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“Thank you for this opportunity; otherwise, I’d have a rake or shovel in the penitentiary. Please keep this program running for people like me!” -F.M.

 

“The Clean & Green Project is a rewarding experience with good structure and purpose. The leaders are kind and clearly instructive. By cleaning the roads, we make the city look great again, and with a full team, the time goes by fast. I support the Clean & Green Program.” – Anonymous

 

“Enjoyed it! So captivating and inspiring! Great leaders!” – Anonymous

 

“Today was an eye-opener for me to see all the trash and pollution that gathers. I hope we come together for the planet to make it easier on our planet.” – Anonymous

 

“The supervisors made this experience so fun! Never thought I’d say that about community service! They kept a positive attitude and encouraged everyone throughout the entire time! I’d consider coming back on my own!” – Anonymous

 

“Great experience, would do it again in my free time.” – Anonymous

 

“Proof you can learn something anywhere and anytime. By cleaning the environment, it will help you be a better person.” – Anonymous

 

“I was upset to have to do community service, but I learned a lot about the city and how waste is destroying our city. Our crew leader made my experience fun and educational.” – T.J.

 

 

Clean & Green Program

 

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What is your name and position at AYW?
How long have you been working with AYW?
As a Staff Member, what have you learned AYW?
How has AYW changed since you started as a Staff Member?
What is a hobby or interest you’d like to share?
Anything else to share with our audience?

 

What is your name and position at AYW?

Erick Nino, Houston Development Director

 

How long have you been working with AYW?

7 and a half years

 

As a Staff Member, what have you learned at AYW?

I say the positive aspects that I take from being at AYW are the successful stories of the members that we train, and also understanding the service that we give Clean and Green program members.

What I take as most important for AYW, is knowing that the members that we are training are succeeding in life. Every time I hear about their successful stories, including members from programs that I have coached, and hearing them thank the program as part of their success, because we are a whole unit, when I hear about their successful stories I feel a huge sense of accomplishment. All of our hard work and the nitty gritty details do something and make a difference for someone. I have members reach out to me asking for references when they apply to new jobs, and I know that they are remembering what they learned with me and taking it forward. And it is great to hear when they come back and say thank you and that they got the job.

When I got out of the military and got through college after the military, I was looking for an organization where I could implement the same values I already had. I wasn’t looking for AYW, but AYW popped on my radar by surprise after I finished college. I had moved recently to Texas and didn’t know what I wanted to do. I was looking into teaching, and American YouthWorks popped up. It said opportunities for Clean and Green as a crew supervisor. When I started reading the job description it reminded me a lot of the military. Leading crews for community service, reporting. I did some research on AYW and saw their crew models, and it reminded me of what I did in the military. It is an organization that helps transition veterans to active environmental service. They offered me this path of transitioning to civilian life. Going through college afer the military was a huge adjustment. What solidified that adjustment was American YouthWorks.

 

How has AYW changed since you started as a Staff Member?

I have to say it’s changed for the better. Let me be clear when I say changed for the better in Houston specifically. When it got started it was a young office with a lot of young staff including myself. We were started because of Hurricane Harvey, so there were a lot of new programs. The people who were starting them were very passionate about the programs we were starting. When I look back now, we look more professional now, we are now recognized as a good program in Houston, not just for the community but also for members. We are just more polished, we have a good presence in the community, they know us.
We started with a conservation crew, GulfCorps program, and Clean   Green. After Covid, we started HEAT and summer crews.
We’ve come a long way into solidifying our programs, working hard to solidify professional development for our members. We are delivering better opportunities so when our members leave, they are better equipped for the labor market.

 

What is a hobby or interest you’d like to share?

I enjoy listening to music, especially analgue music on vinyl. I have a vinyl collection. I like actual physical media. I have a huge movie collection! I enjoy tangible things you can open, look at, and explore, with extra features, commentary from directors and actors.
I enjoy listening to music for countless hours, looking at the vinyl.
I’m passionate for cooking, getting the cookbooks and making a meal that would make Gordon Ramsey proud!

 

Anything else to share with our audience?

I’m proud of working with like-minded staff, coming to work and working with people who are passionate about the job they do. When I see all the work put in by the staff and crews, it makes me really proud of the team I work with. I feel like we are very passionate about the work we do. We care a lot. That’s something I’ve observed with the people I work with. We are passionate, we want to be good environmental stewards, caring for the environment. I feel like our job as staff is deeper than caring for the environment. I feel proud when we look at the new young generation, and proud that as we mold them, they are taking that. When they see the motivation of the staff, they are willing to buy into the program, and that’s why they want to come back. Staff make that positive member experience possible.

 

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“Hello my name is Joscelyn Norman today was actually very informative but a pretty swift workday. I have no complaints, thank you so much and have a blessed day.” -Joscelyn Norman

 

“I came here thinking it was gonna be the worst 6 hrs of my life but in fact it has been the best day I’ve had this week. I can’t wait to tell my girl all about it.” -Ivan

 

“I want to say that this experience was not what I thought at all. The crew leaders were great and made me feel comfortable while being here. They also opened my eyes on how much we play a part of the community and can make the environment better 1 step at a time if we work together and put our mind to it but overall I had a great time.” -Calvin

 
 

Clean & Green Program

 

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“I had fun today. It went better than expected because it is important to conserve wildlife since everything goes back to nature. Thanks for today, and I am glad I could learn more in the process.” -Erick Otoumagie

 

“Felt good to work with park team and I believe I’ve gained a positive experience.” -Brandon

 

“I had a good experience working at the park and seen a place in Houston I have not been to.” -Tommy May

 
 

Clean & Green Program