AmeriCorps State Conference Highlights

VISTAs Teressa Alexander, Sylvia Sedrak and Erin Sinnot during Project Drum

Last month MHYC VISTAs and ACLCs attended the AmeriCorps State Conference in beautiful Estes Park. The full day and a half of workshops and fun evening activities gave AmeriCorps members a great chance to learn from one another and make new friends.

Workshops included:

Dealing with Service Stress

Teambuilding Facilitation

Living Green

Working in a Non-Profit

Grant Writing

And MUCH more!

After much learning and note taking members relaxed in the evening with some karaoke and roller skating.

-Sylvia Sedrak, MHYC VISTA

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A Heartfelt Thank You

All of MHYC gathered on Wednesday for a Thanksgiving Potluck to show our gratitude for each other and recognize all we have to be thankful for. This same day, we received an email from the mother of a Corpsmember who wanted to tell us thank you. These are the kinds of things we at MHYC are most grateful for, these words are inspiration to us and keep us motivated to do our best everyday. Please read the email below.

A Heartfelt Thank You to the Mile High Youth Corps Staff

Although I’m thankful for each of you every day, I wanted to take a moment to thank you a bit more directly during this season of gratitude and thanks.

When I first read about Mile High Youth Corps, I got goose bumps. I couldn’t believe that someone had created a program for young adults like my own son. Work skills and a basic education – while getting paid? It was a dream come true!

In reality, your program has exceeded all my expectations. Not only are you preparing these young people for their GED and a huge variety of job skills, you’re taking them through the life skills, relationship building and money management skills that they either weren’t taught or refused to learn the first time around.

You get these kids. You understand their past, guide them into a positive, active present, and help them see the possibilities for the future. You’re tough. Understanding. Street smart. Compassionate. Aware. Respectful. Strong.

Thank you for giving each of these young people yet another chance to take hold, to make smarter, more positive decisions about their direction in life. Although it’s still an uphill battle, I see in my son wonderful glimpses of a happy, confident young man who will be ready to tackle the world in just a few months. And I know that he is only one story. I can only imagine the incredible successes you have helped create since the inception of this phenomenal program.

I can see your influence in these young people as they walk toward the classroom or job site. You can tell a Mile High Youth Corps team member, as they stand a little taller, walk a bit more confidently and purposefully, and have a ready smile. It’s obvious they are proud to be part of such an elite team.

So if you’re having a challenging day, wondering if you’re making a difference, know that you absolutely are critically important to each of these young people. And, as I often remind myself, you’re most important when they show it the least.

I sincerely thank each and every one of you for the work you do to help these young people to get back on track, to learn the job and life skills they need to be whole, confident, contributing, healthy human beings. Just think about the ripples of goodness that come from each of these corps members as they get on their feet and enhance the lives of those around them. Simply put: You’re the best!

Your greatest fan,

Kate F.

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Happy Thanksgiving from Mile High Youth Corps

From Corpsmembers to Staff, we at Mile High Youth Corps are thankful. Here are some of the reasons:

• Good health, with all the health epidemics in the world right now, I realize this more than ever.
• Live music and air hockey.
• Hard work and utilitarianism.
• Co-workers!
• For the chance to work at MHYC. I am thankful to all and most importantly, my God and family.
• The chance to meet and work with such great people everyday.
• For waking up today.
• My crew and friends at MHYC.
• The laughter of children, music and reese’s peanut butter cups.
• The humor and laughter of the people around me.
• La Familia.
• My health, I don’t take it for granted!
• For my family and that I have a job to help support them.
• For my family and all the crewleaders at MHYC.
• Laughter and loved ones.
• For all that I’ve acquired at MHYC.
• My hilarious Energy Corpsmembers.
• Turkey!
• A place to stay, good health, a healthy baby and good friends.
• My family and the support they provide for me. The family that isn’t necessarily blood related but the people I meet in life that make such an impact as they force themselves forever into my unconventional idea of family.
• Words, expression, uplifting thoughts that wash away depression, sunshine, friends and family, life and living it everyday even when it SEEMS like it sucks, my car, my homes, my dog, rocks, poi, art and my creative skill, my skill with writing, my job, music (making and listening), concerts, shows, raves, festivals, mountains, hiking, camping, fishing, sleeping, dreaming, eating, animals and plants, to have the best friends I could possibly hope for grow up with me on my street and continue to be in my life, movies, books, philosophy, sociology, psychology……
• The health of myself and my family.
• Sunshine, work, water, mom and dad, best friend, warmth, food, music, the library, nice people, mountains, art, health.
• Having supportive people around me and for being alive.
• Sticky notes, brown markers and irony.
• Mile High Youth Corps!

Happy Thanksgiving from Mile High Youth Corps!

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MHYC NOW HIRING

Come join MHYC’s Energy or Water Conservation Crews. The five month terms have multi-faceted approaches to connecting the community with water, energy and money saving services.

We have a direct approach when visiting low-income clients in their homes and changing their light bulbs, showerheads, sink aerators and toilets to more efficient devices and we have an indirect approach when we assemble energy and water saving kits to send out to families across Colorado whose homes we cannot physically reach. The kits have high efficiency light bulbs, a water saving showerhead and water saving sink aerators that people can install themselves in order to still reap the benefits of our conservation programs.

We are currently accepting applications for 18 to 24 year olds interested in making a difference in their communities and themselves. For more information and to apply, click here.

Check out these videos of former Corpsmembers discussing their experiences at MHYC.

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MHYC Graduation Around the Corner

On December 10th, 39 MHYC Corpsmembers will graduate, earning a combined $106,425 in AmeriCorps education awards and having contributed almost 38,500 hours of service to the Denver metro area. Meet four soon-to-be graduates and learn about their plans after graduation.

Name: Corey Brown

Age: 21

Corpsmember Position: Energy and Water Alumni Mentor

Greatest Lesson Learned at MHYC:

The greatest lesson I learned is that I have potential to do great things and be successful. This is due to the opportunities given to me and the skills and confidence I gained due to them. MHYC is truly more than a job; for that, I am grateful.

Post Graduation Plans:

After gradation, I will start as a Weatherization Technician at Veteran Green Jobs. As for long term plans, it’s a toss up: I want become a counselor or continue working in nonprofit doing some type of conservation work. The most important thing to me is that I continue to change the world a little at a time.

AmeriCorps Education Award Plans:

I plan to use my education award to finish my Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. I hope to start classes this spring at CU Boulder.

Name: Annie Matouka

Age: 24

Corpsmember Position: AmeriCorps Leadership and Conservation Program

Favorite Thing about MHYC:

My favorite part about the Corps has been the amazing people I’ve gotten to work with and the camaraderie we’ve developed as a crew.

Post Graduation Plans:

I’m really excited to return to Mile High Youth Corps next year as the Alumni Mentor for the programs department. After I complete my second term of service with the Corps, I hope to attend graduate school.

Name: Matthew S. Flores

Age: 19

Corpsmember Position: Energy Conservation Program

Greatest Lesson Learned at MHYC:

The greatest lesson I have learned at Mile High Youth Corps is how to interact with the community in a respectful way that best suits individual’s personalities.

Post Graduation Plans:

Next year, I plan to stay at MHYC as a Senior Corpsmember in the Energy Conservation Program. Long term, I hope to join the Denver Police Department.

Name: Dylan Miley

Age: 23

Corpsmember Position: Water Conservation Program

Greatest Lesson Learned at MHYC:

The greatest lesson I learned at Mile High Youth Corps is the value of serving and giving back to my community.

Post Graduation Plans:

My time at MHYC has opened my eyes to green-collar careers. At least for the short term, I’m interested in continuing down that path.

AmeriCorps Education Award Plans:

Thanks in part to my education award, I’ve enrolled at a local community college to become a nutritionist. I love to learn!

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Rope Course with Mile High Youth Corps YouthBuild Crew

Mile High Youth Corps’ YouthBuild Corpsmembers went out on an adventure together to the ropes course up in the mountains and all came together, not just as a team but as a family, to overcome our fears.

We learned a lot about each other and ourselves, as well as our limits and how we can push through those limits. We also learned lots of teamwork and communication skills, so we can trust each other.

My personal experience is a lot different from others. I was actually scared, but once I had the support from my fellow teammates I was quick to get on the course and overcome my fear with heights.

Here are some photos that we have taken. First is Chuck and Michel working together as a team to get across the ropes.

Next is a group photo showing how we all came together as a team, more like a family.

This is one of the courses that we had to climb up a pole, and jump off to grab a trapeze, which took a lot of guts.

Last but not least we have Mike swinging on the ropes to get across to the next side. We had a lot of fun that day and it made us a better person today.

-Denver Gomez, YouthBuild Corpsmember

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Kit Time Again…

Mile High Youth Corps Energy Conservation Program has a direct approach to connecting clients with energy, water and money saving devices when we perform tier one energy audits in low-income homes. We have an indirect approach when we assemble kits containing energy and water saving devices and educational material. We send the kits to homes across Colorado that we cannot physically reach, this way more people can reap the conservation and money saving benefits of our program.

The Energy Conservation Corpsmembers have been busy in the warehouse and in two weeks will produce 10,000 kits to be mailed out to Coloradans across the state. Check out Energy Conservation Corpsmember Dominic explain what goes in each and every kit…

Last year AmeriCorps Leadership and Conservation Corpsmember Melanie made a video about the kit making process…

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Interviews with YouthBuild Corpsmembers

Hi, my name is Torrey, and a month ago I became a YouthBuilder along with 34 other people. I was able to interview five of them.

YouthBuild Corpsmembers Dustin, Polo and Niabi hanging outside of the YouthBuild office.

The first person I talked with was Harrison. I asked him how he has liked the program and what he likes about it. Harrison replied, “I like the program. It’s a lot of fun but I enjoy working in the shop a little more because I like building things.”
I asked Cody the same question and he had this to say, “I think the program is alright. I like being back in class and getting my G.E.D. and getting paid for it is pretty cool, too.”

After I talked to Cody I went to talk to Dustin. He felt this way, “I like the program because it’s helping me get my G.E.D. and money for college so I can have a better life down the road.” I agree with Dustin.

Then I went to speak with a very outspoken woman, Niabi. She told me this, “I like the program because it’s paying kids to get the education they should already have. It’s the proper type of motivation to help those who have had hard times make a positive and permanent change for their lives.” She has a good point.

I finally went to talk to lucky number five, a very positive and generous guy, Polo. He had to say this, “I don’t like this program… I love it and everything about it, from my staff to my peers. It is a place I can gain Job Readiness Training skills and further my education in many ways all because of MHYC.”

I agree fully with everything my fellow YouthBuilders have said and that MHYC is changing lives.

-Torrey Frese, YouthBuild Corpsmember

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Fall Forestry Comes to an End

Check out what MHYC’s fall forestry crew is up to their last week out in the field…

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CO Springs Corpsmember Video

From the South…

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