Gregory Freeman: Mastering 'Man's Work' Helped Mother Escape Welfare, Build Brighter Future. P-D 8/20/1996

Headline: MASTERING `MAN'S WORK' HELPED MOTHER ESCAPE WELFARE, BUILD BRIGHTER FUTURE
Reporter: By Gregory Freeman

Publication: ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Last Printed: Tue., Aug. 20, 1996
Section: WAR PAGE, Page: 11B, Edition: FIVE STAR LIFT

AT 25, SIKINA LEE knows she's made some mistakes in her life.
She's the mother of four children. She's on AFDC. She was a high school dropout. And she's one of "Greg's Winners."
That's because Lee has refused to give up. She's gone back to school and gotten her diploma. She plans to get off of public assistance in the very near future. She's got serious ambitions, and she's taking steps to achieve them.

Only three years ago, Lee was depressed, discouraged and didn't know what the future would bring. "I had four children to take care of, and I wasn't sure what I wanted to do." What she did know was that she wanted a better life for herself.
In 1993, Lee learned of YouthBuild St. Louis while reading the Sunday newspaper. YouthBuild is a national program that combines a half-time alternative school with on-the-job vocational instruction. Participants between 16 and 24 spend about a year earning high school equivalency diplomas while learning the basics of the construction trades, including carpentry, painting, plumbing and wiring. The program also teaches leadership skills and includes personal and group counseling, peer support and self-governance by trainees.
"I thought this was something that was for me, " she said.

Lee applied for the program and was accepted.
It wasn't always easy. Lee would get up at 5 a.m. each day to take two of her youngsters to a day-care center in south St. Louis and the other two to another center in north St. Louis. She had to report to YouthBuild at 7 a.m.
She also faced some stressful family issues. Her grandmother had a stroke, and some other relatives died.

"Sometimes I felt like giving up, " she said. "It was a lot of work, and at that time I was the only female in the program. A lot of the guys in the program were telling me that this was man's work, and that I belonged in a kitchen, not doing construction."
The chiding eventually motivated Lee. "I knew that I could do anything they could do, " she said.
Lee stuck with it, and before long she became the "foreman, " showing the guys how to do framing, drywall hanging and taping.

Then, she got the architectural bug.
"Every time we looked at blueprints, we had to move things around because they weren't quite right, " she said. "I used to think that if I were an architect, I wouldn't do this or I wouldn't do that."
After successfully completing the YouthBuild program, Lee followed the advice of an instructor and chose to go to Ranken Technical College. This fall, she'll get her associate's degree in architectural technology. After that, she hopes to work and go to school to become an architect. Eventually, she'd like to start her own architectural firm.

Although she's graduated from YouthBuild, Lee remains active with the program. She was elected president of the organization's policy committee and a member of the national YouthBuild USA alumni steering committee. She's now working to plan the first national convention of YouthBuild graduates.

Lee has lots of advice for people.
To those who are quick to condemn those on welfare, Lee said, "It's important for people to know that you can't judge a book by its cover. Everyone who gets help isn't necessarily lazy. There are a lot of reasons why people go on welfare, but if there were more programs like YouthBuild, more people could get off."

She also has advice for those getting public assistance.
   "Once you stop putting the blame for your situation on other people and start to take responsibility for your own life, you can start to work on your own goals, " she said. "I've been there and I know what I'm talking about.
   "I know that a lot of young people who aren't doing well blame the white man or their mothers of fathers, " said Lee, who is black. "That doesn't do any good. You've got to look at your situation and decide that you're going to do something about it.
   "That's what will make the difference."

Do you know a person or group that should be spotlighted as one of "Greg's Winners?" < deleted >

Editor's note: Sikina Lee

Daniel Schesch - Webweaver

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