Heart of Oregon Corps YouthBuild students travel to D.C.
On March 22, students from Heart of Oregon’s YouthBuild (HOCYB) program met U.S. Representative Greg Walden of Oregon and other members of Congress during the annual YouthBuild AmeriCorps Conference of Young Leaders (CoYL) in Washington D.C.
Over the course of a week, students participated in workshops and seminars focused on leadership development and AmeriCorps service.
The event kicked off with the Rural Youth Caucus, a two-day conference designed specifically for young people from rural YouthBuild programs. Twenty students spent the weekend engaging in dialogue and critical thinking about the unique challenges facing rural communities.
“It was great to be with other rural YouthBuild students who face similar issues in their community like transportation, drugs, and homelessness,” said Tarma Nolan, a HOCYB student from Prineville.
For many rural students like Tarma, this is their first trip to the East Coast. The Conference of Young Leaders event, which cost around $350 per student, is paid for by funds through the YouthBuild USA AmeriCorps grant.
The main conference, which began on March 17 th , consisted of workshops, trainings, and discussions on making transformative impacts at the local level. This year’s theme was “What’s Your Why,” where students were asked to think critically about why they serve, why they lead, what motivates them, and challenges they face in society. The conference also featured a powerful plenary session called “Awakening the Mind” led by Delanoe Johnson, a keynote by YouthBuild USA CEO John Valverde, and a talent show.
The events of the week culminated with a visit to the National Mall and the Capital Building, where HOCYB students met with Oregon’s Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, and Representative Walden.
“It was great meeting Representative Walden and telling him all about our YouthBuild experiences,” said Kristan Smith, a student in HOCYB who resides in Warm Springs. “Touring the Capitol building and visiting the monuments and memorials on the National Mall were moments I’ll never forget.”
About Heart of Oregon Corps
Heart of Oregon Corps trains tomorrow’s workforce today. Heart of Oregon is a nonprofit organization invested in inspiring and empowering change in the lives of Central Oregon youth through jobs, education, and stewardship. Their programming creates pathways out of poverty while stimulating regional economic growth. Heart of Oregon’s “work-earn-learn” model invests in local young people, many of whom come from disadvantaged backgrounds, to prepare them for the workforce and to encourage their self-sufficiency. Heart of Oregon Corps’ six regional programs hire, train, and serve 300 local youth each year. Youth can apply at www.heartoforegon.org
