Krafty Academy is a Board-aligned YouthBuild workforce program combining construction training, behavioral health support, and creative industry pathways.
Participants earn industry credentials, paid training wages, and direct job placement pathways.
Krafty Academy exists to transform systems of survival into systems of opportunity. We focus on skill development, economic mobility, and healing + employment as one integrated system.
Our program is operated under a fiscal sponsorship and compliance ecosystem including:
Every track leads to certification + paid experience + employment readiness.
Build real housing projects in Eastern North Carolina.
Train in sustainable food systems and urban agriculture.
Develop real-world media skills through production projects.
Train for careers in behavioral health and community care.
Learn modern digital tools and automation systems.
Krafty Academy participants actively contribute to the development of affordable housing at 330 McCaskey Road, Williamston, NC.
Participants gain paid construction experience, OSHA certification hours, and a direct pathway to employment in housing development.
Graduates may receive priority consideration for housing opportunities within completed developments, subject to eligibility and program guidelines.
Krafty Academy integrates trauma-informed care through the Hip-Hop Healing Institute.
Music & lyricism therapy to process narrative identity.
Performance-based healing and somatic therapy.
Training youth to support youth through lived experience.
Licensed clinical partnerships (Medicaid-aligned services where eligible).
Intake & assessment, Mental health support, Life skills foundation.
Track selection, Credential training begins, Career mapping.
Paid on-the-job training, Real project participation, Industry certifications.
Job placement or continued education, Entrepreneurship pathways, Transition support.
Krafty Academy operates through a coordinated ecosystem of partners.
We accept limited applicants each session. Priority goes to youth facing the greatest barriers.
APPLY FOR COHORT 2026