Events – American Youthworks

AYW 50th Anniversary: Legacy of Community, Impact & Service

Kellie Lecompte — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 20:41:38 +0000

Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate American YouthWorks’ 50th Anniversary on Saturday, November 8th! It felt truly special to gather together for such a meaningful milestone for the organization. It was fun and inspiring to gather with alumni, partners, volunteers, and community members who have shaped our story and continue to move our mission forward into the future. Being surrounded by those who believe in our mission and have walked alongside AYW over the decades made the celebration truly unforgettable.

It was so exciting to have Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes present a City of Austin Proclamation officially declaring the day American YouthWorks Day. We were also thrilled to have Bank of America VP Carla Molina announce our Neighborhood Builders grant award, and to hear Former Constable George Morales share reflections on AYW’s impact in local communities. These moments of recognition of AYW’s commitment to education and career training programs preparing young people for meaningful futures made our celebration even more powerful.

We were also honored to recognize several remarkable individuals whose leadership and dedication have shaped AYW across decades. Susan Antone received an award for her exceptional fundraising support and unwavering commitment to the young people we serve. Margarine G. Beaman was celebrated for her longtime service on the Board and her dedication to guiding AYW through pivotal moments in our history. And in a deeply meaningful moment, Richard and Beki Halpin were presented with the Visionary Founders Award in recognition of their leadership, passion, and the legacy of opportunity they sparked 50 years ago. Their contributions continue to inspire the work we do every day.

We are especially grateful to all of the dedicated AYW staff members who contributed so much to the production, run of show, sharing program information, and celebratory spirit of the day – their work made this event shine! Our hearts are warm from celebrating in community, and we feel energized and encouraged as we look ahead to the next 50 years. Thank you for being part of this historical moment and for helping us continue building brighter futures together!

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Supporting Leander/Williamson County Flood Relief | How You Can Help

Kellie Lecompte — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 19:28:33 +0000

Over the past week, our Texas Conservation Corps has been on the ground in Leander (Williamson County), working alongside local organizations and the National Guard to support communities impacted by the recent devastating floods. Together, we’ve been distributing critical information to residents, directing them to ayw-flood-relief.org for real-time updates, delivering much-needed goods to donation centers like ADRN at Round Mountain Baptist, and preparing outreach to hard-hit areas such as Windy Valley and Big Sandy. We are incredibly grateful for the 18 National Guard troops who have been essential partners in these efforts.

Update
8/26/2025

Our Texas Conservation Corps program is accepting donated items for flood relief efforts at our Donations Management Center in Leander, TX. We are asking large donors and organizations to please call (512) 522-8743 to schedule an appointment with our team.

The following items are needed:
• Toilet paper
• Paper towels
• Laundry detergent
• Dish Soap
• Electrolyte drinks
• Diapers
• Cat food
• Full size hygiene items
• Batteries

Donations can be dropped off at 14500 Round Mountain Rd, Leander, TX 78641. The distribution location is in the back of the parking lot.

Make a Monetary Contribution

Green Wave Initiative Update

Kellie Lecompte — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 19:16:45 +0000

The Green Wave Initiative is over a year old!

TXCC’s Green Wave events have come a long way since we started in the summer of 2024, and, we’re grateful to all the volunteers who have participated to make it possible. Thanks to you, we’ve collected and properly disposed of over 3,400 pounds of trash across 20 events, with over 250 volunteers working together over the past year to make that happen. That is a lot of plastic and other debris that is no longer in our green spaces or washing into our watersheds.

The Green Wave initiative was conceived after receiving feedback from community members who participated in our Clean and Green program and who wished for additional opportunities to learn about and care for the environment, as well as feedback from crew members who wanted additional practice exercising their communication and community engagement skills.

Designed as both a leadership training opportunity for TXCC crew members and an environmental stewardship opportunity for the community, Green Wave events combine education about the environment with litter removal and proper disposal. As part of their AmeriCorps terms of service, TXCC crew members gain valuable leadership experience running Green Wave events, practicing important skills such as public speaking and event management. So far, 3 cohorts of our crews have gained experience leading these events.

We’d like to shout out a big thank you to Texan by Nature. The Green Wave Initiative was selected to receive additional program development support as part of Texan by Nature’s Conservation Wrangler program. That extra support helped us to quickly move from what we thought was a great idea, to an impactful initiative with real-world results. Thank you!

To all our volunteers, we have so much gratitude for you! We hope to see you at future events as we continue working together to care for our environment.

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Looking for other ways to be involved?

Why your impact matters • Watch our video

Play the Green Wave Game • Neighborhood volunteering and social media

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Green Wave at Blackhawk Park

Kellie Lecompte — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 18:57:47 +0000