AmeriCorps

AmeriCorps is celebrating older Americans in service – those adults and Baby Boomers who are continuing to stay involved in their communities through volunteering. Beth Keenan (Spokane, WA ’13-’14) is a JVC Northwest AmeriCorps member who gets to serve alongside some of these dedicated volunteers. She writes about the enriching intergenerational experience below. I am … Read more

Anna Osborn is a second year JVC Northwest AmeriCorps member inspiring others to become environmental stewards. Here she shares how her service this year is making a green impact within the Columbia Gorge community in and around Hood River, OR. I serve at the Gorge Grown Food Network as well as the Hood River Middle … Read more

Mary Wood (Sitka, AK) serves as the Living with the Land and Building Community Jesuit Volunteer AmeriCorps member at the Sitka Conservation Society (SCS). Here she highlights the value of giving youth a connection to the natural world. I am serving in the Tongass National Forest, a coastal temperate rainforest which is the largest national … Read more

Corbin Weaver and James Wykowski (Wenatchee, WA, ’13-’14) serve as Community Outreach Specialists at Columbia Valley Community Health. Together, they have enrolled nearly 1000 people into insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) since November. In this post, Corbin and James reflect on what healthy futures in the context of their service means. Corbin … Read more

Ben Rumbaugh serves in Ashland, MT, as a Dormitory Assistant for St. Labre Indian School. Here he addresses the importance of education for his students and their Native communities. The St. Labre Indian School provides education and a multitude of resources to children in the nearby Northern Cheyenne and Crow Indian reservations. A significant aspect … Read more

Beth Turbak is currently serving in the Yakima, WA, community with the Yakima Memorial Hospital Transitions Program. Here she offers a glimpse into the life-changing impact of her year so far. I have had the absolute privilege of serving with the Transitions Program in Yakima, WA, for the past 5 months through the Jesuit Volunteer … Read more

Former Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC) Northwest AmeriCorps member Claire Shepak (Anchorage, ’12-’13) shared an example of how resources, support, and presence made an impact during her time serving survivors of domestic violence in Alaska. Claire is now in a Master’s of Social Work program at Washington University in St. Louis. It was a normal day … Read more

FJV AmeriCorps member Nick Ponzetti (Sitka, ’12-’13) reflected on how the relationships and activities at Southeast Alaska Independent Living are making an impact, both on the community and on himself. Nick is now a student in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at The University of Washington. He noted that he continues “to be inspired … Read more

Caitlin is a Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC) Northwest AmeriCorps member in Wenatchee, WA, at The Northwest Justice Project. She also served last year in San Antonio, TX, with JVC. I grew up thinking of “service” as exactly what I am doing now, as a Jesuit Volunteer AmeriCorps member. For the majority of my privileged life, … Read more