Education: Inner City Youth Alive

The Schroeder Foundation has contributed over $600K to Inner City Youth Alive (ICYA) to establish a partnership with RB Russell High School, aimed at helping students transition from challenging circumstances into the skilled trades. These funds have been directed towards ICYA’s social enterprise, Step Up Construction, which offers inner-city youth the opportunity to break free from gang or street life and embark on a meaningful, sustainable career path in the construction industry. Through hands-on experience, trade certifications, and mentorship, Step Up Construction empowers young people to develop valuable skills, opening doors to long-term employment and personal growth. Since the partnership’s inception, one Indigenous student from St. John’s High School has graduated from the program, with six additional students currently moving through it. This initiative not only provides the essential training needed to build a successful future but also offers these young people a life-changing opportunity to escape the cycle of poverty, violence, and instability, providing them with the tools to build a brighter, more hopeful future.