Submitted by the Northwest Youth Corps

San Juan Island National Historical Park and Northwest Youth Corps announce that the NYC American Sign Language Inclusion Crew are chosen as one of four projects by the Corps Network as Project of the Year for 2016.

During the summer of 2016, the ASL Inclusion Conservation Crew worked in and around the San Juan Island National Historical Park, as well as with San Juan County Parks, San Juan County Land Bank, San Juan Island Conservation District, San Juan Islands National Monument, San Juan Preservation Trust, Washington State Parks, Washington Department of Natural Resources and the Madrona Institute.

The Corps Network, or the National Association of Service and Conservation Corps, presents this prestigious award on an annual basis to select organizations from their membership of more than 130 corps across the country. Awardees are chosen through a rigorous application and peer review process.

Three to four Project of the Year awards are presented on an annual basis to corps that have undertaken especially influential or innovative endeavors within the past year. Projects of the Year are noteworthy for their ability to provide both a positive experience for corps members and meaningful improvements to the community. Staff from The Corps Network, as well as outside reviewers from member corps, select the winners of this award.

NYC developed this project because individuals who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing experience higher rates of unemployment and lower lifetime wages compared to those who can hear. In response, NYC created the ASL Inclusion Crew to provide DHH teens and young adults with a safe, supportive and accessible job training opportunity to earn a stipend and academic credit.

For more information, visit www.nwyouthcorps.org/m/news/ProjectOfTheYear. View an informational video on the NYC ASL Inclusion crew, below.