AmeriCorps Week is upon us! From March 4 – March 11, JVC Northwest and organizations across the country are showing our appreciation to current AmeriCorps members and alums, thanking our community partners, and sharing AmeriCorps’ impact on individuals, communities, and organizations throughout the country!
AmeriCorps Quick Facts
AmeriCorps, a program of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), engages more than 80,000 Americans in intensive service each year at 21,600 unique sites including nonprofits, schools, public agencies, and community and faith-based groups across the country. Since the program’s founding in 1994, more than 1 million AmeriCorps members have contributed more than 1.4 billion hours in service across America while tackling pressing problems and mobilizing more than 2.3 million volunteers for the organizations they serve.
JVC Northwest/AmeriCorps Partnership
JVC Northwest has been an AmeriCorps Direct Grantee since 2010, and we are grateful for our seven years of collaboration with the CNCS/AmeriCorps. This partnership has provided a range of benefits to our overall program:
- partner agencies are able to host JVs at a reduced rate
- our program has expanded to new communities allowing us to serve more people
- members face fewer barriers to service thanks to the education award received at the completion of a successful term of service, and much more!
JVC Northwest currently places 142 AmeriCorps members in 21 remote, rural, and urban economically challenged communities throughout Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. Our members serve at nonprofits, schools, and community health clinics. Our program’s focus areas of service include disaster relief, economic opportunity, education, environmental advocacy and stewardship, food and hunger, and homelessness and housing.
Our JV AmeriCorps Members’ Impact
JV AmeriCorps members are a visible testimony to the power of service and actively address critical community needs. Below are some examples of our JV AmeriCorps members’ impact on communities they serve.
Aberdeen, Washington – With the service of ‘13-14 JV AmeriCorps member Jonathan Strain, Catholic Community Services of Aberdeen, WA began a Youth Works Program to connect youth to meaningful employment experiences/training. Jonathan took the program from 0 students, schools and internships to 5 schools, 16 students, and over 20 internship possibilities. Students reported overwhelmingly positive experiences, with several making plans to pursue further education and training as a result of their participation.
Anchorage, Alaska – During the 2014-2015 service year, JV AmeriCorps member Anna Nilles served at the American Red Cross of Alaska in Anchorage. Throughout the service year, she responded to 50 disasters, assisting 196 individuals primarily through single family fires, a shelter created for flood victims, and an assistance center following a wildfire.
Billings, Montana – ’16-17 JV AmeriCorps member Haley Ehleringer serves as the School Program Specialist at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Yellowstone County in Billings, MT. Haley is responsible for ensuring the effective delivery of the school-based mentoring program that connects 50-55 at-risk students in grades K-8 with high school mentors.
Follow the Impact & Share Our Story
JVC Northwest believes National Service is an important American value which solves local problems, unites communities and creates a generation of leaders. From March 4-11, follow our blog and AmeriCorps’ Facebook page as well as #AmeriCorpsWorks and #IamAmeriCorps on social media to learn about AmeriCorps amazing impact on members, individuals we serve, communities, and more!
