Terra BIRDS

Our BIRDSWork program is an opportunity for young adults to have part-time, temporary, paid job experience. Working with Terra BIRDS provides young workers with a hands-on experience to develop basic job and teamwork skills, problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and self-discovery. In 2024, Terra BIRDS provided sustainability-oriented jobs, mentorship, and networking support to 35 young adults. We implemented an interview process for students from Ponderosa High School, the Coconino County Juvenile Detention Center Transition School, and other Northern Arizona schools, providing youth interns with valuable job training and real-world experience in professional hiring practices. During their internship, youth grew food for themselves and their community, assisted local farmers, and learned about environmental stewardship. Twenty youth reported that BIRDSWork was their first job, 77% were unemployed prior to this internship, and 85% relied on this internship for meaningful income to positively impact finances for them or their family.