Program Highlight-AmeriCorps

Marcus Jones, Urban League of Greater Hartford

One way that LISC addresses community need is through the AmeriCorps program. Our AmeriCorps program places passionate people with local nonprofits, especially those with Black and Brown leaders, in the neighborhoods where they work. By placing members in community organizations, they are empowered to be a catalyst for physical and economic revitalization in their neighborhoods. LISC AmeriCorps members help engage residents in revitalization projects and bolster the staffing and capacity of the organizations.

Lelania Lebrun, also known as Lanie, served a 2-year AmeriCorps term at Enfield Food Shelf. At the end of her term, Lanie was hired as an Assistant Outreach Coordinator. Lanie graduated in May 2020 with a bachelor's degree in social work and a minor in psychology. In her spare time, she listens to music and goes on walks.

Marcus Jones is 19 years old and has been serving his term as an AmeriCorps member since February 2022. His current placement is at Urban League of Greater Hartford. His hobbies include singing, sports and music.

Lelania Lebrun, Enfield Food Shelf

a.Tell me about what problem this program/service solves?

Lanie: Enfield Food Shelf (EFS) is a local food pantry, with a walk-through style distribution. It was established in 1968 and the mission of EFS has always been "Ensuring no Enfield Family in Need Is Without Food Assistance." Since 1968 the pantry has continued to grow, and the short answer is the pantry's goal is to make sure families in need are able to receive groceries on a weekly basis, so No Enfield family is left hungry. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the goal has evolved to include dispelling negative stigmas surrounding food assistance. EFS strives to change the narrative around seeking food assistance by consistently reaffirming that this is indeed a smart move – shopping with us can also be used as a budgeting tool.

Marcus: The financial opportunity center (FOC) supported by LISC at ULGH gives people in our community more choices to improve their financial situation. The FOC helps the community address food insecurity and get better paying jobs and better housing. Because of the FOC, people can do all these things in one place.

b. What attracted you to join this program/initiative?

Lanie: I was attracted to this program because I had completed my 70-hour internship for college at Enfield Food Shelf and fell in love with the organization's mission/goals and the volunteers involved. Kathleen Souvigney, the executive director of Enfield Food Shelf, contacted me about a 3-month AmeriCorps position. She contacted me at an amazing time because I had just graduated, during the beginning of the pandemic. It is safe to say that I was a little lost because the job market was in terrible shape, and I was very excited to learn more about the non-profit sector.

Marcus: Honestly, my mind was open around what my next job would be (aside from a fast-food restaurant). I was pleasantly surprised with the opportunity to serve through the LISC AmeriCorps program. I like being able to help people in the community set goals and reach them. I like working with the community and sharing resources with them that they might not know about. I’ve learned so much in the 2 terms I served at ULGH. 

c. Now that you have gone through this program, what did you learn/takeaway? What is your outlook for your future? 

Lanie: I have grown so much during this program; I have become more confident and learned how to multitask even during stressful situations. However, I am still working on my organizational skills! I also learned how much work a non-profit organization really endures and how much is involved with creating programs, collaborations, and just the daily work required to keep the organization moving for people that need it the most. For my future, I hope to stay in the non-profit sector and continue to help others. I always strive to learn about different resources in town to make sure that I can help families in every aspect.

Marcus: I have been introduced to so many different organizations working to help my community. I have also met lots of people through networking and just interacting with community members. By serving through the FOC, I am able to learn and take advantage of the same resources that we share with the community.

d. Is there an achievement or contribution that you are most proud of? Why?

Lanie: My greatest achievement was creating a new program called "5 Meals for A.L.I.C.E. Families Grocery Program" The program aimed to bring more young families in to shop at EFS and break down the stigmas around food assistance. After running the program for a year, I learned that many families did not know they qualified to shop at EFS or families were too scared, anxious, prideful, or ashamed to seek out assistance. This program is my greatest achievement because it was very successful. The program is ongoing, but during my AmeriCorps term we helped 40 families, and the program had a 70% return rate which meant that families returned to shop at EFS either on a weekly basis or monthly.

Marcus: The first big event I was apart of was the 2022 Career Fair held at Stanley Black & Decker. I was in charge of the volunteers and things weren’t going well. Behind the scenes, I led the team to insure the program ran smoothly. That event gave me confidence knowing that I had that spark of leadership and assertiveness so early in my first term. That made me rethink my capabilities in a very positive way.

e. What do you think other people should know about this organization/program/initiative?

Lanie: I think the main thing people should know about Enfield Food Shelf is the importance of having a local food pantry that aims to do more than just be a food bank. Food banks/pantries bring communities together and are sometimes the heart of where families learn about local resources. With the ever-rising costs of living, groceries, schooling, daycare, etc., families are being stretched too thin and the last thing they should have to worry about is when their next meal will be. No matter what, families should not have to feel ashamed to use local assistance programs.

f. Is there anything else you would like to share?

Lanie: I just wanted to thank AmeriCorps for the opportunity to work at Enfield Food Shelf because if it wasn't for AmeriCorps I would not be where I am now!

 Marcus: Most people don’t even know the amount of opportunity that is available to them because of organizations like the Urban League and LISC. I’m thankful to AmeriCorps for introducing me to both of them.