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, American YouthWorks’ YouthBuild 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 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: American YouthWorks’ YouthBuild and Texas Conservation Corps (TXCC).

TXCC, established in 1993, conserves natural landscapes across the Southwest and responds to natural disasters. American YouthWorks’ YouthBuild, 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.

Safety & Risk Management

Safety & Risk Management

Community Impact Reports

2020 2021 2022

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

Hon. Larry Wallace Jr.

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Marissa Allen

YouthBuild Case Manager

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Alex Almaguer

Texas Conservation Corps Field Coordinator (Austin)

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Élizá Anzaldúa Montaña

Chief Operating Officer

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Maria Arteaga

Clean and Green Crew Supervisor

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Monika Bible

Texas Conservation Corps Program Assistant (Houston)

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Jonnyka Bormann

Chief Development Officer

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Dylan Brown

Casa Verde Builders Construction Training Coordinator

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Nicholas Capezzuto

Trails Across Texas Field Coordinator

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Raquel Carbary

YouthBuild Participant Services Manager

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Brandon Castillo

Texas Conservation Corps TAT Field Coordinator (Austin)

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Marina C.

Texas & Louisiana Conservation Corps Recruitment and Outreach Coordinator

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David Clauss

Workforce Development and YouthBuild Program Director

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Connor Clift

STEM Tech Instructor

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Cailley Cole-Sigmon

Grant Accountant

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Leilani Curameng

Texas Conservation Corps Coastal Restoration Field Coordinator (Houston)

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Tammy El-Tawil

Chief Financial Officer

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Matthew Elgin

San Antonio 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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Jo Gallegos

Communications & Development Coordinator

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Jacob Garcia

Food Services Coordinator

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Maria Gereda

Pearson VUE Testing Administrator and Front Desk Associate

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Brent Gilbertson

YouthBuild GED Instructor

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Sidney Glasshoff

Texas Conservation Corps Special Programs Coordinator (Austin)

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Cassandra Hammer

YouthBuild AmeriCorps Recruitment & Outreach Coordinator

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Desmond Harper

Facilities Associate

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Thomas Helmer

Conservation Corps Programs Director

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Katelynn Hernandez

Clean and Green Crew Supervisor

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Luis Hernandez

Austin Civilian Conservation Corps Program Manager

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Sonia Hernandez

Case Manager

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Susan Hill

YouthBuild Health Career Pathways Instructor

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Peggy Holub

Staff Accountant

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Robert Hudson

Human Resources Associate

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Carlee Hurley

Louisiana Conservation Corps Program Assistant

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Assitan Kouyate

YouthBuild Participant Services Coordinator

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Artan Lajqi

Post Secondary Job Readiness Specialist

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Kellie LeCompte

Branding & Marketing Coordinator

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Carlos Leos

Conservation Corps Operating Site Director (Austin & San Antonio)

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Brian Lewis

Technology Director

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Berenice Lopez

Support Trainer

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Leticia Lopez

Texas Conservation Corps AmeriCorps Enrollment Specialist (Austin)

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Alexander Luna

Texas Conservation Corps Logistics Coordinator (Austin)

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Emilee Meinert

YouthBuild Post Secondary Education Specialist

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Brook Mize

Louisiana Conservation Corps Program Coordinator

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Jeffery Morgan

Staff Accountant

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Rashidah Namutebi

Executive Assistant to the CEO

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Pierre Long Huy Nguyễn

Environmental Health & Safety Director

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Erick Nino

HEAT Program Coordinator (Houston)

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Kuzivakwashe Nzara

IT Pathways Instructor

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Kennedy Pasquinzo

YouthBuild Participant Coordinator

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Johnnie Perales

Maintenance Associate I

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Gabriella Petterson

YouthBuild Administrative Assistant

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David Porter III

Strategic Partnerships Director

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Courtney Reeves

YouthBuild Recruitment and Outreach Coordinator

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Headshot of Jesse Reyes

Jesse Reyes

Facilities and Maintenance Manager

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Ashley Rodriguez

Casa Verde Builders Construction Program Supervisor

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Megan Smith

Texas Conservation Corps Placement Coordinator

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Parc Smith

Chief Executive Officer

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Matthew Stawicki

YouthBuild Education and Training Manager

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Wayne Steele

Texas Conservation Corps Field Operations Manager

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Ruby Stuard

YouthBuild Employer Specialist

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Edward Thomas

YouthBuild GED Instructor

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Evan Tiffany

Texas Conservation Corps Community Engagement Specialist (Houston)

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Britni Trustman

YouthBuild Grants and Compliance Manager

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Natalie Umana

Texas Conservation Corps Site Coordinator (Houston)

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Etienne Vidal

YouthBuild Director of Restorative Justice Practices

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Staff headshot missing. Image is green trees with AYW logo.

Bianca Wahkinney

Conversation Corps Program Manager (Oklahoma & Arkansas)

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Alison Westphal

Conservation Corps Operating Site Director (Houston & Baton Rouge)

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Staff headshot missing. Image is warm gray stone with AYW logo.

CJ Williams

Texas Conservation Corps Field Coordinator (Austin)

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Rob Winchester

YouthBuild Construction Trainer

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Edward Wise

Casa Verde Builders Construction Trainer

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Ro Wooten

Clean and Green Crew Supervisor

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Damita Wright

YouthBuild Case Manager

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