Noah

Building a Future

Noah graduated from City-As-School in 2018 and is now in his second semester at SUNY Delhi majoring in Residential Construction. His time is split between the classroom and the job site where he’s learning how to build a house from the ground up. “I didn’t think college was for me, and my Mom and I didn’t think we could afford it. I was ready to try to hop right into the trades and start working.” From playing with his grandfather’s old tools at his home in Brooklyn, to stopping on the sidewalk to watch construction sites in the city, Noah was always enthralled by the whole process of what went into building something. His Comprehensive Youth Development advisor encouraged Noah to look into colleges that offered a technology program that would enhance his skills. She also introduced him to the A to Z Impact Foundation, which funds a wide array of initiatives that help underserved populations access and improve the systems they need to live healthier, more prosperous lives. “I’m learning things here that would have taken me years to learn if I went right into the workforce. After school I want to work for a few years and then open up my own design and construction company. Now I’m ahead of the game!”