Housing Authority of Champaign YouthBuild

30/09/2026

The official photos are in, and we are proud to celebrate the HACC YouthBuild Class of 2026! 🎓💙

As our 14th graduating cohort, these students demonstrated incredible dedication, perseverance, and commitment. Through the HACC YouthBuild program, they earned their high school diplomas and became certified in NCCER, OSHA 10, and flagging. These accomplishments represent countless hours of hard work and a commitment to building brighter futures.

A special congratulations to J’Mikel Cunigan, the YouthBuild Class of 2026 valedictorian! J’Mikel’s growth, determination, and hard work represent everything YouthBuild is about. We are so proud of him for sharing his journey and delivering an inspiring speech during the ceremony.

We also extend a special thank you to Urbana Mayor DeShawn Williams for joining us as our guest speaker and delivering such a powerful and impactful message to our graduates.

Thank you to our dedicated YouthBuild staff, whose guidance, encouragement, and commitment make this program possible. YouthBuild would not be what it is today without each of you.

Finally, thank you to the families, friends, staff, and community partners who showed up to celebrate and support our graduates. Congratulations, Class of 2026! We are incredibly proud of everything you have accomplished and cannot wait to see what you do next! 🎉👏

28/09/2026

Prospective students!

If you signed up for an interview for the next YouthBuild Cohort, please arrive on time at The Housing Authority of Champaign County’s main building located at
2008 N. Market St. Champaign, IL!

We are excited to meet you all!

21/09/2026

This Saturday, we celebrated the remarkable achievements of the HACC YouthBuild Class of 2026, our 14th graduating cohort! 🎓🎉

We are excited to share some special behind-the-scenes moments from graduation. It was beautiful to see the families, friends, and Alumni show up and show out to celebrate their success.

Reaching this milestone took hard work, perseverance, and dedication. We are incredibly grateful for each member of this class and could not be prouder of everything they have accomplished. Congratulations, graduates! Your future is bright, and this is only the beginning! 💙

19/09/2026

15/09/2026

Our 14th HACC YouthBuild cohort wraps up this week! To celebrate all their hard work and accomplishments, we took the students to Timber Pointe Lake for a fun-filled day together. We had an amazing time making memories and celebrating how far they have come!

08/09/2026

School may be wrapping up, but two YouthBuild students are still hard at work! They repaired a wobbly bench, puttied and smoothed screw holes, painted tables, and practiced their math skills while measuring and placing numbers.

They did the cutting, measuring, and hands-on work themselves, asking for help when needed. We are proud of their hard work, determination, and willingness to keep learning!

01/09/2026

HACC YouthBuild is now accepting prospective students!

Join us for an informational meeting to learn how YouthBuild can help you earn your education, gain hands on construction training, explore career pathways, and prepare for a successful future.

📅 This Thursday, September 3, 2026
🕔 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
📍 2008 N. Market Street, Champaign, IL 61822

Parents or guardians must accompany students under the age of 18.

RSVP is required using the QR code or link on the flyer.

Link: https://forms.gle/NDncjSbXrvq7tALB7

For more information, contact Jobie Taylor at 217-974-1327.

Take the first step toward your future. We look forward to meeting you!

11/08/2026

HACC YouthBuild is now accepting prospective students!

Join us for an informational meeting to learn how YouthBuild can help you earn your education, gain hands on construction training, explore career pathways, and prepare for a successful future.

📅 Thursday, September 3, 2026
🕔 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
📍 2008 N. Market Street, Champaign, IL 61822

Parents or guardians must accompany students under the age of 18.

RSVP is required using the QR code or link on the flyer.

Link: https://forms.gle/NDncjSbXrvq7tALB7

For more information, contact Jobie Taylor at 217-974-1327.

Take the first step toward your future. We look forward to meeting you!

06/08/2026

Hard work, teamwork, and leadership all in one project. 👏

J’Mikel and Destiny have been putting in the work alongside HACC Maintenance Technician and YouthBuild alum DJ as they help clean up and repair one of our HACC units. It’s incredible to see J’Mikel and Destiny going the extra mile while learning valuable hands-on skills.

Watching DJ come full circle from YouthBuild participant to HACC team member and now mentoring the next generation is something we’re incredibly proud of. His leadership is a reminder of what’s possible when hard work and dedication come together.

This is what YouthBuild is all about, building skills, building confidence, and building future leaders.

15/06/2026

Building pathways to the skilled trades! 🔧

Nine YouthBuild students met with Kevin Sage of UA Local 149 to learn about union careers and pre-apprenticeship opportunities. Students explored the Hire360 platform and completed applications for the local pre-apprenticeship program, taking an important step toward future careers in the trades.