The Corps Network Announces Six Corpsmembers of the Year at Annual Corps Forum

Washington, DC, February 13, 2007—This morning The Corps Network will honor six exceptional youth as The Corps Network 2007 Corpsmembers of the Year from across the country during their Annual Forum, February 11-14. Selected from more than 23,000 Corpsmembers nationally, the Corpsmembers of the Year have achieved extraordinary work during their Corps experience and are outstanding representatives of Corpsmembers from across the nation. Each Corpsmember of the Year will receive a scholarship, valued at up to $1000.

The six Corpsmembers of the Year are Tatiana Rodrigues, Sacramento Local Conservation Corps (CA), Kiwannie James, Northwest Piedmont Service Corps (NC), Cop Lieu, The Work Group/ New Jersey Youth Corps, Yvette Chischillie, Southwest Conservation Corps (CO & NM), Rosalio Cardenas, California Conservation Corps and Alana Svensen, National Civilian Community Corps (MD & IA).

The Corpsmembers of the Year have completed at least one year of service in their community and have worked on a variety of projects including: youth recycling programs, hospital support, wild fire prevention, trail construction, tutoring and disaster recovery in the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina and in San Diego after dangerous mudslides. The Corpsmembers also took leadership roles acting as mentors, crew leaders and disaster coordinators.

According to Sally Prouty, President of The Corps Network, “We are so proud of the hard work and discipline of all our Corpsmembers. The youth we honor during our annual Forum are strong leaders and excellent role models. They have overcome tremendous obstacles and life challenges. These Corpsmembers show how service can work as an effective strategy to connect youth to their community. We congratulate the Corpsmembers of the Year and thank them for their dedication.”

About the Corpsmembers of the Year

Tatiana Rodrigues, Sacramento Local Conservation Corps (CA)
As a Corpsmember with the Sacramento Local Conservation Corps (SLCC) in Sacramento, CA, Tatiana has been able to turn her life around. When Tatiana was 15, her mother was incarcerated. Later, she was expelled from high school and learned about SLCC through a friend. At the Corps she worked on a variety of community projects including a team that helped school children learn the value of recycling. During her time with the SLCC, Tatiana earned an AmeriCorps education award to help pay for college and she plans to complete her high school diploma by the end of this school year.

Kiwannie James, Northwest Piedmont Service Corps (NC)
As a Corpsmember with the Northwest Piedmont Service Corps in Winston-Salem, NC, Kiwannie is now drug-free, confident and happily working for the City of Winston-Salem. Although he was raised by a single mother in a violent home where he eventually turned to drugs and alcohol, Kiwannie always believed that he wo uld show someone that he was a good person with a problem who truly needed help. After the birth of his second child in 2005, Kiwannie decided to change his life by joining the Northwest Piedmont Service Corps and seeking mental health and substance abuse treatment. Kiwannie is now employed, the proud father of two beautiful children, and now is “accomplishing my goals while living out my
dreams.”

Cop Lieu, The Work Group/New Jersey Youth Corps As a Corpsmember with The Work Group in Camden, NJ, Cop excelled quickly and became a “peer reinforcer,” counseling new members coming into the program. Although just years ago he trekked by foot through the jungles of Cambodia into Thailand to come to America with his family, Cop’s toughest times were actually his early years in the U.S. when he got caught up in street life and fighting, was expelled from the traditional school systems, and spent time in juvenile detention. After joining The Work Group at the recommendation of a friend, Cop passed his GED test, earned his customer service credential, obtained his driver’s license, and was promoted to a peer advisor. Cop plans to go to school and learn more about the real estate business and has started the process to get his citizenship. He also currently works as a Support Services Associate at a Philadelphia hospital.

Yvette Chischillie, Southwest Conservation Corps (CO & NM)
As a Corpsmember with the Southwest Conservation Corps (SCC) in Durango, CO, Yvette was part of a Special Diabetes Project of the Navajo Nation, led a crew constructing a brand new trail in the Chuska Mountains of New Mexico and was a leader of the Wild Fire Prevention Program. Yvette was the first SCC Corpsmember from the Navajo Nation and her positive experience inspired so many to apply in the following years that there are now more applications from the Navajo Nation than available member slots.  Yvette graduated from Vocational School in Welding and Bricklaying and plans to use her AmeriCorps education award to go into the apprenticeship program in bricklaying.

Rosalio Cardenas, California Conservation Corps
As a Corpsmember with the California Conservation Corps (CCC) in Southern California, Rosalio is affectionately known as “Papa Leo” by his peers for his compassion, integrity, and consideration for others. During his time with the Corps, Leo helped San Diego communities damaged by wildfires by diverting debris, flood water, and mud from residential neighborhoods during the ensuing heavy rains. Leo also spent 22 weeks living and working in the wilderness as part of the CCC Backcountry Trails Program. Leo now plans to use the AmeriCorps education award he earned with the CCC to finish his degree in Civil Engineering and has applied to the California Highway Patrol so he can continue to make an impact on his peers and community.

Alana Svensen, National Civilian Community Corps (MS)
As a Corpsmember with the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC), Alana helped coordinate the first rotation of 600 NCCC members to the Gulf Coast in the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. In other NCCC rotations in the Northeast Region Alana framed homes with Habitat for Humanity, helped with education programs in Maryland and the Bronx and became a Certified Wild Land Firefighter in upstate New York. Unsure what she wanted to do when she graduated college in 2003, Alana joined the Corps to “give back to society.” During her time deployed at the Red Cross staging area in the Gulf Coast, teaching children in the education programs, and building trails and homes, Alana feels she learned a lot about other people but even more about herself and what she can do. She plans to use her newly discovered logistical and building skills, as well as the insights she has gained, to continue to serve through a non-profit or government agency.


About The Corps Network
The Corps Network is the voice of the nation’s 113 Service and Conservation Corps. Currently operating in 42 states and the District of Columbia, Corps annually enroll more than 23,000 young men and women who contribute about 13 million hours of service per year. In 2004, Corps mobilized 124,000 community volunteers who contributed over 2.4 million additional hours of service.

Established in 1985 as the National Association of Service and Conservation Corps (NASCC), The Corps Network was at the forefront of the national service movement and remains so today. Corps are state and local programs engaging primarily young adults (ages 16-25) in service. The majority of Corpsmembers come to Corps looking for a second chance to succeed in life. In return for their efforts, Corpsmembers receive guidance by adult leaders who serve as mentors and role models, a modest stipend and a wide range of member development services
including significant educational opportunities, employment and training, life skill
development, and the opportunity to invest in their communities.

For more information, visit www.corpsnetwork.org or contact: Patrick Fitzgerald, The Corps Network at pfitzgerald@corpsnetwork.org or at (202) 737-6272.

Contact:

Patrick Fitzgerald
The Corps Network, Communications Director
(202) 737-6272
pfitzgerald@corpsnetwork.org

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