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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Outcomes for 2012!

As 2012 comes to a close we would like to reflect on the amazing accomplishments of our Corpsmembers. All our Corpsmembers were eligible to receive AmeriCorps Education Awards upon completing their terms. The total amount earned by our Corpsmembers this year totaled $$253,36.. This is one of the many achievements of our Corpsmembers. See below for many more statistics that make up only a snapshot of the work that took place at Mile High Youth Corps in 2012.

• 6 miles of trail constructed in the Hayman burn area
• 13 miles of trail constructed and maintained
• 50 acres of noxious weeds removed/1,584 feet of fence constructed
• 11,722 trees cut down
• 85% of the project work completed will last more than 10 years
• 100% of enrolled summer AmeriCorps members earned their Education Award

The Following Statistics represent the work of our Second Term Water Crew.

• Homes serviced over 1,000
• Toilets installed 1,242
• Gallons of water saved annually 8.6 million gallons
• Olympic pool equivalent 13.4

Thanks to all of our Corpsmembers who made 2012 a year to remember!

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I’m ready for what’s next…

“So, what do you do, Brent?”

Over the last year, I have had a lot of friends and relatives ask me about my work and I was never exactly sure what to tell them. My position title “Outreach Alumni Mentor for Marketing & Development,” while a mouthful, doesn’t exactly tell you much. I could give them the elevator speech I have honed through countless job fairs and hiring events but even that doesn’t do it justice. I could point them to our mission statement, “help[ing] youth make a difference in themselves and their community through meaningful service opportunities and educational experiences” but to me, it’s more than that.

My two terms of service with Mile High Youth Corps encompass more to me than a few words could describe. I could tell you that my service has changed me but I couldn’t even begin to count the ways. I could fill a book with the lessons I’ve learned but I could fill a library with what MHYC has left to teach me. I could count up the hours of service I have volunteered to my adopted Denver community(2,375 to be exact), but that wouldn’t show you the impact the last 17 months have made on my life.

In my time here, I have been fortunate enough to share some amazing experiences with my fellow Corpsmembers. I have helped build a trail at Red Rocks Amphitheater that will be used by literally millions of concert-goers, I have helped Denver save hundreds of millions of gallons of water each year, and I have brought an elderly resident to tears of joy with the simple act of changing a light bulb. Throughout all of this, I have been learning; I have been watching and listening, growing and changing.

I began my service right out of college: excited for a new challenge, a new locale, and new friendships. I was scared and anxious but I had never been more motivated. Now I am at the end of my term with MHYC and the best way I can think to describe myself is “ready.” I’m ready for the next challenge, ready for the next opportunity to help my community, ready for a lifetime of service. When I left home, I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life but after serving for the last 17 months, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.

So now, when my family and friends ask me what I do, I have an answer:

I serve. I give back in the best way I know how. I mentor, I lead, I build and I pour blood, sweat, and tears into each and every project. I help those who cannot help themselves and I love every single second of it. That is what I do and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

I am eternally grateful to the staff and Corpsmembers here at MHYC for everything they have given me over the last year and a half. I will never forget the memories and bonds I have created and I will always look back on my service with a smile. You are never quite ready to leave a place you love, but it’s time for me to move forward onto the next adventure. I’ll leave you with a quote that has inspired me throughout my term and perhaps it could help you find your purpose too:

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” -Mahatma Gandhi

Thank you for everything, from the bottom of my heart.

Sincerely,

Brent M.
Outreach Alumni Mentor, 2012

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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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YouthBuild Graduation

The end of the term for our YouthBuild Corpsmembers is finally here. Last Friday, this year’s YouthBuild program concluded its nine-month cycle with a graduation ceremony for the Class of 2012.

The MHYC family is incredibly proud of our YouthBuild Corpsmembers. This term, 22 Corpsmembers have earned their GEDs, 2 earned high school diplomas, 20 are moving on to higher education opportunities, and combined have served over 10,000 hours in service to our community. They have earned countless certifications in their field and we are pleased to see nine Corpsmembers already hard at work in new jobs. We are of course very happy to see these young men and women move on to bigger and better things, but at the same time, we are sad to see our family and friends leave.

We wish our graduates the best as they move on with their careers and educations and we know we will be seeing them again before too long. As the saying goes, “Once in YouthBuild, Always in YouthBuild.”

Below is a video featuring the highlights of this year’s graduation ceremony. Take a moment to celebrate their journey with us and be sure to leave a comment wishing our graduates well for the future.

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YouthBuild has earned its first diploma!

Mile High Youth Corps is very excited to recognize the achievement of one of our YouthBuild Corpsmembers, Tequael Walker. Tequael has just earned his high school diploma through Aurora Public Schools, giving our YouthBuild program its very first diploma. This achievement would not have been possible without his hard work and perseverance, so we would like to take this opportunity to recognize him and his dedication.

Tequael attended Gateway High School in Aurora until early 2011. When he saw that he would not graduate on time, he dropped out of school. “Why do it if I can’t graduate with my own class,” he recently recalled. He was going to be the second person in his family to ever graduate high school, so naturally, they were all disappointed to hear of his decision. But after a surge in motivation, Tequael decided to try his hand once more at high school and returned during the summer in an attempt to complete his courses.

Time, however, was not on his side, and once again, Tequael saw that he would not complete his classes before the end of summer school. When his family lost their home, with no job and no diploma, Tequael began looking for work.

In his search for employment, Tequael found Mile High Youth Corps and applied for our YouthBuild program which employs 18-24 year olds without high school diplomas or GEDs. While working at MHYC, Tequael was able to take several of his incomplete high school classes online. Soon, he had finished Geometry, several gym classes, and English, which due to poor attendance had remained unfinished since his freshman year.

Tequael finished his remaining credits and last week finally earned his high school diploma. We are grateful for partnerships with Denver Public Schools, Colorado Youth for a Change, and the National Schools Initiative (NSI) funded by The Gates Foundation that have made it possible for MHYC to offer a diploma option. Mile High Youth Corps is incredibly proud of Tequael and his outstanding work, both on the job site and in the classroom. The Walker family is equally proud and Tequael says they all plan to attend the YouthBuild graduation ceremony in May.

Congratulations Tequael! You have made us all very proud.

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In Case You Missed YouthBuild Graduation…

Here is the slideshow! Congratulations Graduates!

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Toodaloo!

It’s been many a day as we come toward the end of such an awesome term. It has been 10 spectacularly awesome months and I can say my terms here at Mile High Youth Corps couldn’t have gone any better. I am leaving some of the best people I’ve ever met and I can say it’ll be a bitter sweet ending. Throughout the term I have been able to work alongside many diverse individuals and have been able to learn something from each and e every one of them. To all I have been able to get to know, thank you for giving me a new outlook on the world and giving me a chance to grow as a person and leader. I cannot express how grateful I am to have met such astounding people.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart it has been a journey and YES my friends we have conquered it.
So I’ll shall bid you ado and say “toodaloo” – I love you all and wish you the best for your future!

- Jovonna Rodriguez, Energy Conservation Corpsmember, February-December 2010

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Top Ten Things We Love About Our Alumni Mentors

Today, Steve and Vanessa will depart Mile High Youth Corps after two full years of service to the agency. Both began at Mile High Youth Corps in February 2009 as AmeriCorps Leadership and Conservation Corpsmembers. After serving a full 1,700 hour service term, they were both selected (and chose to!) serve a second full year term as Alumni Mentors. Over the past two years, their impact has been invaluable and is hard to put into words.

Thus, I present the Top Ten Things We Love About Our Alumni Mentors created by the 2010 AmeriCorps Leadership and Conservation Corpsmembers:

10.) Experience
The Alumni Mentors have already experienced what we are going through and can offer support and guidance during challenging times. They know what to expect and help us prepare for whatever we may encounter during our term.

9.) Program Design
They impact program design, planning and implementation. Since they experienced the program before they are in a unique place to provide on-going suggestions for improvement, and know what will keep the CMs engaged.

8.) Outreach
The Alumni Mentors play a vital role in agency recruitment. They interviewed us, managed applicant paperwork and represented MHYC at various outreach events. Being able to talk to someone who has already gone through the program is a huge factor in getting applicants questions answered and excited for the job!

7.) Resources
Alumni Mentors help us navigate our way through the agency when looking for additional support or resources and within the community.

6.) Technical Skills
Whether you need help installing a HET, creating a blog, or sawing down a large Russian Olive, these are the go-to technical experts that are always there to help us navigate challenging technical issues. They provide us with training and can always be called on by staff to pinch-hit out in the field at a moments notice.

5.) Dependable
Right from the start at orientation they are always there for you when you need them, at the beginning of the day and at the end of the day. They answer our questions, and if they don’t know the answer they always make sure to find it for you.

4.) Support
They always have our best interest in mind. One of their primary roles is to be there to support us and offer advice. They have gone to great lengths to help us with our next steps once our term of service ends and can be counted on to tell a funny joke to brighten a tough day, or be a shoulder to cry on if we need it.

3.) Motivators
Alumni Mentors are the immediate contact with us, the Corpsmembers as a crew, and therefore, are the best gauge of our pulse. They know when we might need some extra motivation, an incentive or a push to finish out a hard day. They are constantly looking for ways to make our experience better.

2.) Leadership
The Alumni Mentors possess a combination of personality and skills that makes us want to accomplish our goals. They provide us with direction and guidance throughout our term and especially within the agency’s Leadership Council.

1.) Role Models
The Alumni Mentors embody what AmeriCorps and MHYC is all about, through their exceptional work ethic, positive energy, commitment to service, and balance between work and fun. They inspire us to do our best everyday, to own our experience and make the most out of our term of service.

On behalf of the staff and Corpsmembers at Mile High Youth Corps, thank you Steve and Vanessa for your service and best of luck in your future endeavors!

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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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