Belen Reyes will be recognized by The Corps Network, the National Association of Service and Conservation Corps, as a 2025 Corpsmember of the Year.
The Corps Network presents the Corpsmember of the Year Award on an annual basis to young adults chosen from among the more than 22,000 individuals who serve in member organizations of the Corps network every year. Awardees are young people who, through their term of service, have demonstrated personal growth, outstanding leadership skills, and a sincere commitment to helping their community.
Belen will be honored at the Corps Network's 40th anniversary annual national conference in Arlington, VA, from March 11th - 13th, 2025.
Please read the inspirational story Belen wrote as she reflects on her life experiences and growth over the past two years.
Updated 12/18/24
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Belen's Journey: Corpsmember, Student, and Former Resident
"I became homeless in 2022 after a fire destroyed my home."
Before joining the Corps, I had faced many struggles and setbacks. I dropped out of continuation school during the COVID-19 pandemic and was juggling various odd jobs to make ends meet. I became homeless in 2022 after a fire destroyed my home, leaving me without any possessions. I moved into a family shelter with limited housing options but quickly realized I needed to find a path toward stable, independent living. At the shelter run by LifeMoves, they offered me temporary support and encouraged me to pursue my diploma and find work.
When I heard about the San Jose Conservation Corps + Charter School, I knew it was the opportunity I had been searching for. It was a place where I could work, earn my diploma, and even afford living on campus. The Corps opened doors to stable work, community, and education, all the things I hadn’t thought possible together.
At the time, I was able to work at the Corps' emergency shelters, which allowed me to support people at LifeMoves shelters, where I had once sought help. This sense of purpose made me feel like I was giving back to those who supported me. It was also my first chance to consider a full-time career, which made me even more determined to succeed and continue setting an example in my family as a first-generation graduate and aspiring college student.
"My journey has given me the knowledge that I can help others find purpose."
My experience at the San Jose Conservation Corps has been a transformational journey. I came to understand the importance of community and environmental stewardship, seeing how my efforts could contribute to something greater than myself. This journey has given me confidence, resilience, and the knowledge that I can help others navigate their own challenges and find purpose.
Through my advocacy work, I learned the power of sharing my story and encouraging others to do the same. I now help uplift and motivate other young people facing adversity, showing them that they, too, have the potential to shape their future. As a youth leader, I’ve spoken at events, organized rallies like Youth Hope Month, and participated in discussions around systemic issues affecting foster youth and others in similar situations.
"This experience was healing because it allowed me to be the responder I once needed."
When I went to Guam on the AmeriCorps Disaster Response deployment to assist after Typhoon Mawar, I realized the importance of applying my skills to help those in need. Being bilingual and having learned valuable clerical skills, I found myself able to support others. This experience was healing because it allowed me to be the responder I once needed.
The Corps taught me independence, financial responsibility, and the ability to establish stability. Living on campus allowed me to save up enough money, and I could move out and rent a room on my own. For the first time in my life, I have now lived in one place for over two years, gaining a sense of security that had been missing.
After graduating from the San Jose Conservation Corps high school program in 2024, I was promoted to a level two Corpsmember. I took on an administrative assistant role to learn about the metrics and operations of nonprofit work, especially around zero-waste initiatives. I am deeply committed to caring for our planet and am dedicated to mitigating the effects of climate change in my work.
As a former resident at the Corps, I was able to help consult on my experience living on campus in tiny homes. While my living experience was positive, I’ve had the chance to help redesign tiny home models for future corpsmember residents to improve their quality of life.
"I work to create spaces for young adults to share their stories and shed light on issues in our community."
Outside of my corpsmember role, I am a member of the Youth Liberation Movement, in which we liberate young people from generational cycles of trauma and oppression by advocating for youth. I work to create spaces for young adults to share their stories and shed light on housing, education, and employment issues in our community. In YLM we do this through hosting youth led community centered design sessions, youth participatory action research and by sitting on boards and collaborating. Currently, I am a co-chair with the Kids in Common Social Emotional Wellness workgroup for basic needs. I also supported the youth housing coalition design days, where we brought together over twenty young adults from across the county to have deep conversations about problems and solutions in the housing system. I also collaborated with other youth organizations to develop productions promoting youth pursuing green jobs in high schools across the county.
"I plan to become the first in my family to graduate from college"
I received AmeriCorps education awards, which I plan to use to assist with tuition costs as I enroll at San Jose State University in Spring 2025. I’ll be applying this support toward furthering my education and becoming the first in my family to graduate from college. In the short term, I want to continue working in a service-oriented role, particularly with foster youth, youth with learning disabilities, and emergency response initiatives.
Long term, I aspire to pursue a career in the medical field to help others, especially children, as I want to make a lasting impact on young lives. Beyond career goals, I hope to continue advocating for youth affected by homelessness, food insecurity, generational trauma, and systemic oppression.
Written by Belen Reyes
Updated 11/4/24
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Published 12/12/23
Belen's Journey: Corpsmember, Student, and Former Resident
In 2022, Belen was staying at a shelter and exploring options for going back to school. A case manager introduced her to the Corps, and she was surprised to learn that she could "receive help [with housing] while going to school and working part-time." Belen created a schedule that worked for her- three days a week in our workforce development program and two days at school to focus on her education. Hear her full story below!
Living in the tiny home gave her a safe and stable place and allowed her to save up to find independent housing. Belen's journey continued as she moved into an apartment independently and is part of the graduating class of 2024. "I'm grateful that I've been able to take advantage of these opportunities and resources. The Corps has helped me grow as a person. My journey as a corpsmember has been extremely valuable to me."
Full video: https://youtu.be/YkOkyMvJQYo