AmeriCorps
Across the country, hundreds of communities, schools and children are in need of support. Thousands of young people are ready to serve their country, but are being turned away. The reason? Many of the nation’s AmeriCorps programs have fallen victim to severe budget cuts. Since 1993, the program, which has been likened to a domestic version of the Peace Corps, has been funding young people to work in low income communities to provide critical health, education, public safety, and environmental services. Here in Rhode Island, overall funding for AmeriCorps programs is down 85 percent from last year.
Fortunately, the Corporation for National and Community Service approved the National LISC AmeriCorps grant application for the 10th consecutive year – a ringing endorsement of LISC’s ability to run an effective program with measurable results.
Rhode Islanders need not look far to see the impact that LISC AmeriCorps members have had. Working with CDCs throughout the state, they have helped develop new affordable housing; provided counseling and support to potential homebuyers; educated and assisted families on how to receive Earned Income Tax Credits; and coordinated community festivals and neighborhood clean-ups.
Given CDCs’ small staffs and limited resources, having a capable, energetic LISC AmeriCorps member work with them for a year has significantly increased their capacity, particularly in the area of community outreach. At the same time, the LISC program is designed to expose a diverse group of people to the field of community development – while providing on-the-job career training. The strategy has worked exceptionally well. At the end of their years of service, nearly one-third of LISC AmeriCorps members have been hired by the CDCs where they served or by other neighborhood nonprofits.
“Thanks to AmeriCorps, I am living and working in the community where I grew up, helping people who I’ve known all my life,” says Irene Davis, former LISC AmeriCorps member and current Resident Services Coordinator for Woonsocket Neighborhood Development Corporation (WNDC).
“Before AmeriCorps, I was extremely shy and afraid to speak in front of a crowd. AmeriCorps helped build up my self-esteem. Now, as an employee of WNDC, I’ve come out of my cocoon. I’m even teaching classes in financial fitness and homebuyer education.”
The program has been a win-win for Irene Davis and so many others, as well as for the neighborhoods they serve. We look forward to another terrific year of service in communities across the state.
Rhode Island is lucky to have the following talented and dedicated volunteers working in our state this year:
Ina Anderson
West Broad Neighborhood Association (WBNA)
Nadav Carmel
SmithHill Community Development Corporation (SHCDC)
Lindsey Jamiel
Stop Wasting Abandonned Propertry (SWAP)
Yajaira D. Minier
Pawtucket Citizens Development Corportation (PCDC)
Ana Rodriguez
The Elmwood Foundation (TEF)
Beverly Stedford
Church Community Development Corporation (CCHC)