YouthBuild Louisville

The Urban Conservation Corps (UCC) is an Environmental Education and Career Readiness program under YouthBuild Louisville (YBL). UCC trains Opportunity Youth ages 18-24, especially young people of color, in green-sector workforce skills through 170,000 collective hours of meaningful community service projects related to environmentalism and conservation in the urban setting. As full-time AmeriCorps members, participants earn a $15,000 living allowance and a $6,195 college scholarship upon completion of the program year.

UCC Members can pursue employment with local utility companies (MSD, LG&E and Louisville Water Company), nurseries, and natural setting municipal jobs in Louisville, Kentucky. Members receive job coaching and network connections through our UCC Instructor, SummerWorks staff, and community partnerships that are nurtured through UCC service efforts. This year, MSD approved YouthBuild as a partner of the Community Benefits Program. This strategic partnership combines MSD’s instructional and job training capabilities with youth aspiring to work in this sector.

At the end of the first program year, UCC members are expected to be placed in employment that improves their economic conditions and contributes to larger conservation efforts, including watershed protection, increasing the tree canopy, agricultural training, and remediating urban contaminants.