Et cetera : AmeriCorps NCCC’s Maple 2 Prepares for Their Crossroads

AmeriCorps NCCC’s Maple 2 Prepares for Their Crossroads

By: Alex Kemp

AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) team Maple 2 is serving with Crossroads for Youth, a facility for endangered minors, in Oxford, MI. This is the last project of the year for Maple 2.

The team is working closely with the kids who occupy the Crossroads for Youth camp grounds. They are spending the evenings with them assisting with their homework, physical training schedule, and facilitating a host of activities, ranging from arts and crafts, cooking lessons and outdoor excursions. In the Corps Members’ free time they are focusing on life after AmeriCorps. “It’s an exciting time. We’re happy to be working with the kids and we’re also excited about taking that next step in our individual lives,” said Corps Member John Ezetta. Currently, members are thinking about going back to school, joining the workforce and one member is applying to the Peace Corps.

For the last five weeks of their project, Maple 2 has an abundance of work to keep their minds away from the end of their stint in NCCC. Every morning and into the afternoon they perform a variety of maintenance needs on the grounds. This includes redoing three roofs, painting different buildings and renovating a work-out area. The team lost two weeks to accomplish this task list when they were deployed to New Jersey to assist the American Red Cross with their efforts in aiding people after Hurricane Irene.

Regardless of any challenges the team faces, they are determined to make this last project the most enjoyable. Ezetta said, “We have a great opportunity to end the year out strong and make a difference in young people lives. We’re going to make the most of everyday.” The management of Crossroads for Youth is pleased with the work that NCCC is doing and they’ve had multiple teams over the last few years, the last one being from earlier this spring. For the members of Maple 2, they are graduating from the program on Thursday, November 17.