Vermont Celebrates AmeriCorps Week
March 9-13: A Celebration of Service
Monday, March 9, 2015 kicks off AmeriCorps Week, a nation-wide celebration of AmeriCorps members, alumni, and community partners, and their commitment to service. More than 4,700 individuals have served in Vermont since 1994, and AmeriCorps members continue to make a huge impact serving Vermont’s most vulnerable populations. Last year, AmeriCorps members served 1,521 disadvantaged children and youth, 119 veterans, and 113 family members of veterans and military members in Vermont. There are currently 449 AmeriCorps members in Vermont focusing on issues of education, economic opportunity, disaster services, health, environmental stewardship, and veterans and military families.
AmeriCorps members foster community engagement by encouraging volunteerism and managing volunteers. During the 2013-2014 AmeriCorps Program year, members recruited and managed 3,796 volunteers. Volunteers recruited included college students, disadvantaged youth and children, as well as baby boomers.
“AmeriCorps members are an extension of the agencies in which they serve and enhance the services their organizations offer, and make a huge difference for Vermont.” said SerVermont Program Officer, Sharon Hearne, “AmeriCorps members are carefully placed in their positions, ensuring a good match with the agency, as well as a commitment to the service they will perform. An existing staff member or a traditional volunteer may not have the ability to get some important things done, but an AmeriCorps member makes the community need their number one priority and goes to work.”
In honor of AmeriCorps Week, AmeriCorps Programs and host sites are thanking members for their service and recognizing their contributions to the community. In addition, SerVermont will be sharing stories of service throughout the week. You can find these stories posted daily on SerVermont’s Facebook page.
AmeriCorps Programs in Vermont include:
CEDO, We All Belong AmeriCorps: The Community and Economic Development Office (CEDO) of the City of Burlington hosts the 20 strong team of the We All Belong AmeriCorps Program. CEDO members serve in city departments, school districts and Burlington area non- profits to support organizations in achieving their equity goals, through culturally competent and equitable service provision in more inclusive workplaces.
Northeast Kingdom Initiative AmeriCorps (NEKI): NEKI currently has 15 members serving with educational and community non-profit organizations. Rural communities benefit from NEKI members who focus on a broad range of issues including preschool literacy; k-12 students learning science, technology, environmental education, and math; food insecurity and access to and knowledge of healthy, local foods.
SerVermont AmeriCorps VISTA Program: Vista members focus on generating resources at organizations that work to address issues of poverty in Vermont. Last year, 4,883 individuals received support, services, education, or referrals to prevent hunger, as a result of the work of 22 VISTAs.
Vermont Campus Compact AmeriCorps VISTA: VISTA members serve at 18 Vermont colleges, partnering with students, faculty, and local communities to increase interest in and access to higher education among low-income Vermonters.
The Vermont Housing & Conservation Board AmeriCorps Program: VHCB AmeriCorps places members with affordable housing, land conservation, and environmental education organizations throughout Vermont. Last year VHCB AmeriCorps members improved 114 miles of trails and rivers and provided housing placement services to 1,278 individuals.
Vermont Youth Development Corps: VYDC members seek to help young people become “healthy and engaged citizens” by serving at youth-focused organizations. Members may help connect military families with services, develop programs to support healthy lifestyles, promote civic engagement among youth, manage volunteers, or help to increase resources for community programs.
Vermont Youth Tomorrow AmeriCorps VISTA Program: VYT AmeriCorps places 30 AmeriCorps members at organizations working to alleviate poverty and improve the lives of youth. Members serve at a variety of sites including Boys and Girls Clubs, after-school programs, mentoring programs, programs for military families, and schools.
SerVermont was established by Executive Order 05-98 on November 30, 1993 by Governor Howard Dean. The Governor appoints up to 25 individuals to serve three year terms as members of SerVermont's Commission. SerVermont administers AmeriCorps in Vermont and promotes, supports, and recognizes volunteerism and community service throughout the state. For more information about SerVermont please visit www.servermont.vt.gov .
AmeriCorps is administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency that engages more than five million Americans in service through AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, the Social Innovation Fund, and the Volunteer Generation Fund, and leads the President's national call to service initiative, United We Serve. For more information, visit www.NationalService.gov .
United States