Strengthening America together: Service & Conservation corps Corps Offer Solutions to Some of America’s Most Pressing Challenges
The Corps Network | 1275 K St., NW - Suite 1050 Washington, DC 20005 | 202-737-6272 | www.corpsnetwork.org Executive Summary
The Corps Network: A leader in National Service
Since 1985, The Corps Network (TCN) has provided leadership and support to America’s Service and Conservation Corps. TCN’s membership of over 130 Corps operate across all 50 states and the District of Columbia, touching thousands of lives every year. Through advocacy, and by providing Corps access to funding opportunities and expert guidance, TCN helps America’s Service and Conservation Corps offer quality programming and demonstrate accountability to their communities and the Corpsmembers they engage.
Supporting corps to strengthen America
America needs a Corps in every state and major community. By engaging youth and veterans in service, Corps address public lands and infrastructure needs. By supporting Corps, we can make America stronger together. Here’s what we can do:
1. Create a 21st Century Corps Leadership Council: A council comprised of representatives from the federal resource management and infrastructure agencies should oversee public-private partnerships between Corps and the government. This council would help relevant agencies use existing programs and funding to engage Corps in meeting their missions. 2. Encourage land agencies to allocate more of their existing budgets to partner with Corps: There are billions of dollars in backlogged maintenance and improvement projects on America’s public lands. Corps offer a cost- effective solution to complete this work. With the help of Corps, land management agencies can improve access to public lands and address wildfires and infrastructure needs. 3. Promote increased engagement of Corps in addressing urban challenges: Corps in America’s biggest cities address issues related to energy efficiency, water infrastructure, human services and transportation. Federal agencies should prioritize Corps on RFP’s and set-aside a portion of existing funds to, for example, engage Corps in the Community Development Block Grant program, and water and transportation projects. 4. Leverage disaster-related funding to increase Corps work in resiliency/disaster response: Corps implement natural resource and community resiliency projects and respond to major disasters. FEMA, and related disaster resiliency and mitigation funding, should be better leveraged to engage Corps in these efforts. 5. Expand service year opportunities: All young people who want to serve our country should be able to. AmeriCorps should be fully funded to reach 250,000 annual service members; non-competitive federal hiring and college credit should be provided for serving; Corps should be scaled up during times of high unemployment; and flexibility is needed to use Corps as workforce and pre-apprenticeship/apprenticeship programs.
1 The Corps Network The Impact of Service and Conservation Corps
Corps play an indispensable role in communities across the United States. By engaging roughly 25,000 diverse young adults and recent veterans in national service every year, Corps address pressing community issues, ranging from broken sidewalks and rundown parks to wildfires and other natural disasters.
The service projects Corps perform make our neighborhoods more resilient and our public lands and waters healthier and more accessible. Serving in teams under the guidance of skilled mentors, Corpsmembers receive valuable job training. They can also earn industry-recognized certifications and, at Corps that offer traditional educational programming, Corpsmembers can complete their high school requirements and enroll in college or technical school.
Corps not only improve how our neighborhoods and parks look; they benefit the economy. Many Corpsmembers are young people who might otherwise be disconnected from school and the workforce. In exchange for their service, Corpsmembers receive a stipend and, in many cases, a scholarship to help them pursue further education or training. Graduates of Corps are competitive potential employees with grit and a sense of civic responsibility. Corps are a win-win-win for our communities, our people and our natural spaces.
Restoring public lands and infrastructure while saving the government money Corps are essential partners of our country’s local, state and federal natural resource managers. Corps provide skilled labor to complete essential maintenance, improvement and access projects on public lands and waters. Corps help overburdened municipal and natural resource agencies meet project demands in a cost-effective manner. Support for Corps = Cost-effective ways to manage resources & fix deteriorating infrastructure
Cutting Unemployment Corps train young adults for positions in growing sectors like resource and infrastructure management, energy and environmental remediation. Corps help their participants earn professional certifications and gain work experience through service projects. Intensive service also affords young people the chance to develop soft skills – like the abilities to communicate and take direction – that are essential for successful employment. Additionally, Corps assist returning veterans by helping them translate skills learned in the military into civilian careers. Support for Corps = Building a more competitive workforce
Helping At-Risk Youth Get Back on Track Millions of youth are disconnected from school and work, costing taxpayers billions of dollars every year. The traditional school model doesn’t work for everyone; Corps give young people the chance to earn money while learning job skills and working towards a high school diploma or GED. The Corps program model combines education, mentoring, job training and service to the community: all the things a young person needs to become a productive adult. Support for Corps = Helping disconnected youth reach their full potential
Making Communities & Public Lands More Sustainable and Resilient In an economic sense, Corps make communities resilient by creating a skilled workforce. Corps make communities physically more resilient by anticipating/responding to natural disasters and by completing projects that improve resource management. When natural disasters occur, Corps deploy across the country to help clean debris and organize donations and volunteers. Some Corps install energy, solar, and water-saving retrofits in businesses and low-income homes. Some Corps manage recycling facilities. Some Corps operate landscaping or green infrastructure programs to address drought. Some Corps assist wildland firefighting efforts and help mitigate invasive species. Corps help communities prepare for, and react to, the realities of our time. Support for Corps = Creating more resilient, modern and adaptable communities
Continue reading to learn more about how Corps strengthen America
2 Examples of Corps Projects
• Trail maintenance and construction • Fighting wildfires • Removing invasive species Corps Strengthen America • Prescribed burns • Building retaining walls What are Service and Conservation Corps? • Building campground infrastructure Service and Conservation Corps are comprehensive career development • Species monitoring and control programs that engage diverse, and often disadvantaged, young people • Landscaping (ages 16 – 25) in service projects that address local environmental and • Reintroducing native species community needs. Many Corps provide their Corpsmembers with a living allowance, scholarship money and access to counseling and career- • Habitat restoration planning services. Some Corps also enroll returning veterans (generally up • Stabilizing stream banks to age 35). Corps offer veterans the opportunity to continue to engage in • Water quality monitoring meaningful service while simultaneously training for civilian careers. • Operating recycling facilities Through service projects, Corpsmembers gain hands-on job experience • Recycling pick-up services and earn certifications related to energy efficiency, conservation, resource • Building and maintaining urban management and other growing fields. farms and gardens • Reclaiming abandoned lots What is The Corps Network? • Water infrastructure Founded in 1985, The Corps Network (TCN) is the National Association of • Irrigation Service and Conservation Corps. We tell the story of Corps on a national • Building parks level; advocate for federal policies that benefit Corps; operate an • Planting trees accreditation program to certify the quality of Corps programs; provide • Cleaning streams our members access to funding and project opportunities; and serve as a repository of knowledge on Corps operations. • Preserving historic buildings • Weatherizing homes One of TCN’s main roles is to respond to changing trends in workforce • Making homes more water efficient development, youth development and conservation. TCN has led • Installing solar panels successful initiatives to engage specific populations in Conservation Corps • Removing graffiti (e.g. veterans, opportunity youth, formerly incarcerated youth) and engage • Community education Corps in providing training in growing career fields (e.g. green energy, coastal restoration, historic preservation). TCN keeps America’s Corps relevant and responsive. Corps In Numbers - 2015 For example, through a grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service, TCN leads the Opportunity Youth Service Initiative 17,984,000 (OYSI), focused on engaging “opportunity youth” – young people who are pounds of waste collected & properly disposed of neither in school nor working – in education and conservation service. 2,877,344 Through a grant from the Walton Family Foundation and partnership with trees planted The Nature Conservancy, The Corps Network leads the Gulf Coast Restoration Initiative (GCRI), focused on expanding the capacity of Corps in 567,173 economically depressed communities along the Gulf of Mexico. acres of habitat restored 364,976 The Corps Network is also a co-chair of the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps (21CSC) initiative, which aims to increase the number of acres of invasive species removed youth and veterans engaged in service on public lands. TCN is an advocate 22,044 for the bi-partisan supported 21CSC Act (S.1993, H.R.5114) which, without energy audits perfomed on public facilities & any cost to taxpayers, would bring the 21CSC initiative closer to its goal of low-income homes 100,000 youth and veterans engaged in conservation service by 2018. 16,545 Another one of The Corps Network’s main roles is to facilitate relationships low-income homes weatherized between local/state-based Corps and numerous national organizations and 16,059 federal agencies. For example, TCN has national cooperative agreements public facilities improved or constructed with agencies like the National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service and administers an AmeriCorps National Direct Grant from the Corporation for 10,807 National and Community Service. miles of trail constructed/improved 396 3 The Corps Network disasters responded to (fires, floods, etc.) Montana Conservation Corps
Restoring public lands and infrastructure while saving the government money
Many local, state and federal land and water management agencies have more work to do than they can complete on their own. The National Park Service alone has nearly $12 billion in deferred maintenance.1 Each year we fail to address aging infrastructure, the backlog grows and parks fall further into disrepair. This backlog doesn’t include the mountain of projects needed to bring our parks into the 21st century.
Service and Conservation Corps partner with agencies like the Park Service, U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to build and maintain trails, stabilize stream banks, preserve historic structures, remove dead trees, address wildfires and invasive species and complete a range of other projects that help keep public lands open for our use. In urban areas, Corps partner with city agencies in a similar manner to complete projects like repairing sidewalks, removing graffiti, reclaiming abandoned lots, improving public housing properties, clearing storm channels and planting trees for erosion control and shade.
A study conducted by the National Park Service demonstrated that the agency can save 50 percent or more on project costs by partnering with Conservation Corps.2 Additionally, Corps provide high-quality work: in a survey of federal Corps partners, nearly all (99.6 percent) said they would work with Corps again.3
1 “Planning, Design, and Construction Management - NPS Deferred Maintenance Reports.” National Park Service. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Web. 22 July 2016. 2 “Conservation Corps Project Analysis, Fall 2012.” Park Facility Management Division. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Web. 22 July 2016.
3 Jastrzab, JoAnn; Masker, Julie; Blomquist, John; Orr, Larry. “EVALUATION OF NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMS Impacts of Service: Final Report on the Evaluation of American Conservation and Youth Service Corps.” Abt Associates. 1996. Print.
4 Proper management of public lands is Corps participants - 2015 essential to maintaining America’s $646 billion outdoor economy.4 For this very 24,631 total Corpsmembers | 55.2% male, 44.3% female reason, the Outdoors Industry Assoc., 4% the Secretary of the Interior, four former 4% = White Secretaries of the Interior and both Republican and Democratic members of Congress support the 21CSC Act and the = Black, African American use of Corps on public lands. 16% = Other In addition to fixing and improving public property, Corps train a new, 48% = Asian diverse generation of natural resource professionals to care for our lands and = American Indian, waters. Right now, 80 percent of the 28% Alaskan Native, country’s park rangers and 68 percent of Hawaiian/Pacific Islander individuals who participate in outdoor 5 recreation are white. It is imperative to the * 19% identified as Hispanic protection of natural spaces that we engage new and different people in enjoying and managing public lands. Corps operate in cities and small towns across the country and enroll young people from within the community. Through Corps, individuals who may otherwise have little connection with nature or municipal resources have the opportunity to work on public lands and learn their value. As of 2016, over 30 percent of employees at the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture and over 40 percent of the workforce at the Department of Housing and Urban Development will be eligible to retire.6 Corps train a diverse new generation to replace our aging workforce.
Disaster Recovery on Public Lands & Historic Sites In 2015, New Jersey Youth Corps (NJYC) of Phillipsburg participated in a Hands- On Preservation Experience (HOPE) Crew project with the National Park Service’s Gateway National Recreation Area Sandy Hook Unit. Gateway NRA was hit hard by Hurricane Sandy and is still recovering.
The more than 60 buildings that comprise the Fort Hancock Historic District, a decommissioned US Army base at Sandy Hook, are in various states of decay. Out of the many potential projects to choose from, the Park Service chose to use Hurricane Sandy relief funds to reconstruct the porch at Building 26 as this is the one structure at Sandy Hook with which park visitors can interact. Lacking a safe porch, the building had been closed off to the public.
Corpsmembers on the Sandy Hook project had many notable accomplishments in addition to the benefits of helping with disaster recovery: five Corpsmembers performed over 1,200 hours of service while learning the craft of historic preservation, two Corpsmembers secured work in the construction trades as laborers, and three obtained their high school diplomas while engaged in the project, citing the work they performed as having been directly beneficial.
4 The White House. Office of the Press Secretary. Fact Sheet: Obama Administration Recognizes 100th Anniversary and Economic Benefits of America’s National Parks. The White House. The White House, 17 June 2016. Web. 22 July 2016.
5 Buhay, Corey. “How diverse is the outdoor community?” SNEWS Outdoors. SNEWS. 30 June 2016. Web. 22 July 2016.
6 Rein, Lisa. “Wave of Retirements Hits Federal Workforce.” The Washington Post. The Washington Post. 26 August 2013. Web. 22 July 2016.
5 The Corps Network Mile High Youth Corps
Cutting unemployment Examples of Certifications Americans ages 16 – 24 experience unemployment rates over twice Corpsmembers Can earn the national average. All teens and young adults need that “first job,” and though enrollment in a Corps is technically not employment, it offers the experience and benefits of a job. Air Sealing Training Asbestos Removal Corps provide participants with trainings and certification courses BPI Home Weatherization Technician in fields like home energy retrofitting, aquatic restoration, forestry, brownfields remediation and green building. By practicing new job BPI Insulation/Air Sealing Tech skills in service projects throughout the community, Corpsmembers BPI Certified Building Analyst gain workplace experience and exposure to different career fields. Certified Home Energy Rater They work alongside professionals from agencies like the National Commercial Driver’s License Park Service and other organizations that partner with Corps to DoE Weatherization Tech complete important work. This affords Corpsmembers the chance to Duct Sealing Certification build relationships with potential future references and employers. Forklift Certification Perhaps most importantly, service in a Corps teaches young HAZMAT adults essential 21st century “soft skills.” In the Corps model, HAZWOPER Corpsmembers serve together in teams under trained Crew Leaders. HVAC The crew dynamics teach Corpsmembers about communication, Home Weatherization Tech leadership, respect for authority, conflict resolution and the Insulation Tech importance of accountability and time management. People leave OSHA Training Corps as better leaders, better team players and better employees. Pesticide Applicator License Part of what makes a Corps experience “like a job” is that S-212, Chainsaw Training Corpsmembers receive a stipend or living allowance for their S-130/190, Wildland Firefighter (a.k.a. Red Card) service. Many Corps also offer trainings in financial literacy and Wilderness First Aid money management to help their participants plan for the future. Wilderness First Responder
6 As one of the main goals is to prepare young adults for the next step, Corps help their participants craft résumés, practice interviews and make connections with local employers.
Employers are looking for applicants with the kinds of skills one learns in a Corps. Employers of National Service is a coalition of companies, organizations and local governments specifically interested in hiring people who have service experience. Members of the coalition include Comcast, Delta Airlines, CSX, Disney, MasterCard and the governments of many major cities. Research shows that, as a result of learned skills and networking opportunities, unemployed people who serve in programs like Corps are 27 percent more likely to find a job than those who do not serve.7
Veterans For recent veterans, returning to civilian life can be a difficult transition, but Corps help ease this process by giving veterans the chance to continue to engage in meaningful service while learning new skills for civilian careers. Veterans Corps help translate technical abilities and discipline into jobs in wilderness firefighting and resource management. Many Veterans Corps alumni speak of the valuable healing aspect of working outdoors alongside fellow veterans.
“The combination of completing meaningful work, engaging in this work along with other Veterans focused on a common goal is what makes the [Veterans Corps] program so impactful,” said Kevin Heiner, Regional Director of Southwest Conservation Corps in testimony before the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands (June, 23, 2016). “It contains the mission, structure, camaraderie and sense of professional and personal purpose that is critical to helping current-era Veterans transition from a successful career in the military to a successful career back at home.”
“I had anger issues, quick to snap. Thought everyone should talk, work, act just like I did. If you didn’t, then just get out of my way. The Conservation Corps helped me curve that Marine Corps mentality. I have no idea where I would be without the Conservation Corps.” - Chris Thomas, veteran and alumni of California Conservation Corps (CA)
A Veteran Continues to Serve His Country Jason Griffith of Jonesboro, AR received a medical discharge after being thrown from a machine gun turret during his second deployment to Iraq. Upon return to the U.S., he entered a program for Reserve and National Guard soldiers that allowed him to report to Mark Twain National Forest (MTNF) near his home in Missouri while he underwent medical treatment. Jason had a profound experience working with the MTNF Recreation Department. He hoped this experience would lead to a permanent job, but, when it didn’t, he had to find a job that paid the bills. A little more than a year later, Jason discovered VetsWork: an AmeriCorps program of the Mt. Adams Institute that supports veterans seeking to transition from the military into a civilian career in natural resource management. Fortunately for Jason, VetsWork had an open Recreation Assistant position with the MTNF. After serving a full 45-week VetsWork term of service, Jason was offered a full-time position with the forest in August 2015. In summing up his experience, Jason said, “Of all the stepping stones on the path to becoming a permanent employee with the U.S. Forest Service, the VetsWork Corps program has taken me farther and higher than any other.”
7 Spera, Christopher; Ghertner, Robin; Nerino, Anthony; DiTommaso, Adrienne. “Volunteering as a Pathway to Employment: Does Volunteering Increase Odds of Finding a Job for the Out of Work.” Corporation for National and Community Service – Office of Research and Evaluation. June 2013. Print.
7 The Corps Network Civicorps
Helping at-risk youth get back on track
One in seven people in the United States between the ages of 16 and 24 is not in school and not working.8 That equals more than 5.5 million disconnected young individuals. Failure to invest in these young adults means 5.5 million missed opportunities. These young people are referred to as “opportunity youth,” reflecting their desire to succeed and the value they offer our country if we help them get back on track.
There are roughly the same number of open jobs in the United States as there are Opportunity Youth.9 However, one of the primary hurdles in matching available jobs with today’s youth is that many young adults lack the 21st century skills needed to be successfully employed. Every year, Corps instill these skills in more than 10,000 opportunity youth.
Since the fall of 2013, The Corps Network has operated the Opportunity Youth Service Initiative (OYSI), an AmeriCorps program made possible through the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). Participating Corps engage youth from disadvantaged backgrounds in environmental service and education. During OYSI’s first two program years, Corpsmembers across 13 states improved the energy and cost efficiency of 7,760 low-income homes and restored nearly 11,200 acres of public and tribal land.
Participating in a Corps gives a young person structure, stability, positive mentors and the chance to explore career options. Most Corps that engage opportunity youth operate charter schools or partner with local educational institutions to help Corpsmembers earn their GED, high school diploma, and/or postsecondary degree while they complete their term of service. Many such Corps maintain a model in which Corpsmembers spend part of the week in the classroom and the rest of their time serving the community and learning job skills.
Part of what makes the Corps model successful for young people who did not succeed in a traditional school setting is that Corps often provide support services – like transportation assistance and childcare – and can offer more one-on-one
8 “Youth Disconnection.” Opportunity Nation. Opportunity Nation – Be The Change, Inc. Web. 22 July 2016.
9 Bureau of Labor Statistics. Press Office. JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER – MAY 2016. Bureau of Labor Statistics. U.S. Department of Labor, 12 July 2016. Web. 22 July 2016. 8 attention. Not to mention, the living allowance or stipend Corpsmembers receive for their service can make a difference for youth who may have previously felt they had to choose between earning money or going to school.
Even after leaving the Corps, AmeriCorps members – such as those in OYSI – stay connected with education through the AmeriCorps Education Award they receive upon successful completion of their term of service. During the 2014 – 2015 program year, participants in The Corps Network’s AmeriCorps Education Awards program received up to $5,645, which can be used to repay student loans or help cover the cost of tuition.
An increasing number of major American employers see the value in not just young people with national service experience, but specifically opportunity youth. The Corps Network has supported and partnered with the 00,0001 Opportunities Initiative and Grads of Life, both coalitions of companies looking to hire opportunity youth. Members of these coalitions include companies like Microsoft, FedEx, Delaware North, Hyatt, Starbucks and Accenture.
Young adults who are neither in school nor working cost American taxpayers $93 billion annually in lost wages and increased social services.10 In contrast, studies show that every dollar invested in national service programs, like Corps, returns nearly four dollars in benefits to society.11 We lose when we allow opportunity youth to fall further behind.
“AmeriCorps and The Sustainability Institute helped guide me…I learned that it is not the swift that win the race, but the ones who endure. This program taught me the real meaning of commitment and dedication. They had given me a chance to prove myself and work my way up.” - Timothy Gunn, a former convict and an alumni of The Sustainability Institute (SC)
Native American Woman Finds a Career in Energy Efficiency Jasmine Romero was born and raised on the Taos Pueblo in New Mexico. About a year-and-a-half into college, Jasmine’s father suffered a heart attack. Soon Jasmine and her mother were living out of their car and she turned to alcohol to cope with the stress. Fortunately, she sought out counseling and, from her counselor, learned about Rocky Mountain Youth Corps (RMYC). As a Corpsmember, Jasmine learned weatherization skills and earned certifications to become a retrofit installer. She gained the respect of her peers and supervisors, and eventually worked her way up to Assistant Crew Supervisor.
Jasmine is on track become the first woman in New Mexico to serve as an official energy auditor/inspector. As she says “The Corps taught me how to manage myself as a person to make sure I have my priorities straight…They have helped mold me into the person I have always wanted to be.”
10 Belfield, Clive; Levin, Henry; Rosen, Rachel. “The Economic Benefit of Opportunity Youth.” Civic Enterprises. January 2012. Print. 11 Belfield, Clive; “The Economic Value of National Service.” The Aspen Institute – Franklin Project. September 2013. Print.
9 The Corps Network Canyon Country Youth Corps
Making Communities & public Lands more sustainable & Resilient
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) defines community development [as] “activities [that] build stronger and more resilient communities through an ongoing process of identifying and addressing needs, assets, and priority investments.” 12
Resiliency is no longer an afterthought but a major consideration in the decision making process at all levels of government. Corps help their communities become more resource efficient in a cost-effective manner. For example, some Corps partner with municipalities to visit public buildings and low-income homes to conduct audits and install energy, water and money-saving retrofits. Some Corps have installed solar panels on public buildings and painted roofs white, all in an effort to save energy and public dollars. During FY14 and 15, Corps improved the energy efficiency of nearly 28,000 low-income homes and educated over 584,000 individuals about smart energy, water and waste reduction practices.
Many communities also acknowledge predictions of more frequent extreme weather-related occurrences, including droughts, floods and wildfires. Corps work with communities to prepare for and respond to such disasters, and partner with agencies like the Forest Service to help control fires in a fiscally responsible manner that leaves more funding for increasing access to public lands. In 2015, Corps treated over 31,567 acres of hazardous fire fuels and responded to 357 wildfires. Since the 1970s, wildfire seasons have extended more than two months and, since the 1980s, the number of largescale (over 1,000 acre) burns has increased over 78 percent.13 Land management agencies cannot keep up with fire threats and maintain regular operations. In 2015, the U.S. Forest Service spent more than half of its budget on firefighting, as compared to just 16 percent 20 years ago.
Beyond fires, Corps have helped communities prepare for flooding by improving storm channel and drainage systems, constructing retaining walls, planting groundcover to reduce erosion, and packing tens of thousands of sandbags every year. When the worst happens, there are Corps ready to deploy anywhere in the country to help in the recovery process and manage volunteers and donations. Corps provide their own tools and Corpsmembers are trained in the skills needed to safely clear debris and “muck-out” buildings. Corps offer communities affordable, realistic solutions to the realities of our time.
12 “Community Development.” HUD.GOV. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Web. 22 July 2016. 13 “Western Wildfires and Climate Change.” Union of Concerned Scientists. Union of Concerned Scientists. 2013. Web. 22 July 2016.
10 Selection of Corps profiles
Colorado Southwest Conservation Corps (Durango, Salida) Southwest Conservation Corps (SCC) operates conservation service programs across Southern Colorado and Northern New Mexico that empower individuals to positively impact their lives, their communities and the environment. SCC offers a diverse set of programs, including 4 AmeriCorps based programs and a Veterans Fire Corps. Project work includes trail maintenance and construction, wildfire remediation, various restorative activities and other land management work.
Mile High Youth Corps (Denver, Colorado Springs) Mile High Youth Corps (MHYC) gives youth ages 16 to 24 a chance to earn an income and learn hands-on job skills while serving in their communities. MHYC engages more than 200 youth every year through several comprehensive programs that integrate paid work experience on community service projects with leadership development, career exploration and education. MHYC has grown from a small, seasonal, neighborhood-based organization to a comprehensive, year-round, regional program serving 15 counties from two regional offices, Metro Denver and the Southern Front Range of CO.
Florida Greater Miami Service Corps (Miami) Greater Miami Service Corps (GMSC) engages out-of-school young people with employment and training services that promote self-sufficiency and connection with education and community. Through leveraging public/private resources, GMSC programs help youth expand their knowledge and reach their full potential. GMSC program services/initiatives include a dropout recovery charter high school, a re-entry youth civic justice corps, a YouthBuild program, and an out-of- school youth program.
Community Training Works aka Young American Conservation Corps (Statewide/Melbourne) Young American Conservation Corps (YACC) is a youth and workforce development initiative. They provide on-the-job training for opportunity youth who have been disconnected from work or school or are underemployed; youth exiting foster care; and youth who face other disadvantages. CTW/YACC earns its revenue by performing conservation and environmental services and highway maintenance activities for cities, counties, state and federal agencies, other non- profits and various companies throughout Florida and the southeast regions of the United States. Crews consisting of a Supervisor and /or Crew Leader and corps members or Crew In Training (CIT’s) perform the services while being mentored and trained on the job, earning certifications and becoming more employable.
Iowa Conservation Corps of Minnesota & Iowa (Statewide/Ames) Through AmeriCorps programming, The Conservation Corps provides meaningful work for young people (18-25) in conserving energy, managing natural resources, responding to disasters and leading volunteers. They provide training in resource management, safety, job-readiness and technical skills, and help young people develop personal responsibility, a strong work ethic and greater awareness of environmental stewardship. They also have summer and after-school youth programming engaging youth ages 15-18.
AmeriCorps National Civilian Conservation Corps (Statewide/Vinton) AmeriCorps NCCC is a full-time, team-based residential program for men and women ages 18-24 that strengthens communities and develops leaders through direct national and community service. In partnership with non-profits— secular and faith based—local municipalities, state governments, federal government, national and state parks, Indian tribes, and schools, NCCC members complete service projects throughout the region they are assigned.
Michigan The Greening of Detroit Conservation Corps & Green Corps Youth Employment Program (Detroit) As Detroit transforms its vacant land, Detroit Conservation Corps (DCC), plans to train more than 5,000 Detroiters in the skilled trades of landscape technicians, tree artisans, floral decor, urban agriculture, landscape construction, and urban forestry. In some Detroit neighborhoods, the unemployment rate is well above the national average. DCC provides unemployed Detroiters with valuable job training and certification in the green industry. To date, more than 80 percent of graduates found employment.
11 The Corps Network The Green Corps hires high school students each summer to help maintain trees, city parks, and greenways. Corpsmembers travel to national forests, wildlife refuges, and the only minority-owned fruit farm in western Michigan. They learn about the ecosystem, climate change, and practical skills in financial literacy, conflict management, work readiness, and successful teamwork. Ten of last year’s 14 graduating seniors went on to college with partial or full scholarships; several are studying environmental or agricultural disciplines.
SEEDS Youth Conservation Corps (Traverse City) SEEDS YCC empowers youth through service learning projects, development of green collar job skills, and participation in labor-intensive conservation projects. Projects include Land stewardship: invasive species control, planting, trails; Green construction: boardwalks, renovations; Energy efficiency: weatherization, monitoring, renewable tech; Small Scale Farming; and Maintenance Services. SEEDS YCC has completed projects for parks, land conservancies, municipal government bodies, conservation districts, nonprofits, businesses, and individuals.
Nevada Nevada Conservation Corps (Statewide/Reno) NCC harnesses the energy of Corpsmembers to meet the needs of Nevada public lands and communities. They promote ecological literacy through field research and direct conservation service and provide Corpsmembers the opportunity to make meaningful contributions toward protecting and conserving Nevada’s natural heritage while also gaining valuable work experience in the natural resource management field.
NCC serves the environmental and educational needs of communities by thinning forests to reduce fuels at a time when our woodlands are at risk of catastrophic wildfire. They construct and maintain trails to increase access, and treat public lands for exotic species that threaten the ecological balance of rivers, lakes, deserts, and rangelands. NCC also conducts biological inventories and surveys to ensure natural resource managers have the best scientific data available.
New Hampshire Student Conservation Association New Hampshire Corps (Statewide/Charleston) SCA has provided nearly one million hours of service to the lands and people of New Hampshire. Each year, 30 full time volunteers contribute more than 50,000 service hours, providing environmental education programming to the state’s residents and visitors, and completing conservation service projects that improve and protect the state’s cultural, recreational, and natural resources.
Corpsmembers perform direct hands-on service while developing their ethic of service and citizenship. These highly motivated 18-to-25-year-olds enhance and protect natural areas through environmental education programs, interpretive ranger programs, and conservation stewardship projects across the state.
North Carolina Northwest Piedmont Service Corps (Winston – Salem) A program of the Piedmont Triad Regional Council, the Corps focuses on youth between the ages of 17-30 offering comprehensive work experience, occupational skills, and developmental opportunities through organized work activities. Participants gain on-the-job training, learn self-discipline and leadership skills, and develop a sense of work ethic and community spirit.
Conservation Trust for North Carolina Youth Conservation Corps (Raleigh) NCYCC is a comprehensive youth development program that uses the natural world as a platform for teaching environmental stewardship, job and life skills, leadership, community service, and personal responsibility. Corpsmembers contribute hundreds of hours of hard work to improve and expand access to natural areas so more North Carolina families and recreationists can connect with the outdoors.
Lyndon B. Johnson Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center (Franklin) JCCC’s are education and career training programs administered by the U.S. Forest Service that help youth improve the quality of their lives through career technical and academic training. JCCC provides training in several vocational trades: Bricklaying; Cement Masonry; Culinary Arts; Facilities Maintenance; Office Administration; Painting; and Welding.
12 Ohio WSOS Community Action Face Forward AmeriCorps (Fremont) A Community Action Agency, created out of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 (President Johnson’s “War on Poverty”), WSOS is dedicated to creating opportunities that will help the community and all of its members build a better future. They help individuals and families acquire the skills and knowledge to become self-sufficient and to more fully participate in their community. WSOS achieves this by developing projects and partnerships that allow people to help themselves. This includes children and youth programming, community development, employment and job training, financial services, housing assistance, and transportation.
Pennsylvania PowerCorps PHL (Philadelphia) Initially piloted through the Corporation for National and Community Service’s Governor and Mayor Initiative, PowerCorpsPHL is an AmeriCorps program designed to support the City of Philadelphia’s environmental stewardship initiatives, youth violence prevention and workforce development priorities. Partnering with EducationWorks and the Philadelphia Youth Network, PowerCorpsPHL annually enrolls 100 individuals, ages 18-26, in a 9-month program: 6 months of full-time service as AmeriCorps members with City departments followed by 3 months of intensive job placement support. The scope of work includes revitalization of public lands, education in watershed preservation, and working with the corpsmembers on meaningful employment, post-secondary enrollment, or continued national service.
Virginia Virginia Service Conservation Corps (Statewide/Richmond) The Virginia Service and Conservation Corps (VSCC) is an AmeriCorps program that engages members in meaningful service in Virginia State Parks and provides extensive training and professional development opportunities. Numerous positions that suit prospective members' interests and schedules are available in their Natural Resource Crews, Veterans Crews, and Interpretative Trail Project. Crewmembers engage in restoration, lands management work, and disaster relief in state parks and improve accessibility for outdoor recreation.
Appalachian Trail Conservancy Conservation Leadership Corps (Roanoke) Appalachian Trail Conservation Leadership Corps (CLC) offers service-based internships in the outdoors that are focused on conservation leadership, professional development and employment preparedness. The CLC provides valuable training and work experience to 18 to 25-year-olds who are new to the outdoors by introducing natural resource management skills and a professional network so participants may compete effectively for conservation jobs. Experiences includes engagement in Trail Crew operations, invasive species control, and Appalachian Trail (A.T.) visitor use management. Program focus areas are determined based on regional conservation priorities of the ATC, the National Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service in partnership with local volunteer organizations.
Wisconsin Operation Fresh Start (Madison) Operation Fresh Start (OFS) provides a path forward for disconnected youth in Dane County, ages 16-24, through education, mentoring, and employment training. OFS leads youth to complete their high school diploma (after having previously dropped out) and continue on to higher education and/or self-sustaining employment. OFS is best known for its core Pathways program. Pathways participants renovate or construct single family houses for sale to low and very-low income first-time home buyers, and do extensive conservation work (improving Dane County parks).
Milwaukee Community Service Corps (Milwaukee) The Milwaukee Community Service Corps (MCSC) is a non-profit vocational training organization providing employment, education and life skills training to young adults in Milwaukee. The Corps recognizes the potential of every young person to be a positive, contributing member of the Milwaukee community. By channeling this potential into educational, job-training, and environmental conservation experiences, MCSC participants boost their morale, academic performance and provide a benefit to the local community. MCSC brings together trade industry specialists dedicated to the development and implementation of industry-grade education. MCSC is dedicated to providing a diverse offering of programs, courses and seminars addressing the latest in trade concepts and certifications.
13 The Corps Network = Full Member of The Corps Network = Member of the 21CSC and also a Member of The Corps Network Corps by State (though not necessarily a Full Member) = Member of the 21CSC NATIONAL PROGRAMS American Conservation Experience Conservation Legacy Knox Parks Foundation - Green Crew American Youth Center Environmental Stewards The WorkPlace Geological Society of America, GeoCorps America MAINE Geological Society of America, Mosaics in Science DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Maine Conservation Corps National Civilian Community Corps Earth Conservation Corps Unity College Student Conservation Association Ecological Society of America (SEEDS) Groundwork Anacostia River DC MICHIGAN ALASKA MobilizeGreen Michigan Civilian Conservation Corps Alaska Geographic Washington Parks & People / DC Green Corps SEEDS Youth Conservation Corps Anchorage Park Foundation The Greening of Detroit Angoon Community Association FLORIDA Southeast Alaska Guidance Association (SAGA) Community Training Works, Inc. / Young American MINNESOTA Conservation Corps Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa ALABAMA Conservation Corps of the Forgotten Coast Minnesota Green Corps Mobile Works, Inc. Florida Trail Association Minnesota Pollution Control Agency West-Mid Alabama Community Development Corporation, Inc. Greater Miami Service Corps (GMSC) Northern Bedrock Historic Preservation Corps Out of the Ashes Foundation, Inc. Tree Trust ARKANSAS Vermilion Community College US Forest Service Job Corps - Cass JCCCC GEORGIA Wilderness Inquiry US Forest Service Job Corps - Ouachita JCCCC Greening Youth Foundation National Wildlife Federation (Southeast Office) Atlanta MISSOURI ARIZONA Earth Tomorrow AmeriCorps St. Louis Arizona Conservation Corps Forest Park Forever White Mountain Youth Corps (WMYC) HAWAII Greening Gateway Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources Missouri State Parks Youth Corps CALIFORNIA Hawaii Youth Conservation Corps – Kupu US Forest Service Job Corps - Mingo JCCCC California Conservation Corps Mauna Kea Watershed Alliance Civic Assets Papahana Kuaola MISSISSIPPI Civicorps Big Island Invasive Species Committee CLIMB Community Development Corporation (CLIMB CDC) Conservation Corps North Bay Conservation Corps of Long Beach IDAHO MONTANA FIELD- Kern Service and Conservation Corps Council Summer Work Crew Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation Fresno EOC Local Conservation Corps Framing Our Community Inc. Montana Conservation Corps Los Angeles Conservation Corps Friends of the Teton River Montana Discovery Foundation Orange County Conservation Corps Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute Montana State Parks AmeriCorps Our City Forest Selway-Bitterfoot Frank Church Foundation Montana Wilderness Association Outward Bound Adventures US Forest Service Job Corps - Centennial JCCCC Montana Wilderness Institute Oxnard City Corps Youth Employment Program, Inc. National Forest Foundation Sacramento Regional Conservation Corps US Forest Service Job Corps - Anaconda JCCCC San Francisco Conservation Corps ILLINOIS US Forest Service Job Corps - Trapper Creek JCCCC San Gabriel Valley Conservation & Service Corps City of Peoria - Peoria Corps Watershed Education Network San Joaquin Regional Conservation Corps Greencorps Chicago San Jose Conservation Corps and Charter School The Wetlands Initiative NORTH CAROLINA Sequoia Community Corps Trails for Illinois Conservation Trust of North Carolina (North Carolina Sonoma County Youth Ecology Corps US Forest Service Job Corps - Golconda JCCCC Youth Conservation Corps) Urban Conservation Corps of the Inland Empire Youth Conservation Corps Mountain True Urban Corps of San Diego County YouthBuild Lake County National Association of State Park Directors Watershed Research and Training Center Northwest Piedmont Service Corps KENTUCKY US Forest Service Job Corps - Lyndon B Johnson JCCCC COLORADO US Forest Service Job Corps - Frenchburg JCCCC US Forest Service Job Corps - Oconaluftee JCCCC Colorado Mountain Club US Forest Service Job Corps - Great Onyx JCCCC US Forest Service Job Corps - Schenck JCCCC Colorado Youth Corps Association US Forest Service Job Corps - Pine Knot JCCCC Environment for the Americas NEBRASKA Environmental Learning for Kids LOUISIANA US Forest Service Job Corps - Pine Ridge JCCCC Groundwork Denver Limitless Vistas, Inc. HistoriCorps Louisiana Green Corps NEVADA Larimer County Conservation Corps Great Basin Institute - Nevada Conservation Corps Mile High Youth Corps MASSACHUSETTS Nevada Outdoor School Rocky Mountain Conservancy Appalachian Mountain Club University of Nevada Bootstraps Program Rocky Mountain Youth Corps – CO Groundwork Lawrence Southwest Conservation Corps Groundwork Somerville NEW JERSEY TEENS Inc. Youth Corps Southwest Boston Community Development Corporation New York-New Jersey Trail Conference US Forest Service Job Corps - Collbran JCCCC X-Cel Education The Work Group- New Jersey Youth Corps-Camden Walking Mountains Science Center New Jersey Youth Corps of Atlantic Cape May Weld County Youth Conservation Corps MARYLAND New Jersey Youth Corps of Elizabeth Western Colorado Conservation Corps Chesapeake Conservation Corps New Jersey Youth Corps of Jersey City Civic Works New Jersey Youth Corps of Middlesex County CONNECTICUT Maryland Conservation Corps New Jersey Youth Corps of Monmouth County Common Ground: The New Haven Ecology Project Montgomery County Conservation Corps / Latin New Jersey Youth Corps of Newark
14 New Jersey Youth Corps of Paterson TEXAS New Jersey Youth Corps of Phillipsburg American Youthworks New Jersey Youth Corps of Trenton Isles El Ranchito New Jersey Youth Corps of Trenton MCCC SER - Jobs for Progress National, Inc. New Jersey Youth Corps of Vineland SER - Jobs for Progress of the Texas Gulf Coast Inc. Texas Conservation Corps NEW MEXICO EcoServants UTAH Forest Guild Canyon Country Youth Corps Groundwork Dona Ana County Grand Staircase Escalante Partners Rocky Mountain Youth Corps – NM Southern Utah University Intergovernmental Santa Fe YouthWorks Internship Cooperative Sovereign Nations Service Corps US Forest Service Job Corps - Weber Basin JCCCC Talking Talons Utah Conservation Corps The Wellness Coalition VIRGINIA NEW YORK Appalachian Trail Conservancy Green City Force Pathways Groundwork Hudson Valley US Forest Service Job Corps - Flatwoods JCCCC Groundwork USA Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation New York City Justice Corps Division of State Parks New York Restoration Project Virginia Service and Conservation Corps Onondaga Earth Corps Virginia State Parks Youth Corps The Green Schools Alliance Virginia’s Office on Volunteer and Community Services The Nature Conservancy (LEAF) and the Virginia Commission The Place / Headwaters Conservation Corps The Rockaway Waterfront Alliance VERMONT The Service Collaborative of WNY, Inc. Green Mountain Club Inc. NorthWoods Conservation Corps OHIO The Green Mountain Club Groundwork Cincinnati/Mill Creek Vermont Youth Conservation Corps Lawn Life National Center for Science and Civic Engagement WASHINGTON (GLISTEN) EarthCorps Ohio River Foundation Kwiaht WSOS Community Action Commission, Inc. Lopez Island Conservation Corps Mt. Adams Institute OREGON Pacific Northwest Trail Association Caldera US Forest Service Job Corps - Columbia Basin JCCCC Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council US Forest Service Job Corps - Curlew JCCCC Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council Region 11 US Forest Service Job Corps - Fort Simcoe JCCCC Coos Watershed Association Washington Conservation Corps Discover Your Forest Heart of Oregon Corps WISCONSIN Lane-Metro Youth Corps (LMYC) Fresh Start - ADVOCAP Inc. Lomakatsi Restoration Project Friends of Sylvania McKenzie River Ranger District Great Lakes Community Conservation Corps North Fork John Day Watershed Council Groundwork Milwaukee Northwest Youth Corps Milwaukee Community Service Corps (MCSC) Phoenix School of Roseburg Northland College Project YESS Youth Conservation Corps Operation Fresh Start, Inc. Siskiyou Mountain Club US Forest Service Job Corps - Blackwell JCCCC Tillamook School District No.9 WisCorps US Forest Service Job Corps - Angell JCCCC US Forest Service Job Corps - Timber Lake JCCCC WEST VIRGNIA US Forest Service Job Corps - Wolf Creek JCCCC Appalachian Forest Heritage Area Wilderness International Youth Conservation Corps Citizens Conservation Corps of W Virginia US Forest Service Job Corps - Harpers Ferry JCCCC PENNSYLVANIA PowerCorps PHL Wyoming Wyoming Conservation Corps SOUTH CAROLINA Yellowstone Youth Corps Sumter County Youthbuild Program Contact The Sustainability Institute / Energy Conservation Corps Tyler Wilson SOUTH DAKOTA Director of Government Relations US Forest Service Job Corps – Boxelder JCCCC The Corps Network [email protected] TENNESSEE CAC AmeriCorps 202-737-6272 City of Chattanooga Southeast Youth Corps Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards US Forest Service Job Corps - Jacobs Creek JCCCC July 2016
14 The Corps Network