The Honorable Jeff Bingaman announced Rocky Mountain Youth Corps (RMYC) has been awarded a 2012 AmeriCorps grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). These grants are the result of the Fiscal Year 2012 AmeriCorps State and National funding competition, and advance the priorities of the bipartisan 2009 Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act and CNCS’ 2011-2015 Strategic Plan. The grant focuses AmeriCorps resources on six key service areas: disaster services, economic opportunity, education, environmental stewardship, healthy futures, and veterans and military families.
In northern New Mexico, Rocky Mountain Youth Corps engages more than 100 individuals in intensive, results-driven service each year. In exchange for 1,700 hours of service, AmeriCorps members earn a $5,550 Segal AmeriCorps Education Award to help pay for college or pay back student loans. Part-time service opportunities, with proportional education awards, range from 900 to 300 hours. Since 1995, more than 1,800 AmeriCorps members from RMYC have committed to service in the Taos community. Among other accomplishments, RMYC corpsmembers last year mobilized 400 community volunteers, mentored 126 elementary children and restored 82 acres of local forests.
In a time of growing social and economic challenges, national service is a critical and cost-effective method to engage local youth in solving problems within their communities. In implementing the Serve America Act, Corporation for National and Community Service is focused on achieving higher levels of impact using service as a solution to meeting major local challenges and making service a transformative experience for all who serve.