Impact Stories: Sebastian Castillo

The Corps Network is collecting short stories from Corps about their projects and the Corpsmembers that put them into action. Read our “Impact Stories” collection for a picture of the people and hard work behind the Corps movement. This story is of Sebastian Castillo, an AmeriCorps member at  Civicorps, based in Oakland, CA.

What led you to join a Corps Program?

Unemployment during COVID-19 pandemic. The experience offered at Civicorps was along the lines of my college major.

 

Are you an AmeriCorps Member?

Yes – I’m part of The Corps Network’s AmeriCorps Education Award Program.

 

How do you plan to use your education award?

College tuition.

 

What certifications/ training did you earn?

Chainsaw/Sawyer Certification, Chipper, First Aid/AED/CPR, Forklift Certifications.

 

Tell us about a Project of Accomplishment from your Service Term:

I supported habitat restoration projects throughout San Francisco Bay area (East Bay), including helping Snowy Plovers and Monarch Butterflies. I also helped build shelters for the unhoused community.

 

What is your favorite memory from your Corps experience?

The best were the memories made with fellow Corpsmembers and getting People of Color outdoors enjoying nature.

 

What do you think is the biggest impact you will take away from your experience?

The experience gained in terms of field work and leading group projects.

 

What do you plan to do after your Corps experience?

I plan on getting more experience in field work.

 

Any advice for people looking to join a Corps?

Jump with both feet forward and don’t be afraid to take advantage of your resources.

 

 

Alumni Stories: Ronald Henderson

As we enter a new year, The Corps Network has asked Corps alumni to reflect on their Corps experiences. We want to know how they were impacted by their service term and how their Corps helped lead them to where they are now. Ronald Henderson is a GulfCorps alumnus of Franklin’s Promise Coalition and the Student Conservation Association. He began his Corps journey five years ago and is currently working for The Nature Conservancy Apalachicola Bluffs and Ravine Preserve.

  1. What led you to initially join a Corps?

I joined the Corps in 2017. Pretty much everyone who was on the original crew of Franklin’s Promise, I played football with. So, I pretty much knew everybody that was working there. I just so happened to lose my job at a chocolate shop, and I remembered seeing Franklin’s Promise, so I applied to it, because I was tired of working in a restaurant, and that’s how I got started, and here I am five years later.

  1. What were you doing before you joined Franklin’s Promise?

I was working at a chocolate shop, I worked at a pizza shop, and I worked at Burger King leading up to that job. I decided to leave the restaurant business. Conservation originally wasn’t the main pull. Originally, I was looking at Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Walking in I thought, maybe I’ll do FWC, maybe I’ll do prescribed burns.

  1. What were your projects at Franklin’s Promise?

The regular Franklin Crew did a lot of slash-pile-removal, sandpile removal, we worked on boardwalks a lot. We did some work in the Air Force base doing conservation work. At Franklin’s Promise we had a food drive, we had Toys-for-Tots there, so we helped with all that. Whenever there was a hurricane, we handed out sandbags. We also had an emergency relief program emergency relief program. Whenever disasters happened, they would call on us and we would hand out sandbags, food, water, and stuff like that.

My time at the Bay Crew (a GulfCorps Crew working with Franklin’s Promise) for a good five months was strictly experimental. When I started, it was just starting so we had to hire everybody and once we got everybody on board, we got them all certified. Originally, we were going to be working in Econfina River State Park doing work out there, but I never got to because I got my first fire crew job right at the beginning of 2020, so I left, but we did a few things. We did some sand pond removal. We were cutting fire lines. Pretty much the Franklin Crew and the Bay Crew were working together on projects.

  1. How did you go from Franklin’s Promise to Student Conservation Association (SCA)?

I applied, I did the interview, got the job, and met four of my best friends – I’m still friends with everybody. The fire crew still meets up regularly. I was with the fire crew for about five months. Then we got shut down because of COVID-19.

  1. What was your experience like as part of the SCA Fire Crew?

I think that being on that fire crew taught me a lot about myself. That was right around the corner of my son being born. My son was born in July 2020, but the fire crew ended in April. I got a job that same month, but the experience was nice.

I turned 21 as soon as the crew started. I knew two people from the crew. I learned a lot. I saw a lot of pretty places. Working in partnership with The Nature Conservancy Alabama really looked good on my resume, as well. I did a lot of prescribed burns.

We did pitcher plant habitat restoration that is so sacred. They’re so endangered and rare that you can’t even pull out a phone because you don’t want anyone knowing where they are because they are some of the rarest pitcher plants.

  1. What were some of the highlights of your SCA experience?

There was this crazy 1,000-acre burn near Flag Mountain. We burned at this sacred Native American land and each crew got 200 acres to burn. I remember my crew got an extra 100 acres to do and it was awesome. I was tired, but it was awesome.

I think my favorite part of the whole thing was just camping everywhere we burned at. A prescribed burn takes more than eight hours. Depends on how many acres it is and how complex the burn is but usually 8-13 hours.

We stayed on a wildlife management area, as well, and so the hunters that came in, sometimes they would have extra meat that they wouldn’t want because they were hunting for sport, so they would give us a deer or a hog or a racoon or a beaver to skin and they just let us keep the whole thing.

On our days off we would drink beer and skin animals. We wouldn’t eat out often because our leader had a full cooler of all these wild animals. We would make our lunch for the week out of these animals. We had wild leeks growing around our house, so we picked and pickled them.

  1. What certifications did you achieve throughout your time with Corps?

Wildland Fire Certifications, Wildland Fire Certification, Aquatic Grasses Certification, OSHA, CPR, and Wilderness First Aid.

  1. How did your experiences lead you to where you are now?

The company I worked for after SCA is called Long Leaf Alliance, which branched off The Nature Conservancy Florida (TNC) about 12 years ago. I was doing biology work for the reticulate of the Flywood Salamander. It was technically a seasonal job. The first season was more like field work. We would go in and clear out the ponds for the salamander. The second season I worked there we did more biology work, like finding [salamanders] and counting them and counting the legs, how long their bodies are and putting them back. Or we would take some dye and inject it into the tail of the salamander so we could tell if we’d already caught them or not as they got bigger. That was when I really got into snakes. You could say I became a herpetologist through that.

I was with Long Leaf Alliance for a year and a half and now I am with TNC. What helped me get this job was being friends with all the partners I met with through GulfCorps. GulfCorps really helped me network. I am still friends with every higher-up that I met from GulfCorps. I already knew the hiring supervisor from when I worked at GulfCorps—and my Crew Leader, Brad, I burned with him, probably a few months before I even got this job. And the person that recommended this job, I burnt with him a bunch of times, so I pretty much knew everybody when I got here.

  1. What do you do in your current position?

We do native seed collection for water grass, we do native seed planting, we do prescribe burns and we do efforts to reintroduce the Indigo Snake into the population. We release a certain number of snakes a year. Basically, it is a land management job. I help manage Apalachicola Bluffs and Ravine Preserve. I do tractor work, pretty much anything you can think of chainsaw work, planting, collecting seeds, herbicide…

  1. What advice would you give people considering joining a Corps?

Network, network, network. It is one of the most important things you can get from GulfCorps. Network, and get all the certifications that you can. You never know, somewhere down the road they might be handy.

 

Share Your Favorite Pics: FY21 Annual Report Cover Photo Contest

It’s that time again! We invite member organizations of The Corps Network to share some of your favorite pictures from 2021 to be considered for the cover of The Corps Network FY21 annual report. We are looking for powerful images that demonstrate the resilience, diversity, and impact of the contemporary Corps movement. Right now, as our country considers establishing a national Civilian Climate Corps initiative, show us what “a modern CCC” looks like. Please see below for specific criteria.

Even if your Corps’ photo doesn’t make the cover, please note that almost every photo submission we receive will be used elsewhere in the report or in other documents and resources produced by The Corps Network in the future. We sincerely appreciate all of the content we’ve received in past cover photo contests.

The last day to submit photos is Friday, February 18, 2022. The report will be published in March. Thank you for your consideration.

[Photo in banner: FY20 annual report cover photo, Idaho Conservation Corps]

Criteria/Suggestions + How to Submit Entries

  • Each Corps may submit up to 6 photos.
  • The deadline to participate in the contest is Friday, February 18, 2022.
  • Photos must be high resolution (300 dpi preferred).
  • Please provide a few details about the photo (where was it taken, who is in the picture, etc.).
  • Let us know if there is a specific person who should receive photo credit. Otherwise, we will credit your organization.
  • Preferred file formats are .jpg, .jpeg, .png. (if you have .heic pictures, please considering converting them to .jpeg files using a free tool like this).
  • Please no images that don’t include people. We want to see great photos of Corpsmembers at work.
  • Landscape-oriented pictures preferred, but portrait photos also accepted.
  • Please no photos that have been heavily edited or have an obvious filter applied.
  • Photos taken within the past year are preferred.
  • Remember – even if your picture is not chosen for the cover, we may use it on the inside of the document or in other resources from The Corps Network.
How to Submit Your Photos

Please email entries to Hannah Traverse, [email protected]. Don’t forget to include a few details about each photo and if a specific person should receive credit. If your photos are too large to send in one message, feel free to send in multiple emails or use a file sharing service like Dropbox, Google Drive, iCloud, or WeTransfer. We can’t wait to see your entries.

Claire Hassler intern

Individual Placement Story: Claire Hassler

In addition to crew-based programs, many Corps work with state and federal resource management agencies to offer internship and individual placement opportunities. These service positions give young adults leadership experience and the chance to more deeply explore career opportunities.  

Over the years, several member organizations of The Corps Network have worked under our agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to recruit participants for the USFWS Directorate Fellowship Program. Once such member organization is the Intergovernmental Internship Cooperative (IIC), based out of Southern Utah University. IIC places the fellows and helps keep track of their progress throughout their term. Claire Hassler is serving through the USFWS Directorate Fellowship Program in partnership with IIC. We spoke with her about her service experience. 

Where are you currently based?

I am based in Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge, which is in Marble Falls, TX, and Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge, which is in Eagle Lake. I’m employed through Southern Utah University and IIC. My internship started in April 2021 and goes through February 2022.

How did you first hear about the USFWS Southwest Intern Program?

I had never heard anything about it before. I had a mentor who suggested I look at The Corps Network’s website because I told her I wanted to be working outside and she suggested it. I was looking mainly at trail positions but saw this on the partner’s section. I stumbled upon it and decided to apply even though I didn’t know much about it at the time. 

Can you tell us a bit about your background? What were you doing prior to the internship and what made you want to join?

I studied journalism in college, specifically multimedia journalism. I was working at the local paper doing primarily video and photography for them. But I always had an interest in science journalism and conservation and environmentalism, so I was hoping I could get more into that specifically. I spent a few months after graduating working as a staff photographer at a paper in Columbus, MS. When that internship ended, I was looking for the next thing and saw The Corps Network internship posting and immediately thought, “that’s exactly what I want to do” – so I applied.

Can you share more about where you’re currently serving and your responsibilities?

Every month I spend three weeks at Balcones and one week at Atwater, and I do similar things at both of them. Primarily, I go out on the refuges and I document with videos and photos. Sometimes that looks like photographing the nature and the scenery and other times it’s photographing staff in action or public events. That’s field time and I live for that. When I applied that’s what I was most excited to be doing, being outside. With every day in the field, there’s two days in the office. I go through all of that content and I edit it and make sure it’s organized so that at end of the internship I’ll be able to give them a big photo drive of edited and captioned photos. 

I also write Facebook content for the Balcones and publish those, make sure they’re spread out, relevant and interpretive. I’ve also been putting together some videos. Some are quick Facebook style with subtitles to share work that’s going on at the refuge. The one I’ve been working on for a while is for the Balcones website and it’ll be a “Welcome to Balcones, this is who we are and what we do” for their homepage.

What are some of your favorite parts about this program? What are some of the challenges?

My favorite part of this experience and what I’ve gained from it is learning how to look more closely with a lens of curiosity, because everyone I talk to and everything I look at is so interesting. The people here are so knowledgeable and willing to share what they know. There are so many stories to tell that I know the public would be interested in if they heard about it. I’m excited to go on from here: wherever I end up, wherever I live, I’ll be able to learn about the natural space and share that with people through photo and video. Also, getting to be immersed in the nature and live on the refuge and be out in the field doing photography. 

For challenges, it is a very creative, detail-oriented job, so it can be a lot to have to stay in that creative mindset for 30-40 hours a week. That’s been the greatest challenge: trying to be disciplined and channel that creativity on-demand. I’ve learned a lot about myself, so it’s been a positive experience. 

What training and support are you provided through this program?

Not any formal training, but I took the Eppley Institute Interpretation course, which was really helpful and I’ve used it throughout. I pretty much had a solid background in video, photo, and writing. Any questions that I have about the refuge or biology or ecology there are plenty of people to answer my questions. 

I meet with a mentor from the university and other interns in my cohort in other states virtually. Something that’s been huge has been having my mentor and my boss to guide me through the whole USA Jobs and applying for federal positions. It’s a whole different world and if I didn’t have help, I wouldn’t know what I’m doing at all. They review my resume and cover letters, told me about upcoming positions and what people are looking for. I don’t know where I’ll be after this internship yet, but I feel good about my applications because of all their help. The professional development aspect is really nice, as well.

What has been your favorite experience during the internship so far?

I got to go down in a cave as cavers were doing surveys of different species down there. The refuge biologist said I should go and take some videos. We got to climb down this skinny hole and get all muddy and see cave dwelling species with cool adaptations. It was unreal. I’ve never done anything like that before. 

You mentioned wanting to continue in this type of work. What are your goals down the road?

I’ve loved working for the Fish and Wildlife Service. I think at both refuges the staff are amazing and I really believe in their mission. I would love to eventually become permanent, possibly as a visual information specialist or a park ranger in visitor services in USFWS or for the Park Service. I would love to continue this work and hopefully get to tie in as much photography and storytelling as I can. That’s my passion. 

Why is it important for young people and your generation to be involved in this type of work?

The next generation is the future and eventually the entire workforce. I think it’s important for us to see how things are done and be able to ask questions and do that ourselves. I learn by observing others and modeling after the people who mentor me. This has been a great introduction to that and I have a good understanding of USFWS and what my role could be with them in the future. Every generation comes with a new way of thinking and doing things. Social media is the big thing now, but the next generation will also have a new set of skills and tools that comes naturally to them. It’s always important to bring the next generation and invite them to the table in a way that makes them feel valued and appreciated.

What would you say to others who are considering their next steps or a program like this? Do you have any advice?

Please do it and apply! I didn’t have any idea what I was applying for, but I knew that if you don’t apply, you’ll never know. So don’t be worried about your qualifications or previous experience because odds are you can learn on the job if you’re resourceful. 

For a person who gets this type of internship, make a plan at the beginning of your internship and make a list of what projects you want to do because it’ll fly by.  

 

Corps Recognized in 2021 Coalition for Recreational Trails Awards

Every year, the Coalition for Recreational Trails (CRT) recognizes outstanding trail projects that make use of Recreational Trail Program (RTP) funds. Service and Conservation Corps across the country frequently partner with local, state and federal resource managers to build and maintain trails. In addition to contributing critical labor to a project, Corpsmembers have an opportunity to hone their trail-building skills and connect with professionals in the field.

Corps have often led or contributed to CRT Award-winning projects. Here are four projects from the 2021 CRT Achievement Awards that member organizations of The Corps Network helped make possible.

 

  1. Statewide Fourteeners Maintenance – 2021 Maintenance and Rehabilitation
    COLORADO

The Fourteeners Initiative hires Youth Corps and Crews to help maintain recreational trails that take hikers up to Colorado’s 14,000 ft peaks. This award recognizes the work done on over 14 miles of trails across 19 peaks. This project included contributions from organizations in the Colorado Youth Corps Association, including Southwest Conservation Corps, Rocky Mountain Youth Corps (Colorado), and Mile High Youth Corps.

  1. Neahkahnie Mountain to Manzanita Trail – 2021 Maintenance and Rehabilitation
    OREGON

The Neahkahnie Mountain to Manzanita Trail Project created a new segment of trail to the Oregon Coast Trail (OCT). The new trail segment connects the OCT trail to the town of Manzanita. Northwest Youth Corps played an important role in the trail’s construction.

  1. Bridge Buttress Trail – Enhancement of Federal Lands
    WEST VIRGINIA

The Bridge Buttress Trail Project is a partnership involving the Access Fund, New River Gorge National Park and the Appalachian Conservation Corps (ACC). This effort focused on stabilizing a heavily trafficked climbing and trail access point. The ACC AmeriCorps members contributed to the nearly 1,400 hours of work to complete the project.

 

  1. Waterloo Valley Trail Bridge – Engaging Public Sector Partners
    NEW JERSEY

The Waterloo Valley Trail Bridge Project created a safer and more accessible trail in Allamuchy Mountain State Park. With the help of the New Jersey Youth Corps, an unsafe make-shift bridge was replaced with a 6-foot-wide, 60-foot-long bridge installed for hikers use.

 

To learn more about Corps partnerships with trail and transportation managers, please visit: https://corpsnetwork.org/our-impact/trails-and-transportation/

 

Update from The Corps Network’s Government Relations Team – December 2, 2021

By Meghan Castellano & Danielle Owen

There has been movement in Washington on the Infrastructure Package and the Build Back Better Act. Read this blog from The Corps Network’s Government Relations Team on what these updates mean for the Service and Conservation Corps community.

 

Budget Reconciliation Process (Build Back Better Act)

Funding for the Civilian Climate Corps (CCC) has been included in the budget reconciliation text, the Build Back Better Act. At present, the Build Back Better Act includes $30 billion for the new CCC. Specifically, $15 billion for AmeriCorps, $5 billion for the Department of Labor and $10 billion for projects at the federal land management agencies.

 

What’s happening now?

Late on November 5, 2021, the House voted on the rule for the Build Back Better (BBB) Act, the legislation that contains the Civilian Climate Corps (CCC). Rule votes set the parameters of debate for legislation on the House floor. House Democratic Leadership decided to hold off on voting on final passage of the BBB Act until the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office provided a “score,” or estimated cost, of the BBB Act. On November 19, the House passed the Build Back Better Act.

 

What happens next?

The BBB Act has now moved to the Senate for passage. In the Senate, every Democrat will need to vote in favor of the BBB Act for it to pass. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has stated that it is his goal to pass the BBB Act by Christmas.  There are still several procedural steps that will need to be taken with the legislation that could slow the process of final passage. The Senate parliamentarian will need to review the bill text to ensure it complies with budget reconciliation procedures. This may result in the legislation going back to the House for a second vote.

The passage of the reconciliation text in the House is a big step in the development of the Civilian Climate Corps. It is very exciting to see the Corps movement included in one of the largest pieces of legislation ever. Thank you to our partners and the member organizations of The Corps Network for your help keeping the Civilian Climate Corps moving forward.

 

Infrastructure Passage

The same night the reconciliation rule was passed, the House passed H.R. 3684, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. President Biden signed the legislation into law on November 15. Since the legislation recently became law, it will take time for funding to reach different agencies, departments, and projects.

The bipartisan infrastructure legislation includes several Corps-friendly components. The language states that Corps are eligible to benefit from funding, partnerships and support through the following programs:

  • Healthy Streets Program: The goals of this Department of Transportation program are to mitigate urban heat islands; improve air quality; and to reduce the extent of impervious surfaces; stormwater runoff and flood risks; and heat impacts to infrastructure and road users. This program would deploy cool pavements and porous pavements and expand tree cover. It authorizes $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026. Eligible entities that partner with a “Qualified Youth or Conservation Corps” are given priority on their application.

 

  • Career Skills Training: Under the Department of Energy, “Qualified Youth or Conservation Corps” are defined as an eligible entity. This allows the Energy Secretary to award grants to eligible entities to pay the federal share of associated career skills training programs under which students concurrently receive classroom instruction and on-the-job training for the purpose of obtaining an industry-related certification to install energy efficient buildings technologies. It authorizes $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2022, to remain available until expended.

 

  • Wildfire Risk Reduction: This section of the reconciliation text gives the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture $100,000,000 each for wildfire risk reduction. These efforts will utilize, “existing locally based organizations that engage young adults, Native youth, and veterans in service projects, such as Youth and Conservation Corps.”

Corpsmember Story: U.S. Coast Guard Veteran Launches Land Management Career Through Mt. Adams Institute VetsWork

 

Mt. Adams Institute, based in Washington State, is one of several organizations that operates Corps programs focused on providing military veterans opportunities to build skills in resource management. Below, read our conversation with Christopher Sutherland, a U.S. Coast Guard veteran serving as an AmeriCorps member with the Mt. Adams Institute VetsWork Environment program.

 

Where are you currently based?

In Washington State, but I work with Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership, which is based out of Portland, OR.

One of the first jobs I had was with the California Conservation Corps. I’ve been working with programs like this for as long as I can remember. It seems like I do well in these types of programs.

 

Can you tell us a bit about your background?

I was born and raised in Northern California. I grew up in Santa Cruz and the Bay Area. I did a lot of surfing, a lot of hiking; spent a lot of time in the Red Woods in California. That’s where I really started to love the environment and working outdoors.

I went into the Coast Guard from there and moved around a lot, up and down the West Coast. I was on a ship; a lot of the work I did were patrols, basically from South America up to Alaska. I was a shipboard firefighter and a mechanic.

Then I spent time on the East Coast. My last billet with the Coast Guard, I was a lighthouse keeper in Boston at the first lighthouse in America, which was pretty cool. Being a lighthouse keeper was where I ended my billet in Massachusetts.

Then I moved back West. I started working in parks and recreation in Portland. I’ve just always been trying to keep my hands in the environmental field. I went from parks and rec in Portland into the Mt. Adams program and AmeriCorps. I’ve been with them for three years now. My first two terms for AmeriCorps were in Tillamook with an Estuary Partnership, doing a lot of similar work to what I’m doing now.

 

How did you first hear about the VetsWork program at Mt. Adams Institute? What made you want to join?

First, I’ve always liked doing environmental work. I’ve always wanted to work in parks and rec, or any kind of way I could get into outdoor projects. Of all things, I was just looking on Craigslist and I saw an ad for Mt. Adams Institute. I actually didn’t think it was real when I first saw it. But once I checked it out, I just thought, “Wow, I’ve been in the Coast Guard, I’ve been in the California Conservation Corps, I’ve always tried to work in parks and rec and I’ve done a lot of volunteering.” It just seemed like the right fit. I applied immediately. I’m more about the work and the mission than the pay. I just love doing this type of work.

 

What exactly were you doing before you enrolled in AmeriCorps? You mentioned you were doing parks and rec work in Portland?

Yes – It was a lot of maintenance work, cleaning up hazards. It was similar to the technician work I’m doing now, but I’d say more about park maintenance. And my background before that was mechanics and construction. In the Coast Guard I was a mechanic, but I was getting my firefighter qualifications. I wanted to be firefighter, but I took a pretty bad fall in the Coast Guard and injured my lower back, so that plan didn’t work out. But yes – I wanted to work outside and was doing that before I came here.

 

Can you share more about where you’re currently serving and your responsibilities?

My first two years with AmeriCorps were with Tillamook Estuaries Partnership, or TEP. A lot of it – and a lot of what I do now – was based on water quality and waterway restoration and improving salmon passage. A lot of planting along waterways and creeks. A lot of blackberry removal, ivy removal, anything that is preventing natives from growing healthy and strong along creek sides. It’s a lot of digging in the dirt, a lot of getting wet in creeks, a lot of planting plants.

But there’s also an outreach side. We involve community members. We work with school-aged children. We work with different types of adult groups. There’s a lot of diversity in our outreach – we try to reach to a lot of different groups and get them out and give them a chance to help us with these projects.

And then there’s a technical side of the monitoring. We’ll go back and we’ll look at what we’ve planted and check on survivability. We’ll build monitoring wells where we’re testing the water for temperature, salinity, turbidity; we punch that into a spreadsheet for the scientists to use. It’s a lot of data collection.

Fish salvage is another cool thing we do. If we have to remove something that’s impeding a waterway, we’ll electroshock the water and we’ll rescue as much wildlife that’s in the creek as possible. Just recently I think we rescued about 45,000 lamprey in one creek, and we’ve rescued a lot of Coho. Salmon passage is such a huge thing, historically and in the present. Salmon is so important to Indigenous communities in the Northwest.

 

Tell us about your service after your AmeriCorps terms in Tillamook.

After two years in Tillamook, I applied for the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership, or LCEP. Very similar work except this time I’m working along the Columbia River. I think we have projects along about 150 miles of the Columbia River.

One of the larger projects I’m working on right now is really close to my home. It’s about a thousand acres of restoration. There were levees that were impeding a creek that was flowing into the Columbia River. Again, it was a lot of culvert removals, a lot of planting over the creek beds, a lot of taking care of plants.

This past summer was ridiculous. We had 120-degree days out here in the Northwest, which is pretty bad considering it’s usually about 60 degrees. Our summer was spent doing a lot of plant care, a lot of watering and a lot of mulching and making sure everything we put in the ground is going to survive.

So yes – this is my third term. They hired me for a fourth. My current term ends in March. After March I’ll have another 11 months with Lower Columbia. They’re putting me on my own project and giving me some freedom to help lead at this one site. It’s going to be interesting. Pretty much everything I’ve learned and a lot of the stuff I’ve done, I’ll be able to put into practice in my own job site.

 

What are some of your favorite parts about this program? What are some of the challenges?

Aside from working outside, I’d say my favorite part is just doing what I’m doing. I feel like what I’m doing is important. Everybody has just as much of an important job as the next person. This isn’t just grunt work. This is a process and I like that every part of the process is appreciated and respected.

Some of the challenges? Weather. The sites are very muddy and wet. They’re uphill; they’re downhill. They’re rutty and full of holes. Physically, I’d say it’s a challenge. You’ve got to be prepared for that.

But it’s a very positive atmosphere. Very diverse. There are a lot of different people from a lot of different backgrounds. And it seems like everybody is onboard. I know we don’t live in a bubble – that’s not reality – but it does almost feel like you’re in this perfect bubble at work.

 

You mentioned you’re doing another term of service. What are your goals down the road?

I want to take all this experience and, if not stay with Lower Columbia, I definitely want to stay in the environmental field. I think that’s going to be my pathway. I’ve got so much experience and learned so many different things over the past few years that it would be a waste to not pursue it.

 

What would you say to others who have separated from the military and are considering their next steps or a program like VetsWork? Do you have any advice?

I think most people who join the military need that type of structure. They need a cause. I don’t see this as really any different. And there are so many different sides to this work. It’s working with the Forest Service, it’s working for NOAA, it’s working with rocks and gems and geology, it’s working for all types of different environmental organizations. Just like the military, there are a lot of different things you can gravitate towards. There are plenty of positions with Mt. Adams and AmeriCorps that are so different from each other, but still within the same line of environmental service.

If they still want to feel like they’re doing something for their country or for the good of their neighbor, I’d say this is that kind of position. And there’s a lot of flexibility. I think Mt. Adams and even the places you serve, they understand what a lot of veterans have been through and they want to provide the best experience for the veteran. The program is designed for you, so it’s hard not to succeed. A lot of people have your back.

Corps Story: LA Conservation Corps’ Addresses Housing Insecurity with Pallet

Housing insecurity is a growing concern for many individuals throughout the country. Service and Conservation Corps like Los Angeles Conservation Corps (LACC) are working to make sure individuals have access to safe and secure temporary housing. Lawrence Melendez, a Senior Program Manager for the Corps, shares his insight on LACC’s partnership with Pallet.

Program Background:

In the Fall of 2020, LACC was introduced to Pallet by a district counsel in the city of LA.

“LA has many people experiencing homelessness. While the LACC is an environmental group, we also address any form of crisis going on, and I think that the homelessness issue can be said to be a crisis situation. So, we’re glad to help,” said Melendez.

Pallet creates temporary shelters that can be built on short notice to address crises. To date, LACC has built 611 temporary homes with Pallet for people experiencing homelessness. At the time of interview, Melendez estimated LACC would hit 700 by the end of November 2021.

“We build 5-10 a day, but they are in progress…The ones we assemble generally have two beds, so potentially we’ve housed 1,400 people,” said Melendez. “The goal is to get a little community of people together where other services can help. I believe it’s supposed to be considered a transition space, it’s not a permanent home.”

Corpsmembers:

LACC rotates Corpsmembers that work on the Pallet homes. Training takes place on the job; a main skill Corpsmembers learn is working together as a team to fit all the pieces of the homes together.

“I think there is some sense of teamwork just in the sense that you’re building a home. They know that they are building a home and I think that’s a cool thing,” says Melendez.

Corpsmembers generally come from the surrounding area and are ages 18-25. Some, but not all Corpsmembers, are AmeriCorps participants.

In addition to building their teamwork skills, Corpsmembers working on the Pallet homes see all that goes into creating a home. They work alongside electricians and plumbers and gain a sense of the coordination required to put together a large project.

The also problem-solve issues of prefabricated parts not necessarily fitting together and work out solutions to it.

Day-to-Day:

Building 5-10 homes a day is no small feat. Corpsmembers arrive at LACC’s site at 6:30 a.m. for a warmup and announcements related to the Corps. They then load up enough tools for a 5-10-person team, and head out. Melendez notes that the Pallet sites are up to an hour away depending on LA traffic.

At the beginning of a project, Pallet offloads materials to be constructed. Once at the site, Corpsmembers generally “stand up” all four walls and roofs. Next, they dive into “finishing work.” This involves weatherproofing, placing air conditioning and heating units, placing stickers, fire extinguishers and other finishing touches.

Melendez says at the end of their eight-hour day, Corpsmembers generally report 30 homes “stood up” and five finished.

A few weeks later, Corpsmembers will return with a punch-list to make sure all the stickers and items are in place. Melendez says that by this point, there are often people already living in the houses.

Completed Homes:

Completed Pallet homes have a “homey feeling.” They have locking doors and windows, providing security that many people experiencing homelessness don’t have access to.

“I describe [the houses] as if you’re a kid and trying to draw a home. It’s four walls and a roof, two pitches on the roof. It does have windows in the front and the back. They are 64 square feet, and they are square, so eight feet by eight feet,” says Melendez.

The homes also include outlets that are active if hooked up to power. They contain two fold-out beds with room for storage beneath, and shelves for more storage. Though the exteriors are white with silver trim, some communities have come together to paint them multicolored. Groups of these homes have been as large as 123 houses in a single area and as small as 20. Communities have separate bathroom and security units.

The homes not only provide shelter, but also enable people to have easier access to services they may need, while giving a sense of independence and dignity to the inhabitants.

Melendez notes that Pallet employs people who are of similar background to the Corpsmembers at LACC, making the partnership a great and productive fit. “It’s been a good partnership” he says.

 

 

Corps Story: Civic Works and Food Access

Civic Works is providing solutions to inequal food access within Healthy Food Priority Areas in Baltimore, MD. They are working against food inequity by creating a more sustainable, economically viable, environmentally responsible agriculture sector. Civic Works both grows their own produce at Real Food Farm as well as partners with local farms to source and provide fresh produce to seniors and others in the community. They currently average about 5,000 deliveries a year and have distributed 53,000 pounds of produce since October 2020. 

At any time, there are a few Civic Works AmeriCorps members serving alongside rotating volunteers to make weekly food deliveries through two programs. The Affordable Produce Delivery Program brings food to seniors in the community ages 55+. Each box contains $15-20 worth of produce, but customers only pay $5. If they don’t have available funds, they get their box for free. The small fee assists in fighting the stigma of receiving a free handout. This program’s capacity reaches 120 people on a weekly basis. A second initiative, the Corps’ Community Supported Agriculture program, or CSA, sells full-price produce and feeds 75-100 people weekly. 

The Process

A week as a Civic Works Corpsmember or volunteer includes taking down customer information and orders through calls and voicemails on Mondays, packing food boxes on Wednesdays, and making deliveries on Fridays. To ensure they have the amount of food needed each week, additional food is ordered from local farms within a 100-mile radius. 

At certain times of the year, Civic Works targets fulfilling other local food access and agriculture projects. These efforts include bringing produce to farmer’s markets; helping create more urban farms; restoring soil conditions; composting, and compost outreach; and assisting in transforming vacant and abandoned lots into community gardens and green space. Civic Works has grown 200,000 pounds of fresh produce and planted 25,000 trees. The Corps’ goal is to be a launching point for other farms and to be a place where other farms can come for help with logistics. 

The Impact

AmeriCorps member Harper Czumak-Daugherty began working with the program as a volunteer delivery driver and soon became more involved. They say food isn’t the only thing the seniors are hungry for. 

“Every time I interact with people that we deliver to, whether it’s in that verifying information stage or I’m actually at their door with the food, people are so appreciative. There is such a need for this. Especially the seniors, during the pandemic: a lot of them can’t get out to grocery stores,” said Czumak-Daugherty. “A lot of times they’re not getting a ton of other contact and they’re so hungry for that interaction, they’re so grateful. It’s also that these are our neighbors, so it’s satisfying to be able to be there for them.”  

Besides helping the community by bringing healthy food to the area, the Corpsmembers themselves are benefitting from workforce development. Corpsmembers are offered support and guidance through creating a five-year plan with Corps staff and leaders. They also receive an AmeriCorps education award at the end of their term.  There are many learning opportunities presented like networking, resume reviews, practice interviews, and a work environment in a historical building that is being preserved and is also open to the community. Program alum have gone on to work on other farms, started small businesses, painted community murals, and more. Czumak-Daugherty intends to use their education award towards grad school. 

Looking Forward

Logistics are often the most challenging part of the program. Civic Work hopes to grow in space and resources to be able to reach more people in the community. The program hopes to expand from 5,000 deliveries a year to 20,000 deliveries with more funding. For this reason, the Corps is applying for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for 2022-2024.  

Czumak-Daugherty reflects on their time working in the program: 

“I’ve been really grateful for my time here. There’s been so many learning opportunities, so much personal growth. This is also the first job I’ve been able to use my they/them pronouns. It’s a really amazing team, a really amazing program, and I’m really honored I get to be a part of it.”  

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.”