August is always a month of transitions at YouthBuild, as we welcome new students and prepare our graduates for success outside of YouthBuild’s walls.

This August we also experienced the transition of Executive Director Simran Sidhu, who is leaving YouthBuild to become the inaugural Executive Director of a youth service organization that will launch in October.

This is a bittersweet transition; Simran has been with YouthBuild Philly for twenty years, and her passion for the well-being and potential of young people generated enormous advancements in our program during that time. We are proud to offer young people the “unapologetically comprehensive” (an often-quoted Simran phrase) supports and opportunities that developed under her leadership. We are pleased that Simran will continue her life’s work in a new and exciting role, fostering a national conversation around best practices and support for young people. She will always be a part of our YouthBuild family.

Our Board of Trustees, with great input from the YouthBuild community, has initiated the search for our new Executive Director. In the meantime, Program Director Brian Leffler will serve as Interim Executive Director. Our School and organization have never been in a stronger position, with a talented, dedicated and highly capable staff; strong and supportive partnerships; and core funding committed for the coming year. As Simran has said: “This move will take YouthBuild Philly from strength to strength, with no pause in the pursuit of our mission.”

Questions about this transition may be addressed to Board Chair Marty Brigham: board@youthbuildphilly.org