Saving Their Community

Ed Bradley Reports On Environmental Mission In Washington D.C.

(CBS)  Rodney Stotts was one of the first members of the ECC. He sold drugs before joining the ECC, and made approximately $15,000 on a good week. He now makes $100 a week. "Tremendous difference," he says.

So why did he do it?

"You get tired of walking out the door, and you have to keep a gun with you," says Stotts. "And you get in a car, you can't just sit down and put your seatbelt on, let your car warm up. You gotta keep looking around and keep the pistol on your lap. I mean, you can't enjoy life. You can't feel proud about anything that you have, because it was ill-gotten gains."

Stotts took part in the ECC’s first project, removing nearly 5,000 tires that had been dumped into this creek. What proved more challenging was getting people from violent backgrounds to work together.

"In the beginning, we had corps members bringing guns to work to kill each other, because everybody -- attitudes clashed so much. It was a new experience for everybody," says Stotts.

"This isn't easy. This is sort of life and death stuff," adds Nixon. "Better to be hard on them, and hope they make it. I mean, you know, we're not like holding hands here. We're trying to give them the tools to survive."

Since the beginning, they have filmed or videotaped almost all of their projects. In 1994, the ECC began one of its most ambitious undertakings – returning the Bald Eagle to the nation's capital after a 50-year absence.

With the Fish and Wildlife Service’s participation, the ECC built the young eagles a nest, fed them fish with a rope and pulley, and monitored their activities for months.

Finally the day arrived to see if those eagles could fly. Corps members sang "I Believe I Can Fly," as the eagles were released. Between 1994 and 1998, 16 eagles were released. Some were named for corps members who had been killed – victims of violent crime.