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“Before joining YouthBuild, I attended Austin High School. I moved out on my own at 16, after a very troubled childhood and dropped out. I began working at a restaurant to support myself. After a while, I realized that I needed to return to school and enrolled at Garza, an alternative high school in Austin. Although the teachers and staff there were supportive, I struggled to stay on track academically and eventually stopped attending.

After a coupld of years of going back and forth between work and trying to finish school, I found American YouthWorks (AYW) and enrolled. I joined the Casa Verde Builders green construction program, earned my diploma, and received several certifications while gaining real-world experience. Most importantly, I found a community that believed in me and provided the encouragement I needed to succeed. For the first time, I felt seen, supported, and capable of building a better future.

After graduating from the program in 2009, I was a grad CVB member and then began working with AYW as an administrative assistant. I was in that role for almost a year before funing cuts led to layoffs, and I found myself unsure of what was next. During that time, I experienced homelessness and spent several years traveling the country by hitchhiking and riding freight trains. When I became pregnant, I decided to return to Texas to rebuild my life and raise my son.

Once I returned to Austin, I reconnected with AYW to see if there were opportunities to get back on track. I completed a WERC internship program, which provided job training and support, and before long, I was offered a temporary staff position that grew into a full-time role. Today, I’ve been a proud AYW staff member for nearly a decade.

YouthBuild truly changed the course of my life. It gave me the tools, confidence, and sense of belonging I needed when I had nowhere else to turn. Now, as someone who has grown within this organization and built a life I’m proud of, I’m committed to giving back and helping our members find their own success.

For me, YouthBuild will always be home — the place that believed in me before I belived in myself.”

 

YouthBuild Program

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What roles and positions have you had at AYW?
How long have you been working with AYW?
As a Staff Member, what have you learned or what has been your experience at 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 roles and positions have you had at AYW?

I started at AYW back in 2008 as a Conservation Corps participant, serving a 1,700-hour term. I really enjoyed that experience, and after finishing my term I was asked to stay on as a crew supervisor for a summer crew working with students from the charter school at the time. That led to me completing an additional 200–400 hours.

Not long after, my site supervisor became the principal of the charter school and brought me on to help on the education side of things. From there, I moved into managing the Computer Corps program for a few years. I played a big role in combining the Computer Corps and CVB programs, which eventually became YouthBuild Austin.

Around 2015, I helped start AYW’s in-house Print Shop and managed full-time AmeriCorps members who were supporting classrooms. In 2018, I started managing staff, and in 2020 I helped open the Pearson Review Center. In 2025, I stepped into the role of YouthBuild Program Director. Now, I’m back with the Conservation Corps program as the Austin Operating Site Director.

 

How long have you been working with AYW?

I’ve been with AYW for about 17 years now — 16 of those as a staff member.

 

As a Staff Member, what have you learned or what has been your experience at AYW?

It’s funny to say this, but Austin — and AYW — have been home longer than anywhere else in my life. A big part of that comes from being able to move between different programs over the years. I’ve learned how to work with people, how to manage teams, and how important patience really is.

Especially through YouthBuild, I’ve seen that people genuinely want to change their lives — they just need support and opportunity. Our role is to help create those opportunities. Everyone comes in with something to offer, and we all learn from each other along the way.

 

How has AYW changed since you started as a staff member?

One thing I’ve always focused on is helping AYW feel more professional as it’s grown. Early on, it felt very much like a small, early-stage nonprofit. Over time, we’ve become a much more structured and confident organization, with strong funding, community support, and clear systems in place.

We’re better at advocating for what we need, especially when it comes to partner cost share, and we’re intentional about working with partners who complement our strengths. Moving away from being a charter school really helped us focus on what we do best — workforce development — while bringing in partners like the on-site Goodwill Excel Center to focus on education.

 

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

In my free time, I am a printmaker. I create and sell linoleum block-print art, and this year I’ll have done about 17 events.

 

Anything else to share with our audience?

We’re always looking for ways to grow and create more opportunities for participants. AYW really is a life-changing experience — it gives people a chance to see something different, build skills, and grow alongside others who are on a similar path.

 

Donate Today!

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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 or what has been your experience at AYW?
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?

Courtney Reeves, CORE Service Coordinator

 

How long have you been working with AYW?

Feb 2026 will be my 10 year

 

As a Staff Member, what have you learned or what has been your experience at AYW?

I graduated from American YouthWorks in 2009, and AYW has been part of my life ever since. Over the past 10 years of working here, I’ve learned the true meaning of resilience, community, and support. My journey started as a homeless teenager searching for stability, and through AYW I found not only opportunity but also a family that believed in me. From Administrative Assistant, Recruitment and Outreach, to now serving as CORE Service Coordinator, I’ve seen firsthand how life-changing this organization can be — for me and for every young person who walks through our doors.
AYW changed my entire life by pointing me in the right direction, thanks to Miss Yvette, Miss Jessica, Mr Matt, and to Mister David, I am what I am today

 

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

In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my kids. Who you will see often on campus! Traveling, spending time outdoors and reading.

 

Anything else to share with our audience?

AYW changed my life, and I’m proud to be part of giving that same opportunity to others. Every day, I see our members grow, succeed, and discover their own strength. It’s an honor to be a part of their journey, and I’m excited to see the impact AYW will continue to make for years to come.

 

Donate Today!

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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 or what has been your experience at AYW?
How has AYW changed since you started as a Staff Member?
What is a hobby or interest you’d like to share?

 

What is your name and position at AYW?

Megan, AYW Placement Coordinator

 

How long have you been working with AYW?

I became our Individual Placements Coordinator in 2023. Before that I served three terms with Conservations crews: my first with TXCC in Austin in 2019, the second with Southwest Conservation Corps in Durango, Colorado, and the third one with TXCC again with the very first San Antonio Crew. It’s been quite the adventure these past 6 years!

 

As a Staff Member, what have you learned or what has been your experience at AYW?

It’s hard to answer this in just a few sentences! If I have to boil it down, I would say that my time at AYW has taught me about the incredibly vast world of conservation and “land management” (a term I had not heard before working here), and about the deep value of teamwork, especially in challenging situations and projects. I’ve also learned a lot about myself and what matters to me in my own professional development as well as the professional development of our AmeriCorps members.

 

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

AYW has gone through a number of changes over time to meet the changing needs of our partner organizations, the interests of our members, and the ever-changing nature of the world we live in. AYW’s resilience and the passion we have for our members, and the members’ own resilience and ability to inspire us, always keeps us motivated to continue growing and improving!

 

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

I enjoy mountain biking and off-roading in my jeep! While there aren’t any mountains in central Texas, there are still hundreds of miles of dirt trails to explore across the state. While serving an AmeriCorps term with Southwest Conservation Corps in Colorado, I had the opportunity to rent a bike and ride it down a trail I had helped build, and to take my jeep to some really cool alpine locations in the San Juan mountains — all experiences I remember very fondly and hope to do again someday!

 

Donate Today!

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What is your name and connection to AYW?
How long have you been working with AYW?
As a participant, what has been your experience at AYW?
What is a hobby or interest you’d like to share?
Anything else to share with our audience?

 

What is your name and connection to AYW?

David López, Former Student, Forever Grateful Alumni

 

How long have you been working with AYW?

4 years

 

As a participant, what has been your experience at AYW?

AYW completely transformed my life by guiding me onto the right path. Thanks to the support and wisdom of Miss Yvette, Miss Jessica, Mr. Matt, and Mr. David, I have become the person I am today.

 

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

I like working with computers and helping others.

 

Anything else to share with our audience?

Because of the love, guidance, and values you instilled in me, I now have the honor of giving back as the founder of D.O.D. Radiología e Imágenes.

 

Donate Today!

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“Toward the end of 2024, I found myself ready for a change — a new direction for both my life and career. That’s when I came across an opening with the Arkansas Conservation Corps (ARCC). On a whim, I applied. Within a week, I had packed up, moved to Northwest Arkansas, and began my journey as a crew member. What followed was a series of unforgettable experiences that challenged me, shaped me, and helped me grow in ways I never expected.

The most impactful moment of that first term was being deployed to North Carolina to support communities devastated by flooding. None of us were sure exactly what to expect, but together we adapted, worked hard, and built memories that will stay with us forever. Our crew became a family, learning to “embrace the suck” and support one another through every challenge.

Every project with ARCC — first as a crew member and later as a crew leader — taught me something new. Sometimes it was a practical skill, sometimes new knowledge, and often a deeper sense of personal growth. My time with AYW and ARCC has helped me develop in every area of life, both professionally and personally.

Simply put, my ARCC service has been life-changing. I would encourage anyone to consider AmeriCorps — because through service, you don’t just make an impact, you discover your own potential.”

 

Conservation Corps Program

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ACCC Alumni Earn Small Business Certificates
On May 6, 2025, two Hungry Hill Foundation and AYW alumni — Cameron and Roscoe — were recognized during Austin Small Business Week for earning their Small Business Certificates from the City of Austin’s Economic Development Department (EDD). They completed the required coursework while serving on an AYW ACCC crew, demonstrating their dedication to both professional and personal growth.

Fellow ACCC graduates Sheridan Ray and Arleni Carreño amplified this success by providing peer mentorship after completing their own certificates. This demonstrates ACCC’s multiplier effect — where each achievement strengthens the whole community.

The Power of Partnerships & Mentorship
These achievements reflect the strength of collaboration, workforce development, and community support. By working with partners like the City of Austin, EDD Small Business Program, and Hungry Hill Foundation, we help participants gain the skills and confidence they need to thrive in the workforce — whether in entrepreneurship, environmental careers, or city leadership roles.

A huge thank you to Jackie Mayo (EDD Small Business) and City of Austin staff like Kellee and Natalie for their ongoing support of ACCC and its members!

What Is ACCC?
The Austin Civilian Conservation Corps (ACCC) is a workforce development program with City of Austin that bridges gaps in employment while fostering leadership opportunities for those who have faced systemic barriers. Through cross-departmental collaboration and many community partnerships (including American YouthWorks!), ACCC creates pathways in:

• Natural Systems
• Environmental Education
• Recreation & Parks
• Digital Media & Communications
• Museums, Arts & Culture
• Zero Waste Initiatives

ACCC operates on a “reciprocal culture change” model — meaning that as participants grow and develop, the program’s partners also evolve, adapting policies and workplace cultures to be more inclusive and supportive.

Why This Matters
Stories like Cameron’s, Roscoe’s, Sheridan’s, and Arleni’s remind us why workforce development programs are so vital. They build confidence, community, and long-term career opportunities.

We’re honored to be part of their journeys and look forward to many more success stories ahead!

 

Interested in American YouthWorks ACCC?

American YouthWorks ACCC