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FRIDAY December 5, 2003 - Subscribe - Contact Us Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels November 17, 2003 Last hope came true for one Ashlander By Mica H. Cardillo Ashland Only seven weeks ago, I was jobless, penniless, hungry, couch surfing, and depressed. It seemed the harder I tried, the less I was able to secure any kind of employment. How come a person with my skills and abilities could not survive in Ashland? Then, one day before my sister was to purchase me a bus ticket to Albuquerque to live with her, I received a forwarded e-mail from one of my college instructors about a community service opportunity in Ashland at the North Mountain Park Nature Center. The Nature Center was sponsoring an Americorps volunteer staff person for one year. Since the position offered a small living stipend, I figured it might be possible to stay in Ashland. With one last glimmer of hope, I decided to wait another week and was offered employment at Advanced Business Teleservices in Talent. The following week, I actually had three successful interviews and received three job offers on the same weekend. Thankfully, I made one of the best decisions of my life, and chose to give my energy to the community by serving through Americorps as the Service Learning Coordinator at the Nature Center. Simultaneously, I began to formalize my idea for a non-profit long-term youth development program. The idea for Ashland Youth Climbing Program (AYCP) became solid on the September day I was offered the Americorps position at the Nature Center. The opportunity to utilize some of my ideas and to plan for the future was not something I could not ignore. I knew young aspiring climbers in Ashland had no established place or time to climb beyond the classes offered by SOU Extended Campus Programs. Now, only four weeks later, AYCP is impacting the lives of youth and their parents. Last Saturday, several of AYCP members volunteered their time to a special community event at North Mountain Park Nature Center. As people realize how safe and enjoyable rock climbing can be, AYCP will be instrumental in providing holistic youth development, training and certification, equal access to all, and future career opportunities in rock climbing. I would like to thank the great number of caring people in my community of Ashland who played a role in keeping me here. I am so grateful to you all. If you would like to find out more about North Mountain Park Nature Center or AYCP, please contact me or stop by for a visit. [email protected] or [email protected] DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Road Cams