Our Story

Anthony Hubbard: “What do you want in education?”
Young Man of Color: “…A school for us..”

YouthBuild Preparatory Academy, in development, is a social justice focused high school, birthed from a set of similar ideas and beliefs among guest at the Making the Invisible Visible Conference held on June 13th, 2014, in Providence, Rhode Island.

After that conference, veteran educator and community leader, Anthony Hubbard along with a small group of young men of color and local civic leaders set in motion a process of conversations among local and state public education stakeholders on opening YouthBuild Preparatory Academy. Opening YouthBuild Preparatory Academy would require strong public
champions and education bill approval from State of Rhode Island General Assembly. In June of 2016, the Rhode Island State Senate and the Rhode Island House of Representatives, respectively – unanimously approved the bill.

YouthBuild Preparatory Academy’s mission is to provide a liberating educational experience to all students, with a focus on engaging young men of color, preparing them to be confident, civically engaged leaders.

YouthBuild Preparatory Academy will be Rhode Island’s first public school focused on educating males of color.

The YouthBuild Preparatory Academy’s motto is Enter to Learn Depart to Serve. Our motto is a constant reminder that the educational experience of our young men of color of YouthBuild Preparatory Academy will be positive, liberating and energetic for they will soon go forth and enter the world to solving the complex problems facing our society. The YouthBuild Preparatory Academy family (teachers, administrators, staff, the board of trustees, community members, and donors) believes this to be true about these young men of color and in our important and long-lasting role in their lives.