YouthBuilders Volunteer with Bessie’s Hope

For the past eight months, YouthBuild Corpsmembers have volunteered at two senior living facilities through Bessie’s Hope Youth and Elder Program. This program enhances quality of life and creates meaningful volunteer opportunities through life-enriching interactions with nursing home and assisted living elders. Corpsmembers have spent time with the residents creating crafts, playing games, even singing and dancing. It has been an unforgettable and rewarding experience for both the seniors and the Corpsmembers. Abby, a 2013 YouthBuild graduate, shared her thoughts:

Volunteering with Bessie’s Hope impacted all of us. It was challenging at first because we were not used to spending time with the elderly, but I learned a great deal about respect. We all left having learned something from attending Bessie’s Hope. I gained self-esteem, knowing that I can make a change in someone’s life even though they face challenges. I have no living grandparents, so interacting with the elderly made me feel good as if they were my own grandparents. The seniors may not have remembered us after we left, but knowing that you can put a smile on their faces for that day was an amazing feeling. It really was such a meaningful experience for me and the other YouthBuild Corpsmembers.

The YouthBuilders will be volunteering today with Bessie’s Hope for the last time before graduation. We know that these experiences will continue to have an impact even after their term has ended.

Vincent helps seniors fill in their cards during a game of food jingo

Dennis visits while coloring with a senior at an assisted living home

Abby and Maribel put together a puzzle

The views expressed in our blog represent that of the individual and do not reflect the opinion of Mile High Youth Corps.

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MHYC Participates in Global Youth Service Day

April 26-28th marks Global Youth Service Day 2013, the largest day of service in the world and the only service event specifically dedicated to children and youth ages 5-25.  In honor of the event, MHYC took part in five different service projects throughout Denver.  Take a look below to see how our Corpmembers and Staff lent their helpful hands today:

Picking up trash, sweeping, and checking for graffiti at our Adopt-A-Spot location.

Weeding and helping to install an irrigation system for the Boys and Girls Club.

Sorting food donations, preparing pallets of food orders, packing boxes of food orders at Food Bank of the Rockies.

Landscaping and maintaining trails at the Bluff Lake Nature Center.

Helping Denver Urban Gardens lay gravel pathways for an existing community garden.

And check out the video of why our Corpsmembers serve:

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MHYC Crews Tackle Different Projects

Two of our crews at Mile High Youth Corps have been working on some interesting projects outside of their typical work schedule!

The Water crew, which installs efficient toilets and aerators in low-income households, has spent the past several weeks working in small groups on their Independent Service Learning (ISLP) projects.  Each group has a particular area of service on which they concentrate, whether it’s the environment, youth development, health and disabilities, or animals.

Last month, the ISLP groups worked together to research different volunteer opportunities within their focus area.  On Friday, March 22^nd, the groups spent the morning giving their time and serving their communities.  They mentored high school students on different prospects after graduation, made arts and crafts with children at Children’s Hospital Colorado, did environmental projects at Red Rocks, and helped out with a local animal shelter.

The groups are currently seeking out new opportunities for their second project, to be held late next month.

Sarah and Izzabella create Easter crafts with kids at Children’s Hospital Colorado.

At the beginning of their term, our YouthBuild Corpsmembers were presented with a challenging project:  working alone or in pairs, to come up with their own idea for a non-profit organization.  This non-profit would address whatever community issue they felt most strongly about.  Corpsmembers were tasked with developing a budget, a staffing structure, and a plan to reach their intended audience.

The YouthBuild Corpsmembers created a wide array of non-profit organizations that aimed to do everything from helping the homeless to providing teens with free counseling services to working with teenage girls to improve their self-esteem.  Corpsmembers presented their ideas to rest of the Corps and to the MHYC staff.  Perhaps they will go on to create the very organizations they developed here!

Vincent and Dae’Mon present their non-profit organization idea, an after-school recreation center for kids and teens.

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Reflections from a Corpsmember of the Year

Mile High Youth Corps Alumni and staff member Jesse Roehm recently returned from the Corps Network 2013 National Conference in Washington D.C., where was honored as one of the 2012 National Corpsmembers of the Year.  Read below for his reflections on his experience!

Jesse with Representative Ed Perlmutter

I left the Corps Network 2013 National Conference last week feeling refreshed and excited. In addition to touring the White House and seeing some of the sights around Washington D.C., I was able to network with leaders from youth corps all across the country. Through plenaries and workshops I learned more about the vision of the 21^st Century Conservation Service Corps, strategies for tackling the challenge of youth unemployment, and how the state of the recovering economy and sequestration of spending cuts will potentially impact our programs. I was inspired by individuals like Shelton Johnson, a park ranger at Yosemite National Park whose efforts to spread awareness of the history of Buffalo Soldiers has been recognized nationwide, and Joel Holtrop, chair of the Corps Network’s Board of Directors and retired Deputy Chief of the U.S. Forest Service. I also met with Senator Michael Bennett, Representative Ed Perlmutter and Representative Diana DeGette and shared the incredible work of Mile High Youth Corps. To top it all off, I was able to tell my story:

Growing up in a small town outside Indianapolis, Indiana, my passion for environmental conservation started at a young age. In its infancy, this passion stemmed from simply being outside. My brother and I didn’t watch TV or play video games. We tramped around in the woods, dug for worms and fished in the creek. I still remember helping my dad cover our windows with shrink wrap every fall in order to reduce the amount of energy we used to heat our house. Through small acts like this he conveyed to me the importance of minimizing our carbon footprint. Growing up, the concept of environmental stewardship gained further clarity during my time in Boy Scouts. My Eagle project involved spreading awareness of invasive species in my community. I wrote articles for the local paper, had information booths at community events, and led a group of volunteers in a large eradication at a local park.

 

After graduating from Indiana University in May 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in sociology and international studies, I needed to move away from Indiana in order to make real changes in my life. Marred by substance abuse, my life had begun to slowly spiral out of control. I needed a fresh start. An opportunity to reconnect with my values. A chance to find myself. The mountains of Colorado seemed like the ideal place to forge a new beginning.

 

I decided that I wanted to dedicate a year of my life to service and dove headfirst into the 10-month AmeriCorps Leadership and Conservation Program at Mile High Youth Corps. We started in the spring by installing energy and water saving measures in low-income properties. I stared poverty in the face and made real and tangible change. I began to relearn the concept of community and feel a sense of belonging to a greater cause. I was elected by my peers to Leadership Council, the Corpsmember-led governing body of the agency. I served as the voice of my crew, enacting policy changes based on Corpsmember input and organizing agency-wide events.

 

In the summer we transitioned to land conservation. I served as an assistant crew leader on a chainsaw crew that thinned forests to protect against wildfire. As a tree hugger at heart, I initially struggled with the concept of cutting down thousands of trees, but quickly came to understand the importance of fire mitigation. I worked harder than I ever had before, setting the tempo for the crew. I led environmental education and teambuilding activities and encouraged seasonal Corpsmembers to go the extra mile and explore the true impact of their service. Brimming with newfound confidence, I felt good about what I was doing and who I was becoming.

 

I just finished my second 1,700 hour term of service with Mile High Youth Corps. As Conservation Alumni Mentor, I provided leadership, support and training for Corpsmembers in our Energy, Water and Land programs. My role was to connect with Corpsmembers on an individual level, ensure that they were engaging in meaningful service opportunities and educational experiences and provide on-going suggestions for improvements in our programming. At its simplest, I maintained and promoted a positive corps culture across the agency.

 

After completing 3,400 hours of service, I joined the Mile High Youth Corps’ staff as a Program Specialist for our Conservation Program in December. I lead the AmeriCorps Leadership and Conservation crew that I was a part of in 2011, giving me a chance to create an AmeriCorps experience for Corpsmembers that was as valuable as mine. In addition to supervision and program management, I am the primary technical resource for land conservation projects. I am thrilled to be able to continue promoting individual learning, leadership and personal growth among Corpsmembers.

 

While working full-time at Mile High Youth Corps, I plan to use my education awards to begin work on a Master of Public Administration degree at the University of Colorado Denver. Ultimately, I would like to work in a managerial role at a Denver area non-profit focused on community development.

 

At the end of my 2 years in AmeriCorps, the biggest change is who I see in the mirror. I am proud of who I am. I AM PROUD OF WHO I AM! My AmeriCorps experience kindled a passion for service inside me. I learned the value of community, hard work and integrity and now live in service to those values.

I would like to thank the Corps Network for this tremendous honor, but the honor is not solely mine. I’m blessed to be part of an incredible team at Mile High Youth Corps that has provided me with the tools to make a difference in my own life and the lives of others. I think John Irish, a recipient of the Corps Network’s Legacy Achievement, said it best:

“The work of national movements is often described as standing on the shoulders of those who have come before us. However, it seems more accurate to describe it as a relay race in which each wave of leaders exchanges the baton with those of the previous generation.”

Well, I have the baton in my hands, and I’m thrilled to push this movement forward.

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Congratulations are in Order (Part 3 of 3)

The final story of this three part series is about Jesse Roehm. Jesse is one of six 2012 National Corpsmembers of the Year. He will be honored this year at The Corps Network’s National Conference in Washington, D.C. taking place the week of February 11, 2013.  Jesse will represent the 30,000 Corpsmembers who serve annually across the nation. Read below or link here to find out more about Jesse’s story and his lifechanging experience with Mile High Youth Corps.

Jesse Roehm

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Over the past two years, Jesse Roehm has come to Mile High Youth Corps with a dedication to sharing his passion for service. Jesse first came to MHYC in 2011 to serve in our 10-month AmeriCorps Leadership and Conservation Program. It was evident from the very beginning that Jesse was ready to work hard no matter the project, despite the personal challenges he had to overcome. One Corpsmember shared this story about Jesse:

“At the end of every day I would see him getting back from the day’s work site where he had been cutting down trees for forest thinning. He would always have a smile on his face even though he would crawl out of the van dirtier than anyone else in the van; a strong testament to his ability to work hard all hours of the day while constantly being upbeat and positive. Every day that he comes to work he goes above and beyond what is required of him. His positivity and work ethic are infectious.”

After Jesse’s first term, he was hired as the Conservation Alumni Mentor. In this role Jesse got to continue his work as a positive influence within MHYC as well as the larger community by planning service projects at local non-profits and other community organizations such as Food Bank of the Rockies and ARC Thrift Stores. Jesse took the lead role of coordinating and facilitating MHYC’s first Crew Leader training and implementing MHYC’s Career Day event. He also created and implemented weekly “big picture” activities, helping other Corpsmembers connect to the larger mission of service and see the positive impacts of their service.

Jesse excels at building relationships among a diverse group of peers, showing his understanding of and dedication to the Corps and what it is all about. One of his supervisors says, “Jesse is a true mentor, leader and inspiration to everyone he works with. “

When Jesse’s fellow Corpsmembers were asked what they have learned from him they had to say this:

“He taught me the power of positivity day in and day out and that if you truly care about something to work hard every day to achieve it, you can not only create change in your community but can excite and inspire others to do the same.”

“Jesse taught me to stay positive through thick and thin, keep a level head and always look on the good side.”

“He showed me how to be a great communicator and not to be afraid to step up to the plate and say and do what is needed in a leadership role.”

“I feel lucky to have Jesse as a mentor, I think he truly believes in the influence that Mile High Youth Corps and AmeriCorps can have on young adults, and his belief comes through in his overwhelming concern and compassion towards every single Corpsmember. He has been a key agent in helping me to always see the bigger picture and to understand truly what service means. Jesse had made a huge impact on me and how I have come to view my own term of service.”

Jesse has worked tirelessly over the past two years to help his fellow Corpsmembers recognize the impact they can have on their community and themselves. As a result of his passion for service, dedication to the Corps and exceptional work ethic, Jesse has been hired to continue his work with Mile High Youth Corps as a staff member. He will serve as the Programs Specialist: Conservation and his job duties will include the supervision and program management of the two roles that he filled as a Corpsmember, the AmeriCorps Leadership and Conservation crew and the Conservation Alumni Mentor.

Congratulations Jesse! You have a heart for service and your ability to connect to young adults will continue to inspire us and the nation.

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Serving for A Day On Not A Day Off!

On Monday, January 21, MHYC staff, Corpsmembers and community volunteers joined forces with the Salvation Army Crossroads Shelter to serve on the MLK National Service Day. One Corpsmember reflected on the day saying

“I believe it is important to give back on this day.  When I think of Martin Luther King, Jr., the first thought that comes to mind is service.  By helping meet the needs of those in our community, we are continuing his work.”

Our dedicated group worked on many projects, including sorting food donations, general building maintenance and cleaning, as well as providing a fresh coat of paint throughout the shelter.

Corpsmember Johnny said “Painting the library was hard work, but working with my friends and knowing that we were contributing to a bigger cause made it all worth it.”

MHYC staff, Corpsmembers and volunteers serve as A Day On Not A Day Off at the Salvation Army Crossroads Shelter.

MHYC Serves as Day on Not a Day off at the Salvation Army Crossroads Shelter

MHYC Serves as Day on Not a Day off at the Salvation Army Crossroads Shelter

MHYC Serves as Day on Not a Day off at the Salvation Army Crossroads Shelter

MHYC Serves as Day on Not a Day off at the Salvation Army Crossroads Shelter

MHYC Serves as Day on Not a Day off at the Salvation Army Crossroads Shelter

MHYC Serves as Day on Not a Day off at the Salvation Army Crossroads Shelter

Thank you to all of our staff and Corpsmembers for their time on this important day!

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Looking back on the Water Crew

As their term draws to a close, Water Crew wanted to share their thoughts and reflections on the last few months of service. Here’s what a few of them had to say:

“MHYC is definitely one of the best experiences anyone could have throughout their lives! My favorite memory of working on the Water Crew is working with all the ACLCs and making friends with everyone.” – Jamie

“I have built so many great friendships in a short amount of time. I have made some real connections and met great people to network with and expand my professional contacts.  I have also had the chance to expand on my photography skills and have been recognized for my contribution to MHYC.” -Ryan

“What I’ve gotten from this term was the best experience in my life so far. I’ve learned all sorts of different things I didn’t even know about, like personal growth or how to challenge yourself in new and different situations.” – Kelsey

“Besides all the new friendships, I have really appreciated learning about all the environmental issues that face us these days. I will continue to serve because it is my responsibility as a member of society and the human family to help those less fortunate.” -Brandon

“There’s just so much I’ve learned from this term. I never realized how much we’re impacting our environment. It has been a privilege for me to become part of a bigger picture that’s trying to help our planet as well as our community.” -Rueben

Thank you Water Crew for your incredible work this term! It has been a record-setting term, installing 1,242 high-efficiency toilets in over 1,000 homes in just FIVE months! We all look forward to seeing the returning Corpsmembers back again in January and we wish our graduating Corpsmembers the best of luck in the future!

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Whole Foods Support MHYC with Grab & Give Food Drive

This year we invite you to join Mile High Youth Corps (MHYC) and the Cherry Creek Whole Foods Market as we team up to fill the shelves of our corpsmember food bank. This is the first year that MHYC has been selected as a recipient  of the annual Grab & Give program. This program not only demonstrates Whole Foods Market’s dedication to one of its core values: Caring About Our Communities & Our Environment, it also ensures our youth will have healthy meals throughout the holiday season.

To participate, customers should choose from one of three, pre-packaged meals—designed to feed a family of four—at check out for $5 or $10. Beginning on Thursday December 13, through Thursday December 20, all meals purchased at the Cherry Creek Whole Foods, 2375 East 1st Avenue  Denver, CO 80206, will be donated to MHYC’s food bank.

For more information about the Grab & Give program or Mile High Youth Corps, contact Hilary Engelhart at hilarye@mhyc.net or 720.407.7281 x333. Invite your friends and family to help us feed our youth this holiday season!

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Indy Give! Starts Today!

2012 Indy Give! Logo

Today is the kick-off for Colorado Springs’ fourth annual Indy Give! campaign. Our Mile High Youth Corps Colorado Springs location is participating once again. Click here to donate today.

As a way to kick-off this campaign, MHYC is joining forces with Rocky Mountain Field Institute and the Coalition for the Upper South Platte for a guided tour of the Waldo Canyon Burn Scar at the Flying W Ranch at 10am on Saturday, November 10. Your ticketsupports the work of these nonprofits in the Waldo Canyon Burn scar.Meet with experts, including special guest Jerri Marr from the Pike and San Isabel National Forest, and the groups leading the restoration efforts of the Waldo Canyon Fire. Learn about restoration techniques, next steps, and how YOU can help.

Limit 100 participants
$30/person
Age 18 and older onlySIGN UP ONLINE: www.uppersouthplatte.org/waldoevent.html

Can’t make this event? You can still give through Indy Give! Check us out at http://www.indygive.com/participating-non-profits/youth/mile-high-youth-corps-of-colorado-springs/

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The Impact of My Summer

This post is authored by Nate, an ACLC Corpsmember and Assistant Crew Leader for the Trail Blazers.

The start of the summer term at MHYC was something that I had been looking forward to since the final cold day of January, when my term began.  Luckily for me, time did fly as I had fun working on water and energy crews in the early spring.  January and February quickly melted away and before I knew it, the beginning of summer and the day I had been most anticipating had finally arrived.  A scavenger hunt designed by Jesse helped to serve as a virtual sorting hat, leading me down a path that would eventually lead to an amazing summer.

I’m sure I would have been happy serving on any of the four crews based out of our Denver office, but as luck would have it I soon found that I was to be a Trail Blazer!  The name Trail Blazer just sounded so cool to me!  I never would have thought that moving to Denver after college my official job title would end up being Trail Blazer.  Okay, maybe it wasn’t my official job title, but still pretty cool.  Every morning this summer, I got to crawl out of bed and get ready for the day knowing that I wasn’t just getting up to go to any old job — every morning this summer, I woke up a Trail Blazer.

What exactly does a Trail Blazer do, one may ask.  Well, after being trained by the forest service in an S-212 chainsaw class, I got to cut down trees everyday.  Not only did I get to cut down trees, but I got to work with an awesome crew of seasonal Corpsmembers.  I was worried that my summer experience was not going to be as fun as my previous term fall forestry term, but to my surprise, our crew was just as amazing.  Throughout the term I was constantly impressed by the initiative and skill that the seasonal Corpsmembers showed.  They went from never having touched a chain saw to all becoming grade-A sawyers.  One of my leadership roles was to keep track of the number of trees and acreage we cut.  At the end of each day, I would ask each Corpsmember how many trees they had cut down that day and I never was disappointed.  By the end of the summer, we didn’t just cut down 11,722 trees — we cut down 11,722 bad trees. The trees we removed were dead, infested with pine bark beetles, or overcrowding healthy parts of the forest and we made a huge environmental impact by taking them out.

After all was said and done, our crew didn’t end up winning the MHYC Summer Olympics.  But for me, after our success in the community, the crew Olympics didn’t really matter.  My summer was still one of the most fun and rewarding times I have ever had.  I learned a lot about myself and was able to witness first hand the impact that a group of hard-working, committed youth can have while serving our community.  It was a great to see such a diverse group of youth from different backgrounds, each at different points in their lives, uniting in order to grow together and do great things.

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