Youth Bureau’s Robinson-Bullock Departing after Successful Tenure

SCHOHARIE — Cody Robinson-Bullock is leaving behind a stronger Schoharie County Youth Bureau. He knows that the organization is on steady ground. He has been a “community connector” for different aspects of the community, and was able to succeed with the help of the team. The transition means that the Bureau will be able to continue growing after years of success.

Robinson-Bullock was Director for almost four and a half years and also served on the Schoharie Village Board.

Robinson-Bullock said that he was proud of the “consistent support and flexibility to pursue collaborations and programs that myself and my team thought were important to do,” including the paddling program. The group has worked with the Office of Emergency Services, Office for the Aging for Meals on Wheels, local recreational and sports funding, field days, ten part-time student staff (which has grown from six) partially paid through grants. The kayak and canoe programs have expanded, and includes a large “party” barge to be able to bring up to 100 people on trips, including youth, volunteers, and chaperones.

He especially enjoyed being able to work with local schools.

The amount of organization and collaboration needed to “scale” the Youth Bureau.

The program is now 40 years old, and Bullock is stepping away as its 5th director. He said he was proud of the “consistent legacy” of the organization.

It was important “soil” for the local young man to grow since joining the organization. Robinson-Bullock participated in events there as a young man.

“You’re never too young to learn how to work together and you’re never too old to try,” he said.

He said that Schoharie County is “uniquely positioned” that, with support of local dollars, the team at the Bureau and “skillset” of each person helped with outdoor and character education. He said that this allowed for teamwork, and to assist in carrying the “torch.”

The outgoing director said that during his tenure, he learned “resiliency and the accessibility to collaborate with each other.”

The Schoharie Central School graduate said that there are many “bridges” toward cooperation in the community. Having to take the helm with nearly zero programming after the pandemic and with the initial personnel changes was a challenge.

He called it the “scalability” of impact. Even when the team was smaller, and a brief period where he was working alone, he saw “so much grace” and “someone around the corner ready to connect.”

Robinson-Bullock cited the ability to leverage volunteer and state funding for a “scaffolding effect” to provide as many "meaningful programs” for young people. This included working with Head Start students in five school districts through the Carnival program alongside Youth as Leaders. He was able to work with Deb Veith, the retiring director of Liberty Partnership, who was a previous Youth Bureau employee. He was also able to work with Jim Diliberto, a previous (and first fulltime) Youth Bureau Director who is the adventure department director of Clark Sports Center in Cooperstown.

The organization has been a “really awesome" example of “leadership transitions,” that is capable of continually expanding. He thanked all those who have been involved over the years and how they helped to build an institution. This has also helped young people who go through the program and helped them become local leaders.

“We need more examples of local organizations passing the torch,” she said. He hopes that his resignation will allow people to learn the grace to know when to step down for a “next era and level to carry on.” He hopes for a new director to be able to “follow the similar director” of the current moment and the expansion of various programs. Someone who is “passionate about youth, loves the outdoors, and leverages funding” and is able to help the community.

“We’re in a really great spot.”

“This is normal for the Youth Bureau as they have a growth mindset,” he said. This includes many hands being able to help for many years. He was able to work with multiple generations.

“I’m a local Schoharie kid who boomeranged back,” Robinson-Bullock said.

Being able to talk with current and former employees and volunteers has helped to build upon good ideas.

“I’m very optimistic and confident the Youth Bureau will find a great director,” to read the community’s need as the county “listen, assess, design, and implement” proper strategy.

He is very proud of the team, including how it is involved in “so many facets,” working with different organizations, school districts, and the county.

There is a great opportunity for the community to be able to get involved.

Robinson-Bullock's new business, SchoVentures, is intended to "amplify the human experience” through programming and a means to use the “unique model and lessons I learned” for the local, state, national, and international scale. He holds a Master’s Degree in Global Community Development.