As part of our annual tradition, we hosted the YouthBuild Philly Fall Barbecue on Friday, September 13, at the scenic and historic Lemon Hill Park. This year’s barbecue was a lively and memorable celebration for the Class of 2025, marking the perfect close to their orientation week. Students and staff came together to enjoy great food, connect, and build lasting relationships outside the classroom in a fun, relaxed setting.

The Fall BBQ is a cherished event at YouthBuild Philly, kicking off each school year with a sense of community and shared purpose, as we officially welcome our students and celebrate their decision to entrust us with their education.

A highlight of this year’s event was the delicious spread provided by Zachary’s BBQ, featuring hamburgers, hot dogs, potato salad, baked beans, fresh juice, and more. Students and staff also raved about the refreshing water ice from Tessy’s Natural Water Ice—a perfect treat for the sunny day. Embracing the beautiful weather, we leaned into the “family cookout” vibe, enjoying jump rope, Uno, great music, and meaningful bonding moments with students, staff, and their children.

The highlight of this year’s BBQ was the highly anticipated student vs. staff basketball game. Last year, inclement weather forced us indoors for a “cook-in,” causing us to miss out on this annual tradition. But this year, the staff came ready to compete, winning both games in close matchups. With such tight scores, our students are already eager for their next chance to reclaim the title from the staff!

A huge thank you to all the staff who helped make this event possible, to our students for showing up as their authentic selves, and to the teams at Tessy’s Water Ice and Zachary’s BBQ for the amazing catering. The joy and energy from the BBQ will carry us into Session One as we kick off the new academic year.

Until next time, YouthBuild! YouthBuild, YouthBuild, how y’all feel? SOLID, SOLID!

– YB Philly!