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Corpsmember Story: Adelina Roybal

Adelina Roybal is on her pathway to success. She joined a Conservation Crew last year at Rocky Mountain Youth Corps (RMYC) in New Mexico and served on several projects as an AmeriCorps member. She removed invasive species along the Rio Grande Bosque at Santa Ana Pueblo, maintained trails in Rendija Canyon near Los Alamos, and helped maintain the campgrounds in the Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area near Pilar. She also helped plant trees in the south valley of Albuquerque. Adelina already had some experience with wildland fire fighting before joining RMYC, so it was natural for her to join a crew and expand her experience. She was between jobs and immediately felt comfortable at RMYC because she loves working outdoors and has a passion for the environment.

One of Adelina’s most memorable experiences at RMYC was when she took Substance Abuse Prevention training. Substance abuse has impacted her family at a very personal level, and the training she received helped her talk freely about it and identify with what she learned.

Adelina hates trash, and when she saw trash on the trails, she decided to clean it up and encourage her family to pick up trash. The conservation work deepened her feelings about the environment.

“It helped me give back to the community and to be more mindful of my surroundings. We need to leave nature as it is,” she said.

Adelina got married not long after she graduated from RMYC and now she and her husband are expecting a baby! She wants to return to wildfire fighting after the baby comes. RMYC empowered her as a woman working in wildland firefighting. When we asked her what advice she would give to a woman who is considering RMYC, she said, “Always push yourself. You are capable of anything. There is always time to further yourself. Everyone at RMYC was open and made me feel comfortable and safe, especially at the time of COVID. We all worked as a team.”

Corps Story: LA Conservation Corps and Food Waste Prevention

For the month of October, The Corps Network is highlighting Corps across the country that help expand access to food in their communities.

Over 2 million people in Los Angeles County face food insecurity. The number of individuals requiring food assistance has only increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. With a mission to serve the community and the environment, Los Angeles Conservation Corps (LACC) found a way to help feed neighbors in need while also diverting waste from the landfill.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, roughly 30 – 40 percent of the United States’ food supply is thrown away. With a grant from CalRecycle, plus additional support from SoCalGas, LACC launched an initiative in 2018 to engage Corpsmembers in recovering food that would otherwise go to waste.

In partnership with the nonprofit organization MEND (Meet Each Need with Dignity), LACC Corpsmembers drive refrigerated box trucks to area schools, grocery stores, restaurants, and other businesses to collect unused food. Everything they collect is brought to the MEND foodbank, where it is checked for quality, sorted, and distributed several times a week to individuals and families.

“I think this has been such a successful project because not only are we helping each other in the community, but the participants are able to see the huge difference they are making. It’s a win-win across the board,” said Karla Ramos, a site director for LACC who oversees the food waste prevention program.

While LACC participates in many initiatives that might seem more obviously connected to environmental conservation – such as planting trees and restoring habitats – the Corps’ partnership with MEND fits well into their project scope.

From a conservation perspective, it’s important to recognize that food waste is responsible for roughly 8 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Recovering food means not only preventing waste from decaying in the landfill, but ensuring that the land, water, and fuel resources that went into producing that food is also not wasted.

The MEND partnership promotes LACC’s workforce development and community-minded goals, as well.

“I personally think this fits really well into the mission we do. It’s not only providing an opportunity for our youth to learn new job skills and earn a paycheck while they’re doing that, but it’s providing assistance that the community [needs],” said Karla. “And, yes, this is a conservation project because we’re also diverting food from the landfill…[this work] is relevant because I think it targets a lot of issues we’re all trying to solve, [including] climate change. If there was less food being wasted, there would be less methane gas being released in the landfills and so on. But it’s also relevant because it plays a big role in our community [and] in our participants by showing them you don’t have to start big: you can start small to make that big impact.”

Since August of 2018, LACC Corpsmembers have worked with MEND to collect well over 1 million pounds of food, serving over 41,000 families. On a given day, they might collect over 10,000 pounds of food from a single location.

While the Corps made adjustments to the program to promote social distancing and other COVID-19 safety practices, the initiative has continued during the pandemic. Many Corpsmembers who have participated in this initiative live in Pacoima, the Los Angeles neighborhood where MEND is based; it has been particularly rewarding to support people in their own community.

“The food recycling project is what really brings a smile to my day,” said Dulce Rosales, an LACC Corpsmember driver participating in the work with MEND. “I see all the people lined up down blocks just to receive food and just knowing that I did the food donation pick-ups for them to have something – you know, it’s a really great feeling.”

In addition to helping address hunger and food waste, LACC ensures that this initiative provides a learning experience for Corpsmembers. Participants, like Dulce, gain much more than the satisfaction of assisting fellow Angelenos.

“Some of the soft skills include general communications. We instill in them that is a very big project…it has a lot of meaning behind it because we are helping a lot of individuals. We let them know that they’re highly relied upon; if they are not able to make it in, they need to be able to communicate that,” said Karla. “[In addition to communication skills], it’s being able to drive and handle equipment. Not just our liftgates, but also forklifts or pallet jacks so they can carry the large loads properly without getting hurt. I should mention they are also getting trained in safe handling of food.”

During her time with the Corps, Dulce received her OSHA-10 certification, participated in first aid and CPR training, and earned her driver’s license. She is now enrolled in a phlebotomy program in addition to her service at the Corps.

Beyond LACC’s collaboration with MEND, the organization addresses food insecurity through a partnership with the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. Serving alongside fellow Corpsmembers from other local programs – including Conservation Corps of Long Beach and San Gabriel Valley Conservation Corps – LACC members visit food bank locations throughout the city to help operate food distribution events. During a distribution, there could be upwards of 50 Corpsmembers, the majority of whom are from LACC. This support has been essential during a time of increased food insecurity caused by the pandemic.

In addition to sending much needed food into the community, the Corps is also helping launch confident young workers. To other Corpsmembers who are considering joining a program like LACC, Dulce offers this advice.

“I would say go for it…When I first started, I didn’t know what I wanted to do and this program really pushed me to do things that I wouldn’t have done, such as getting my driver’s license. I never really thought I would need it. [And] continuing my education; I didn’t think I would even attend a single college class and I actually did. And pursuing a career—pursing something. This program definitely did it for me.”

Corps Story: Vermont Youth Conservation Corps Food & Farm Program

For the month of October, The Corps Network is highlighting Corps across the country that help expand access to food in their communities. Ezra Pasackow, a former member of Vermont Youth Conservation Corps (VYCC), talks about his experience working with VYCC’s Farm Crews and Health Care Share Project and how his service experience led him to where he is today.

VYCC’s Food & Farm Program and Health Care Share Project:

Between March and November every year, VYCC’s Farm Crews prepare produce for Health Care Share participants. The Health Care Share works through Vermont’s centralized healthcare system. Ezra, who served as a Project Lead with VYCC in 2019, explains:

“Medical centers partner with VYCC, then health care providers prescribe Health Care Shares to specific patients, and we provide a 20 – 24-week CSA to however many people are enrolled. When I was there, we provided about 400 – 415 shares. So that’s 400 – 415 patients, every week, from July until October.”

Participants enjoy fresh produce, and chickens; all grown, raised and processed by Corpsmembers.

Ezra’s Experience:

Ezra has a background in environmental studies. After college he helped with community development on farms in Mexico and Guatemala, which led him to work with VYCC’s farm in 2019:

“I was doing that farming aspect, I was doing that manual labor the growing of the food, but serving VYCC’s Health Care Share participants, people who had been identified as having diet related illnesses, that was a game changer for me. The food is going to people in my community and it’s going to benefit them.”

Ezra further explains: “I see the Health Care Share as really dialed in, using medicine, using professionals to identify people and provide them with access to produce and information about that produce. Information is a key part. You can go to the food pantry and pick up a bunch of food but if you’ve never cooked a beet before, it’s not useful.”

As a Project Leader, Ezra and a fellow Corpsmember managed VYCC’s 1.5-acre satellite farm in Northeast Vermont and oversaw a youth crew of 14-18-year-olds.

“With VYCC you’ve got two really strong aspects: produce is going to people facing food insecurity or [who have] diet related illnesses, and the work is being done by young adults who are getting job readiness skills, earning a wage, and learning hard and soft skills that can propel them to the next steps in their life,” said Ezra.

Youth crews and Corpsmembers alike quickly find that farming, while hard work, is rewarding. An average day on the farm involves harvesting, weeding, fixing fence lines, picking insects off plants, and addressing issues as they come, often in peak summer heat.

“You’re constantly scraping one thing off the list and adding two more,” said Ezra.

Despite this, he says that youth crews stay motivated by seeing the tangible difference they make.

“[They see] the impact of the produce that they grew, in dropping off some of these shares, in meeting the recipients, in seeing the joy and excitement and happiness [and people that say], ‘I can’t wait for Thursdays it’s the best day, I get to pick up my CSA.’ And that’s where it’s like, this is the why,” said Ezra.

Growing a New Farm:

Ezra has brought critical farming and leadership skills he gained from VYCC to his current role managing a 2.5-acre farm in Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanic Garden in Staten Island.

“Farming tests your ability to manage time, you’re working with nature and against climate change. You have to become okay with adjusting plans and become comfortable with being uncomfortable. It’s learning to manage those skills for yourself and as a leader – portray those skills with a sense of calm to everybody else.”

The farm Ezra works on now has a similar mission of providing high quality food to the community. The Heritage Farm is located within Staten Island’s only botanical garden (one of the 5 in NYC) and has an 85-member CSA. He says while they don’t have a Health Care Share system, they have a pricing model that allows produce to be accessible across economic ranges. The farm is unique in that they’re one of the only places to buy produce in Staten Island that’s also grown on the Island. Ezra notes that it is especially important from a climate change lens.

He also continues to work with young adults on the farm who can gain job experience while building community and seeing the importance of green spaces on an urban setting and learning how food systems work.

The Future of Farms:

Like VYCC, Ezra views these farms as a way to increase food access within local communities across racial and economic stratification.

“We can definitely be a part of a community that is creating an equitable, just and accessible place for people to enjoy and grow produce for them to have.”

Looking back on his experience with VYCC, Ezra says, “VYCC is in a unique position because they have so much experience and history of working with this demographic of young adult yet they’re on a cusp of a new generation of young farmers that are seeing the impact of small-scale farming within our communities as a way to fight climate change as a way to create equity and justice within our communities.”

Farms like VYCC are helping to reconnect people to their food and where it comes from. Whether Corpsmembers go into farming or not, it gives them a better appreciation for what it takes to grow good food and feed a community.

Corps Story: Latino Heritage Internship Program, Hispanic Heritage Month

“The success of the program comes from the fact that many were not aware of the possibilities of working at the National Park Service. Once interns go through the internship and reach professional experience, they feel welcome. They feel they can apply to these positions. They do want to participate in stewardship,” says Dalia Dorta, Latino Programs Director.

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 – October 15), we are highlighting the Latino Heritage Internship Program (LHIP), created by the National Park Service (NPS) and administered in partnership with Environment for the Americas (EFTA).

LHIP provides young adults internship opportunities in diverse professional fields within the National Park Service. The program helps raise awareness about our national parks and historic sites and increases their accessibility to all communities.

Both undergraduate and graduate students are selected to work alongside NPS historians, interpreters, archaeologists, architects, researchers, biologists, communicators, and other professionals in various national parks, offices, and historical sites throughout the nation. Students have substantive assignments in their areas of study, work closely with NPS staff day-to-day, and receive additional mentoring and support through program partners.

How It Works

LHIP allows the NPS to invest in cost-efficient strategies that introduce students to career fields and help entry-level young professionals enter the workforce.

LHIP is offered at national parks across the United States and its territories. There are over 400 national parks; over 100 participate in the program. Individual parks develop requests and proposals that must meet requirements such as having a solid project, the ability to professionally grow an intern, and more. Many of the internships are concentrated in the West and Southwest.

LHIP recruits interns by directly working with over 100 Hispanic service institutions to reach young adults. Since 2015, LHIP has hired 268 interns that have served more than 100,000 hours in our national parks. The first official cohort was in 2016. Thirty of the interns that have completed this program have gone on to be hired by NPS in both seasonal and permanent positions.

LHIP applicants must be a US citizen, 18 – 30 years old or a veteran up to age 35, and have a Latino background. There can be over 300 applicants for LHIP each year, with slots for only up to 40 interns in each cohort.

“My parents are into the outdoors and conservation. I was taken to parks and recreation areas as a child and they are special places to make connection to nature. Protecting these places alongside family is a Latino trait,” says current LHIP intern Nicole Segnini.

Community Impact and Need

LHIP was created to fulfill a need for the Latino community’s involvement in preservation and in meaningful and relevant science-based internships.

“Pointing out the lack of Latinos in NPS, the data was very clear, we are the fastest growing population in the US and the growth is coming from young people. This wasn’t represented in the population at NPS,” explains Dorta. “We are 1/5 of the country’s population so we should be 1/5 of everything in the country, we have assets people don’t know of or appreciate because they are not aware of the potential. It’s up to us Latinos to bring this forward. We are capable, we are prepared, we are trained.”

LHIP opens up the possibilities for young Latinos to end up in careers at NPS, the Forest Service, Land Management, or other federal agencies.

“They don’t know or feel prepared for the uncertainty to leave home. Sometimes I even reach out to parents to help them understand the benefits and support their children will have. There are so many talented students ready to put in the effort, have grown with multiple languages and cultures, welcome education, and are capable of training to be compassionate with others,” said Dorta. “These assets should be grown and appreciated.”

As a paid internship, LHIP removes the barriers for those who cannot gain professional development for a summer without pay.

“It’s really nice to see a lot of us, Latinos and immigrants, doing conservation efforts. It also proves to the parks that they need more Latinos and that we do a good job. It is important to have us represented and a pipeline to have us work for NPS,” said Segnini, explaining the importance of LHIP and her role working in the NPS Communications office. “My favorite part has been elevating the work of Hispanic interns and coworkers and the incredible projects they have done. It’s like look at my people. As a Latina, I felt very proud, helping to amplify. If you see yourself represented, you become more interested.”

Internship Projects and Benefits

Two types of internships are offered; both are paid with a weekly stipend above minimum wage. Conservation fellows go through a 12-week program and earn a Public Lands Corps direct hire authority to work at NPS or other federal agencies within two years of graduation. The hiring authority allows them to have a better chance of getting hired by the federal government as they are not competing with the general public. In many instances they can be hired on the spot.

The second internship opportunity spans 11 weeks and is 440 hours of service. There is also an opportunity to earn a Public Lands hiring certificate by doing an additional 200 hours of work on public lands.

The interns are offered personal and professional support throughout the program and after they complete their service. There are weekly professional development webinars, discussing anything from developing their resume to how to manage microaggressions or harassment in the workplace. At the end of the internship there is a professional workshop which offers four days of intensive training, networking, and opportunities for interns to present their work.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, this workshop was held at the Department of Interior in Washington, DC.

“It provides the interns with a good opportunity to learn and share their experiences, [and] encourages community building among young people that care about environment and supporting each other as professionals down the line,” says Dorta.

LHIP interns’ personal needs are also acknowledged on many fronts. They are invited to publish blogs on their experiences and there are anonymous way to send feedback. Interns can also seek emotional support from a specialist who consults with the program.

“It is important for their own health and growth to feel they are in a safe space. We need to know about their struggles to speak out and change things,” says Dorta.

Future of the program

Dorta hopes the LHIP model can expand to other communities of color and those who might not feel welcome creating an accessible space with the same passion and intentionality.

“When you have pride in your community you bring them with you,” said Dorta.

Segnini notes the importance of inclusion at the NPS.

“The main thing is the parks and public lands are ours too, we’re all supposed to protect and serve them for future generations, it’s where we live,” she said. “Conservation is rooted in our culture. Recycling, reusing, and more. We are already involved in it. If we don’t see ourselves represented, we don’t see our people in this field, maybe we feel it’s not for us. I want to be that person for other kids, to guide them to do this work, there’s space for you. I want to inspire other Latinas to do this. There is a space for everyone in conservation.”

The Corps Network – Statement on Corps Vaccination Policies

On September 9, 2021, the Biden Administration signed an executive order detailing the applicability of safety protocols for COVID-19 for federal contractors. See: Executive Order on Ensuring Adequate COVID Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors. The Corps Network acknowledges that this potentially expanded scope of vaccination requirements, testing, and/or disclosure may impact the work of its 130+ member Service and Conservation Corps, particularly those projects occurring on federal properties.

The Executive Order does not apply to:

grants;
contracts, contract-like instruments, or agreements with Indian Tribes under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (Public Law 93-638), as amended;
contracts or subcontracts whose value is equal to or less than the simplified acquisition threshold, as that term is defined in section 2.101 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (typically $250,000);
employees who perform work outside the United States or its outlying areas, as those terms are defined in section 2.101 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation; or
subcontracts solely for the provision of products.

Although the Executive Order does not apply in the situations detailed above, agencies or other partners may enact requirements that could apply to participants in Service and Conservation Corps.

Corps may implement vaccination requirements and COVID-19 safety protocols as desired. Corps that already mandate vaccination or regular testing for employees and Corpsmembers should consult with legal counsel regarding the disclosure of vaccination and testing status to external parties (contracting officers, program directors, etc.). Corps whose safety protocols do not yet include mandated vaccination or regular testing should be aware that federal contracts or projects occurring on federal properties may be modified to reflect the objectives of this Executive Order and should consult legal counsel on the development and/or applicability of contract modifications.

In either case, Corps should be advised that federal partners may require that every individual working on or visiting federal properties complete a Certification of Vaccination Form to disclose vaccination status. Workers and visitors who decline to disclose may not be authorized to participate in designated activities and/or on designated areas. The Corps Network encourages Corps leaders to consult with legal counsel in the development of policies and procedures related to the implementation of this Executive Order.

AmeriCorps has not mandated vaccination of members. However, participation in AmeriCorps does not exempt members from adhering to additional requirements or regulations from project partners or sponsors.

We will continue to monitor the guidance from the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force and provide updates or recommendations as this develops.

Additional Resources:

Safer Federal Workforce Vaccination FAQs
To request a copy of safety protocol(s) enacted by other Corps, please contact Bobby Tillett, The Corps Network’s Member Services Manager at btillett@corpsnetwork.org.

Guidance from Corps Partners:

National Park Service
- Public Health Information for the Park Partner Community
- DOI Guidance for Implementing EO 14042, Ensuring Adequate COVID Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors (October 15, 2021).

Corps Story: Preparing the Bay Area for Fire; Preparing Young Workers for Careers

“Don’t shy away from physical labor. And expect to get dirty.”

To anyone interested in joining the Environmental Management social enterprise program at Civicorps, these are the words of wisdom from Anthony Silva, a current Civicorps Crew Leader and AmeriCorps member who has participated in fire fuel mitigation projects. As Silva reports, fuel mitigation work can be, “labor intensive, repetitive, but satisfying.”

Based in Oakland, CA, Civicorps partners with 11 public agencies to complete conservation projects throughout the East Bay. With California currently experiencing the third driest year in the past century, as well as rising temperatures, wildfires are a growing concern. Civicorps is being called to do an increasing number of fuel mitigation projects.

“For our sponsors, this is the number one thing they are concerned about,” said Steven Addison, Conservation Program Manager. “For our contract with East Bay Regional Park District, we spend six weeks just working with their park fire crew all over the East Bay…We’ve gotten some week-long or one-day contracts with some of our other partners…It’s all about fuel reduction. If they get a call from the fire marshal saying an area has to be cleaned up in a certain amount of time, we get a call to come help.”

Fuel mitigation projects involve cutting down vegetation to create defensible space around homes, utility lines, roads, and other assets. As Addison says, their fuel projects can take them to “pretty much anywhere that municipal spaces bumps up against private space.” In addition to East Bay Regional Park District, the Corps’ project partners include Alameda County Flood Control, Zone 7 Water Agency, East Bay Municipal Utility District, Caltrans, and others.

Corpsmembers receive specific training to participate in fuel mitigation work. Over the past fiscal year, 33 Corpsmembers received certifications in chainsaw operation and 46 received brushcutter training. Corpsmembers are also trained in First-Aid and CPR: important skills to have when working in hot conditions and handling dangerous equipment. The learning experience extends beyond certifications, however.

“I think the engagement piece for our young adults is numerous. One thing is that they get to go places they would’ve never gone…Some of the parks they go to, some of the land they get to see, they lose cellphone service and they’re still in the Bay Area,” said Addison. “It’s re-engaging them with their hands. A lot of our Corpsmembers come with a high school diploma, but they don’t come with job experience…They’re learning skills like coming on time, working as a team, following instructions. Sometimes they have transformational experiences, due to the work and camaraderie, which is what we’re trying to achieve with them.”

Civicorps Crew Leader Silva notes that fuel projects can be challenging: you are often trying to keep your footing and protect your ankles while working on steep hillsides. However, the challenges are outweighed by the reward of chopping down dangerous trees and helping the community.

Civicorps has occasionally had the opportunity to engage Corpsmembers in conservation and fuel-related projects outside their usual service area. For example, as part of the Save Our Sierras initiative, a crew in 2019 partnered with the California Conservation Corps on a multi-day project to address dead and dying trees at Yosemite National Park.

Civicorps currently has about 40 to 50 Corpsmembers participating in fuel mitigation projects. When fully staffed, they can engage up to 70 Corpsmembers in this work. Even with a smaller crew, the program has a big impact: from July 2020 through June of this year, Civicorps members performed wildland fire mitigation across 859 acres.

Bob Doyle, the recently retired Director of the East Bay Regional Park District, was a founding board member of the organization that would become Civicorps. As he mentioned in a 2020 interview with Civicorps, fuel mitigation work is increasingly important.

“Investments in land stewardship, fuels management and jobs are critical. We need an army of young people! Both the State of the California and the Federal government need to provide much more funding if we’re going to make a dent in wildfire mitigation,” said Doyle. “We should be investing in people working in forestry, folks who can work a huge variety of jobs on public lands. The volume of land is overwhelming and the urban interface — cities encroaching on the forests — is only growing. We need the education, the training and a variety of skills to get people working in forestry in addition to firefighting skills.”

As Addison mentioned, the Corps is not short on work. They are always recruiting. While Corpsmembers don’t often come to the program with a specific interest in fuel mitigation, the experience can be inspiring. Corpsmembers have the chance to participate in meaningful fire fuel mitigation work while also learning skills that can translate into careers. The Corps has alums who took positions with other Corps, various partner agencies, arborists like Davey Tree, and the National Park Service.

Anthony Silva says his experience as a Crew Leader has allowed him to build his leadership skills. He is currently serving towards earning a second AmeriCorps Education Award.

“I want to buy a laptop with my AmeriCorps award so I can be more consistent Zooming during my college courses,” said Silva. “After the Corps I want to finish college and find a job in the sociological field, hopefully working with the youth.”

As noted by Rachel Eisner, Director of Development and Communication at Civicorps, fire fuel mitigation is an important part of their project load, but the conservation outcomes in the field are just one element of Civicorps’ mission.

“In terms of our over-arching mission as a Conservation Corps and building climate resiliency, the work that we’ve been doing for almost 40 years is all the more important now,” said Rachel Eisner, Director of Development and Communication at Civicorps. “The other notable aspect is that during the last fiscal year, our Corpsmembers took home $1.6 million in paid job training wages. So, in addition to the fuel load reduction and all the conservation work that we do, we’re training and employing Corpsmembers like Anthony Silva, we’re helping them build their networks…our Corpsmembers are earning and gaining concrete skills to push forward into the next stage of their career.”

Corps Story: Urban Corps of San Diego County Fire Fuel Reduction Program

September is National Preparedness Month. With climate change aggravating natural disasters, it is more important than ever to be prepared. Corps around the country are helping to mitigate and slow the spread of potential disasters. In California, Urban Corps of San Diego County (UCSD) works hard to reduce the spread of wildfires through their Fire Fuel Reduction Program (FFR).

Program Background:

In 2021, the Fire Fuel Reduction Program has cleared over 45 acres of brush so far.

“The program began over 10 years ago,” said Sam Lopez, Urban Corps’ Operations Manager. “I received a phone call asking how our Corpsmembers could help the County tackle wildfires. The County Board of Supervisors knew that Urban Corps had a large labor force and our focus on conservation made it a win-win proposition. They asked me to come up with a meaningful project by the end of the week, and it was Thursday—so I came up with the Fire Fuel Reduction Program and employed over 250 young adults. They were all trained and certified in fire fuel reduction services.”

When the FFR program began, Corpsmembers worked alongside and were trained by the U.S. Forrest Service and the Viejas Fire Department to properly cut brush and identify native versus non-native plants.

“Had it not been for those two entities, we probably wouldn’t be in the game that we are in,” said Lopez.

The Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians is a local Native American tribe and because of their proximity to wildfires outbreaks and their experience managing them, they have been able to share best practices with UCSD staff and Corpsmembers. In addition to cutting brush and identifying plants, Viejas taught Corpsmembers to properly sharpen chainsaws, check for inoperable mechanisms, and jump into fire shelters. These skills help the Corps be safer and more effective.

Through the program, Corpsmembers receive several certifications which they can use in future roles in forestry and wildfire mitigation. These include the S130, S180 and S212 wildfire response certifications. Corpsmembers also learn about fire behavior and develop leadership and chainsaw skills. These are valuable to have as climate change enters uncharted territories and the need for a climate-ready workforce increases.

Program – Day to Day:

Brush management is the primary focus of the FFR Program. According to Jicel Gonzalez, a Corpsmember who has been with Urban Corps for two years, her crew gets to their site at 8:00 a.m.

“Everyone knows their job; you get there and know what you’re doing.”

Gonzalez feels her supervisors really help bring the crew together and prepare them for their tasks. Ivan Barrera, a supervisor who works with the FFR team says:

“On a regular day we will do a morning briefing, what our plan is, how we are going to tackle it, how we are going to divide our crews to get the most done.”

Barrera motivates the team by working alongside them. The crews become like family, doing work to help keep the community safe.

“They’re working, I want to work as hard if not harder than them, just so they see it’s not them doing all the work,” said Barrera.

Throughout the day, Corpsmembers cut and drag brush, trees and invasive species, and clear leaves. At the end of the day, they recycle the waste. Staff also train Corpsmembers in cutting techniques and ways to differentiate brush. Though their progress is affected by weather, terrain and sometimes even wildlife, the Corpsmembers clear a lot of acres. Gonzalez’s most recent project cleared 10 acres over the course of several months.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, crews are limited to five to six Corpsmembers. If a project requires more feet on the ground, two crews and two supervisors are sent if possible. Nevertheless, the program has continued successfully.

Corpsmembers:

The Corps depends on the relationship between their staff and Corpsmembers to get the job done. Barrera explains:

“I’m just really proud of the guys and the girls…going here and seeing people who are just willing to learn every time you offer it to them and seeing them try their hardest and learn all these new techniques…at the end of the day our shirts are drenched, and we are dying from exhaustion. It brings people together.”

Corpsmembers are 18-26 years old and, though most of them are from the City of San Diego, the Corps has members from all over San Diego County. They serve anywhere from a few months to several years, until they achieve their high school diploma. Corpsmembers join from diverse backgrounds and for various reasons. What brings them together, as Gonzalez puts it, is their desire to succeed:

“I came here, and I didn’t know anything about removing brush, I’d never done that kind of work and the supervisors really helped me. If you want to learn to cut with a chainsaw, they’re going to show you,” said Gonzales.

In addition to learning to use a chainsaw, Gonzalez is studying for her high school diploma and received her pesticide certification. She also learned to use tools like a weed whacker and chipper. She feels that her Corps experience has helped her to become more independent saying:

“I can make decisions by myself. If I want to get a job, I can get it for myself,” she said.

Outlook:

As climate change continues to exacerbate the effects of wildfires, there has been an increased need for the type of work that Urban Corps offers. Lopez says that, although the Corps receives funding from San Diego and other cities in the County, they work hard to show how valuable they are in protecting the community. Barrera notes that fire-fuel mitigation is the first step in prevention – the Corps’ work gives homeowners a way to protect their houses and make them feel a little safer. He says:

“With the climate getting hotter, it’s better to do [fire fuel mitigation] far ahead of time, before there’s a fire.”

Programs like Urban Corps of San Diego County’s Fire Fuel Reduction will continue to play an important role in the battle against climate change. Urban Corps is grateful for the role they play in fire safe efforts around the county helping protect communities, buildings and homes.

Corps Story: American YouthWorks Disaster Response Program

September is National Preparedness Month and we are highlighting Corps that are involved in disaster response work. Based in Austin, TX, American YouthWorks (AYW), operates several programs including YouthBuild Austin, Louisiana Conservation Corps, and Texas Conservation Corps (TxCC).

Responding to Need

TxCC is part of the AmeriCorps Disaster Response Team (A-DRT) program. Their AmeriCorps crews, along with AmeriCorps members from other Conservation Corps, deploy to help with emergency response and recovery efforts across the country. This can include managing volunteers and donated supplies, staffing shelters, conducting damage assessments, gutting flooded homes, and more.

TxCC became involved with disaster response after working alongside a relief group in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Since then, TxCC has responded to disasters like the 2011 Joplin Tornado, the West Fertilizer Plant explosion, Hurricane Harvey, the Bastrop County Complex fire, the Typhoon in Saipan, Mariana Islands (a US Province), Hurricanes Maria and Irma in US Virgin Islands, flooding in Alaska, and Oklahoma Tornadoes. Upon receiving a disaster response grant through the Texas State Service Commission, the OneStar Foundation, TxCC established a dedicated disaster response program.

As explained by American YouthWorks, AmeriCorps programs and uniquely Conservation Corps are especially well-equipped to participate in disaster work.

“It’s this nice marriage of a crew that has leadership established, an identified crew leader, individuals that are used to hard and intense labor, being outside and in the heat, harsh conditions, even sleeping in a tent,” says David Bock, TxCC Disaster Response Programs Coordinator. “It’s a good fit. It’s not like we’re first responders, but we’re usually there right after that emergency and the conditions are still rough.”

Conservation Corps give states a reliable resource for volunteer management, organizing unaffiliated individuals that show up ready to help after a natural disaster. Typically, once a disaster occurs, AmeriCorps crews are on standby and ready to deploy for 30 to 60 days at a time. A federal declaration must be made through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the state to use AmeriCorps as a resource. Crews are currently on standby to deploy for Hurricane Ida response.

In response to Hurricane Michael, which hit the Florida Pan Handle in 2018, AmeriCorps crews sorted 34,740 lbs. of donations, collected and distributed 19,800 lbs. of food, and removed 275 hazard trees. These stats show the magnitude of the disaster response crews’ impact.

Serving During COVID-19

The pandemic has altered the work of the TxCC disaster response program and other A-DRT crews. It has not been as safe to deploy with intimate living and working quarters. This past spring, AmeriCorps crews assisted with COVID-19 response efforts in Roanoke, VA, primarily doing outreach and also supporting vaccination sites. TxCC collaborated with the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) and the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM). This included going door to door providing vaccine information and staffing a vaccine clinic for local residents. Crews visited 978 homes, distributed 391 COVID-19 Care Packages, and helped get 9,570 people vaccinated.

“I was very excited because the whole last year and a half, I think a lot of us felt powerless to this whole thing. I didn’t have any say in it, all I can do is wear my mask and social distance, and do what the CDC is telling me. So to know that I get to go out and directly impact this pandemic with my efforts made me feel really empowered,” says Daniel Gerardi, a TxCC AmeriCorps member who deployed to Roanoke. “I’m so glad I made the choice to join the Conservation Disaster Crew because it is actually concrete help.”

The AmeriCorps Member Experience

Besides immediate disaster response and relief efforts, AmeriCorps members at TxCC complete requests for wildfire fuel mitigation and creating defensible spaces around communities. Corpsmembers regularly train for this type of physical work. Corpsmembers at TxCC can receive various certifications, including the S-212 wildland fire chainsaw certification and a “Red Card,” or wildfire Incident Qualification Card. Corpsmembers also do trainings in watershed restoration, rigging, and other technical skills.

Being a Corpsmember on this type of team also poses many challenges.

“Corpsmember’s have mental, physical, emotional fatigue from performing in the chaos and interacting with people and survivors who have gone through a very traumatic experience. Our members are a breath of fresh air and hope,” says Parc Smith, American YouthWorks CEO. “Some things that help are emotional support animals or therapy dogs and other fun activities at the end of the service days.”

With the rise of climate change disasters, from flooding to wildfires, the need for disaster response crews continues to increase. After a deployment to Louisiana, the local community saw the need for their own Conservation Corps. TxCC assisted in creating the Louisiana Conservation Corps. A Civilian Climate Corps initiative could create the opportunity to expand and enhance this type of work in every state. Smith explains that community engagement should also be a part of implementation of a CCC: “If the CCC is going to do community education around preparedness, then there is a need for community engagement training – exactly how to talk to residents and build trust.”

Whether or not a CCC is ever fully implemented, current disaster response Corpsmembers find the work important and rewarding. Lyn Cummings, a TxCC AmeriCorps member reflects, ”Disaster deployment helped me to know that leadership in the Corps was right for me. Everyone has the opportunity to step up and fill leadership roles within the deployment community. There are so many moving parts and things to do.”

When asked what he has gained from his time in disaster response work, Cummings said, “ The hard skills we learned – the outdoor technical skills, chainsaw skills – are tremendous, but I think the most useful skills I continue to build and will have with me for the rest of my life are the soft skills. They were tested and solidified during deployment: interacting with people, conflict management, crew dynamic, leadership, all of the social aspects of being an AmeriCorps member. I think other than service, the one thing that ties all Corpsmembers together are those social skills that we build while in these programs.”

Corspmember Geraldi also finds a similar takeaway: “The service mindset. I’ve always sort of been community minded, but realizing that applying my efforts to help reduce people’s suffering, and help people live better lives feels like the only meaningful thing we can do.”

9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance – 2021

This year marked the 20^th anniversary of the September 11th attacks. While many Corpsmembers are too young to remember the events of 9/11, they keep the memories of victims alive through acts of service. Read below to learn how several Corps recognized the 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance.

Civic Works – Baltimore, MD

Civic Works hosted two 9/11 Day of Service volunteer events.

The Real Food Farm worked with student volunteers and the Corps’ AmeriCorps farm crew on building Hügelkultur mounds – a sustainable method of soil conservation and crop row efficiency.

Meanwhile, AmeriCorps members with Civic Works’ Community Lot Team worked to transform vacant lots across Baltimore City into green space. Service project volunteers worked with the Community Lot Team to create an outdoor classroom and garden at a school in West Baltimore.

GEM Environmental – Prescott, AZ

GEM Environmental hosted their first 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance activity: a clean up and trail maintenance project at Thumb Butte. About 30 community members helped with 14 of them from the Yavapai Apache Nation Youth Crew.

Great Lakes Community Conservation Corps – Racine, WI

The Great Lakes CCC partnered with the Racine County Volunteer Center, the South Shore Fire Department, the Racine Fire Department, and the Milwaukee Fire Department to conduct a disaster response training exercise. AmeriCorps members served as victims for the exercise. Afterwards, the AmeriCorps members attended 9/11 observance ceremonies.

LA Conservation Corps – Los Angeles, CA

The LA Conservation Corps (LACC) is sponsoring a Red Cross Blood Drive later in September. They are inviting Corpsmembers and staff to donate blood to help meet shortages across the country.

New Jersey Youth Corps of Phillipsburg – Phillipsburg, PA

In remembrance of 9/11, the New Jersey Youth Corps of Phillipsburg (NJYCP) worked with the New Jersey Tree Foundation to mulch and care for a site planted by the Corps 17 years earlier. The site has a tree planted in honor of each NJ resident who was a victim of the 9/11 attacks. Corps alumni were welcomed to help alongside current Corpsmembers.

Utah Conservation Corps – Moab, UT

Utah Conservation Corps (UCC) crews partnered with Seek Haven Moab Family Crisis and Resource Center to work on several service projects, including removing non-native grasses, shrubs, and trees and assembling a new playset for the center.

Corps Story: Building Trails and Life Experience at Rocky Mountain National Park

Ever thought it would be fun to spend the summer working in a national park? Talk to the AmeriCorps members of the “Rocky Crew” at Larimer County Conservation Corps (LCCC). They will assure you that yes – serving on a trail crew at Rocky Mountain National Park is a challenging, but incredible experience.

Over the past few summers, the Cub Lake Trail has been the Rocky Crew’s primary focus. With 3.3 million visitors, Rocky Mountain National Park was the fourth most visited national park last year. During the warm months, when the trails aren’t under snow, the LCCC AmeriCorps members play a critical role in maintaining Cub Lake and other popular routes.

This summer, the eleven-person Rocky Crew cleared over 450 drains. On the Cub Lake Trail alone, they maintained nearly two miles of tread and installed 16 rock steps, 14 wood steps, and six drains. They also moved countless “ankle-breakers” – large rocks that create a tripping hazard.

Kiera Denehan joined LCCC as an AmeriCorps member in 2019. She was pursuing a Conservation Biology degree at the Warner College of Natural Resources at Colorado State University (CSU). The Corps has collaborated with the Warner College in recent years to provide employment to students like Kiera who are required to take a summer course at CSU’s Mountain Campus.

“It’s cheesy to say, but the overall Corps experience was absolutely life-changing for me,” said Kiera. “As I was reading more about the position, I was blown away…First of all, the ability to work in the park is amazing – Rocky Mountain National Park is so beautiful – but also being able to give back. I think a lot of people who use trails and love the natural resources we all use are looking for a way to show their appreciation. This opportunity was the perfect way to do that.”

During their service, the Rocky Crew works side-by-side with park staff, giving crewmembers an opportunity to ask questions and practice networking. The AmeriCorps members learn about trail aesthetics and how to use tools, but they learn important soft skills, too.

“Having to camp with ten other people for four days out of the week and learn group dynamics – that’s huge for young people,” said Kiera. “[They also learn] professionalism on the job. Our crew is on the trail that’s open to the public. They get a lot of questions…They learn how to communicate about the type of work they’re doing and why they’re doing it.”

After her AmeriCorps service in 2019, Kiera returned to LCCC in 2020 as a Crew Leader. She now works as a Program Assistant. The mission of the program keeps her motivated.

“I think the Conservation Corps as a model is just incredible. The education aspect is really special and unique,” she said. “Being able to get hands-on work in a specific field and then also the program wants you to learn, wants you to have personal and professional development…that’s something I think every job should do.”

Kiera has a background in natural resources, but she emphasizes that anyone can find their place in a Corps. When they recruit for the Rocky Crew, they aren’t necessarily looking for people with experience: they want people who are excited to work and give the Corps a try.

“With an opportunity like this – particularly if it’s trail work – sometimes it’s easy to get focused on a mentality of ‘I’m tired. It’s a hard day. I just want to sleep in a bed. I don’t want to camp.’ But I’d say to reflect and keep an open mind,” said Kiera. “In the moment, you’re going to be thinking, ‘oh man, this is hard,’ but when you look back on an experience like this, that’s not what you’re going to remember. You’re going to remember all the incredible work that you’ve done. You’re going to remember the incredible experiences that you had, and you’re going to remember the people that you worked with.”

Reflections from Summer 2021 LCCC AmeriCorps Members

Mckenzie Palmer, Springfield, OR

What have you learned from this experience?

I learned many strategies for trail work, as well as ways to get involved in the Park Service. We learned about many opportunities for jobs at NPS for people with various interests.

What did you enjoy about this work? What was challenging?

I loved working with my team and making a tangible difference in the park. The work was very fun and rewarding. The challenging part was battling self-doubt, especially knowing that other Corpsmembers were physically stronger than me.

Why is this work important?

This work helps to create sustainable trails that allow people to continue to enjoy the park with minimal impact on the environment.

What do you plan to do in the future?

I hope to work on the NPS trail crew at a great national park (there are many).

What would you say to other young adults considering a program like this?

This program is very worth it. The people on my crew all had different interests and goals, but everyone benefited from being here and left the program with valuable experiences.