The U.S. House of Representatives is proposing to eliminate AmeriCorps, the 30-year program that provides the people power that local nonprofit, faith-based, and community organizations train and deploy to respond to our country’s most immediate and critical needs.
If this happens, it will have a devastating effect on lives and landscapes across Colorado which face a growing threat from climate change.
AmeriCorps grants enable Colorado Youth Corps Association (CYCA) and seven of our accredited conservation service corps to perform critical conservation missions that save lives and provide economic mobility to historically excluded communities. AmeriCorps-funded corps perform wildland fire mitigation in the most vulnerable landscapes; eradicate invasive species from waterways that are reducing streamflow to rural areas dependent on agriculture; construct trail and maintain recreation infrastructure in small communities building a new future through the outdoor recreation economy; and perform water- and energy-saving activities in low-income housing to lower their utility bills while reducing their carbon footprint.
CYCA-accredited corps support more than 900 AmeriCorps members serving in every county in Colorado. These members are recruited from their local communities and proudly serve in their local corps, protecting the natural resources that have been invaluable in their lives.
The intensity of fires is increasing: 7 of the 8-largest Colorado wildfires by acres have occurred since 2012 and the four largest have occurred since 2020. A tragic legacy of these fires are the ensuring floods to due damaged soil and incinerated stabilizing vegetation. A 2019 study determined that floods are the greatest costs imposed by wildfires. For example, the 2018 Manitou Springs Flood which resulted in $1.5 million in damages was exacerbated by the 2012 fire that destroyed 350 homes. Without AmeriCorps members performing critical forest thinning and being trained as wildland firefighters, historically excluded communities without the resources to fund these activities themselves face the persistent threat of death and economic ruin.
AmeriCorps members serving in conservation service corps earn more than valuable technical certifications and vocational experience. They step out of the digital world and make authentic friendships that mitigate loneliness and social isolation. They learn communication skills, conflict resolution, and gain confidence and self-efficacy. Research shows that our members are more likely to be civically-engaged, pursue higher education opportunities, and recreate more in the outdoors.
The service of Colorado conservation service corps, and corps serving communities across the country, is a critical resource to develop the next generation of leaders. If AmeriCorps funding is eliminated, both communities and young people will suffer dire impacts on their futures. We need to make deeper investments in the rising generation of problem solvers and collaborators, not put more obstacles in their path.