Earth Conservation Corps
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Youth In Action
| Board of Directors Robert Nixon, Chairman Ethel Kennedy, Vice Chair John Bridgeland, Vice Chair George Mayo, Treasurer Brenda Richardson, Secretary Max Berry John Dwyer Barbara Haas David Jacobs Ted Kassinger Suzy Kelly Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. John Klopp Janet Peters Mauceri Marvin Morris Bobbi Smith Latina Thompson Andy Dumaine STAFF Robert Nixon Founder rnixon@ecc1.org David Smith Interim Executive Director dsmith@ecc1.org Kellie Bolinder Partnerships kbolinder@ecc1.org Monica Poe Education Center Manager mpoe@ecc1.org Jessie Moore Development Associate jmoore@ecc1.org Claudia Schechter Interim Finance Director miler@ecc1.org Treshawnna Fayson Accountant tfayson@ecc1.org Karen Fletcher Case Manager, LICSW kfletcher@ecc1.org Dottie Yunger Anacostia River Keeper dyunger@ecc1.org Darryl Wallace Youth Media Arts Coordinator dwallace@ecc1.org Jahi Foster-Bey Program Coordinator jfosterbey@ecc1.org Tendani Mpulubusi Program Coordinator tendanim@ecc1.org |
Hello, I’m Ashley Howard and I’m an Earth Conservation Corps member. I’m 19 and have two kids. I enjoy writing poetry and public speaking. My brother and sister are also in the corps with me. I’m open minded and well out spoken. In the future hopefully I will be a writer of a newspaper. Ashley’s Report  As young adults travel through a journey of crime, violence, and young deaths, the older generation feels that there is no hope and that the new era will soon end. Young adults incorporated with ECC (Earth Conservation Corps) a non-profit organization helping to clean the Anacostia River, have chosen to leave their bad habits behind and make a difference in their lives. The youth in ECC have been on a project to help construct a new Oak Hill. Oak Hill is a juvenile facility for juvenile delinquents. A group called CJC (Civic Justice Corps) is made up of young adults between the ages 17- 25. They are learning trades in construction, landscaping, and are currently trying to obtain their GED. The Oak Hill project is for a minimum of 90 days. Every Tuesday and Thursday CJC hauls into the company van and rides out to Laurel, MD where Oak Hill is located. Their morning consists of gathering their hamlets, gloves, safety vests and safety glasses. Showing that they are eager to work, they hop out of the van and immediately attend to their duties. These include cutting down weeds and vines, laying down asphalt, and separating bricks, metal, trash and debris, and many more duties. As CJC is in the midst of changing their lives, they want the public and the world to know that they are making a change.  ECC Chairman Bob Nixon and Glen O’Gilvie, President and CEO, are helping the youth announce to the world the progress that they are making in their lives. A great friend of Bob’s is, Dave McCourt, a big time Internet networking producer. He was the owner of the network that aired Reading Rainbow. Dave took 3 days out of his busy schedule to come down to Washington, DC to meet the corps members of CJC to hear their insights and opinions on how they feel about the work they are doing. A member by the name of Davon Clifford expressed his feelings on the work that he has been doing. As a former resident of Oak Hill, he exclaimed that he is happy that now he is doing something positive in his life instead of sitting at home or running the streets getting into trouble. Davon expressed that he admires a song called “Waiting on the World to Change” by John Mayer. Other corps members including Ashley Howard, DeAndra Jones, and Dwayne Hamm also put their input on how they feel about the work they are doing.  As Dave McCourt listens to the young adults of CJC about their experiences, he gives the group an idea of how they can spread the word. Dave suggests that the group be apart of creating their very own Internet and channel network to show the world the differences that the youth are making. He asks the group whether they feel that the media and the environmental work they are doing is connected and what reaction they think the public would have viewing the work they are involved in. DeAndra Jones responses to the question,” I feel that the work we do and the media is connected because the world will see what were doing and they will hopefully join us.” The members were excited and were eager to start the new project. “Where do we begin?” Ashley Howard asks with excitement. Dave McCourt and Bob Nixon are about to tour the old Oak Hill facility, which still populates juveniles, with Vinni Sheradi employed by the DYRS. Ask for a volunteer to join them on the tour, Davon Clifford without any hesitation volunteers himself. Written by Ashley Howard 2/29/08 |
The Earth Conservation Corps is a nonprofit organization that engages the strong minds and muscles of Anacostia’s youth in the restoration of the Anacostia River. As corps members improve their own lives, they rebuild the environmental, social, and economic health of their communities. Join our efforts to engage our youth in the restoration of the Anacostia River:
There are so many ways that you can help advance Earth Conservation Corps' efforts to empower our young people and restore the Anacostia River. If you have any ideas that aren't on this list, please contact us to let us know how you'd like to help!
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