Youthbuild

Earn your GED or high school diploma, start a career and become empowered by your community.

TXCC & LACC

Become part of the next generation of convervationists through environmental education, preservation and service.

our-mission

The mission of American YouthWorks is to provide young people with opportunities to build careers, strengthen communities, and improve the environment through education, on-the-job training, and service to others.

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ABOUT AYW

American YouthWorks helps young people realize their full potential and effect positive change within their community.

Through our two primary education and career training programs, YouthBuild Austin and our Conservation Corps, we provide the building blocks for learning and engagement that young people can build upon as they grow into adulthood. Conservation Corps crew members conserve natural landscapes and recreation areas across the Central Southern United States. Our Disaster Response Teams are deployed to assist communities impacted by natural disasters such as Hurricanes Harvey, Maria, and Irma. In our YouthBuild Austin program, young people have the opportunity to complete their high school education while simultaneously serving the Greater Austin community being engaged in valuable vocational training in the growing Healthcare, IT and Construction industries.

American YouthWorks connects young people with the tools and resources that we all need to reach career goals and achieve academic success. Our students and crew members have access to wrap-around support services and a network of resources, as well as receive post-graduation college and career guidance. Our instructors, counselors, and crew leaders are dedicated to every student and participant who comes to American YouthWorks. We believe in our community of young people and their commitment to accomplish their goals, make a positive impact in the lives of others, and become agents of change in their own lives.

THE HISTORY

In 1975, Richard Halpin founded American YouthWorks (AYW) as a GED and literacy program for incarcerated youth in Austin. Since then, AYW has grown to serve the entire Austin community, and is now home to two primary programs: YouthBuild Austin and Texas Conservation Corps (TxCC).

TxCC, established in 1993, conserves natural landscapes across the Southwest and responds to natural disasters. YouthBuild Austin, established 1997, offer young adults the opportunity to complete their high school education and simultaneously receive career training.

In 2010, Parc Smith became CEO after more than 15 years of employment at American YouthWorks. He began as a crew leader in 1995, and later became a TxCC Program Coordinator, then TxCC Program Director in 2000. He is passionate about service to the community, environmental preservation, and creating education and career opportunities for young people in Austin.

Board of Directors

Rubén Cantú
Board Chair

Natalie Kunkel
Treasurer

Judge Brandy Mueller

Dr. Shasta Buchanan
Vice Board Chair

Aaron Lee
Secretary
Immediate Past Chair

 

Margarine G. Beaman
Chair Emeritus

Ed B. Wallace

Tammy Benton


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Parc Smith

Chief Executive Officer

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Élizá Anzaldúa Montaña

Chief Operating Officer

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Jonnyka Bormann

Chief Development Officer

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Tammy ElTawil

Chief Financial Officer

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David Clauss

Workforce Development and YouthBuild Austin Program Director

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Thomas Helmer

Conservation Corps Programs Director

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Alison Westphal

Houston & Baton Rouge Conservation Corps Operating Site Director

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Carlos Leos

Austin Conservation Corps Operating Site Director

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Marissa Allen

YouthBuild Austin Case Manager

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American YouthWorks staff member.

Alex Almaguer

Austin Conservation Corps Field Coordinator

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American YouthWorks staff member.

Maria Arteaga

Clean and Green Crew Supervisor

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American YouthWorks staff member.

Nicole Battles

YouthBuild Austin Healthcare Pathways Instructor

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Monika Bible

Houston Conservation Corps Program Assistant

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American YouthWorks staff member.

Dylan Brown

Casa Verde Builders Construction Training Coordinator

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Raquel Carbary

YouthBuild Austin Participant Services Manager

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American YouthWorks staff member.

Brandon Castillo

Austin Conservation Corps TAT Field Coordinator

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Marina Chazco

Conservation Corps Recruitment and Outreach Coordinator

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Cailley Cole-Sigmon

Grant Accountant

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Leilani Curameng

Houston Conservation Corps Coastal Restoration Field Coordinator

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Kate Eveland

Austin Civilian Conservation Corps Case Manager

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Rita Fountain

Monitoring and Compliance Manager

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American YouthWorks staff member.

Jo Gallegos

Communications & Development Coordinator

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Brent Gilbertson

YouthBuild Austin GED Instructor

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American YouthWorks staff member.

Sidney Glasshoff

Austin Conservation Corps Member Coordinator

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Cassandra Hammer

ReWork Now Enrollment Specialist

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American YouthWorks staff member.

Sonia Hernandez

Case Manager

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Susan Hill

YouthBuild Austin Health Career Pathways Instructor

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Robert Hudson

Human Resources Associate

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American YouthWorks staff member.

Peggy Holub

Staff Accountant

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Assitan Kouyate

ReWork Now Career Counselor

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Kellie LeCompte

Branding & Marketing Coordinator

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American YouthWorks staff member.

Artan Lajqi

Post Secondary Job Readiness Specialist

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Leticia Lopez

Operations Assistant

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Brian Lewis

Technology Director

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American YouthWorks staff member.

Savvi Long

PearsonVUE Testing Administrator and Front Desk Associate

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American YouthWorks staff member.

Alexander Luna

Austin Conservation Corps Logistics Coordinator

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Emilee Meinert

YouthBuild Austin Post Secondary Education Specialist

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Brook Mize

Baton Rouge Program Coordinator

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American YouthWorks staff member.

Jeffery Morgan

Staff Accountant

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Pierre Nguyen

Environmental Health & Safety Director

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Erick Nino

Houston HEAT Program Coordinator

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American YouthWorks staff member.

Kennedy Pasquinzo

YouthBuild Austin Participant Coordinator

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Johnnie Perales

Maintenance Associate I

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American YouthWorks staff member.

Gabriella Petterson

YouthBuild Austin Administrative Assistant

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Courtney Reeves

YouthBuild Austin Recruitment and Outreach Coordinator

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Jesse Reyes

Facilities and Maintenance Lead

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Ashley Rodriguez

Casa Verde Builders Construction Program Supervisor

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Megan Smith

San Antonio Conservation Corps SA Missions Crew Supervisor

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Matthew Stawicki

YouthBuild Austin Education and Training Manager

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American YouthWorks staff member.

Wayne Steele

Austin Conservation Corps Field Coordinator

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Edward Thomas

YouthBuild Austin GED Instructor

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Britni Trustman

YouthBuild Austin Grants and Compliance Manager

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Natalie Umana

Houston Conservation Corps Site Coordinator

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Etienne Vidal

YouthBuild Austin Re-Entry Mentor

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American YouthWorks staff member.

CJ Williams

Austin Conservation Corps Field Coordinator

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Rob Winchester

YouthBuild Austin Construction Trainer

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Edward Wise

Casa Verde Builders Construction Trainer

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American YouthWorks staff member.

Ro Wooten

Clean and Green Crew Supervisor

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Damita Wright

YouthBuild Austin Case Manager

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