Students learn the ways of NPS at California recruitment event

Tyler Nicole Smith (middle) and Naima Ozier (right) on a boat ride to Channel Islands

By Sauda Jackson, GYF Youth Programs Manager

Recently I accompanied two interns from the Greening Youth Foundation on a trip across the country to Los Angeles to participate in a recruitment event sponsored by the National Park Service. The college students were Naima Ozier, a junior Writing and Linguistics major from Georgia Southern University, and Tyler Nicole Smith, a sophomore Economics major at Spelman College and L.A. native. The program is one of the major initiatives of the National Park Service’s “Strategic Recruitment Plan,” which stages NPS recruitment events featuring students selected by faculty or staff members from partnering institutions or organizations familiar with the National Park Service and its mission.

Although fun and scenic, this was not a field trip. The Recruitment Event had specific goals, which included the recruitment and training of diverse students from educational institutions and organizations for placement and retention in the National Park Service. There were approximately 75 young people and staff from HBCUs, universities and youth organizations from around the country. Their time was spent learning about the mission of the National Park Service; what it is like to be an NPS employee; what it means to work for the Federal Government; and what the ongoing issues are in National Parks.

The event began with introductions from the staff that had also come from all over the country. The students learned that the Santa Monica Mountain Recreation Area and Channel Islands are located in L.A.’s “backyard.” Our base was the beautiful California State University Channel Islands, where many of the youth had the opportunity to network and get to know each other over games of spades and splashes in the pool. As we visited each site we were given a clearer idea of NPS park employee life, through ranger talks, film and some hands-on activities. As the students engaged each ranger with questions about their duties, they were clued in on the academic requirements for those positions. We participated in a revegetation service project at the Santa Monica site, witnessed a bird capture and tagging project, and hiked the trails.

Capturing a field mouse

When we visited the Paramount Ranch, the location of many Western movies, we learned a bit about the film industry, fire management, law enforcement, and the skills necessary for those positions. The highlight was a hungry squirrel making a strange howling noise while we ate lunch.

We caught a boat to Santa Cruz Island, part of the five Channel Islands located in the Santa Barbara Channel on the Pacific Ocean. GYF participant Naima Ozier got drenched trying to get a good view. “Though I shivered the whole way, I enjoyed my first time being on a boat,” she said.

Along the way we encountered the California sea lion and the great brown pelican. Once on the island we were treated to up close sightings of the Island fox, given a demonstration and crafts lesson by a Chumash Indian elder, and we hiked the four-mile Scorpion Canyon. “After we walked up one of the many hills that dotted the island of Santa Cruz, I was left speechless by the view,” Naima said. “It was spectacular. Though this island was small, barely noticed, it was really beautiful.”

The students learned of the types of jobs and commitment required to take on a position in a remote area of the National Park Service. Each student was paired with a National Park Service mentor from the Recruitment Futures Implementation Team (RFIT). After the event they will be provided with career advice, skills enhancement, and job placement assistance in order to aid them in the NPS hiring process. The goal is that these young participants will commit to summer employment with the National Park Service, as soon as next year.

Though a Los Angeles native, GYF participant Tyler Nicole Smith had never been to either Santa Monica Mountains or Channel Islands National Park. She was so ecstatic about her experiences on the trip that she has committed to continue working with GYF with our school-based educational program through the Bonner Scholars.

Two GYF students learn nonviolence techniques at King Center

By Yan Yang

With the purpose of reducing all forms of personal and community violence, the King Center and Emory University organized The Kingian Nonviolence Teaching and Education Certification for Adults and Youth from July 26 to July 30 at the King Center’s Freedom Hall in Atlanta. Two students from Greening Youth Foundation, Lapetra Bois and Brittany Briscoe, got the opportunity to participate in this program because of the leadership qualities they demonstrated during an internship with GYF.

At the end of the week, Lapetra also received a lovely surprise—because of her completion of the training, she was awarded an all-expense-paid trip next June to South Africa, where the King Center has another center for nonviolence.

The week fused extensive discussions, debates and lectures. Dr. Bernard LaFayette Jr. and Captain (retired) Charles Alphin, Sr. talked to the students about ways that violence affects the world and its communities. Martin Luther King, III, also attended this training to talk about alternatives to violence.

“He asked me, ‘How are you doing?’ and I said, ‘I am doing GREAT!’ with a big smile,” Lapetra said excitedly. “You do not have this kind of chance so much in your life.”

King told the students that when he was young, he chose to go to Ebenezer Church and be immersed in love, instead of using violence. He also he did a great deal of community service to give back to society. These stories motivated students to be young leaders in reducing violence.

In addition, students had to participate in several debates on such topics as “alternatives to violence” and “how to help the community reduce violence.” Through the sharing of opinions, the students gained a deeper understanding of the philosophy and methodology of nonviolence, as well as skills that they could apply in the future to reduce conflicts.

“I was nervous when I presented, but eventually I overcame the fear,” said Lapetra.

In fact, one goal of the training was to prepare students to conduct a four-hour presentation to their peers and middle school students. The debates helped students improve their presentation skills to achieve this goal.

More than 100 people attended the training, some from as far away as New York. Students communicated with each other extensively to understand their diverse backgrounds and life stories. In the teambuilding activities, Brittany was shocked to find out that some of the peers had friends who were killed in conflicts. This helped the students realize how serious is the issue of violence and urged them to reduce the violence in their communities.

During their internship with GYF, Lepetra and Brittany had actively participated in debate exercises and discussions on teen issues. The Kingian Nonviolence training sharpened their thoughts on current issues and equipped them with skills and motivation to deal with conflict in nonviolent ways.