YBLC since 2003
Our history.
From our first program to a permanent home in North Chicago, explore the milestones and people who shaped YouthBuild Lake County.
Our Lake County story
How it all began.
Our history is rooted in local people and places. Choose a year to explore a milestone in YBLC’s growth.
Our first program
35 young people. The beginning of YBLC.
Our story began at Daisy’s Resource Center, where our first program served 35 young people in 2003.
Education, practical skills, and personal support created a starting point for the work that would become YouthBuild Lake County.
Get to know YBLC
Becoming YouthBuild Lake County
An organization takes shape.
YouthBuild Lake County incorporated in 2004 and began offering the YouthBuild Program. That year, 45 young people took part.
Following the YouthBuild model, the program brought education, counseling, leadership, career training, and job placement together with service to the community.
Explore the YouthBuild movement
More ways to learn
Our first computer lab.
In 2006, YouthBuild Lake County opened its first computer lab, creating a dedicated place for participants to learn and work with technology.
The photograph captures an early investment in the tools and learning spaces young adults need to prepare for their next steps.
See this moment in our history
A place to grow
A former school becomes our home.
YBLC moved into the former Lindbergh Elementary School in North Chicago, gaining a 30,000-square-foot home with classrooms, offices, and a computer lab.
Participants and Lake Forest College volunteers helped refresh the building, returning a largely vacant school to use for learning and career training.
Explore the move to Lindbergh
A lasting home in North Chicago
Putting down permanent roots.
In 2025, YouthBuild Lake County purchased its permanent home in North Chicago.
Owning our home established a long-term foundation for education, career training, and supportive services, continuing the commitment that began with 35 young people in 2003.
See what guides our work todayMore than two decades
in Lake County.
Take a look back
This day in
YBLC history.
Classroom moments, community projects, and celebrations from across the years. Visit our photo archive to see what was happening at YBLC on a day in our history.
Explore This Day at YBLCGRADUATE STORIES 2005–2026
The people in
our history.
Opportunity doesn’t end at graduation.
Follow the people who carry it forward.
Ryan
A single visit.
A 20-year career.
A YouthBuild tour introduced Ryan to Great Lakes Naval Base. That first connection grew into more than two decades of work and an associate degree in Industrial Maintenance and Repair.
Explore Ryan’s story
Alvaro
A first interview.
A new horizon.
A classroom visit introduced Alvaro to wind energy. With interview preparation and a staff member beside him, he took his first step into a career in wind and solar.
Explore Alvaro’s story
Aaliayah
She found direction.
Now she gives it.
Aaliayah came to YouthBuild looking for stability. Today, as YBLC’s Program Coordinator, she helps young adults navigate the same program that helped her find her footing.
Explore Aaliayah’s story
Christian
Built on trust.
Built to give back.
Years after graduation, a former YouthBuild staff member connected Christian with Habitat for Humanity. His construction career now helps people maintain and repair their homes.
Explore Christian’s story
Alan
A trade to master.
A home for his family.
Hands-on training helped Alan discover construction. He became a journeyman union carpenter, purchased his first home, and built greater stability for himself and his son.
Explore Alan’s story
Chelsey
A talent for cooking.
A heart for community.
Chelsey earned her diploma, trained in culinary arts, and started a food business. She then helped found L.O.V.E., turning her connections and skills into service for others.
Explore Chelsey’s story
Zaul
From a fresh start
to leading the crew.
Zaul earned his diploma in 2019 and joined the Carpenters Union. By 2026, he had become a foreman, building a skilled career and a foundation for his two children’s future.
Explore Zaul’s story
Fernando
New skills.
Forward momentum.
A diploma, industry credentials, and a forklift certification helped Fernando take his next step. He went on to full-time work as a material handler at Culligan.
Explore Fernando’s story
Jacqueline
A diploma in hand.
The world ahead.
After earning her diploma, Jacqueline enlisted in the U.S. Navy. Service aboard an aircraft carrier took her beyond Waukegan, and in 2023 she became a Petty Officer Third Class.
Explore Jacqueline’s story
Jade
Finding her voice.
Reimagining her future.
With encouragement and a place to belong, Jade became a student leader and graduated with honors. She continued her education at the College of Lake County.
Explore Jade’s story
LaQuon
New skills.
A future taking shape.
Through the Pre-Apprentice Program, LaQuon built construction skills and earned industry credentials. He became a full-time carpenter with ReNew Communities, helping build and renovate affordable housing.
Explore LaQuon’s story
Jackie
An open door.
A career in care.
A City of Hope tour helped Jackie see a future in healthcare. A hospital internship became a permanent role, and she went on to work as a Surgical Technician.
Explore Jackie’s story
Arshamar
Showing up today.
Building tomorrow.
Arshamar balanced motherhood, training, and a three-week work experience at the Waukegan Library. Her commitment helped her earn a place in the Endeavor Health internship program.
Explore Arshamar’s story
Tobias
A clear path.
A skilled career.
Tobias progressed from pre-apprentice training to YBLC’s Registered Apprenticeship. He earned his CAMT credential and became a full-time Maintenance Technician with the Lake County Housing Authority.
Explore Tobias’s storyEXPLORE THE YEARSSwipe, drag, or choose a year
Keep exploring
There’s more to our story.
Our annual reports.
Look back at the people, partnerships, and accomplishments that shaped each year at YouthBuild Lake County.
Explore our annual reports
Were you part of it?
A photograph, a program, a name, or a memory can help us document our history. We’d love to hear what you remember.
Share a memory with our teamAbout this history
This page brings together YBLC’s organizational history, photographs from This Day at YBLC, and published graduate stories. Timeline years identify graduating classes; each person’s story may include later milestones. Lifetime totals are YBLC’s cumulative figures confirmed in November 2026. For results from a particular year, explore our annual reports.