On Friday, February 24^th from 11am to 3pm, YouthBuild Lake County (“YBLC”) will hold a mini-expo of local area Black Men and Women Professionals and Entrepreneurs to celebrate Black History Month. The event will be held at YBLC’s campus at 1636 Kristan Avenue in North Chicago.  

Locally owned and operated businesses will set up booths in the YBLC gym, allowing trainees and members of the community an opportunity to network and learn about different products and services.

“For our trainees, it provides a positive message for them to meet with local community business people who work hard and have become successful,” said Ms. Shirlese Locke, an AmeriCorps Member Intern of YBLC, who has organized the event for YBLC.

YBLC trainees and local civic leaders will assist in emceeing the event, which will focus on the roots of Black history in the Lake County community. As part of this celebration, the event will also feature members of the Tuskeegee Airmen, the first black fighter pilots from WWII, who have been recently profiled in the film “Red Tails”.

“Our decision to celebrate Black History month at YBLC is all about inspiration,” remarked Ms. Locke, “and hosting some of the Tuskegee Airmen, who have inspired millions with their bravery and their service, is a really special tribute.”

YBLC will also be auctioning off prizes from participating businesses, as well as providing information about its recently reopened computer training facility, which has been funded by the State of Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s Digital Divide Grant. The public hours for the computer lab are 3pm - 7pm on Monday and Tuesday and 3pm - 6pm on Wednesday. YBLC is in the process of securing a Spanish-speaking volunteer to assist with computer literacy classes.

Please contact John Paul Graziano, with any questions regarding this release (jgraziano@youthbuildlakecounty.org or 847-473-3483).

About YouthBuild Lake County (YBLC)

            YouthBuild Lake County is a non-profit organization that helps youth and adults in Lake County improve their education, learn job and life skills, and secure meaningful employment. While in YBLC’s programs, trainees work to build affordable, energy-efficient housing and rehabilitation projects in the community.  Over 50% of our participants dropped out of high school, 80% were involved in gangs, and about 35% are parents. Every YBLC graduate represents a life lifted, a family saved from poverty, and a community served. YouthBuild Lake County is affiliated with YouthBuild USA, voted among the nation’s most effective non-profit organizations because of its successful partnering with local community businesses to reach its goals. For more information, visit www.youthbuildlakecounty.org