American YouthWorks' Career Training Prepares Young Adults for Work in Disaster Response
Members repairing a home impacted by the flood.
Sidney training a TXCC member with proper safety equipment
Members in a classroom setting, training in disaster response.
Disaster response deployment to Roswell, NM, young adults gain job skills in disaster recovery & emergency management—turning service into sustainable careers.
AYW-YB serves 200+ youth, ages 16-24, teaching technical skills in Manufacturing/IT, Healthcare, and Construction while earning a GED or high school diploma. Participants receive paid training, certifications, and personalized support to ensure career or education success.
AYW-CC engages 200+ young adults, ages 18-35, in conservation projects and disaster recovery. Participants gain hands-on experience, including FEMA disaster response training, and connect with industry professionals and project partners for job opportunities that advance their commitment to serving the community.
Disaster Response and Recovery has been an area of significant growth in the AYW-CC program and prepares young people with job skills training for family-sustaining careers. Training prepares them to address catastrophic events like wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and ice storms, while building job-ready expertise in emergency management, environmental resilience, and related fields.
Recently AYW-CC was deployed by FEMA for 30 days in Roswell, NM to help the community rebuild after severe storms and devastating flooding. Sidney Glasshoff, Texas Conservation Corps Disaster Response & Logistics Coordinator in Austin (and program graduate), served as the AmeriCorps Disaster Response Team (ADRT) Incident Commander alongside 19 Texas Conservation Corps staff members and partner organizations. Sidney shared about her experience that “disaster response is more than just the physical work. It’s about connection and growth. I watched team members step into leadership roles, growing in confidence and skill. The people we serve leave just as big of an impact on us as we do on them.”
Just like Sidney, participants share that their disaster response service was life-changing. By helping communities during times of extreme crisis, they gain a deep understanding of interdependence and resilience. What a young person learns while sitting with a survivor on the porch of a flooded home while they’re processing overwhelming loss, builds a perspective of the interdependence of our communities. This shapes a resilient workforce of professionals and leaders dedicated to service, people, and solutions.
AYW programs are designed to build skills that prepare youth for today’s job market and for lifelong success. Through training experiences such as deployment in large-scale disaster relief and recovery efforts, participants develop the skills necessary to work in local, state, and federal Emergency Management Agencies. We think Sidney summarizes it best: “I am incredibly grateful for this experience and proud of what we have accomplished. Serving the Roswell community in this capacity has been an honor, and I look forward to continuing this work in the future.”
About American YouthWorks:
Founded in 1975, American YouthWorks (AYW) connects young people from diverse backgrounds with equitable access to education, career training and guidance, and support services through AYW Conservation Corps and YouthBuild. In a supportive learning environment, participants earn certifications and learn new job skills that address critical issues such as building micro homes for unhoused populations, FEMA disaster response deployments, environmental resilience in underinvested communities, and access to healthcare and technology. Support services such as counseling, basic needs such as food and transportation assistance, and college and job placement are available at no cost to participants. AYW is based in Austin, TX, and operates sites in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma.
Visit ayw.org for more information.
Jonnyka Bormann
American YouthWorks
+1 512-744-1900
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Distribution channels: Building & Construction Industry, Business & Economy, Education, Environment, Natural Disasters
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