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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YouthBuild Corpsmembers Prepare for Graduation

In three weeks, MHYC’s YouthBuild Corpsmembers will be graduating from their program.  Since September, these young men and women have been studying for the GEDs and learning new construction skills.  With a few weeks left, ten Corpsmembers have earned their GED and 17 have earned their AmeriCorps Education Award.  Nearly every Corpsmember is within one or two tests of their GED!

I caught up with two of our Corpsmembers, Eloy Gonzales-Martinez and Abby Lopez, about their time at MHYC and what they have planned for their futures.

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What is the most important thing you learned this year?

Eloy:  Both education and college are extremely important.  No one can take those things away from you.
Abby: You can’t get anywhere in life without having an education.

What is your favorite memory from your time at MHYC?

Eloy: My favorite memory is when I went to the Young Leaders Conference in DC.  It was the best experience of my life.  (Read more of Eloy’s thoughts about the YLC here).
Abby: Making it into the program at the very beginning of the year.  I really wanted my GED!

What are you future plans?

Eloy: I’ve been accepted to the Community College of Denver.  I am going to study there for two years and then transfer to a four year school.  I want to study Anthropology and Archeology.  I also want to stay connected with MHYC by doing another term of service.  I already applied for Summer of Service!  (For more information about our Summer of Service opportunities, click here).
Abby:  I am starting at CCD this fall, as well!  I want to become a Pharmacist.

YouthBuild graduation will be held on May 24, 2013 at St. Catejan’s on the Auraria campus.

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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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Top 10: Interview Tips

As we approach peak hiring season here at MHYC, we thought it would be fitting to offer some helpful interview tips.  Check out the top 10 tips contributed by MHYC Staff and Corpsmembers :

10. Do your research!  Be familiar with the company’s mission, history and values.

9. Ask questions about the company and position.  You are interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you!

8. Be 10 minutes early.

7. Know yourself.  Be able to turn your weaknesses into something positive.

6. When asked for an example, tell a story.  Everyone loves a good story.

5. Dress for interview success.  The first impression you make on a potential employer can make a big difference.

4. Listen carefully to each question asked. Pause and collect your thoughts before answering. Don’t be afraid to have them repeat the question.

3.  Practice interviewing.  It will help give you a framework for your responses.

2.  Take the time to say thank you. Not only is it good interview etiquette, it reinforces your interest in the position.

1.  It’s ok to be nervous. Breathe and do your best!

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YouthBuilders Return from DC

The 2013 AmeriCorps Conference of Youth Leaders took place last week in Washington D.C. with the purpose of connecting YouthBuild participants from all over the country.  Lawrence Pham and Eloy Martinez were selected to attend the conference which proved to be quite an exciting experience.  Lawrence was elected to be Colorado’s Representative on YouthBuild USA’s Young Leaders Council, a highly competitive and distinguished position.  The Council is a peer-elected body that serves as a voice for the national YouthBuild movement.  He will participate in various leadership roles such as policy-making and advocacy for YouthBuild USA.  He tells us about his experience here:

                 The Young Leaders Conference was fun.  Everyone had a blast.  We did a lot of group activities mainly focusing on team builders.  Everyone had to contribute and make the most out of our experience.  We participated in activities where the staff would spit wisdom into our lives.  Everything at the conference helped us think more positive and accept the fact that there are always bad things that happen. 

                The experience with other YouthBuild members was incredible.  We bonded so well because no one judged and everyone welcomed every single person there with open arms, even the chef.  We talked about life in their communities.  It shocked me how everyone could relate to each other no matter how far apart we live.  Meeting them was a true honor.  We made bonds that I believe will last forever.

                The one and only thing I was really nervous about was giving a speech for the Young Leaders Council.  Every day I was more frightened, not because of all the people looking at me, but because I didn’t know if my speech would be powerful enough to capture everyone’s heart.  The time limit was very strict, so it had to be inspiring and short which added even more pressure.  When the time came, I was shaking, but ready.  They called my name, and I went for it.  After my speech, I felt like I was on top of the world.  Many people came up to me to tell me what a great job I’d done.  It was one of the best feelings.

                After the trip, I felt really empowered.  Love and unity coursed through my veins as I entered the plane.  The energy was great, and I had no doubt it would last past the conference.  Overall, the experience was really powerful and motivating.  Being around 115 youth that were in the same shoes as me and who were taking a huge step in changing, not just their life but the world, helped me realize the potential in these once lost souls.

 

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To read more about the Young Leaders Conference, please visit www.YouthBuild.org.

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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Made in AmeriCorps – AmeriCorps Week 2013

This Saturday, March 9^th, marks the beginning of AmeriCorps week!

AmeriCorps Week aims to build awareness of national community service in communities across the country.  AmeriCorps members have completed one billion hours of service since 1994, and this week celebrates their accomplishments and highlights the importance of what alumni have done and what current members continue to do.

The theme for AmeriCorps Week 2013 is “Made in AmeriCorps.”  AmeriCorps provides its members with chances to improve not only their country, but themselves.  Members learn the value of helping others, have a chance to learn a variety of skills, and become leaders in their communities.

Here at Mile High Youth Corps, Corpsmembers will be celebrating AmeriCorps Week by doing several different service projects on Friday, March 15^th.  They will be displaying all the ways they were Made in AmeriCorps by cleaning up a neighborhood, serving at a food bank, and doing many other projects in the Denver area.

Our Corpsmembers are extraordinary young men and women and the future leaders of this country!

How are you Made in AmeriCorps?

Click here for more information about AmeriCorps week or to find out how you can serve in your community at MHYC or other AmeriCorps programs.

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YouthBuild Corpsmembers work to earn their GEDs

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YouthBuild USA was formed in 1990, based off the Youth Action Program developed by Dorothy Stoneman in East Harlem during the late 1970’s.   The organization’s mission is to “unleash the intelligence and positive energy of low-income youth to rebuild their communities and their lives.”  To do that, YouthBuild helps young adults get their GED while developing their construction skills and giving back to their community.  In a little over twenty years, 273 YouthBuilds have been established in 46 states.  Mile High Youth Corps’ YouthBuild program is the only one in the state of Colorado.  Since September, Corpsmembers have split their time between working one-on-one with subcontractors to learn a variety of construction skills (building, electrical work, plumbing, and more) and studying in the classroom as they make steps toward earning their GEDs.

To earn a GED, a person must take five tests in Reading, Writing, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies.  As of today, six Corpsmembers from the Mile High Youth Corps YouthBuild program have earned their GEDs, and every one of them is making great strides toward that achievement!  I recently spoke to three of our Corpsmembers about their progress toward getting their GED.  Vincent Martinoli, Dae’Mon Davis, and Angel Medina are all on their way to accomplishing their goal—Vincent passed his fourth test earlier this week, and both Dae’Mon and Angel only have two tests left to complete.

What made you join YouthBuild?

Vincent:  I wanted to get my GED and make money at the same time.
Angel:  I joined to get an education and for my daughter.

What has been the biggest challenge?

Dae’Mon: Being on the construction site and learning different trades.
Vincent:  Getting focused in the classroom because it’s been awhile since I had to do that.

What has been the most rewarding part of this experience?

Angel:  The sense of accomplishment.  I never had someone say “you did a good job” to me before.  Now I’ve been Corpsmember of the Month, and it means a lot to me.
Vincent:  Getting recognized for my work ethic.  I always knew I was a hard worker, but hearing that from my supervisors has been really rewarding.
Dae’Mon:  Taking steps toward the future and getting close to post-secondary education.

What do you plan to do after graduation?

Dae’Mon:  Work and go to college for business.
Angel:  Go to college or become a plumber.
Vincent:  Go to trade school.

All three of these Corpsmembers have helped to build affordable housing with the Denver Housing Authority while studying for their GED tests.  They have done a lot since their arrival in September, and we here at MHYC are proud of all they have accomplished and excited to see what they will do in the future!

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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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Congratulations are in Order! (Part 1 of 3)

This year Mile High Youth Corps (MHYC) has been honored to have three of our Corpsmembers be selected as Corpsmembers of the Year.  Corpsmembers are nominated by their peers and MHYC staff for this designation and then go through a rigorous process to become candidates for State and National Corpsmembers of the Year. Mile High Youth Corps has two Corpsmembers who will be recognized at the state level and one Corpsmember will be recognized as a national Corpsmember of the Year.

Danielette Griffin, from the Denver region and Christian Ndushabandi, from the Southern Front Range region, join eight other youth corps awardees from around the state to receive recognition at the Colorado State Capitol on Monday February 4, 2013 at the Annual Youth Corps awards ceremony. Christian has also been selected as the Youth Speaker for this big day.

Our third awardee is Jesse Roehm. Jesse has been selected to represent more than 30,000 Corpsmembers across the nation as a National Corpsmember of the Year. Jesse will be recognized in Washington D.C. during the annual The Corps Network National Conference the week of February 11, 2013. Jesse will visit with Senators and Members of Congress as well as participate in sessions and workshops as an active participant, providing his unique story and ideas to help support the national Corps movement.

Over the next three weeks we will be sharing the impact that our three Corpsmembers of the Year have had while at Mile High Youth Corps.

Danielette (Daniel) Griffin

(Corpsmember of the Year from MHYC’s Denver Metro Region)

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All of our Corpsmembers come to Mile High Youth Corps looking for something, and all of them come with their own life story and perspective. Daniel Griffin was no different. Faced with some big changes in his personal life, Daniel came to Mile High Youth Corps in January 2011, as a quiet and shy young adult who had a hard time interacting with new people.

Despite the personal challenges that Daniel faced, he always made the most of his Corpsmember experience. He worked tirelessly to push himself outside of his comfort zone and get to know the members of his crew and the staff at MHYC. Daniel used the leadership opportunities that MHYC provided to find a leadership style that worked for him and in turn resonated with the members of his crew. One of his peers said, “Daniel taught the team that everyone has the ability to shine.”

With his new found confidence, Daniel was promoted to assistant crew leader, was selected to participate in a 40 hour BPI weatherization training and represented MHYC at a Youth Summit Conference in Washington, D.C.

Throughout Daniel’s four terms with MHYC he exemplified what it is to be a member of the Corps. His ability to share his passion and his personal and professional growth with his fellow Corpsmembers made his whole crew and all of MHYC stronger.

Daniel had this advice for future Corpsmembers, “I would say that you shouldn’t do this type of work for the money. You should do it for the lasting relationships that you will make and the impact that it will have on your community. You will come away from this experience with some of the best memories you will ever have.”

Congratulations Daniel! You have made an impression on everyone you have come in contact with and are truly deserving of this award!

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Corpsmember Resolutions!

Just before graduation in early December, we asked the Water Crew to look ahead into the new year and share their New Year’s Resolutions! Here are the 10 best:

10) To get my body right and start eating healthy!

9) To be successful in my next term at MHYC.

8) To continue with environmental conservation and educate others about it.

7) To have my own apartment this year.

6) To use my money more carefully. Budget plan here I come!

5) To continue in my personal growth!

4) To find a job after the term ends and stick with it.

3) To stay in touch with all the graduating Water and ACLC Corpsmembers!

2) To take all I have learned this year and carry it with me.

and the top New Year’s Resolution of the Water Conservation Crew is:

1) TO CONSERVE WATER!

I mean really, did you expect anything less?

Happy New Year from MHYC!

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