recognized innovator, she holds several patents related to data and financial technologies. Witsil first joined YouthBuild Global's Board of Directors in 2019, becoming the body's vice chair in 2022; she has also served on the Boards of the Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation and the Chester County Fund for Women. She also supports organizations in Arizona and Colorado focused on education, opportunity and community impact. "Kathy brings a rare combination of financial rigor and genuine heart to everything she does," said John Valverde, president and CEO of YouthBuild Global. "Her time as vice chair strengthened this organization in ways that are still visible today, and we're thrilled to welcome her back to the Board." "The YouthBuild movement changes lives and communities around the world," Witsil said. "I am honored to return to the Board to strengthen YouthBuild Global and its incredible network of programs as they open doors of opportunity for this driven, talented group of young people." The YouthBuild Global Board of Directors consists of a wide-ranging group of dedicated individuals, including YouthBuild alumni and program directors, with expertise spanning public policy, research, financial management, housing, youth development, economic development and more. The Board guides YouthBuild Global's work to expand economic mobility and opportunity for young people worldwide. In YouthBuild programs, young people who are out of school or out of work reclaim their education, gain job skills and credentials, and become leaders in their communities. Within the opportunity youth population, YouthBuild primarily serves young people who lack a high school diploma and financial resources. YouthBuild Global is the headquarters for the YouthBuild movement, unifying and partnering with an expansive network for more than 340 YouthBuild programs around the world.

YouthBuild Global awarded contract from the U.S. Department of Labor. The new contract continues YouthBuild Global's role as the federal technical assistance provider for local DOL YouthBuild programs across the country YouthBuild Global has been awarded a new contract from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), continuing its role as the federal technical assistance and capacity-building provider for a national network of DOL YouthBuild grantee programs. The contract reflects the DOL's continued confidence in YouthBuild Global's ability to support high-quality program implementation, strengthen local program capacity, and advance the proven YouthBuild model across the country. This contract marks more than 30 years of YouthBuild Global serving in this capacity, supporting local programs as they provide education, pre-apprenticeship training, industry-recognized credentials, leadership development, and career pathways for opportunity youth. Through this contract, YouthBuild Global provides training, technical assistance, coaching, leadership development, and infrastructure support to more than 200 local DOL YouthBuild grantee programs. From new grantee onboarding through program implementation, improvement, completion, and expansion, YouthBuild Global's technical assistance helps promote quality, consistency, and impact across the national DOL YouthBuild network. "YouthBuild has been transforming lives and strengthening communities for more than 30 years, and our partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor has been at the heart of that work," said John Valverde, president and CEO of YouthBuild Global. "Young people in YouthBuild programs throughout the country are contributing to the communities and workforces their neighbors depend on. This contract is a commitment to them and a testament to their power. We will continue to ensure that local programs have the tools, training, and support they need so that every young person in the YouthBuild movement can build the brighter future they desire and deserve." DOL YouthBuild grantee programs combine education, occupational skills training, leadership development, supportive services, and community service to help young people build skills, earn credentials, and prepare for family-sustaining careers. With a required construction pre-apprenticeship component and opportunities to develop occupational skills training in other high-demand industries, including healthcare, energy infrastructure, information technology, hospitality, and more, YouthBuild programs are well positioned to strengthen the talent pipelines American employers need to build, grow, and compete. YouthBuild Global's technical assistance serves as connective tissue between individual programs and the broader YouthBuild movement, helping local leaders strengthen implementation, improve outcomes, and support young people as they succeed in the workforce and lead in their communities. As headquarters for the YouthBuild movement, YouthBuild Global unifies and partners with an expansive network of YouthBuild programs around the world, championing Opportunity Youth as they achieve their ambitions and reach their full potential. To date, the YouthBuild network has partnered with more than 220,000 young people as they reclaimed their education, gained job skills and credentials, and become leaders in their communities.

Job Point's YouthBuild director Jerrell Morton receives award at Washington D.C. Gathering. Local leader recognized for his passion and dedication to young people. WASHINGTON, D.C., May 18, 2026 - Jerrell Morton, director at Job Point's YouthBuild in Columbia, Missouri, was awarded the 2026 Director of the Year at the YouthBuild Directors Association (YBDA) meeting in Washington, D.C., in May. Each year, YouthBuild Global's Directors Awards celebrate program leaders across the YouthBuild movement who demonstrate clear impact at their local program, support their students in achieving their goals and ambitions, and provide leadership for the entire YouthBuild network. Morton and six program leaders in other categories were honored before a crowd of nearly 150 of their peers. The Director of the Year award recognizes Morton for creating a strong program, building a positive program culture, and developing approaches that expand opportunities for young people. His leadership has made Job Point's YouthBuild a model of excellence within the network. Jerrell Morton has two Bachelor's degrees: Accounting and Business Administration. He is a certified Adult Education and Literacy (AEL) Instructor and has been working with youth since 2006. He has been employed with Job Point since 2011. He is Chair of YouthBuild Global's Membership Committee, a member of the National YB Director's Council and Network Reaffiliation Subcommittee, a YB USA Director's Leadership Fellows, and 2024 winner of the Service and Solidarity Award. He is a member of the Central Missouri Region Workforce Development Board and the Juvenile Detention Alternative Sentencing Initiative. In 2022, he was selected as the Most Impactful Staff Member and honored with a 20 Under 40 Award by local CoMo Magazine in 2023. As a U.S. Army veteran, he served as Automated Logistics Specialist with the Missouri National Guard. "I am thankful and honored to receive this award, but this is not just about me," Morton said. "This is a Job Point Award. This award truly speaks to the truth of that adage, you are the average of the people you surround yourself with. Without my YouthBuild family in Columbia, Mo, this would not be possible at all. I am proud to be a part of this village that shows up every day under the shared goal of spreading hope to those who come through our front doors. Thank you all for your support, love and for continuing to stand together as a family through sacrifice and determination. WE ROCK!!!" The YBDA comprises one program leader serving as a voting member from each affiliated YouthBuild program. The body meets each year to elect committee representatives, engage in peer-led workshops, share best practices, plan legislative and advocacy work, and provide support for programs. The YBDA carries out much of its work through the YouthBuild Leadership Council in partnership with staff of YouthBuild Global, including its president and CEO. Job Point's YouthBuild is one of more than 340 local programs around the world that partner with opportunity youth - young adults between the ages of 16 and 24 who are neither in school nor employed - to build the skillsets and mindsets that lead to lifelong learning, livelihood and leadership. In YouthBuild programs, opportunity youth reclaim their education, gain job skills and credentials, and become leaders in their communities, building brighter futures for themselves and their neighborhoods. Responding to the urgent need for knowledge, training, and opportunity, YouthBuild primarily serves young people who lack a high school diploma and financial resources. These young people are in greatest need of tools to succeed, and they are our greatest source of untapped potential to bolster economic mobility and transform the world. Job Point's YouthBuild will host its Spring Graduation on May 21st at Columbia College. The organization hosts two ceremonies annually aimed at giving graduates the celebration they deserve for reclaiming their high school education while honoring their unique situations and goals. Students in this cohort have earned their HISET while also attaining credentials in the areas of Carpentry, Highway Maintenance Repair or Warehousing and Logistics. Students have also had opportunities to serve their community through unique partnerships with other organizations and were pushed out of their comfort zone to develop better leadership and communication skills. Job Point's YouthBuild program prepares graduates for taking the next steps toward a fulfilling career and engaged life. "Every young person who walks through the doors of a YouthBuild program does so because a dedicated leader made that program worth walking into," said John Valverde, president and CEO of YouthBuild Global. "The directors we honor today are the reason young people reconnect to education, earn credentials, and step into lifelong leadership. Their work is the foundation of everything this network and movement builds." About Job Point's YouthBuild Job Point is Missouri's premier employment center and Community Development Corporation. Since 1965, we have been linking people and jobs by providing career planning and job placement assistance. We specialize in preparing individuals to enter the workforce, while meeting a critical need of the business community. The organization is headquartered in Columbia, Missouri, with services historically extending to Moberly, Boonville and the surrounding communities. Job Point provides employment services, vocational training, community development and educational opportunities to central and western Missouri, helping people overcome the barriers in their lives to achieve long-term economic stability. Since 2003, Job Point's YouthBuild program has helped over 1,100 youth and young adults reclaim their education and build the skills they need for life-long learning, leadership and personal and professional success. 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 340 YouthBuild programs around the world, young people who are out of school and out of work reclaim their education, gain job skills and credentials, and become leaders in their communities. To date, YouthBuild has partnered with more than 220,000 young people to dedicate over 52.5 million hours of service benefitting rural, urban, suburban, and tribal communities. YouthBuild Global - the headquarters for the YouthBuild movement - unifies and partners with this expansive network of YouthBuild programs. From training, technical assistance, capacity building, and innovative program enhancements to leadership development, financial stability, and narrative change and public policy, YouthBuild Global serves as a convener, collaborator, and catalyst for the entire YouthBuild movement. YouthBuild strives to create a world where all young people are seen for their potential and power to transform themselves and their communities. For more information about YouthBuild Global and the YouthBuild movement, visit YouthBuild.org.