2020 ANNUAL REPORT Letter from OUR CEO

Dear Friends,

Young adults ages 18-24 have been hit hard by the pandemic. We know youth unemployment is 3X what is was for young adults pre-COVID19 in Colorado. This matters because research tells us that unemployment when you’re young leads to subsequent lower pay, fewer skills developed overall, increased mental health challenges, and ultimately a decrease in life-long earnings and stability.

At Mile High Youth Corps, we are seeing firsthand that increase in need. In 2020, we received over 800 applications for 145 positions.

In March 2020, as the world shut down, MHYC mobilized quickly to respond to CDC and state guidelines. By May programs restarted in hybrid models of virtual and in-person. Adaptations and adjustments were made all along the way to ensure programs ran within the safest environment and with the highest level of impact. Corpsmembers and staff demonstrated endless flexibility and grace under pressure, keeping a focus on meeting the most urgent needs of the community.

We’ve seen our community, partners and donors come together with incredible passion and unwavering support. Because of this:

Ÿ In March 2020, the Energy & Water Conservation program converted to the Community Response and Recovery crew to partner with local organizations to provide the volunteer base needed for service delivery Ÿ YouthBuild converted their high school equivalency programming to virtual classroom learning, with 16 Corpsmembers successfully navigating this new structure. In fact, we had the fastest GED completion in YouthBuild history. Ÿ MHYC began work with a consultant to create a more inclusive approach to recruiting and retaining youth who identify as Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC) in our conservation programs. (Read more on page 11.)

Especially during these times, we are grateful for the values we share in youth development and empowerment, difference and equity, nature and the environment, and career preparation and life skills. The following report illustrates the tremendous impact your support has on Colorado youth.

In Partnership, BRIGID MCRAITH CEO

2 3 career pathways

For 29 years, Mile High Youth Corps has empowered young people to build the future they want for themselves while transforming the community.

Every year, 200 young adults from diverse life experiences, ages 18- 24, participate in paid service opportunities in career pathways rooted in conservation, affordable housing construction, and community health.

85% of Corpsmembers complete the program and emerge as engaged leaders with the tools needed to contend with the complex problems facing people and the planet.

4 5 community response and recovery work

In order to ensure the safety of Corpsmembers and to meet emergency community needs, the Energy & Water Conservation Program re-deployed as a Community Response and Recovery Crew.

Through the Community Response and Recovery Crew, MHYC supported vulnerable populations impacted by COVID-19. The majority of MHYC’s community partners lost their typical volunteer workforce, many of whom are seniors. MHYC partnered with over 20 local organizations to provide the volunteer base needed for service delivery during this critical time, including:

Ÿ Worked with Adams County Food Bank to distribute food to over 13,000 families Ÿ Assembled over 46,000 bags of food to support Food for Thought Ÿ Sanitized and distributed 500 computers to students at Highline Academy Ÿ Supported Mile High United Way's 211 call center with service hours Ÿ Helped to distribute 5,152 meals at the Denver Rescue Mission Ÿ Served 1,500 meals at the Denver Coliseum temporary shelter for women and children

“I learned how much this pandemic was hurting our community and wanted to do more to help.” - Z, Community Response and Recovery Corpsmember

6 7 mhyc alumni continue to create impact

Mile High Youth Corps alumni from years past are forest rangers, wildland firefighters, electricians, certified nurse assistants, community non-profit leaders and advocates of the environment. Alumni continue to serve their community long after they leave MHYC programs.

2020 was no different. Alumni from MHYC’s Health & Wellness pathway applied their skills on the front lines in the fight against COVID19.

We are grateful for Anastasia S. (YoutBuild 2017) and her work as a Medical Assistant in a local Denver hospital and Pearl M. (YouthBuild 2019) who worked as a Certified Nurse Aide at a Health One hospital in Denver. Numerous MHYC alumni provided additional essential services while working at health care facilities and pharmacies.

The young adults from MHYC’s Health & Wellness pathway were able to apply the skills they learned at MHYC in their work including transmission-based precautions, residents’ rights during isolation, and employer and employee responsibilities for infection prevention.

“I was able to earn my CNA certifications while at MHYC and go on to college to continue my education in the medical field. I’m now serving as a Medical Assistant in a local Denver health facility. As soon as the pandemic hit, I was afraid to be on the frontlines but it is worth coming to work every day to be a part of the fight to help save lives!” - Anastasia S., YouthBuild 2017

8 9 diversity, equity and inclusion in conservation programs

Starting in 2018, Mile High Youth Corps began the work to build a foundational understanding of our role in advancing racial equity. Understanding that conservation work often lacks diversity and inclusion has been a catalyst for many conversations. Staff, Corpsmembers, alumni and the Board of Directors have participated in a number of trainings, discussions, and action steps to support our community in the work of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).

Our commitment: MHYC is committed to dismantling the barriers of systemic racism that exist in outdoor spaces and honoring the diverse lived perspectives of its youth from Black, Indigenous, Latinx and other communities of color. MHYC embodies this commitment and strives to reduce historical barriers that have prevented natural resources from being an ethnically and racially diverse and inclusive field.

In 2020, MHYC hired The Payne Creative consultancy to optimize this work by incorporating DEI strategies and tactics into marketing and outreach plans. From this work, we have identified four priorities regarding our marketing and recruitment strategy:

Ÿ Increase the number of BIPOC youth applicants in the Land Conservation program. Ÿ Expand into new racially diverse communities. Ÿ Enhance brand awareness, specifically among BIPOC communities within the 23 Colorado counties MHYC served. Ÿ Provide BIPOC Corpsmembers with increased opportunities for advancement to staff positions.

“I have benefited personally from MHYC's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion forums, the food pantry, and free therapy sessions, which is a service provided by no other job I've previously held. Given the resources MHYC has provided me, I have been empowered to pursue a career I was formerly intimidated by, as outdoors work is historically a male-dominated field. I am now confident as a woman in outdoors work, and plan to continue working in the field of land and wildlife conservation.” Erin C., Land Conservation Corpsmember 2020

10 11 145 Corpsmembers FINANCIALS served

2020 1,200 acres of public Contracts 30% land improved $1,567,199 Contributions & Grants 22% Impact 30 miles of trail or $896,019 rivers improved Government Grants 21% $871,403 (PPP Loan: $651,000 (16%) Other 2% $77,529 In-kind 1% $77,529

229 homes retrofitted with energy & water conservation measures TOTAL REENUE

72,621 service hours 4,112,6

$257,918 in AmeriCorps Education Awards Programs 73% $3,005,807

Management 10% $394,380 Fundrasing 7% 181 Corpsmembers and Alumni $278,533 requested Support Services

143 individual telehealth counseling sessions 300+ attendees across 3 TOTAL EPENSES virtual events 3,68,2 (before depreciation) 12 13 Foundation, KPMG Coal Creek Canyon Fire Protection Mi Casa Resource Center The Place Colorado Springs Brent McDaniel Kum & Go District Mt. Evans Outdoor Laboratory School Tire World Brian McAdam Government, Opus Foundation Colavria Hospitality (Jefferson County Public Schools) Tools for Trails Bridgette Haggerty Palace Construction Colorado Cardiac CPR Namaste Solar Town of Brookside Brigid McRaith Corporate Sponsors Patagonia Colorado COREACH National Forest Foundation Tres Valles West Homeowners Calvin Delamere Phyllis M. Coors Foundation Colorado LEAP Office National Park Service: Florissant Fossil Association Carol & Fred Graham Pinnacol Assurance Colorado Mountain Bike Association Beds National Monument Turk’s Pond State Wildlife Area Carolynne White $50,000 + Prologis Colorado Parks and Wildlife Barr Lake Nurse Family Partnership Unite Colorado Cathy & Dave Dehn Pueblo Bank & Trust State Park Open Up Urban Farm Cathy Lewis Anonymous RK Foundation Colorado Spring Utilities Palace Construction Urban Land Conservancy Cathy Rock Colorado Department of Education Rocky Mountain Apparel Colorado Water Conservation Board Partners In Housing USFWS Rocky Mountain Arsenal Charlotte King Colorado Water Conservation Board Schlessman Family Foundation Colorado Watershed Assembly Period Kits National Wildlife Refuge Christopher Arend Corporation for National and Subaru Foundation Colorado Workforce Development Pikes Peak BOCES – School to Work Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado Christopher Malec Community Service- AmeriCorps Suncor Energy Council State Youth Council Alliance Program Walls Counseling Christopher Peyko Daniels Fund TDF Landscape Project Cohort Colorado Youth Corps Association Pikes Peak Outdoor Recreation Alliance Wildfire Partners – Boulder County Christy Gallese Denver Housing Authority The Denver Foundation Community College of Denver Pikes Peak Ranger District (US Forest Land Use Department Cindy Chang Denver Office of Strategic Partnerships Turner Construction Community Shares Service) Wildlands Restoration Volunteers Cindy Gaertner Energy Outreach Colorado Union Pacific Foundation CORE Partners/WORKNOW Pikes Peak United Way YouthBuild USA Collin Hoffman I-kota Weifield Group Craig’s Power Equipment Purgatoire Watershed Partnership Craig Myles National Forest Foundation Wolff Systems Culture Energized Rainbow Alley David Glynn Russell Grinnell Memorial Trust Denver Botanical Gardens Realizing Aptitudes David Septimus U.S. Department of Labor (Sun Valley community garden) REI Individuals Dayle Jones The Corps Network Denver Economic Development Rocky Mountain Field Institute Derrick Chock Great Outdoors Colorado & Opportunity Roundup Riders of the Rockies Aaron Potts* Don Overdorff Tony Grampsas Youth Services Partners Denver Housing Authority Roxborough State Park Adam Ashlock Doug McPherson W.P. Carey Denver Indian Center San Carlos Ranger District Ale Spray Ed Rosenberg YouthBuild USA A Precious Child Denver Office of Climate Action, (US Forest Service) Allen Smith Emily Grogg Action Center Sustainability and Resiliency Sand Creek Regional Greenway Amber Brusak Fred Corn Adams County Food Bank Denver Office of Strategic Partnerships Partnership Amber Palmeri Gabe Buzinski $49,999-$15,000 Adams County Parks and Open Space Denver Water – Cheeseman Reservoir SavATree Amy Kamholtz Gary McAdam Advocacy Denver Denver Water – Highline Canal Soil Cycle Amy Moyer Georgia Howard The Anschutz Foundation ARC of Jefferson, Gilpin and Clear Denver Workforce Integration Network Soles4Souls Andrew Laughiln Mat Singer Colorado COVID Relief Fund Creek Counties Denver Workforce Services South Platte Ranger District Anna Polley George Ware Colorado Healthy Rivers Fund Grant Aurora Water Douglas County Conservation District (US Forest Service) Anne Harris Ginger Littleton Community First Foundation Bessie's Hope Douglas County Fairgrounds Southwest Denver Coalition Anonymous Gregory Eurich CWCB/CYCA - San Isabel Land Bluff Lake Nature Center Eco-Rx St. Francis Center Anthony Pimental Hannah Armentrout Protection Trust Bobcat of the Rockies Emerson St. Mental Health Center Staunton State Park Antonio Barreiro Heather Larrabee* The Denver Foundation Boomers Leading Change of Denver Staunton State Park Arielle Greenbaum Heather Opland Kenneth King Foundation Boulder Ranger District Energy Outreach Colorado Sun Valley Kitchen Barbara Masoner Hope Kadlecek Kirkpatrick Family Fund (US Forest Service) Energy Resource Center The Payne Creative Barbara Nulty* Hope Trisler VF Foundation Boys and Girls Club of Metro Denver Environmental Learning for Kids ELK The Corps Network (Moving Forward Benjamin Kuckel Jackie Hannifan Xcel Energy Bureau of Land Management: Food Bank of the Rockies Initiative) Blake Hansen James & JoAnne Capecelatro* Royal Gorge Field Office Foothills Park and Recreation District The Equity Project Brandon Quickbear Jamie Lund Butterfly Pavillion Generation Wild-- Northeast Metro The Kin Collective Brent Gray Councilwoman Jamie Torres $14,999 and below Care and Share Food Bank for Coalition Southern Colorado Generation Wild – Pikes Peak Region Anschutz Family Foundation Castlewood Canyon State Park Genesee Foundation Benevity Community Impact Fund Chatfield State Park Global Machinery Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck Cherry Creek State Park Golden Gate Canyon State Park Buildmark Cheyenne Mountain State Park Greater Metro Denver Healthcare Burrell Family Foundation City of Aurora Parks, Recreation Partnership City of Westminster & Open Space Department GRID Alternatives Colorado Department of Public Health City and County of Denver Parks Groundwork Denver and Environment- COVID Mini Grant and Recreation Groundwrk Web Design Colorado Workforce Development City and County of Denver Parks Growing Home Council - SYC and Recreation - Denver Mountain Habitat for Humanity ReStore Community College of Denver ParksClear Creek Ranger District Hiawan Hills HOA Foundation (US Forest Service) Hickman Trailer Community Shares of Colorado City of Boulder Open Space Higbee State Wildlife Area Construction Education Foundation and Mountain Parks Historic Green Mountain Falls Cross H Foundation City of Colorado Springs Parks, Foundation Denver Economic Development Office - Recreation and Cultural Services HistoriCorps COVID Relief City of Commerce City Parks, I-kota Denver Office of Climate Actions, Recreation & Golf Inside Out Youth Services in CO Springs Sustainability, Resiliency City of Lakewood Las Animas County Fairgrounds FirstBank City of Pueblo Parks and Recreation Letters Against Isolation Fred and Jean Allegretti Foundation City of Thornton Maiker Housing Greiner Electric City of Trinidad MEDIC SOLO WFA King Soopers City of Westminster Metro Caring

14 15 BOARD OF SOUTHERN FRONT RANGE AMANDA KARSTETTER Program Coordinator DIRECTORS Advisory THERESA KHONG Senior Accountant CHAIR Council MICHELE KILEN KYLE HENDERSON Manager: Foundation & Government Giving Senior Vice President – Business Credit CHAIR First Bank MELISSA MARTS EUNSOL KIM Digital Marketer, Material Matters Administrative Associate VICE CHAIR LEE CARSTENSEN RACHEL LARAVIE LAUREN C. BUEHLER Outreach Associate Assistant General Counsel Park Supervisor, Pueblo Parks and Xcel Energy Recreation SANDRA LITTLE High School Equivalency Instructor SECRETARY TAMARA CLARK SWAP Specialist, Pikes Peak Board of BRIGID MCRAITH KEVIN MCADAM Cooperative Education Services(BOCES) Associate, Holland & Hart LLP CEO CHRIS LONCAR CLAIRE MORRISSY Human Resource Manager, Timberline TREASURER Associate Manager: Land Conservation Landscaping MARK DECESARIS Retired, W YESSICA NEVAREZ-VILLA . P. Carey, Inc. AARON POTTS Crew Leader Vice President, Pueblo Bank & Trust GABE BUZINSKI LENE NICHOLS Alum & High School Educator, GILLIAN ROSSI Finance/Accounting Manager Vista Academy Park Ranger Supervisor, City of Colorado Springs AMBER PALMERI JIM CAPECELATRO Senior Program Manager: YouthBuild Managing Director, Cushman Wakefield DEMETRIUS PARKER STACY CHESNEY Program Coordinator: Community Response Alumna & Director of Public Affairs, & Recovery Denver Water Staff VICTOR PLASENCIO TAMARA CLARK Field Technician SWAP Specialist, Pikes Peak Board of MONICA ACOSTA Cooperative Education Services(BOCES) JESSE ROEHM Case manager Resources Senior Manager: Land Conservation

ROB GILLIS CATHERINE ARENSBERG CJ RUNGE Janet Bloom Lisa Smith Richard Bratton VP, Dispositions, Prologis Program Coordinator: Land Conservation Associate Manager: Land Conservation Janet Scott Liza Canale Richard Buzinski Jean Campbell* Loretta McEllhiney Richard Sanders SANA IMAM BELLA BAINS JESLIN SHAHREZAEI Jean Scandlyn Margaret McRaith Rob Gillis* Senior Consultant, Performance Program Support Specialist: Land Director of Development & Communications Excellence Navigant Consulting Conservation Jean Solis Marge Chesney Robert Gregg TOM SIMODYNES Jeslin Shahrezaei Margot Rode Ronald Bodini* MICHELYN JOHNSON ANTONIO BARREIRO YouthBuild Field Coordinator: Construction Jim McKeen Martin Coover Sana Imam Project Manager, Office of Family and Deputy Director John Karakoulakis Mary Brusak Sandra Little LISA SMITH Community Engagement, Denver JAMIE BLATTER Josie & Rollie Heath* Mary & Ron Goodwin Sarah Haradon Public Schools Dir. of Finance and Planning Julie Pecaut Matthew Kuykendoll Scott Coors Conservation Evaluation and Engagement DAYLE JONES Specialist JASON VAUGHN Justin Overdorff Matthew Nagy Shaikir Cannon-Moye Program Coordinator: College and Careers Karen Stran Meaghan Egan Stacy Chesney* Manager of Preconstruction, LIZ CUMMINGS Turner Construction Karyn Browne Megan Close Stephanie Anglo Program Coordinator: Land Conservation TIM VERNI-LAU Client Intake Coordinator Kathi Conner Melissa Menter Stephanie Van Cleve LUCAS MALLORY Katie Wegner Michael Lewis* Stephen Nulty ALEXIS DIAZ Director of Project Development, Case Manager College & Trans. DARIUS WEST Kelly Causey Michael McRaith* Steve Furr PCL Construction Youth & Community Coordinator Kelvin Reed Michelyn Johnson Susan Richardson CHUCK DOLBOW Ken Seeley Mike Nulty Tab McGinley AMY MOYER Operations Manager Kendahl Warren Mike Smith Tess Richey Assistant Director for Water, Colorado *Reflects Staff, Board of Directors and Kenneth Gillis Nancy Moyer Therese Ivancovich Dept. of Natural Resources NATE EDGE Project Manager: Energy & Water Advisory Council Members from January Kevin McAdam* Nancy Shahrezaei Thomas McKeen AARON POTTS Conservation 1, 2020-December 31, 2020. Kevin McRaith Nathan Bond Thomas Shallow Vice President, Pueblo Bank & Trust Kiki Council Neal Davis Timothy Mauck JIMMY FERNANDEZ Kris Amstutz Nick Buzinski Timothy Nulty MAT SINGER HR Associate Kristina Van Bockern Nick Venetz Tom Ratty* General Manager, ServPro NIABI HART Kyle Henderson* Olga Semenova Trent Peaker MIKE SMITH Supportive Services Specialist Lara Jakubowski Pat Yingst Veronica Bathon Associate, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck Lavonne Heaviland Patrick Morrissy Zach Scott EMILY HOLMES Lawrence Pham Patty Yanker* ALE SPRAY Program Coordinator: Land Conservation Lee Kathryn Gash-Maxey Pete Kane Business Development Manager – *Building Blocks Member - HEATHER HURD Leighanne Potts Ray Stranske Community Engagement, Mortenson Gifts of $1000 or more Manager: Compliance & Data Linda Brown Rebecca Mitchell LAWRENCE PHAM Lisa Rucker Renee Azerberi Alum & Electrician, Greiner Electric XAVIER JENNINGS Manager: Equity & Leadership 16 17 1801 Federal Blvd. Denver, CO 80204 milehighyouthcorps.org 303-433-1206