Colorado youth corps tackling impacts of climate disruptions
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(Colorado News Connection) For over 30 years, the Mile High Youth Corps has helped young adults get skills and build career pathways - in construction, health care, conservation, and other fields across 24 Colorado counties.
This year, the group is working with the new American Climate Corps to tackle some of the challenges created by climate change.
CEO Kia Abdool said this work is especially important to today's youth.
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"It's a groundbreaking workforce training and service initiative, that will empower tens of thousands of Americans to work fighting the impacts of climate change," said Abdool. "And that something our youth 18 to 24 are really excited about."
The new climate corps, launched by the Biden administration, is modeled after President Roosevelt's Civilian Conservation Corps created to help lift the nation out of the Great Depression.
The initiative hopes to put 20,000 young adults to work nationally. Some 900 are based in Colorado.
Climate corps members are already at work installing in-home energy and water saving measures in metro Denver, and learning sustainable and climate-resilient farming practices in southwestern Colorado.
Abdool said they are also removing thirsty invasive plant species to protect the state's critical water resources.
"But I think the special sauce that Mile High Youth Corps has is about the community within Mile High Youth Corps," said Abdool. "The opportunity for corps members to lean on each other, to collaborate, to take leadership opportunities within their own crews."
The program may also play an important role in reducing climate anxiety, which has been on the rise among youth.
Worry over the existential threat of climate change can cause panic attacks, insomnia, and depression.
Abdool recalled a conversation with one corps member who told her that while previous generations may have been concerned about climate change, they weren't able to make a difference.
"And she said 'and I have an opportunity to be able to do something about it, in an environment that I love, while being outside,'" said Abdool. "'It's the best job in the world.'"
