A strong foundation: YouthBuild Newark educator and current student highlight experiences in the program

Tough but caring. That’s how the young people of YouthBuild Newark (YBN) describe Senior Vocational Instructor Terry Lang. And when it comes to preparing for postsecondary pathways, both alumni and current students agree - Lang helped them lay a strong foundation for success in life.

While most of his days are spent teaching students at YouthBuild Newark the technical and safety skills necessary for careers in construction, even Lang couldn’t have imagined the number of young people he would help obtain certifications. 

Since 2008, Lang has certified over 750 young people with National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) Core Curriculum and Weatherization certifications. This provides them with multiple levels of training, allowing them to learn and obtain craft credentials that prepare them for successful post-secondary placements.

Part of the reason Lang has been so successful is his strong ties to the young people of YouthBuild. After all, he is not just using his experience as an educator to connect with young people, he connects with them as a former YouthBuild student – just like them. 

Lang first learned about YBN in 2003 from a flyer in a laundromat. He was 24 at the time and his life was marked with uncertainty — the uncertainty that comes with being a new father and a new husband, and the uncertainty of where he and his family would rest their heads for the night. These uncertainties are what led him to YBN to build his own foundation. 

“Although I joined with plans to finish the program, earn my high school diploma, and then head off to college, I ended up finding a passion for the trades, helping others on their journeys and teaching. Many years later, I have now been working as a Senior Vocational Instructor for over a decade while holding multiple certifications from the NCCER, the Occupational Safety And Health Administration (OSHA), the US Green Building Council and the Home Builders Institute.” 

But after he joined YouthBuild and earned not just his GED but industry-recognized certifications, his path became clear as he found his calling in construction. 

Lang’s story is exactly why the enactment of the New Jersey YouthBuild Act earlier this year was so critical - creating more of these programs throughout the state will increase opportunities for students to find their own path just like he did.

Today, Lang is a proud husband and father of two boys, a wrestling and football coach in his community, and a prime example of what every young person is capable of. One of those young people is current YBN construction student Adiya Muftawu, who sees a lot of who she can become in Lang. 

“I feel as though he understands certain things that I go through because he’s been there before. I always push myself and he sees that potential. So he pushes me even more because he knows I can do even better than I'm doing now. I really appreciate that.” 

One of the struggles Adiya has undergone within the past few years was related to her health. Since the age of three, Adiya has had over 11 hearing-related surgeries, five of which have been while she was in high school. Although YBN has been very supportive of her healing process, her previous schools were not, which led to her eventually leaving. 

At one point Adiya was out of school for five months because of surgery. She unfortunately returned to failing grades and a defeated spirit, leading her to disconnect from school.

Her mother encouraged her to apply to YouthBuild and, when it was time to choose a workforce pathway, Adiya was immediately drawn to construction. Her father worked in construction since Adiya was a child, a career she watched bloom and drawn to. And now Adiya gets to learn the trade for herself in a supportive learning environment with role models like Terry Lang.

“The teachers check up on me a lot,” said Adiya. “I still have a lot of doctor's appointments, so I always end up missing one or two days out of the week. But they work with me and my schedule to make sure I don’t fall behind. They’ve always provided a listening ear, making sure that I know that they're here for me.” 

For Adiya and many others, Lang is a key part of their support system and the foundation of YouthBuild itself. Lang knows what it feels like to start from the ground up. And thankfully, he’s pulling over 750 young people up with him.