As we close out 2025, we find ourselves holding two important truths at the same time. This year brought incredible growth, joy, and momentum—and it also brought moments of grief, uncertainty, and challenge. Both shaped who we are today.
Celebrating the High Highs
2025 was filled with milestones that remind us why this work matters.
We celebrated the completion of a Habitat for Humanity home, a powerful symbol of what happens when community, commitment, and opportunity come together. We welcomed new young adults into the REBUILD family and proudly celebrated their achievements—graduations earned, new jobs started, career goals clarified, and even the arrival of new children into growing families.
This year, we continued to expand horizons. Our young adults toured college campuses and met with employers, seeing firsthand what their futures can hold and building confidence in their next steps. We also launched an exciting new Solar training career pathway, opening doors to in‑demand careers in renewable energy and reinforcing our commitment to sustainable, forward‑thinking workforce development.
Community engagement remained at the heart of our work. We were honored to host John Valverde from YouthBuild Global at our annual Community Breakfast, showcasing the strength of our partnerships and the impact our young adults are making. Through mentoring and collaboration, we built new service opportunities with new community partners, deepening our collective ability to serve and support young people.
And we made time for joy. From camping and canoeing to kayaking and shared laughter, these moments outside the classroom strengthened relationships, built trust, and reminded us that connection is just as important as instruction. Along the way, we made new friends and lasting connections through mentoring and community partnerships.
Navigating the Low Lows
Alongside these high points, 2025 brought real challenges.
We experienced the loss of members of the REBUILD family—people whose passion, dedication, and presence helped shape our organization and our community. Their impact lives on in the work we do and the young adults we continue to uplift. We honor their memory by continuing forward, knowing they would want nothing less than our very best efforts on behalf of young adults.
We also faced the loss of funding, a difficult reality that tested our resilience. These moments required tough conversations, creativity, and perseverance. While the path forward was not always clear, our commitment never wavered. We chose—again and again—to show up, adapt, and continue serving.
Moving Forward with Resilience
If 2025 taught us anything, it’s that this work is built on resilience. It’s built on people—on their dreams, their losses, their determination, and their belief that things can be better.
As we move into 2026, we do so with gratitude for the highs, reverence for those we’ve lost, and renewed resolve to persevere through challenges. We remain committed to serving young adults in the best ways possible—expanding opportunity, building pathways, and strengthening community.
Thank you to our students, staff, partners, mentors, funders, and friends. You are the reason we keep going.
Here’s to continuing to build—together.
