Photos from the Reaching the Summit Community Service Initiative Day in West Virginia
Check out these photos from last week’s Reaching the Summit Community Service Initiative. The project, led by Citizens Conservation Corps of West Virginia, involved the completion of 350 service projects in five days throughout southern West Virginia. Held in conjunction with the Boy Scouts of America’s annual Jamboree, the event brought together Corpsmembers from CCCWV, KUPU – Hawaii Youth Conservation Corps, Northwest Piedmont Service Corps, and AmeriCorps NCCC.
Click here to read more about the event.
Citizens Conservation Corps of West Virginia Enlists Help from Hawaii Youth Conservation Corps and AmeriCorps NCCC for Boy Scout Jamboree, 2013 Reach the Summit Initiative
West Virginia Governor Earl Ray Tomblin takes a moment for a photo with Corpsmembers and staff from Citizens Conservation Corps of West Virginia and KUPU / Hawaii Youth Conservation Corps.
Click here to see more photos from the event
For one of their most ambitious projects to date, the Citizens Conservation Corps of West Virginia (CCCWV) agreed to lead the 2013 Reaching the Summit Community Service Initiative, which will see the completion of over 350 service projects in southern West Virginia this week. According to the organizers of the initiative, “it’s the nation’s largest community service project of its kind in U.S. history.”
“The Initiative is remarkable and the most significant project of its kind in our nation’s history,” said Robert A. Martin, CEO, Citizens Conservation Corps of West Virginia. “Moving forward, what we accomplish over these five days of service will be a shining example of what can be accomplished when we all work together.”
So who’s helping out? The Boy Scouts of America are hosting their annual Jamboree in conjunction with the event, with an estimated 40,000 scouts descending upon West Virginia for fun and service. Most of the approved work includes outdoor construction, renovation, painting, landscaping or clean-up efforts. The projects are located at cemeteries, parks, schools, humane societies, historic landmarks, ball fields, and other community gathering places.
Knowing they had their hands full, CCCWV also turned to some of their best friends and partners to help out. On Tuesday, the arrival of KUPU’s Hawaii Youth Conservation Corps crew caused quite a splash at the airport, where according to Charleston Gazette reporter Laura Reston, “the teenagers wore yellow leis Tuesday at the gate at Yeager and voiced a Hawaiian chant called an “Oli” to commemorate the entrance to a sacred place…” Noting the strong environmental connection many of the Corpsmembers feel coming from their state, Reston quoted Corpsmember Joshua Bailey-Belista as saying, “If you take care of the land, ‘the land will take care of you.'” They also had a chance to meet the Governor of West Virginia before heading out to Pipestem State Park.
Wendy Spencer, CEO of the Corporation for National & Community Service has also headed to the event to tour sites and volunteer. Numerous crews from AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps are also there to help execute and supervise projects.
Mary Ellen Ardouny, President & CEO of The Corps Network, the national association of Service and Conservation Corps will also attend. “This is an amazing event and a large share of the credit should go to Citizens Conservation Corps of West Virginia which has worked for more than two years to pull this event off seamlessly and by engaging a wide number of partners.”
Three Corps Collaborate for Dolores River Restoration Project
Photos and story taken from the Colorado Youth Corps Association Facebook page
Photo credit: Jacob W. Frank, Social Media and Capacity Building Coordinator, Four Corners School of Outdoor Education (more of Jake’s photos of the Dolores River Restoration Project can be found here)
Tamarisk: The most beastly of plants! Western Colorado Conservation Corps, Southwest Conservation Corps and Utah’s Canyon Country Youth Corps are the primary implementation partners for the Dolores River Restoration Project, which since 2009 has led restoration efforts along the Dolores River. The primary goal? To tackle the beastly tamarisk plant, which is infesting 175 miles of the Dolores below McPhee Reservoir. These areas are impacted by tamarisk and other invasive plants that adversely affect the diversity and function of riparian habitat. Tamarisk trees out-compete native vegetation, reduce the diversity of wildlife habitat, increase the risk of wildfire intensity, armor river banks, increase soil salinity, and decrease access for wildlife and recreationists to the river.
Photo caption from CYCA: Members apply learned techniques regarding safe chainsaw use, tamarisk treatment, and biomass management.
Photo caption from CYCA: Training is packed with education, meeting with land managers, guest speakers, and presentations. Here, Daniel Oppenheimer of the Tamarisk Coalition presents on the scope of the DRRP, the work of the partnership and the dynamics of the introduced tamarisk leaf beetle in western river systems.
Civic Works and Student Conservation Association Partner with Johnson Controls for Conservation Leadership Corps
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“Conservation Leadership Corps brings Baltimore communities and teens together through parks work program”
Taken from DIGITAL NEWS
By PR Newswire
BALTIMORE, July 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — This summer, 33 Baltimore-area high school students will participate in a unique employment experience through the Conservation Leadership Corps (CLC), a summer jobs program created and sponsored by Johnson Controls in partnership with the Student Conservation Association (SCA) and Civic Works.
In its seventh year in Baltimore, the CLC provides students with training to build leadership and professional development skills, a hands-on conservation experience and a personal sense of stewardship in completing environmental projects throughout the city.
This year, local fundraising and a grant from Northrop Grumman to Civic Works have enabled the CLC to add three additional participants to experience the program. These funds will also support an overnight camping trip for all CLC members, and for five seasoned participants to extend their work within the program for two more weeks.
“Each year our Conservation Leadership Corps provides new and interesting opportunities in the framework of environmental stewardship that expand participants’ skills personally and professionally,” said Jennifer Mattes, director, global public affairs for Johnson Controls. “This program engages students in an experience that helps make them more competitive job candidates, while underscoring the importance of environmental conservation.”
During the six-week program, one crew will conduct a special project at Herring Run Park, restoring various sections of Herring Run Park that border different neighborhoods to connect the park’s many communities. This CLC crew will also build timber steps on a washed-out portion of the Tyndale trail and add a section of turnpike, as well as construct new trails and perform invasive species removal.
Two student crews will work at Leakin Park to reroute and construct a more sustainable grade for part of the Ridge Trail. The work will involve the slope and drainage on the remaining portions of the old trail. Students will also add stone or timber steps to some sections of the park, add one section of turnpike, and close old, unused trails. Teens will also cultivate vital professional development skills, including help with resume writing, interview skills and personal finance management.
“It is important to keep high school youth engaged in meaningful activity over the summer. Only with the support of Johnson Controls and SCA are we able to offer such a beneficial program that involves job training, education and a spirit of service, while accomplishing so much for our parks here in Baltimore,” said Earl Millett, chief operating officer, Civic Works. “The partnership between our organizations has enabled us to reach so many students that would not have had any opportunities otherwise. We look forward to continuing to grow this program until everyone who wants to participate has access to it.”
On August 2, the students will participate in a professional development day – hosted by Johnson Controls at the company’s Sparks, Md. location – where they will learn the importance of sustainability, energy efficiency, and expectations of today and tomorrow’s leaders. CLC members will engage in career-focused presentations and hands-on workshops led by company experts.
The CLC participants were selected from more than 138 applicants based on their successful completion of a two-month process. Student candidates were assessed on leadership, work ethic, civic engagement, and interest and commitment to the environment. Two students shared their thoughts about the program:
“The Baltimore CLC is an important option for me over the summer so that I can have more job experience. After this summer I will have a lot of CLC experience to put on my resume. I will also have a lot of fun working outside, getting to know other students and adventures during the CLC.” – Kwamel Couther, second-year Baltimore CLC crew member
“Baltimore CLC is important because it teaches valuable lessons on why the earth is important and why we need to keep taking care of it. It also shows people that hard work really does pay off.” – Malik Moore, third-year Baltimore CLC crew member
Additionally, the SCA, Civic Works and Johnson Controls are working in partnership with Blue Water Baltimore, the Baltimore Office of Sustainability, Clyburn Arboretum and the Aquaponics Project, Real Food Farm, Marshy Point Nature Center, the Downtown Sailing Center, and the SCA’s own Urban Tree House initiative to offer further educational opportunities.
The program will culminate in a graduation ceremony on August 16, where the CLC students, crew leaders and community partners will present awards to the CLC teams.
Support for the program is also being provided by the David and Barbara B. Hirschhorn Foundation, Mountain Club of Maryland, Friends of Herring Run Park, and PNC Bank Harborside.
Established in Baltimore in 2007, Johnson Controls also sponsors the CLC in Milwaukee and Detroit, along with similar programs in China, Mexico, England, Germany, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
About Johnson Controls:
Johnson Controls is a global diversified technology and industrial leader serving customers in more than 150 countries. Our 168,000 employees create quality products, services and solutions to optimize energy and operational efficiencies of buildings; lead-acid automotive batteries and advanced batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles; and interior systems for automobiles. Our commitment to sustainability dates back to our roots in 1885, with the invention of the first electric room thermostat. Through our growth strategies and by increasing market share we are committed to delivering value to shareholders and making our customers successful. In 2013, Corporate Responsibility Magazine recognized Johnson Controls as the #14 company in its annual “100 Best Corporate Citizens” list. For additional information, please visit https://www.johnsoncontrols.com.
About the Student Conservation Association:
The Student Conservation Association (SCA) is the only national organization that develops tomorrow’s conservation leaders by providing high school and college students with service opportunities in all 50 states, from urban communities to national parks and forests. Since 1957, SCA’s hands-on practice of conservation service has helped to develop a new generation of conservation leaders, inspire lifelong stewardship and save the planet. SCA is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with offices in Boise, ID, Charlestown, NH, Chicago, IL, Oakland, CA, Pittsburgh. PA, and Seattle, WA. For further information, visit www.thesca.org.
About Civic Works
Civic Works, Baltimore’s urban service corps and an AmeriCorps program, was founded in 1993 with a mission of strengthening Baltimore’s communities through education, skills development, and community service. Since its inception, Civic Works has trained and assisted more than 3,600 Baltimore area participants in performing community service projects, developing job readiness and life skills, and finding employment. Every year, approximately 200 AmeriCorps members serve on one of Civic Works’ teams tutoring and mentoring children, building community parks and gardens, making energy efficiency improvements, making home repairs for older adults, and growing food for low-income communities. Civic Works also trains 100 low-income Baltimore residents for careers in healthcare, environmental remediation, and weatherization.
Editor’s Note: To obtain images of the Baltimore CLC program, please contact Amanda Holloway at aholloway@branigan.biz or 414-459-3942.
The National Council of Young Leaders: Shawnice Jackson on the Need to Increase Mentoring
National Council of Young Leaders banner, painted by council member Francisco Garcia
Created in July 2012 in response to a recommendation from the White House Council on Community Solutions, the National Council of Young Leaders is tasked with informing policymakers, business leaders and funders about the issues faced by America’s young people. The 14 founding council members, ranging in age from 18 to 34, come from diverse upbringings in urban and rural low-income communities across the nation. They represent our country’s Opportunity Youth: the 6.7 million young Americans who are neither in school nor working, but who pose enormous potential for our economy and our future if they are provided the opportunity to get on track and get ahead. Though each council member has overcome different kinds of obstacles, they all share in common their participation in transformative youth programs that helped them become the successful young adults they are today.
In the fall of 2012, the Council released its first publication – Recommendations to Increase Opportunity and Decrease Poverty in America. The report outlines specific actions that could help Opportunity Youth and their communities. One of highlights of the publication is the Council’s Six Recommendations for Immediate Public Action: 1) Expand effective comprehensive programs; 2) Expand National Service; 3)Expand Private Internships; 4) Increase All Forms of Mentoring; 5) Protect and Expand Pathways to Higher Education; and 6) Reform the Criminal Justice System.
We wanted to hear the Council Members describe in their own words why these specific Recommendations are important to them and important to the success of America’s young people. Below, find out why council member Shawnice Jackson is passionate about Recommendation #4…
Increase All forms of Mentoring:
End the pipeline to prison for children and youth, make sure punishments actually fit crimes, eliminate disparities in sentencing that correlate with race, and end the various forms of lifetime punishments for all offenders that destroy lives, families, and communities. Expand second chance and re-entry programs for all offenders. Expand mentoring programs and elevate both formal and informal mentoring as a core component for all programs serving opportunity youth. Young people need caring individual mentors to give us confidence, respect, and support in planning and working toward a productive future. We need mentors both from a similar background who have overcome familiar obstacles, and mentors from different backgrounds who can open whole new horizons.
[Recommendations to Increase Opportunity and Decrease Poverty in America, p. 8]
(Parts of Shawnice’s bio and her photo were taken from the YouthBuild website)
Shawnice Jackson is committed to positive youth development through mentoring and advocacy. She previously worked as a customer relations specialist at Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Chesapeake (BBBSGC) where she was responsible for the recruitment, screening, and training of volunteers who are matched with underserved youth in Baltimore City and surrounding counties. She recently left Big Brothers Big Sisters to take a job as the program manager of a pilot mentoring program run through the mayor’s office and Family League of Baltimore. Shawnice is modeling the program after Success Mentors; an initiative in New York City to use mentoring to combat chronic truancy.
A native of East Baltimore, Shawnice graduated from Eastern Technical High School and is currently in her senior year at University of Baltimore, studying human services administration. She hopes to pursue a career in urban education leadership.
An alumna of Public Allies in Maryland, she has served as a project coordinator for a Baltimore Rising program: Mentoring Children of Incarcerated Parents, and as volunteer and coordinator at BBBSGC. As a volunteer Big Sister at BBBSCG, she continues to give of her time in support of the well-being of young people in her community. She is also a court-appointed special advocate for abused and neglected children with CASA Baltimore City.
Why is this Recommendation important to you, or important to youth in general?
Mentoring gives you a positive role model, a positive outlet. For a lot of people, it could introduce them to things that maybe they’ve never seen before or never had a chance to do. You can learn more about someone and learn about yourself at the same time.
Have you had, or do you have, mentors in your own life that you feel have made an impact on you?
Yes, I am currently a mentor and I am being mentored. Right now I have two younger, female mentees. One is in high school and one is in elementary school. I found one through Big Brothers Big Sisters, and the second one I started out as her tutor and it eventually turned into a mentoring relationship.
And then I currently have mentors who I met through Big Brothers Big Sisters. I have a male mentor and a female mentor.
Could you tell me a little bit more about your own experiences mentoring and being mentored?
I was really drawn to my first Little Sister because we had a really similar background. Both my parents died at a young age, and were addicted to drugs and in poverty. She came from a similar background, being raised by her grandmother. So right at the beginning we had that kind of connection there. Me being her mentor, I show her things that she otherwise wouldn’t necessarily be exposed to. A lot of times we’ll go to different festivals and get out in the community. She’s been to my college with me and attended a college class. She has a feel for what that might be like for her in the future. With my other high school-age mentee, a lot of the activities we do together are also academic. We are in the process of our own little college tour, trying to explore the different schools in the city and looking at the requirements to get there. It helps her, alongside the tutoring program that I tutor her in, she has the chance to see what she can get to if she continues to do well in school. I have definitely seen both of them become much more positive and confident in themselves just in the time that we’ve been together. I’ve been with one for a year and one for two years now.
As far as me being mentored, I feel like as a first-generation college student in my family, my mentors are people who have the experiences I want to have in life. A lot of times they give me advice and guidance about how to be a better me and how to get where I want to be in life. If I didn’t have those mentors I can’t say I would necessarily know the right path to take to get to where I want to be.
In your view, what is the role of a mentor? What makes a good mentor? What should they be able to do or provide?
They should definitely be able to provide guidance and unbiased support. I think a good mentor is someone who is able to communicate effectively without judging. I also think a good mentor needs to just have a general concern and care for the mentee. And I also feel like a good mentor is committed. A lot of the things my mentees are going through are things that I didn’t necessarily go through when I was a youth, and I guess that could deter some people, but I really feel committed to them and I stick it out with them. You can’t be a mentor that’s not committed because if you start a mentoring relationship and then you just leave it, it can be tragic.
A mentor listens first, and then speaks. That’s one very, very important thing.
Why do you mentor? What motivates you to mentor?
I just really want to give back to kids who are at-risk, just like I was. And also because I know how much of my own success I’d probably have to attribute to my own mentors. I just want to help instill some of those values, give back what I’ve learned to someone else.
Could you tell me about different organizations that you’ve worked with as a mentor?
I’ve mentored through Big Brothers Big Sisters as a Big Sister. Also through SquashWise, which involved one-on-one mentoring that complimented their squash program for at-risk youth. Prior to that I did some informal mentoring through my college in partnership with one of the middle schools here in the city. I’ve also become a mentor through my church. But there are all kinds of places you can go; YMCA, Boys and Girls Club – they all have mentoring programs here in Baltimore.
Looking at the Recommendation, it says “we need mentors both from similar backgrounds who have overcome familiar obstacles, and mentors from different backgrounds…” What is the significance of this aspect of the Recommendation? Why is it important to have a diversity of mentors?
I think it’s important to have mentors from a similar background just to be able to relate. If you have someone that has a similar life experience, it’s probably easier for you to relate to them and easier for you to open up to them.
I feel like it’s important to have mentors from different walks of life because it exposes you to someone who you otherwise probably wouldn’t have had the chance to meet. It also exposes you to different arenas and platforms that you wouldn’t have seen otherwise.
Looking at your bio for the National Council of Young Leaders, it seems like you’ve been involved with a lot of different mentoring organizations. What got you involved in this field?
Like I said earlier, I guess it was just that sense of wanting to give back and be that positive role model for someone else. I’m actually not at Big Brothers Big Sisters anymore. I just left there a couple weeks ago to actually start a new pilot program that’s through the mayor’s office and it’s going to focus on using mentoring as a tool to combat chronic absenteeism in youth. It’s going to be based on the model of Success Mentor in New York.
Can you tell me a little bit more about this project and about how you got involved?
I just wanted to be more hands-on in mentoring. This program is through two agencies, but it’s a program that I will be modeling after the Success Mentor program and I’ll still get the chance to use my expertise and the things I’ve seen to shape the infrastructure and design. It’s going to be in ten Baltimore City pilot schools this year. Each mentor will be matched with about ten students that were chronically absent in the past school year. Their role is to just be a positive mentor and check in when the student is absent, try and help them maybe address some of the barriers that might be keeping them from coming to school. Right now the goal is to see if these mentors have a positive impact on the students’ attendance.
I’ll be acting as the program manager, but it will be a collaboration between the mayor’s office and the Family League of Baltimore.
What do you think needs to happen to make this Recommendation a reality? What could we do to increase formal mentoring? Informal mentoring?
I think it would help if everyone could just realize their potential as a mentor. You don’t have to be certified. You don’t have to have a certain skill set. You just have to be willing to give your time to listen and be there for someone. Everyone has the potential to be a mentor. I think people should just step up. There are a lot of people who could potentially be amazing mentors, but they feel like they’re just not ready. I know that when I was with Big Brothers Big Sisters, that was the biggest thing. I was trying to recruit guys and they’d be like, “I’m not ready,” or “I wouldn’t make a good mentor.” But all you need is just to be yourself and give some time. I think just about anybody can do that.
Public Lands Service Corps Act Gets Revised Score From Congressional Budget Office
On June 18th, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee amended and passed S.360, the Public Lands Service Corps Act of 2013. Following the committee passing the bill, the legislation was sent to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to be “scored.” The CBO “scorekeeping” process includes calculating the budgetary effects of the implementing the legislation and impact on the current and future budget resolutions.
This week, CBO released their cost estimate of the amended S.360, the Public Lands Service Corps Act of 2013. CBO has now found that, “Although S. 360 authorizes a number of new activities under the Public Lands Corps Act, the bill would not increase the amounts authorized to be appropriated under that act. Thus, CBO estimates that implementing the bill would have no impact on the federal budget over the 2014-2018 period. Enacting the bill would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.” In previous Congresses, CBO estimated that implementing the legislation would require net additional appropriations of $95 million over the 5 year period.
The Public Lands Service Coalition agrees with the Congressional Budget Office cost estimate of the Public Lands Service Corps Act of 2013 that implementing the legislation will not bring the need for additional appropriations and will in fact help stretch the land and water management agencies operating budgets. In fact, research conducted by the National Park Service’s Park Facility Management Division found that using Conservation Corps to complete maintenance and trail projects provided a cost savings of over 50%.
The legislation will next be scheduled for Senate floor consideration, expected sometime this fall. We look forward to the legislation being scheduled for floor action and signed into law by the President. Similar legislation has been introduced in the House by Representative Raul Grijalva (AZ-3) and has 32 cosponsors and awaits action by House Committee on Natural Resources. Thank you to all of the Corps that reached out to their Senators on the committee in support of the Public Lands Service Corps Act of 2013.
Background on the Public Lands Service Corps Act of 2013
The Public Lands Service Corps Act of 2013 amends the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 and expands the role of the public lands corps program. The Public Land Corps program allows the federal land and water management agencies to partner with conservation and service corps on projects that rehabilitate, restore, and enhance natural, cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational, and scenic resources on public lands across America. An expanded Public Lands Service Corps program will provide more opportunities for thousands of young Americans to gain valuable workforce and career development while assisting our nation’s land and water management agencies to address critical maintenance, restoration, repair and rehabilitation needs in a cost effective manner.
The legislation will:
• Permit NOAA to work with conservation corps on costal and marine habitats,
• Establish department level corps / youth offices at DOI, USFS, NOAA,
• Extends the noncompetitive hiring authority for corps members,
• Allow military veterans up to age 35 to participate in the public lands corps program.
The legislation will allow the public land and water management agencies to engage young adults to meet our nation’s backlogged maintenance needs, address record youth unemployment, and prepare a diverse group of youth to be the next generation of natural resource employees. An expanded Public Lands Service Corps program will provide more opportunities for thousands of young Americans to gain valuable workforce and career development while assisting our nation’s land and water management agencies to address critical maintenance, restoration, repair, and rehabilitation needs.
Green City Force Corpsmembers Featured in Music Video
Watch the new music video for the song “Ima Push,” by Gallo, to see Green City Force Corpsmembers in action! The video and song were produced through the Dream Reborn Song Competition, sponsored by Green For All. The competition looks for songs – by young musicians – “that spread a message of economic, social, and environmental justice.” The winner earns a $1,000 and the chance to shoot a music video. This year’s winning entry, “Ima Push,” is, as Green For All states, a song “…about finding a way to go on when you think you’ve got nothing left to give. Protecting our communities has never been more urgent. That means fighting pollution—by standing up to the fossil fuel industries. It also means making our neighborhoods more resilient—by investing in infrastructure and bringing green
jobs and opportunity to the communities that need it most.” The video features scenes of New Yorkers working to make their neighborhoods more sustainable, as well as scenes of the city recovering from Hurricane Sandy. Green City Force Corpsmembers can be seen throughout the video.
Click below to read about some of the ways GCF is helping youth and working to make New York City greener.
- Green City Force and Hurricane Sandy Recovery: “Improving building efficiency one day…tearing buildings down the next.”
- Green City Force and the Red Hook urban farm: NYCHA Launches First-Ever Large-Scale Urban Farm on NYCHA Property.
- Green City Force named New York City’s most innovative nonprofit: Green City Force Named Most Innovative Nonprofit in NYC by Mayor Bloomberg for Operating as Part of The Corps Network and AmeriCorps’ Clean Energy Corps.
125 Corpsmembers Working to Mitigate California Fires
From the California Conservation Corps
The California Conservation Corps continues to have crews dispatched to fires in both Northern and Southern California.
In the Lake Tahoe area, four CCC crews (55 corpsmembers) have been assigned to the Kyburz Fire in the Eldorado National Forest. They are working under the direction of the U.S. Forest Service. The crews are from CCC locations in Auburn, Fortuna, Redding and South Lake Tahoe.
In Southern California, the six CCC crews dispatched to the Chariot Fire near Julian in San Diego County continue their efforts. The 75 corpsmembers include three fire crews, from Camarillo and San Diego. The San Diego crew is composed of military veterans.
There are also three camp crews on the Chariot Fire, providing logistical support to Cal Fire. Those crews are based in Los Angeles and San Diego.
The CCC has additional crews that may be assigned where needed.
Bob McCammon, Executive Director of Youth Conservation Corps Retires
Bob with Wendy Spencer, CEO of the Corporation for National & Community Service, at The Corps Network 2013 National Conference.
After 37 years of serving as the Executive Director of Youth Conservation Corps (Waukegan, Illinois), Bob McCammon has decided he’s ready to retire. In Bob’s own words, he says that “I plan to reduce my stress and enjoy some of my major loves for family, travel, outdoor recreation and golf in the coming years.”
Youth Conservation Corps joined The Corps Network in 1991. The organization has participated in numerous programs and initiatives of The Corps Network, most recently the Postsecondary Success Education Initiative and the AmeriCorps Education Award program. YCC has also been an active YouthBuild program, and Bob has served both on the Board of The Corps Network as our Chair and numerous committees for both YouthBuild and The Corps Network. Bob has received numerous awards over the years and was appointed by the Illinois Governor to Serve Illinois, the Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service in 2007. Bob holds a Bachelor of Behavioral Science from Louis National University and a Masters of Public Administration from Roosevelt University. He also served for ten years in the U.S. Navy and is a Vietnam Veteran.
Ben Richard, YCC’s Program Director, has been appointed Interim Executive Director of the organization and will take over when Bob formally departs in mid-August.
Around The Corps Network, we have appreciated Bob’s candor and expertise over the years, as well as the many nice Youth Conservation Corps golf shirts and he has brought us that we wear with pride (YCC has hosted a golf charity fundraiser benefiting the program for 27 years). We will miss him and his contributions to the Corps Movement!
