This summer we plan to highlight several of the participants in the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps (21CSC). Southwest Conservation Corps is a 21CSC program operator, and Radeanna Comb provided the following story. To view all Faces of the 21CSC stories, please click here.  

Hello, my name is Radeanna Comb. I am currently part of the Southwest Conservation Corps Ancestral Lands Crew #642. Southwest Conservation Corps (SCC) has given me the opportunity to develop new skills to develop my leadership skills and learn strategic decision making. Crew 642 consists of four women and one male crew leader.  We are a group of individuals that bonded together to work well as team. Our crew had the ability to prioritize our goal on completing tasks to eliminate all Russian Olive and Tamarisk trees in washes near Fort Defiance, AZ, on the Navajo Reservation. As a team, we have developed effective problem solving, self-awareness, effective decision making, learning agility, communication skills, multi-tasking, integrity, and likeability to complete our work tasks.

As a Corpsmember, I recently had the opportunity to travel to Washington, DC to participate in the first-ever White House Tribal Youth Gathering. The White House Tribal Youth Gathering provided American Indians and Alaska Native youth from across the country the opportunity to interact directly with Administration officials with The White House Council on Native American Affairs.

I was astonished that I was selected out of many applicants to attend the conference that had many inspiring, powerful, educated, and influential leaders. The conference helped me to gain new information, meet new people, connect, and share stories to other Native American youth who are making positive changes in their communities.  

Radeanna Comb visits Washington DC with fellow Southwest Conservation Corps team member Lance Hubbard.

I was amazed on what Native American youth are doing throughout the country to make positive changes in their communities and to live better life. Their stories and outcomes have brought me ideas on what changes need to be made on the Navajo Reservation; from health and wellness to language revitalization and how to address cultural barriers. The learning experiences I obtained, I took back and shared with my co-workers on what other youth are doing on their reservations to make changes.

As members of SCC, we are fortunate to help our communities live on the land we cherish. Our work ethic has developed new opportunities for other youth or young adults to join our organization to see the outcomes of what we are doing to provide a safe environment for our people and livestock.