New mural painted by Corps members

One year ago, American Youth Works received a grant from the EDA (Economic Development Administration) which allowed us to begin the process of moving our headquarters to a new building and revamping it to become LEED certified. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification verifies that a building has endeavored to establish a green working system in the areas of energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, and improved indoor environmental quality. AYW began renovations last summer and is currently in Phase 2 of the project. Many changes have been made since last summer and we asked Project Manager Ted Roan to give us a tour of the developments.

Closed Cell Foam Insulation

Insulation & Air Ducts

We have swapped out the building’s old fiber glass insulation with closed cell foam insulation. This change has raised our insulating value up to 30% and stops hot air at the building envelope. This prevents the hot air from getting further into the building sooner. Along with the insulation, we have also replaced 100% of the old air ducts which has allowed us to reduce the number of roof top air units from 27 to 24. The combination of insulation and air duct transformations

South Window

has decreased overall energy usage and has increased the building’s air quality as well.

Windows

When we first moved in last summer, there were no windows on the South side of the building. We remedied this in order to let sun shine into the classroom. There are various studies showing how sunlight in classrooms greatly benefits the students health and concentration levels. We also placed shades outside to keep the heat out but let the light in.

Restrooms

Renovated Womens Restroom

We have also redone the building’s bathrooms and replaced the walls with tile and the partitions with stainless steel doors. Steam cleaners will be used to clean these surfaces easily and efficiently. Along with the walls and partitions, we have also installed dual flush toilets, automatic soap dispensers, and air hand dryers that blow air at 70 mph! All of these developments will be used to reduce water, paper, and electricity consumption.

Lighting

One of the most significant projects we’ve undertaken this summer is replacing all of the old lights. The previous lighting system used two ballasts and 4 bulbs. However, we have

Old Lighting System

replaced these old lights with a system that uses 1 electronic ballast and 3 high efficiency bulbs. We have placed this system in a reflector that reflects the light rather than diffuses it. Before, the lights totaled 30% of our energy usage but with the new light fixtures this will be greatly reduced. We also installed motion detectors in each room that deactivate lights when the room is not in use and temperature sensors that measure the thermal range of room temperature and keep the A/C unit within an energy efficient temperature range.

Motion and temperature sensors

Teaching Opportunities

While all of these changes are in the service of becoming more efficient and LEED certified, there is another major motivator behind the renovations. AYW will strive to incorporate the green changes into the classrooms as well.

“Our goal is to make the building more efficiently functional but through these changes we want to produce learning opportunities as well, “ says Ted Roan, our Project Manager. “We hope to develop AYW into a green job-training center where our students will gain skills, knowledge, and certifications that will aid them in the green job circuit. The experience they get here will help provide them with an edge over others competing in the same job market.”

Project Manager Ted Roan teaches Green Energy Corps members how to use the cutting-edge web-based building automation system.

Our building automated system is a prime example of using our renovations in the classroom. It allows us to view the air circulation and temperatures throughout the building via computer. We can change airflow and temperatures with the click of a mouse and it gives students a detailed diagram of the energy recovery ventilators that pre-cool the air before it gets to one of the roof top units. This program not only makes it easier to control the building environment but it also provides us with yet another avenue to train our students in the green field.

We have been working hard all year to bring these changes about and it’s not only showing on the inside. Our students and staff are working hard to improve the exterior of AYW along with the interior. Even our CEO, Parc Smith, lends a hand!

CEO Parc Smith lends a hand in the demo process.

Thanks to everyone for their continued hard work and commitment to bettering our AYW facilities! Things are coming together nicely and both the students and staff eagerly await the final result!

 

On June 12, 2010, American YouthWorks held its graduation ceremony for the Class of 2009-2010 at the LBJ Auditorium. AYW Graduation is always a momentous occasion, and this year was no different. The event celebrated Charter School graduates, GED recipients, and diploma recipients, listed below:

American YouthWorks
Charter School

Marlene Amaya
Liliana Colin
John Deluna
Richard Dublin
Kerri Douglass*^ (Honor Graduate Scholarship Recipient)
Cynthia Echavarria
Charlie Engebretson*
Mario Espino
Nicole Fernandes*
Anna French
Marcelina Galindo
Erick Gomez
Lorenzo Humphries
Katalina Jimenez
Andrew Johnson
Ivanna Johnson
Christian Linker
Jose Martin Lugo
Sebastian Mason
Julieta Moncada
Jessica Nay*
Daniel Quintanilla
Rachel Ramirez
Deamon Robinson
Nicholas Ruiz
Tim Rutledge
Gerardo Salinas
Ashley Samilpa
Kevin Schoen
Joe Torres
Jennifer Tolico
Damaris Viera
Claudia Villareal* (Richard Halpin Scholarship Recipient)
George Villela^
Kassandra Zundt

Service Learning Academy
GED Recipients

Isa Arizola
Ashley Burkes^
Jennifer Canales
Mark Freeman
Charles Gadison^
Nallely Garcia
Mariah Garza^
Ian Linke^
San Martin Maldonaldo
Gabric Miller^
Renee Neal
Adam Pantoja
Ashley Perez
Spencer Riojas^
Zachary Vasquez^
Georgia Warren

Diploma Recipients

Diana Bravo^ (Joe Jerkins Scholarship Recipient)
Jennifer Burnell^
Alejandro Bustos*^ (Honor Graduate Scholarship Recipient)
Ateshia Flint*^
Maria Garcia
Paloma Hernandez*^
Jenny Rodriquez^
Morris Williams*^
Kandice Wilson

* Denotes Top 10% of Class
^ Denotes Service Corps Member

A special congratulations to scholarship recipients Kerri Douglass, Claudia Villareal, Diana Bravo, and Alejandro Bustos. AYW would also like to thank the Invocation Pastor N. Jordan Mkwanazi and Keynote Speaker, The Honorable Raul Gonzales for their participation.

Thanks to everyone for coming out and spporting our graduates! They worked hard and deserve to celebrate this great achievement! To see more pictres, visit our Facebook album.

 

Board hires AYW’s own Environmental Corps leader, Parc Smith



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AUSTIN, TX – June 17, 2010 – The American YouthWorks Board of Directors announced on June 16, 2010, the hiring of former American YouthWorks Environmental Corps Director, Parc Smith, as Chief Executive Officer. Parc takes the role over from Interim CEO, Dick Pierce, who assumed CEO duties during the leadership transition period.

Parc Smith started with American YouthWorks in 1995 as a teacher and crew leader for the Environmental Corps and later filled roles as a program coordinator and most recently as Director of Environmental Corps and part of the Senior Management Team for the entire organization. With over 17 years experience in trail design and construction, parks, and conservation work, Parc was awarded State Trail Worker of the Year in 2004 at the American Trails National Trails Symposium and Trail Designer and Project Director for 2009 National Recreation Trails Coalition award winning “Southwest Keys Trail” for Accessibility Enhancement Project of the Year. Parc leads workshops and speaks at national conferences on national service and youth conservation corps involvement in land management, trail building and project-based outdoor education as a model for transforming lives of at-risk youth to youth “at-promise.” He serves on the Texas Recreation Trails Grant Review Committee and several regional advisory boards. He grew up in Stephenville, Texas, graduated from Texas Women’s University in Denton, Texas and has called Austin home since 1995.

“The Board announces a new era at AYW. With the energy, dedication and integrity of Parc Smith as our CEO, we can only move forward to continue changing the lives of young people” says Board President, Margarine G. Beaman.

Parc joins Chester Steinhauser, COO, and Jenny Emmons, Superintendent, on the Executive Team at American YouthWorks as they continue to strengthen the mission of American YouthWorks, transforming the lives of at-risk youth through education, service and green jobs training.

About American YouthWorks
American YouthWorks is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Austin, Texas that is dedicated to transforming the lives of at-risk youth through education, service and green jobs training. AYW operates a public charter high school district including its Service Learning Academy, GED program and green job andservice corps programs, Casa Verde Builders, Environmental Corps, Computer Corps and Green Energy Corps. American YouthWorks also offers onsite social services, including a parent/child development center and academic coaching and counseling. For more than thirty years, American YouthWorks has assisted thousands of local youth in transforming their lives through community service, education and a commitment to preserving the natural environment.
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AYW Career/College Fair and Parent Night

American Youthworks Will be hosting a College/Career and Family Night January 27th from 6-8p.m. Colleges and career institutes interested in attending the fair please send response through e-mail or phone. 512.744.1900.
Kristie McClain; kmcclain@americanyouthworks.org
Maria Pinales; mpinales@americanyouthworks.org

Please respond by January 22, 2010 if you will be attending the fair or declining the fair.
We look forward to seeing you!

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1901 E Ben White Blvd Austin, TX 78741 | map 512-744-1900