YouthBuild Rockford Students Helping Others

Eight (8) YouthBuild Rockford AmeriCorps members and one construction trainer from Comprehensive Community Solutions, Inc. left for North Gulfport, MS on May 27, 2007.. The students were a part of a group of 350 YouthBuild AmeriCorps members from around the country working on homes devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Over 300 homes need to be built or rebuilt in the area.

The YouthBuild Rockford members lived together in North Gulfport for one week in naval based housing. They served along 35 YouthBuild graduates who have been working on site for the last 12 months.

The students made significant progress towards their AmeriCorps service hours (up to 40 hours per week of direct service plus up to eight (8) hours of training hours per week.). Planned workshops and activities took place during the week as well.

YouthBuild Rockford students who served in Gulfport were: Shawn D. Farr, Tervern Lee, Jason L. Lopez, Tami Lopez, Dominique L. Patterson, Sir Charles J. Townsend, Michael R. Turner and Veronica Cardenas. 

“It was a very different experience to have young people my age concerned about the Katrina victims and willing to spend their time helping them to get their lives back together.”   

Domique Patterson

“It was a good experience, but a lot of  people still need a lot of help”               

Tami Lopez

It wasn’t what I expected. There is still a lot to be done. The devastation along the coast, Everything is destroyed. I felt I made a difference. It felt good to know that a lot of young people are working on the same project. Seeing the daily determination; I know the project will get done.”    

Veronica Cardenas

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