Greetings NJYC Friends and Family-

In what seems like the blink of an eye, the season has changed. Mother Nature is putting on a dazzling display of fall colors - and just like that - we’ve gone from worrying about the heat and cutting growing grass to thinking of the holidays and winter weather. I don’t know about you, but the season crept up on us quite quickly.

New Cohort!

That change in season also brought us a new cohort of Corpsmembers! Our November Cohort - Class 83 - began its orientation on Monday, November 1st with 12 enrollees. It’s one of the most exciting times for our program - getting the chance to meet new recruits and help them get started on this journey is a very challenging time, but the relationships formed are the reward. It can be difficult to establish trust and boundaries early on, but it is necessary for the formation of relationships that make us effective in our work. One unique aspect of this class is that every single member either knew or was related to someone that had previously attended our Corps - more proof positive that our best recruiting strategy is ‘word-of-mouth’ referrals! There is a positive vibe around the program overall.

The early feedback we’ve gotten is an affirmation of the program. 100% of the respondents to the intake survey said their Orientation experience was positive, and that the staff was friendly and accessible. I liked how One new Corpsmember succinctly responded to the question ‘What did you like about Orientation? He said, “Everything, no cap.”

““The staff made me feel like we’ve known each other forever, Youth Corp is a very welcoming place.””

— Class 83 Inductee

Service Projects:

Even with a new cohort starting, Project work hasn’t been lacking - as we prepare for the winter months, the weather will naturally lend itself to indoor work. However, we will still be working outdoors through the winter. We began wrapping up some fall projects that have a pressing deadline at the end of this month. Back in the early Summer, we were warded an Urban Gateway Enhancement grant to perform landscaping and maintenance along the gateways into Phillipsburg - and we were finishing up that grant with one of the larger installations along South Main Street. Some local residents may have been curious about the clearing of sod down along South Main Street in Phillipsburg near the town line. That clearing was the preparation we need to establish a pollinator meadow to enhance the gateway area.

CM's worked at clearing the sod, treating the cleared area, tilling the soil, and then planting the site. Species of plants that will benefit pollinators were selected by CM's after doing research on local, native species of plants. The garden/meadow area will not be in full bloom until next spring - but will provide much-needed habitat for our pollinator friends while giving color to the planted area almost all through the growing season. We look forward to sharing photos of the area next spring as it gets established! Watch the video of the progress of the project here or by clicking on the video below.

In Other News:

Another exciting development this past week was the premiere of The Corps Network’s long-form video titled ‘The Modern Corps Movement’ - The modern Corps movement is powerful. Across the country, Corps programs make a difference every day in our communities, on our lands, and in the lives of thousands of young adults. In the new short film, you can learn the history of the Corps movement, hear from young people serving in Corps, and see the potential of a Civilian Climate Corps. You can see the video here of watch by clicking below.

As a member Corps of The Corps Network, NJYC of Phillipsburg seeks to expand on the opportunity that the development of a #CivilianClimateCorps brings to our youth, our immediate community and our region as a whole. As part of the Modern Corps Movement, we feel we have an opportunity to enhance our Corps program by offering more credentialed training and create pathways to careers for our Corpsmembers. More on that soon, so watch this space!

We’ll continue to keep you posted in the coming weeks about the things happening at our Corps - so until then - Be well and stay safe!

Yours in Service-

Michael