UCC YouthBuild AmeriCorps Utah Trip Evokes Sense of Comradery, Purpose to Give Back
Young people enrolled in the YouthBuild AmeriCorps program at United Community Corporation recently embarked on a journey to Utah that provided them an opportunity to meet and connect with other program members across the country while placing emphasis of personal growth, community service, and teamwork.
Throughout the trip, the YouthBuild AmeriCorps members collaborated with their peers, learned more about themselves, and strengthened their dedication to making a positive difference in their own lives and in their communities.
For UCC YouthBuild AmeriCorps members Ah’Star Bryant and Shem Braveboy, it was a trip of firsts— their first time flying on an airplane, visiting the state of Utah, and working together with peers outside their own community.
“This was my first experience getting on a plane. I had been to other places like North Carolina, but we drove then. I was kind of nervous at first inside the plane cabin, but as we got in the air I was like, ‘I’m okay. I'm already on it and we can’t turn back,’” Ah’Star said.
“When we first landed in Utah – the change of space and sights – it was different. It gave me a bit of a feeling of homesickness,” Shem said.
The homesickness and initial unease the members felt as they settled into their new surroundings was soon quelled by embracing new experiences.
The trip featured a service project for YouthBuild AmeriCorps members where they participated in the early stages of renovating a building that is planned to serve as a transitional housing facility for the city of Ogden’s chronically homeless population.
The members assisted with the demolition of rooms, including appliances and furnishings, and landscaping from pruning to debris removal. This was the first stage of the project in which Ogden YouthBuild program members are planned to continue the rehabilitation of the building.
Working alongside members from other YouthBuild AmeriCorps programs, the young people rolled up their sleeves, put their skills to work and helped contribute to a cause that will one day impact the lives of those who will use the shelter’s services.
The hands-on experience gave UCC YouthBuild AmeriCorps member Derek Horn a profound sense of pride and accomplishment. He said it also deepened his understanding of what it means to serve others.
“My favorite part was making an effort to help other people to get themselves into a better place in life and get them the help that they need,” Derek said.
“When everyone was at the facility and was outside working - having everyone together was a great time,” Shem added.
Another UCC YouthBuild AmeriCorps member who attended the trip, Liyna Lee, enjoyed the connections she made during the project and her time overall in Utah.
“It was hard for me, but I was happy knowing I was doing a good deed,” Liyna said. “For me, it was the bonding. I liked it all.”
These shared experiences coincide with the YouthBuild program’s curriculum, providing opportunity youth the chance to obtain their high school diploma while engaging in pre-apprenticeship training programs in various career pathways. These career pathways include construction training, certified nursing assistant, dental technician and dental assistant, home health aid, and phlebotomy.
The program also emphasizes personal and career growth for opportunity youth, allowing them to develop the skill sets and awareness to grow into community leaders.
The trip provided ample opportunity for YouthBuild AmeriCorps members to explore facets of leadership, collaboration and growth by having time to explore the Utah landscape and enjoying other amenities the area had to offer.
The members visited the Ogden-Weber Technical College campus where they met and connected with YouthBuild participants from around the U.S., hiked along trails to explore the natural beauty of Utah, went to an escape room, had fun axe throwing, and found ways to entertain themselves at their lodging space with games and activities.
UCC YouthBuild staff members even got in on the fun.
“It got interesting when we tried to play hide and seek in the Airbnb. With something like that, we all got the opportunity to just be somewhere new, experience something different and to not just be there as supervisors or chaperones,” UCC YouthBuild Director Tasmeya Hall said. “We immersed ourselves in the experience with our young people.”
Reflecting on the trip, the young people said they returned home with them a renewed drive to serve others and a deeper appreciation for the value of community. They are more determined to apply what they have learned, both in the skills they gained and the bonds they have formed.
“The experience with the staff and everyone was good. It wasn’t a classroom setting. It was more of us being there as a family,” Shem said. “When we got to meet with the other [YouthBuild] cohorts, it was good because there are other people with similar experiences and from situations that are less fortunate. To work together with people that share the same experiences that are from different states - I liked that.”
“Everybody there made it feel like home,” Ah’Star said. “The people from YouthBuild at Ogden were very welcoming. They were just like us. I feel like everybody looked at us the same. We understand we’ve all been through stuff. It was a good experience.”
“Staying in a house with people I didn’t really know was different, but everybody made me feel comfortable, so I was good,” Liyna said. “I had to talk a lot more than I usually would here and do teambuilding which was different for me.”
“My overall experience was great. We got to work on the homeless facility. That was one of my best moments because I got to work with my hands, and it was fun,” Derek said.
United Community Corporation
"Moving people from dependency to self-sufficiency"