Broadreach Family & Community Services is pleased to welcome two new AmeriCorps volunteers to Youthlinks.  Seth Walton and Josie Gates both joined the Youthlinks team in September.  “We are thrilled to have Josie and Seth as part of the team this year; their energy and enthusiasm is inspiring,” says Youthlinks Program Director Amie Hutchison.

Seth Walton is an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer and comes to Youthlinks and MidCoast Maine from Hillsboro, VA.  He holds a A.A. from Colorado Mountain College, a B.A. degree in Globalization and Politics, and a Master of Public Administration, both from University of Colorado at Denver.  Seth has been a Legislative Performance Auditor, Entomological Survey Specialist, Management Consultant, International Service Learning Program Coordinator, Volunteer EMT, Boatbuilder, Nautical Archeologist, Landscape Designer, Shuttle Van Driver, Burger Flipper, and Master Gardener.  He enjoys cooking, loitering in bookstores, daydreaming about sailing, making or fixing things, volunteering, and long walks in the woods.  When asked why he joined Youthlinks, he answered, "Youthlinks and AmeriCorps VISTA have provided a unique opportunity for me to use my diverse interests and skills in a mission to expand opportunities for area youth and help build a stronger community.  From my few weeks here, I can tell there is a lot of desire and momentum to improve an already great community and that is something I can get behind.  I really look forward to being a liaison between youth, schools, businesses, and local organizations.  It also doesn't hurt that this area has great people, culture, food, and an awe inspiring natural beauty!"

Josie Gates is a first year AmeriCorps volunteer with the Great Strides Rural Education Corps.  Josie is from Camden, Maine and is currently living in Lincolnville, Maine with two friends and a golden retriever named Betty. She got her B.L.A. degree in Anthropology at Bennington College in 2011. She has travelled to Europe, the majority of the Caribbean islands, Central America, and lived in the South Pacific on the island of Samoa for half a year in 2011. Josie loves cooking, running, hiking, camping, and gardening. She especially loves any time that she gets to be on the ocean. She spends her summers on North Haven Island as the host at Nebo Lodge and pretty much thinks that Maine is the most beautiful place on earth.

Josie has worked with youth for many years as a camp counselor, mentor, and teacher. She loves seeing young people thrive on experiential learning and looks forward to getting kids out into Mid-Coast Maine’s communities. She wanted to work for Youthlinks because of the non-profit’s values surrounding community service and positive mentor relationships.  She looks forward to a great year ahead and learning and thing or two from the kids she works with.

Youthlinks is a program of Broadreach Family & Community Services located in Rockland that provides community service, leadership and enrichment opportunities to all youth ages 11-17 from anywhere in mid-coast Maine. These programs help youth learn skills, build self-esteem, cultivate social responsibility, develop leadership abilities and connect to their peers, to adult mentors, and to their communities. Youthlinks is funded primarily by the generous donations of individuals, businesses, and foundations. All programs are free for participating youth. For more information on Youthlinks, visit www.youthlinksonline.org or call 594-2221.