Denver, CO (PRWEB) November 14, 2013
The Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of the Interior (DOI) today announced that HistoriCorps is one of 91 initial organizations nationwide that have been approved as member organizations to help implement the Obama Administration’s 21st Century Conservation Service Corps (21CSC). The 21CSC is a national collaborative effort to put America’s youth and veterans to work protecting, restoring, and enhancing America’s natural and cultural resources.
"This is truly an honor for all of us at HistoriCorps," Towny Anderson, Executive Director, said upon learning of HistoriCorps' inclusion in the initial group of 91 organizations. "Now, with the recent launch of our historic preservation technology program and HistoriCorps Field School, in partnership with Lamar Community College, we can offer so much more value and opportunity to youths and veterans who participate in 21SCS."
Founded in 2009 to save and sustain historic places for public benefit through partnerships that foster public involvement, engage volunteers, and provide training and education, HistoriCorps is modeled after the renowned Depression-era community service program, Civilian Conservation Corps. In the four years since, HistoriCorps has partnered with 40 organizations and property owners on the preservation of over 100 historic structures in 13 states. Over 500 volunteers, veterans, youth corps, and students have participated in these projects.
The 21CSC engages young Americans aged 15-25, and veterans up to age 35. Through the 21CSC, young people and veterans will accomplish meaningful work, gaining important personal and professional skills and builds a lifelong connection to the outdoors.
All 21CSC participants gain skills, and deliver results that include enhancing recreational opportunities and access, protecting wildlife, restoring impaired watersheds, removing invasive species, increasing energy efficiency, preserving historic or cultural sites, enhancing community spaces, coordinating volunteers, supporting monitoring or data needs, responding to natural disasters, reducing hazardous fuels and protecting communities from wildfire.
Increasing diversity and expanding opportunities for all youth and veterans are core 21CSC principles: all 21CSC member organizations emphasize diversity and inclusion, and the 21CSC National Council will focus in the coming months on recruiting additional member organizations, targeting new programs in diverse areas, and investing in training and career pathways for a diverse group of participants.
The 21CSC is supported by the federal 21CSC National Council, which includes members from USDA, DOI, the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the Army Corps of Engineers, NOAA, the Department of Labor, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Council on Environmental Quality, and by the Partnership for the 21CSC, which was launched in June of 2013 as a collaborative group to support the 21CSC.
For the Federal Register notice inviting letters of interest and outlining the eight principles, visit http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-07-01/html/2013-15644.htm.
For more information, visit the partner-hosted website http://www.21csc.org.
About HistoriCorps
Founded in 2009, HistoriCorps® is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that saves and sustains historic places through partnerships that foster public involvement, engage volunteers, and provide training and education. We are based in the Rocky Mountain region but coordinate and instruct projects throughout the United States. At the heart of the HistoriCorps program model is the engagement of a broad and diverse cadre of partners and volunteers. By working with constituents, partners and volunteers, HistoriCorps is implementing meaningful solutions that save special places for many generations to come. These critical partnerships will enable HistoriCorps to fundamentally change the way in which America saves and sustains its cultural and historic heritage.
For more information on HistoriCorps®, call 303.893.4260 or visit http://www.historicorps.org.