ABQYAV
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About Us

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Our program pairs you with a local nonprofit doing vital work in New Mexico to protect the environment, support refugees, or advocate on behalf of marginalized neighbors, all while gaining valuable work experience. This is a resume-builder, an opportunity to learn or practice job skills, and space to explore who you are and how you want to live in the world.
 
Program benefits include a living stipend, free housing, transportation stipend, paid program retreats, and a dedicated staff-person and local mentors to support you throughout your experience. 

The ABQYAV program partners with the Young Adult Transformation Collective to give young adults the opportunity to experience New Mexico’s historic convergence of Native American, Hispanic and Anglo communities. Living in Albuquerque, our collaborators will encounter the beauty of the high desert and Sandia Mountains juxtaposed with the high levels of poverty and daily challenges faced by many New Mexicans. Volunteers will work with a variety of local nonprofit organizations engaged in education, outreach and social justice, while also learning about and building relationships with diverse communities across New Mexico.

Intentional Living & Community Days

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ABQYAVs live in intentional community, working together during local orientation to craft a community covenant that will guide both the practical and spiritual elements of life together. An essential part of their experience as an intentional community is that of shared meals when volunteers join together to cook, break bread, and discuss the highs and lows of the week. Volunteers will then meet for studies and discussions, at times joined by community leaders, on topics pertinent to their lives and work, as well as the culture and history of New Mexico.
Additionally, ABQYAVs engage in group learning, worship and service opportunities that range from advocacy days at the capital to feast days at Laguna Pueblo. Volunteers also spend time in group retreats focused on spiritual and vocational discernment,  reflection and enjoying the beauty of the diverse landscapes across New Mexico.

Check out this video from our 2017-2018 ABQYAVs for a peek into life in ABQ!
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Site Coordinator: Luke Rembold
Originally from the Pacific Northwest, Luke is an avid hiker and explorer that sees the beauty in God's creation all around. After earning a BA in Religious Studies at Linfield College, Luke spent a year in Tucson, AZ as a Young Adult Volunteer, performing emergency home repairs across Pima County. In years since, Luke has spent his time working with youth and young adults, striving to empower and equip young people as leaders in their churches and communities. A child of two educators, Luke is passionate about the intersection of education and faith in our lives, and fervently believes education has the power to transform our communities and the world.

Fun fact: Luke has a deep and abiding love for manatees.
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Luke loves how Albuquerque is a crossroads of cultures, a city committed to living in the tension of diverse communities in close proximity to one another while celebrating many unique identities. He also loves 300 days of sun every year. 


Our Board

The ABQYAV board serves as a catalyst towards YAVs encountering transformation, providing tools, knowledge, and experience to inform the journey of growth for each ABQYAV.
Claire Lewis, Board Chair
Craig Nakagawa
Tiffany Lo-Finch
Ben Ahern Wild
Laura Kuster
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  • Home
  • News
  • Contact Us
  • ABQYAV Storytelling
    • ABQYAV Storytelling Event 2023
    • ABQYAV Blog Spotlight
    • 5th Anniversary Celebration, 2022
    • ABQYAV Storytelling Videos, 2020