This week, the Y bid a fond farewell to nine young people who have spent the past five weeks working hard at several of the YMCA branches throughout the Metro Detroit Association. They were here as part of the Americorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) program. Young people ages 18-24 choose a 10-month, full time commitment to NCCC service based at one of five regional centers; the team that came to Detroit is based in Vinton, Iowa. Teams will travel to three to seven projects during their term. Projects address critical needs related to natural and other disasters, infrastructure improvement, environmental stewardship, energy conservation, and urban and rural development.
For the Y, they painted and spruced up locker rooms and other areas at the South Oakland and Farmington branches, assisted with a renovation project at the Macomb Y, and cleared trails in a wooded area near the Livonia Y.
They also mentored students at the YMCA Detroit Leadership Academy. This was particularly effective since all the teens are fairly recent graduates themselves and understand the challenges the youth face and the dreams that they have. The NCCC volunteers refurbished unused classrooms at YDLA-HS as well, which will allow the school to enroll 125 more students this fall.
They also tutored younger students at the Detroit Innovation Academy and the Detroit Leadership Academy elementary schools.
“Being a positive role model is an incredible achievement to strive for” says NCCC member Andrew Chavis from Bennettsville, South Carolina.
Y staff who encountered the young people from NCCC had only good things to say, and their help was very much appreciated.