American YouthWorks will use grant money to rebuild
Bastrop State Park
AUSTIN - On December 16, 2011, The Austin Community Foundation (ACF) announced
it will grant $100,574 from the Central Texas Wildfire Fund (CTWF) to American
YouthWorks (AYW) to aid in debris clean-up and economic recovery following the
Central Texas wildfires.
AYW’s grant was one of ten awarded since the
creation of the CTWF on September 5, 2011, and will help fund AYW’s
Environmental Corps (E-Corps) and Casa Verde Builders (CVB) service Corps
programs while, under the direction of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
(TPWD), they work to fully re-open Bastrop State Park. AYW will clear hazardous
debris, repair trails and boundary fences, rebuild damaged Park infrastructure,
restore the native habitat and prevent invasive species from spreading, install
protection measures to prevent erosion and recruit additional volunteers to work
in the Park. According to TPWD, Bastrop State Park’s 170,000 annual visitors
generate more than $2 million in revenue for Bastrop County each year.
The CTWF, which is administered by the ACF, and was created in response to the
devastating wildfires that struck Central Texas over Labor Day weekend, 2011.
The CTWF supports the immediate and long-term efforts of nonprofit
organizations working “on the ground” in those areas hardest hit. The CTWF
gives grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofits that are helping individuals, families,
businesses and the community recover, rebuild and return to the quality of life
that existed before the fires began. Other grants from the CTWF include money
for volunteer leadership, family support, rebuilding homes and restoring
safety.
“Bastrop State Park is a vital economic and natural resource. The near
destruction of one of Texas’ gems is devastating, but E-Corps and CVB members
are honored that they can give back to their community by helping to rebuild
it,” said Parc Smith, CEO of AYW.
Youth and young adult service Corps members have been providing relief to
Central Texans affected by the fire since September of 2011. These volunteers
are members of AmeriCorps or YouthBuild, which are both national, community
service programs that are hosted locally by AYW. Participants include young
adult volunteers from all over the country as well as students attending AYW’s
charter high school. As part of previous recovery efforts, AYW worked with
Bastrop County, FEMA, and local organizations and individuals to create the
Volunteer Reception Center, which provided a central location for volunteers to
get involved. They have also been working for several weeks in Bastrop State
Park to help get the Park back to full operation.
In addition, to their experience in Bastrop, crews from AYW also assisted
southeast Missourians following the devastating tornados earlier this year and
in 2005 and 2006, they provided hurricane relief in New Orleans and East Texas.
Service Corps members at AYW are gaining valuable skills that prepare them to
step into leadership roles, handle difficult situations, operate safely and
work hard while giving back to their community!
About American Youth Works
AYW is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Austin, Texas that integrates at-risk
youth and AmeriCorps members to provide education, service and green jobs
training. AYW operates a public charter high school, the Service Learning
Academy, a GED program and green jobs and service corps programs, Casa Verde
Builders, Computer Corps, Environmental Corps, and Green Energy Corps. AYW also
offers on-site life services to help students overcome obstacles to their
education, including a parent and child development center, academic coaching
and counseling. For more than thirty years, AYW has assisted thousands of
local, at-risk youth and adult graduates from around the country in
transforming their lives and gaining job skills through community service,
education and a commitment to preserving the natural environment.
About Environmental Corps
E-Corps is a green jobs training and service program that allows at-risk youth
and adult volunteers to build and restore the natural environment through parks
and trails projects, forestry, and habitat restoration. E-Corps integrates
young adults from all over the United States with local youth to create a
blended, transformative, cultural experience for all participants.
About Casa Verde Builders
CVB is a green jobs training and service program that teaches youth, ages
17-24, cutting-edge, green construction techniques. Participants build
energy-efficient, affordable homes in East Austin for first time homebuyers and
learn the construction process from foundation to finish. This award-winning
program is proven to produce higher academic performance and consistent
attendance for its participants and creates a foundation for youth to pursue
quality higher education and job placement. In partnership with the US
Department of Labor and YouthBuild USA, CVB is a nationally-recognized leader
in combining green building with affordable housing.
