YouthWorks organizing to support Santa Fe’s youth and our community during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Life around the world has undergone immense changes since the COVID-19 pandemic. In Santa Fe, NM as in many communities around the world, in addition to the public health crisis people experienced job loss, food insecurity, housing insecurity, and an unsure future as people worldwide sought to reorganize in these unprecedented times. Santa Fe YouthWorks rapidly reorganized operations to respond to the attendant impacts of the pandemic. In March 2020 YouthWorks shifted its kitchen operations to produce, package, and distribute thousands of emergency meals a week. By August 2020 YouthWorks had prepared and distributed over 90,000 meals for community members in need.
YouthWorks also identified the need to continue to provide safe job opportunities for youth and in May 2020 initiated two projects employing dozens of youth: the YouthWorks River Restoration Crew and Youth Conservation Corps Crew that trained youth and provided them paid work experience in environmental conservation. YouthWorks has also partnered with Reunity Resources and Santa Fe County to cover food security gaps that were illuminated during the pandemic. Since April 2020, YouthWorks has sent crews of youth to work on farming and composting projects at Reunity Resources. Produce grown by Reunity and YouthWorks crews was then used in the YouthWorks kitchen to create meals for the COVID emergency meals program. In August 2020, YouthWorks and Reunity Resources broke ground on a new plot of land on La Bajada Ranch to expand production with the objective of increasing long-term food security in Santa Fe by growing more food locally.
We are stronger together. Connect with YouthWorks today to learn more about how you can become a part of the response and work with YouthWorks towards a more resilient future today.
For latest updates on YouthWorks services at this and to Learn how you can help us make a difference in a young person’s life, and support our Santa Fe community. Connect with YouthWorks by email or call 505-989-1855
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YouthWorks – Making a Difference in the Lives of Santa Fe Youth
Santa Fe YouthWorks has been leading the way in youth re-engagement since 2001. Approximately 1,200 young people of diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds from across Northern New Mexico come through the doors of YouthWorks each year. Santa Fe YouthWorks prides itself on never giving up on the youth who seek our help. We pull out all the stops to help our young people succeed.
YouthWorks clients take advantage of education, counseling, case management, skills certification, job training, and job placement services. YouthWorks delivers program graduates who have continued on to college, are apprenticing with businesses, have started their careers, and are active members of the community.
Learn how you can help us make a difference in a young person’s life.
Connect with YouthWorks by email or call 505-989-1855
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter.