My First YouthBuild Graduation

Last year, as an ACLC, I completed my 10 month term and graduated with my fellow crewmates, the energy program and the water program. The ceremony was thoughtful and a great way to celebrate all of our time spent at MHYC! I left that day with the feelings of pride, accomplishment and happiness as I looked back over the work I had done and the people I had gotten to know.

I am now almost half way done with my term as an Alumni Mentor, and I got the privilege to attend the YouthBuild graduation last week. I had very little expectations, but thought the ceremony would be very similar to my own. Instead, I found myself among large numbers of friends, family, supporters of MHYC and most importantly the YouthBuild Corpsmembers in their cap and gowns. It was truly a celebration and a landmark in the Corpsmembers’ lives.

At the graduation we were all motivated by the words of the Lieutenant Governor Joseph Garcia, touched by the poetry of Denver Gomez and inspired by the speech given by Kenny Luckes.

If you want to hear the words that I got to hear, flip though our videos.

Corpsmembers seemed to all agree that they will miss their crew most of all when they leave MHYC!

Congratulations again to the YouthBuild crew of 2011 and good luck to you all!
~Michelle, Outreach Alumni Mentor

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In Case You Missed YouthBuild Graduation…

Here is the slideshow! Congratulations Graduates!

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Leave No Trace Training

Our ACLCs took a little break from their energy conservation work, to take a trip to Boulder to learn more about Leave No Trace in preparation for their summer crews!

Tony, an ACLC commented on some of the pictures taken that day!

LNT training was a great experience for all ACLC's to learn how to live in harmony with mother nature, and the view didn't hurt either...

Nikki is learning how to dig a cat hole for when nature calls in the back country.

David is all smiles on the trail in the Flat Irons in Boulder.

Juan is demonstrating how to build a safe fire.

Go to our facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/#!/MileHighYouthCorps to see more pictures!!

Wildlife was prevalent! We spotted some deer catching some shade by the trail.

Leave No Trace is a program meant to teach individuals about what their impact on the outdoors can be when they hike, camp, picnic, backpack, hunt, fish and do many other outdoor activities. This training, more importantly, helps to understand how to continue to do those great activites, while reducing their impact on the environment!

The seven principles of Leave No Trace are:
1. Plan ahead and prepare
2. Travel and camp on durable surfaces
3. Respect wildlife
4. Be considerate of other visitors
5. Minimize campfire impacts
6. Leave what you find
7. Dispose of waste properly

For more information check out the Leave No Trace website at http://www.lnt.org

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Support the Corps! Join MHYC for our 8th Annual Happy Hour and Silent Auction

Summer is almost here! I hope you’re looking forward to the many things to enjoy about summer in Colorado – hiking in the mountains, taking a dip in a mountain stream or your community pool, or just going on a stroll around downtown Denver.

Here at Mile High Youth Corps, we’re getting geared up for summer as well. Our Summer of Service Corpsmembers will start this month – we’re excited to announce that we are hiring for 105 positions to do work on trails in some of your favorite state parks and other public lands including Golden Gate State Park and the Hayman burn area. Members of our energy and water crews will continue installing efficient light bulbs, showerheads, and high-efficiency toilets, ensuring that some of Denver’s most financially-strapped residents will save on their energy bills year-round. And, next time you walk down one of Denver’s tree lined streets on a hot day, you may notice it’s a little shadier – that’s thanks to Corpsmembers who will be planting trees as part of Denver’s Million Trees initiative.

While MHYC receives funding from local sponsors to help support this work, we couldn’t cover all our costs without support from the community. That’s why we’re inviting you to our upcoming Happy Hour and Silent Auction – a fun-filled event to raise funds for our programs. The Happy Hour takes place on Wednesday, May 18th from 6-8 p.m. at the Funky Buddha at 776 Lincoln Street in Denver. Come out and enjoy a couple drinks on the rooftop patio, bid on silent auction items, and learn more about what MHYC plans to accomplish in 2011.

There are many ways to be involved!

Purchase Tickets:
Tickets may be purchased online at milehighyouthcorps.org/events. Every ticket includes two drinks, light fare, music from DJ IZ, and more! Plus, you’ll feel great knowing that the full cost of your ticket supports MHYC’s programs. Ticket prices are $40/individual, $70/couples, $300/ten.

Donate an Item to our Silent Auction:
There are many inexpensive items that can help generate funds for MHYC. Consider donating something from your business, offer a service, or put together a themed basket. This is a great way to support MHYC while showcasing your talents or marketing your company!

Current silent auction items include Try Scuba Experiences from A-1 Scuba & Travel Center, Entries to the Dick’s Sporting Goods BolderBOULDER, Two Hours Handyman Repair or Remodeling Consult from City Side Remodeling, a Patagonia Light Weight Travel Tote, and more! View the complete list of items at milehighyouthcorps.org/events.

Promote the Event: Share this blog posting on your favorite social networking sites – word of mouth is one of the most effective ways for us to reach out to new supporters!

FMI: Contact Caitlyn Horose, MHYC Development Assistant at 720-407-7281 x344 or caitlynh@mhyc.net.

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Meet Patrick Lundberg!

Patrick is the guy you see running around Canosa and speeding off in his mini-van to attend meetings and check out properties for the water crew. I got him to stop for a second and answer some of my questions. Check out his answers to learn a little bit more him and his role at MHYC!

Where are you from? I grew up in upstate N.Y. in a small town south of Buffalo. I moved here from Boston 18 years ago.

What is your position at MHYC? Project Manager of the Water Conservation program.

What brought you to MHYC? Serendipity for sure! I had started a water conservation company in 2003, ironically doing the type of installs the water program does, and had developed relationships with Denver Water and Aurora Water Utility. Out of those relationships and a contract with Denver Water, I was invited by Denver Water to conduct a training session on a “toilet how to” for MHYC prior to program start March 2007. I followed up with a phone call in May looking for full-time employment opportunities and was hired and started as a Crew Leader in June 2007.

What was your background before MHYC? Have you always worked in non-profits? This career has been my first foray with a non-profit. My background and education has been in that of corporations and being an entrepreneur. During the past 10 years I have started and operated three viable and profitable businesses in Real Estate, Water Conservation and Income Tax Preparation services. Prior to this I managed a portfolio of small multi-family and single family rental property in the Metro Denver area, worked as an on-site manager and did maintenance full time at multiple rental properties.

What did you want to be when you grew up? Fighter pilot.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be? Time travel back in time.

What is your favorite burrito restaurant? I enjoy the breakfast burritos at Yanna’s Café and Santiago’s.

What is your favorite thing to do in Colorado? It is not just one thing that drew me to this state. It would be the plethora of outdoor activity like mountain biking, motorcycle rides, roller blading, downhill skiing, hikes, camping and mountain drives.

What is your favorite part of MHYC? I enjoy having been given by directors and the executive director, liberties to affect change in this program to make it what it is today. That entrepreneurial and innovation spirit of culture allows one to “spread their wings”, try new ways of doing things, get feedback and make a difference in the lives of those we have touched.

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Mile High Youth Corps, this is Therese/Karol…

“Hi, how can I help you?” is usually the first thing you hear when you walk through the door of one of the Mile High Youth Corps locations. Our lovely Corpsmembrs Therese Inman and Karol Quagliato are the wonderful faces you first see when entering our building to interview, inquire about jobs or go to a meeting with staff. I personally travel to all the locations for MHYC and their warm smile and easy conversation makes traveling around a lot easier!

Thanks to Karol and Therese for all they do and how much they brighten our days!

This is what they both had to say about MHYC:

I was drawn to Mile High Youth Corps because of the opportunities it provides for youth while getting Americorps Education Awards to CorpsMembesrs to further their education. I have friends who had done Americorps VISTA and State programs that all had really enjoyed it. After moving to Denver for school, I wanted a job that made a difference in my life as well as in others’ lives. After serving one term as a Water CorpsMember, I wanted to experience other aspects of the organization so I applied for the Administrative Assistant position. Now I get to see a lot of the behind the scenes work that goes into giving our CMs green jobs and I get to interact with all of the different faces of Mile High.

I’ve stayed at MHYC because of the support we provide to the community and our dedication to conservation efforts. I really appreciate the chance to learn more about Mile High and make great connections with this organization as well as other Denver non-profits. I’m inspired by our staff, who is so dedicated to making a difference in the lives of Denver youth as well as in our community and environment. I’m proud to work at Mile High Youth Corps and I’m happy to brag about what a great organization it is at every opportunity.
~Therese

I had been looking for another job. I had and still do work at Chuck E Cheese part time , part time now more then before and I had been looking for a full time job. I began to look in the news papers and on Craigslist. On Craigslist I found an ad job for administration assistant. I read the job description and found that it was a non profit organization and it was part of AmeriCorps. I applied and I love it!
~Karol

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