A Good Environment: James Zmudzinski shares why Fresno Local Conservation Corps is the place for him

Where are they now? – Catching up with 2006 Corpsmember of the Year,
James Zmudzinski


James at The Corps Network 2006 National Conference in Washington, DC
 

James Zmudzinski, formerly a Corpsmember with the EOC/Fresno Local Conservation Corps, won Corpsmember of the Year in 2006 for his commitment to service and self-improvement. Read below to find out what he’s been up to since accepting his award, or find out more about James and his Corps experience by reading his bio from our 2006 National Conference.

James Zmudzinski started working at a young age. His dream was to build up his savings and eventually own an auto mechanic shop. However, there was a time when this goal seemed impossibly out of reach. James had never finished high school and barely earned enough money to support himself. As James says, he started making bad decisions and often got into trouble. When he realized it was time to get serious, James joined the EOC/Fresno Local Conservation Corps (LCC).

James quickly became a vital member of LCC’s Flood Control Basin Maintenance Program. His supervisors saw that he was a self-starter and appreciated his positive attitude. When he wasn’t working with the crew, James proved his dedication to self-improvement by taking full advantage of the life-skills courses offered at LCC. He also applied himself in the classroom and eventually earned his high school diploma through the Corps’ charter school. He then took a few college classes with the AmeriCorps Education Awards he earned as a Corpsmember. James says his overall experience as a Corpsmember and student with LCC was significantly better than his previous high school experience.

“The part of this program that worked for me was…well, basically all of it,” said James. “The people that work here, the case managers…if you need help with anything or if you think you’re going in the wrong direction, they’re always there. It was like everybody had open arms, so it was an easy place to be.”

James worked his way through the ranks at LCC. He was hired to be a Crew Leader and eventually earned his current staff position as a Supervisor. James has now spent over seven years with the Corps.

“I like the environment here. I started from the bottom and made my way up. Working with the youth in the area – that also made me stick around,” said James.

As a Supervisor, James leads LCC crews that assist with grounds maintenance projects for housing authority properties. His crews mow the grass, trim trees, prune bushes, and generally make sure the grounds are in good condition. James is now considering opening his own landscaping business.

Though he sees landscaping as a good way to make money, James still has his heart set on becoming a certified mechanic. He says he is practically a partner in the mechanic shop where he currently helps with auto repair work. His passion is restoring old cars.

“I’ve got to have cars in my life,” said James.

Between working at LCC and working on cars, James participates in a car club in his free time. Many of the club’s members are people James grew up with. They get together to attend car shows and host barbeques and family functions. Around the holidays, they participate in Toys for Tots and distribute food to families in need. James wants to be a positive role model and set a good example for his two children.

“My actual father was never around, so I’ve been serious about being there for my kids,” said James.

James isn’t sure where he would be today if he had never found EOC/Fresno Local Conservation Corps. As he says, “I hope I would be in a good place, but it’s hard to say. If I didn’t get the job here, the way I was going I would’ve been nowhere good.”

To you people thinking about joining a Corps, James says:

“It’s an experience. It can change you and hopefully it will. There are people here who can get you the help you need. It’s worth the time. Just give it a try. It’s not for everybody, but at least you get some experience out of it.”

Creating a Career Path: How Centennial Job Corps helped Jessica Johnson discover new talents

Where are they now? – Catching up with 2012 Corpsmember of the Year,
Jessica Johnson


Jessica receiving her award at The Corps Network 2012 National Conference in Washington, DC
 

Jessica Johnson, formerly of Centennial Job Corps of Idaho, won Corpsmember of the Year in 2012 for her commitment to service. Read below to find out what she’s been up to since accepting her award, or find out more about Jessica and her Corps experience by reading her bio from our 2012 National Conference.

Jessica Johnson heard about the Centennial Job Corps from her grandfather. He helped construct the buildings of the Corps’ Nampa, Idaho campus and thought that Jessica – an ambitious high school graduate – might make an ideal Corpsmember. Jessica looked into the program and decided she might as well give it a try. Sure enough, Job Corps was the perfect fit for her.

Jessica started at Job Corps learning office administration skills through the organization’s Business and Finance Program. She was quickly recognized as a hard worker and a positive role model.  Her success in the business program allowed her the opportunity to also begin training for Centennial’s rigorous firefighting program.

“I thought the fire crew sounded pretty awesome, so I checked it out – and it was pretty awesome,” said Jessica.

Jessica earned a stellar reputation with the fire crew bosses and her peers. She was dispatched on every fire call as a result of her skill and reliability. After Jessica completed her service in the Idaho Corps in May 2010, she was accepted to Advanced Fire Management training with Schenck Job Corps CCC of North Carolina for the fall of 2010. Her excellent job performance at Schenck resulted in her recruitment by the Boise Regulars for a seasonal firefighting position in Boise National Forest.

“When I was on a crew here in Idaho I was the supply manger. I kept track of our inventory and whatnot,” said Jessica. “I also helped with basic operations and making sure things were done safely.”

After completing the 2011 fire season with the Boise Regulars, Jessica spent the winter at home helping her family with babysitting and chores. Jessica has always enjoyed looking after her four nieces and nephews. She spends most of her free time with them and is always conscious of setting a good example.

For the 2012 fire season, Jessica was hired to be part of a wild land firefighting crew in Oregon’s Willamette National Forest. During her time in Oregon, Jessica was able to open her FFT1 task book. The Fire Fighter Type One Task Book is a log kept by a wild land firefighter as he or she works towards becoming a Squad Boss. Jessica spent this past summer participating in Squad Boss training and leading small groups of firefighters in their assignments. She hopes to eventually become an official Squad Boss; a position that would put her in charge of about four to eight other firefighters.

“Squad Bosses are responsible for the safety and wellbeing of the crew and making sure that whatever assignments you’ve been told to do, you and your crew accomplish those things,” said Jessica. 

Jessica’s goal is to find year-round employment with a Forest Service firefighting crew. However, she’s not impatient to find such a job. She plans to start looking for a permanent position in about two to three years. Until then she wants to continue gaining experience through seasonal wild land firefighting jobs.

“I want to make sure that I really know and understand the job that I’ll be doing,” said Jessica. “I want to be qualified for it and not just run around with a title that I shouldn’t have. I don’t want to jump into anything.”

Jessica currently lives at home with her family in Idaho and continues to help with the babysitting and other household jobs. She plans to get another firefighting position when the next fire season comes along in the spring and summer.

Jessica maintains contact with some of her peers from Centennial Job Corps’ firefighting program who have also pursued wild land firefighting jobs. She also keeps in touch with some of the Corps’ staff.

“The staff there was awesome and very helpful and really motivating,” said Jessica.

To other young people thinking about joining a Corps, Jessica says:

“Use everything to your benefit and realize that’s what the Corps is there for. If you have questions, just ask the staff. If you run across someone who you aren’t necessarily on the same page with, just try talking to different staff members. Remember that not everyone communicates in the same way. Do what you need to do and follow the rules even if they’re silly and just make the whole experience your own.”

Starting Over Out West; How Corey Brown made a future for himself with the help of Mile High Youth Corps

Where are they now? – Catching up with 2010 Corpsmember of the Year,

Corey Brown


Corey receiving his award at The Corps Network 2010 National Conference in Washington, DC. Pictured with David Muraki, California Conservation Corps, and Brigid McRaith, Mile High Youth Corps
 

Corey Brown, a former member of Mile High Youth Corps, won Corpsmember of the Year in 2010 for his commitment to service. Read below to find out what he’s been up to since accepting his award, or find out more about Corey and his Corps experience by reading his bio from our 2010 National Conference.

Corey Brown has one regret about his service with Mile High Youth Corps of Denver Colorado: he wishes he had joined sooner.

“I wish I’d looked into the Corps a long time ago,” said Corey. “…I feel like I could’ve had a better grasp on who I am as a person and also what I like and what I don’t like.”

Corey’s path to the Youth Corps was not an easy one. With his mother suffering from a severe mental illness and his father dealing with serious physical disabilities, Corey had to assume many responsibilities at a young age. He did the family shopping, cleaned the house, and earned money to pay the bills. Even while he was in college he continued to juggle a full course load, work, and family obligations. As Corey said, he was burnt out, depressed, and worried that he didn’t have room to make any mistakes.

Corey realized it wasn’t healthy or productive for him to live this way. Fortunately, one of Corey’s mentors moved to Colorado and offered him a place to stay in Denver. Corey knew he owed it to himself to at least consider the offer. He eventually decided that the best thing he could do for himself was leave school, leave New Jersey, and head out to Colorado.

“It was a really, really hard decision. I basically just got up and left with the clothes on my back and a few things and a little bit of money in my bank account. It took me probably a good year to really finally make the decision and go all in,” said Corey. “I just felt like I was stuck and kind of helpless. I felt like this opportunity, even though it was a pretty huge risk, I only had to gain. I couldn’t really go any further down from where I was at.”

Not long after arriving in Colorado, Corey was referred to Mile High Youth Corps. During his tenure with the Corps, from May 2009 until November 2010, Corey mainly worked with the Corps’s water conservation project. His main job was to install high-efficiency toilets in low-income households throughout Denver. Though Corey admits the work wasn’t glamorous, he learned a lot about the importance of water resources.

Corey was eventually promoted to be a Mile High “alumni mentor.” Having the responsibility to motivate other Corpsmembers and help them work through their problems left a big impression on Corey. He has considered finishing his bachelor’s degree in psychology so he can one day become a licensed counselor.

“I think I look back at my own personal story and see how having mentors and counselors in my life meant a lot. If I didn’t have those few people I probably wouldn’t be where I am today,” said Corey. “I wouldn’t have the confidence I now have. I wouldn’t be as successful. So knowing that one person can make such a big difference in somebody else’s life is what interests me in this work the most.”

After leaving Mile High, Corey spent about a year weatherizing homes in Denver and Arapahoe County with the organization Veterans Green Jobs. He then transitioned to his current position as a maintenance tech with a nonprofit that provides housing for single-parent families facing homelessness. Corey is responsible for helping with the upkeep of the organization’s 100,000 square feet of property. In his spare time, Corey volunteers his maintenance skills by providing general upkeep services for a local church. He is also looking into volunteering with the Denver rape crisis center – an organization he feels strongly about and has donated to in the past.

Right now, Corey is focused on becoming a wind energy technician. He begins classes with Ecotech Institute in Colorado in January 2013. His goal for now is to get his degree from Ecotech in the next two years and start building his career as a wind tech.

Corey says his decision to pursue a career in the green sector was inspired by his time with the Corps. He was always interested in the environment, but his Corps experience made him more passionate about conservation. However, a career path is not the only thing Corey gained from Mile High, however.

“I think probably the biggest impact was on my confidence level. I feel like before I came out to Colorado I was very passive…I’d been through a lot and didn’t have the confidence that I should’ve had,” said Corey. “Going through the Corps and being promoted, just knowing that I could be really good at what I do and be well-liked by my coworkers and peers I think was definitely a huge confidence-builder for me.”

To young people thinking about joining a corps, Corey says:

“I would recommend that if you are interested in corps at all you should definitely look into it as soon as possible. It’s more than just a job. I would just recommend using it for everything it’s worth. I know a lot of Corpsmembers do look at it as just a job and they don’t use all the other resources that a corps can offer. There’s a lot of networking that’s available and a lot of educational opportunities.”

 

Finding a Way to Serve at Home: How a veteran found meaningful work with Southwest Conservation Corps

Where are they now? – Catching up with 2012 Corpsmember of the Year,
Mike Bremer

Mike Bremer, formerly of Southwest Conservation Corps, won Corpsmember of the Year in 2012 for his commitment to service. Read below to find out what he’s been up to since accepting his award, or find out more about Mike and his Corps experience by reading his bio from our 2012 National Conference.
 

There’s one bet Mike Bremer isn’t sorry he lost…

When he first met his wife she was serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA.  After hearing about the program Mike joked with her about how she must be “some kind of hippie.” His wife reacted by making a bet with Mike that she could find an AmeriCorps program that he would enjoy. Mike shrugged off her challenge, but it wasn’t long before she stumbled across a description of Southwest Conservation Corps’ Veterans Fire Corps.

Mike served in the Army Infantry in Iraq. When he got home he felt like his life lacked a purpose. He struggled for a number of years to find meaningful employment.

“I refueled jet aircraft. I didn’t like that. Machinist – I tried that, too. House painting – didn’t like that, either,” said Mike.

The Veterans Fire Corps program was associated with AmeriCorps – an organization that Mike’s wife was familiar with. On top of that, the Corps was accepting any and all veterans. Mike thought he should give it a try. He ended up serving as a Corpsmember from May 2010 to April 2011.

While in the Corps, Mike worked in three different districts of the San Juan National Forest and also for the New Mexico Bureau of Land Management. He completed fuels mitigation projects, pile burning, and area burns. He received high ratings in chainsaw safety training, wildland fire fighting, and behavior classes. Mike’s exceptional ability with a chainsaw also ensured that he could become the sawyer for his crew, an integral and coveted position, especially for a first year firefighter. Based on his performance and the strong bonds he made with his fellow Corpsmembers, the staff of Southwest Conservation Corps promoted Mike to Crew Leader the following spring.      

“With the Corps, I was able to get back to service – that’s when I’ve been at my best. It was good to be with a group of great vets – we all could share our experiences,” said Mike.

After completing the Conservation Corps program, Mike says most of the vets on his crew ended up taking jobs in wildland firefighting. Mike was hired by the U.S. Forest Service as a seasonal wildland firefighter and sawyer for San Juan National Forest in Colorado. He then got promoted to be a fulltime firefighter for the Forest Service with a hand crew in northern California. He is currently part of an apprenticeship program based out of Six Rivers National Forest in Eureka, California. The program gives Mike the opportunity to travel throughout the country and gain experience with different types of wildland fires.

Though Mike is very happy with his current position, the job is definitely not an easy one: between May and September of 2012, he ended up working about 800 hours of overtime – about 100 days of extra work. Mike says he and the guys from the Veterans Fire Corps have maintained contact and swap stories about their experiences in the field.

“We saw some pretty extreme fire behavior this past season,” said Mike.

As part of his apprenticeship, Mike will attend the Fire Academy; a month-long program in Sacramento that trains firefighters for future leadership positions. Mike definitely sees firefighting as a career he wants to stay with.

“I’d like to stay in fire operations as long as my body will hold out,” said Mike.
 
Firefighting had never been on Mike’s radar until he joined the Veterans Fire Corps. He feels like he would probably be in “some lame job that [he] hated” if his wife hadn’t helped him find the Corps. Mike says he would strongly recommend the Corps experience to other veterans who might be struggling to find meaning in civilian life.

To young people thinking about joining a Corps, Mike says:
 
“Just hang in there and do a good job every day. You never know – it could lead to bigger and better things.”

 

Civicorps Opens New Job Training Center

 


Civicorps new Job Training Center 
 

Taken from the Civicorps Facebook page and The Post News Group

Civicorps, located in Oakland California, held a grand opening for its new Job Training Center on Thursday, February 28th. The celebration offered an opportunity for people to tour the facility and meet staff and Corpsmembers.

Civicorps purchased and renovated the new facility with Prop. 84 funds through the California Conservation Corps. The 15,000-square-foot building will host job training activities and academic classes.

“Last year, 82 percent of our students went to college and the rest directly into jobs. The Job Training Center will increase opportunities for Corpsmembers to earn industry recognized certifications that will help them to find well paid jobs upon graduation,” said Civicorps Executive Director Alan Lessik.
 


The mural on the side of the new Job Training Center was designed and Painted by Corpsmembers 
 

The exterior of the Job Training Center is decorated with a mural that was designed and painted last summer by a team of Corpsmembers. The Oakland City Council and the City of Oakland Cultural Funding Program supported the mural’s creation. The finished painting represents “community,” environmental stewardship, second chances, hard work, and academic rigor. Established local muralists Eduardo Pineda and Joaquin Newman directed the project and taught Corpsmembers about the importance of public art. Students developed skills in mural design and learned about the role of mural art in transforming people and communities. The project also helped Corpsmembers explore their personal roles in the broader community.

The Job Training Center is located at 1425 5th St., across from the West Oakland BART station.

Check out more pictures of the new Job Training Center here. 

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Marriage Unites EarthCorps Alumni From Two International Programs

Steve Dubiel, Executive Director of EarthCorps, sent us this exciting message about the recent marriage of two EarthCorps alumni who met through the Corps’s international partnerships in the Philippines and Russia. 

Congratulations Anastasia and Ronald!

Hi All,

Over the years we’ve had many EarthCorps alumni marriages.  This is obviously not why people join the corps, but when you bring together people with deeply held shared values, lifelong relationships often form.  This story is too sweet not to share. 

You may know that our two longest and deepest international partnerships are with Palawan Conservation Corps (Philippines) and Great Baikal Trail Association (Russia).  We recently had two EarthCorps alumni marry- Anastasia from GBT and Ronald from PCC.  Ronald is a great success story in that he participated in PCC’s program for out of school youth, graduated from the program, went on to college, and joined EarthCorps after graduation.  Ronald is now back at PCC- and Anastasia has joined him. 

Both GBT and PCC alumni put their EarthCorps experience to work in their home communities.  The photos I’ve included in this email are of trail work (see if you can spot a locally made Pulaski as I did) and shoreline mangrove forest replanting (notice how EarthCorps’ volunteer engagement strategy has made it to the Philippines). 

Cheers,

Steve 

 

2013 Capitol Award Ceremony

 


Joel Holtrop, Chair,The Corps Network Board of Directors, and Harry Bruell, President & CEO, Southwest Conservation Corps, greet The Honorable Ken Salazar, Secretary of the Department of the Interior.
 

The 2013 National Conference came to a close on Wednesday, February 13th with our annual Capitol Hill Award Ceremony in the Caucus Room of the Cannon House Office Building. The event recognized our six 2013 Corpsmembers of the Year, three 2013 Projects of the Year, and the recipients of our Federal and Congressional Champion Awards.

Our Corpsmembers of the Year are young men and women who have stood out as leaders and mentors in the Corps movement. Some of this year’s winners had their Representatives in Congress in attendance at the Award Ceremony to offer their support. The 2013 Corpsmembers of the Year are Luis Gaeta, EOC Fresno Local Conservation Corps; Alex Hreha, Coconino Rural Environment Corps; Sarah Huff, California Conservation Corps; Brandon Penny, Civicorps; Raghda Raphael, Urban Corps of San Diego; and Jesse Roehm, Mile High Youth Corps.

Our Project of the Year recipients represent some of the most innovative programs at Corps throughout the country. The ceremony recognized EOC Fresno Local Conservation Corps for their responsible parenting program, POPS (Proving Our Parenting Skills); Civic Works of Baltimore, Maryland for the urban agricultural projects of their Real Food Farm; and Los Angeles Conservation Corps for their Flying Weed Warriors program, which involved the use if cutting-edge herbicide dispersal technology.

The award ceremony also recognized the recipients of the Congressional Champion Award. This Award goes to elected officials whose work promotes and encourages the growth and sustainability of America’s youth service and conservation corps. A number of awardees attended the award ceremony to offer words of support for the efforts of service and conservation corps. This year’s Congressional Champions are Senator Barbara Boxer, California; Senator Mark Begich, Alaska; Senator Christopher Coons, Delaware; Representative Ruben Hinojosa, Texas’s 15th District; Representative Raul Grijalva, Arizona’s 3rd District; Representative John Tierney, Massachusetts’s 6th District; and Representative Nick Rahall, West Virginia’s 3rd District.


Secretary Ken Salazar, a recipient of The Corps Network’s 2013 Federal Champion Award, speeks at The Corps Network’s annual award ceremony on Capitol Hill. 
 

Finally, the ceremony celebrated our three Federal Champions. This Federal Champion Award is given to policymakers and public officials whose work encourages the growth and sustainability of youth conservation corps. The three winners – Secretary Ken Salazar, Department of the Interior; Chair Nancy Sutley, White House Council on Environmental Quality; and Secretary Tom Vilsack, Department of Agriculture – have all demonstrated their support for youth corps in numerous ways, and have all provided leadership in the process of creating the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps, based on the model of the Depression-era Civilian Conservation Corps.

Congratulations to all of our winners and thank you to all of the individuals who joined us for the ceremony and made remarks, including Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Harris Sherman, Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment  at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Plenary: Why The Corps Network Matters, Annual Meeting

 

The Corps Network’s Board of Directors. Joel Holtrop, Chair, pictured at the podium. Mary Ellen Ardouny, President and CEO of The Corps Network, seated furthest to the right.
 

The final plenary session of our 2013 National Conference got off to a great start with a truly inspiring speech delivered by Jesse Roehm, one of this year’s Corpsmembers of the Year. Jesse spoke about how he has always been passionate about environmental stewardship, but how some of the things he loved in life fell by the wayside during his relatively turbulent college years. After graduating from Indiana University, Jesse dedicated a year of his life to service and became a highly respected Corpsmember (and eventually a staff member) with Mile High Youth Corps in Denver. In his speech, Jesse spoke of how the Corps helped him find direction and rebuild a connection with the values he cared about most.


Jesse Roehm, a 2013 Corpsmember of the Year from Mile High Youth Corps in Denver, delivers an inspiring speech. 
 

Jesse then turned the session over to Joel Holtrop, Chair of The Corps Network’s Board of Directors, and other Board Members, including Joe Scantlebury and Laura Herrin. By sharing personal stories, they shared their own connections to the work of Corps, and their vision for The Corps Network and why they believe the work we do is so important.

For many of our new Board Members, this session marked the one year point of their commitment to serving on the Board of The Corps Network. It was a time to reflect upon the great things they had learned over that period of time.  This session also involved The Corps Network’s Annual Meeting, during which we heard a positive report from the Treasurer of the Board. 

2013 Friends of National Service Reception

 

On the night of Monday, February 11th, The Corps Network joined with friends from the broader National Service Community in the East Hall of Union Station for the Friends of National Service Reception. Sponsored by CSX, Comcast / NBC Universal, and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, the event celebrated such champions of National Service as former President Bill Clinton and retired U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM). Mary Ellen Ardouny, President and CEO of The Corps Network, helped conduct the ceremony. Wendy Spencer, CEO for the Corporation for National & Community Service, spoke powerfully in a surprise special guest appearance. For a full list of winners, click here.


From Left to Right: Raghda Raphael, 2013 Corpsmember of the Year from Urban Corps of San Diego;  Jorge G. Silva-Bañuelos, former staff member of Senator Jeff Bingaman; Mary Ellen Ardouny, President and CEO of The Corps Network.

Partway through the reception we heard from Raghda Raphael, a 2013 Corpsmember of the Year from Urban Corps of San Diego. Raghda delivered a moving speech about how Urban Corps helped her find her way in America. She spoke about moving to California in 2010 to escape the violence and personal tragedies her family had experienced in their native Iraq. Raghda described how the Corps helped her learn English, pass the California High School Exit Exam, and earn her high school diploma.

A gallery of photos from the Reception can be found here.

 

Plenary: 20 Years of National Service Success

 


From Left to Right: AnnMaura Connolly, President of Voices for National Service; Wendy Spencer, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service; Carrie Hessler-Radelet, Acting Director of the Peace Corps.
 

This exciting session brought together three leaders from the world of National Service. AnnMaura Connolly, President of Voices for National Service, moderated a discussion between Wendy Spencer, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service and Carrie Hessler-Radelet, Acting Director of the Peace Corps.

The passage of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act was an early victory for National Service during President Obama’s first term, but proposed cuts have threatened funding for service programs, including domestic Corps and The Peace Corps. In addition to this key topic, Ms. Spencer and Ms. Hessler-Radelet both discussed how levels of volunteerism are at a high, and how more service opportunities should be made available in order to accommodate every American that is ready and willing to work.

Both women also shared inspiring stories about how they have personally seen the impact that service can have on service recipients and service providers. Wendy Spencer talked specifically about her time in New York and New Jersey following Superstorm Sandy. She was impressed by the fantastic work of Service and Conservation Corps that traveled across the country to provide assistance as part of a joint FEMA-AmeriCorps mission assignment. Carrie Hessler-Radelet queried the Conference audience, and discovered that many attendees were Peace Corps alumni. Facilitating reciprocal connections between the talent pipeline developed by the Peace Corps and domestic service programs like Service and Conservation Corps was a goal she addressed at length.
 


Alex Hreha, a 2013 Corpsmember of the Year from Coconino Rural Environment Corps, starts off the session with an inspiring speech.
 

Before the panel discussion, Alex Hreha, a 2013 Corpsmember of the Year, delivered an inspiring speech about how the Coconino Rural Environment Corps (CREC) helped him realized a passion for conservation. Alex talked about how he had been overweight and under-motivated throughout much of his high school career. The Corps helped him build confidence, learn valuable new skills, and develop the mindset to lose weight and get in shape. 

The panelists were particularly impressed by Alex’s story. Wendy Spencer even remarked that it mirrored many of AmeriCorps objectives for outcomes for its program participants. Later on in the day she even gave a shout out to Alex on Twitter: