II History of Civilian Service
III AmeriCorps
VI First Impressions of Service
VIII Notions of AmeriCorps and Youth Service
IX Teamwork
XII Overall Impressions of Service
XIII Benefits of Service
XIV Integrating the AmeriCorps Experience into Everyday Life
XVI Conclusion
Footnotes (denoted in text by brackets [])
Appendix A - Demographics
Appendix B - Survey, and Release Form
I joined AmeriCorps*National Civilian Community Corps as an inaugural member in July of 1994. It was the first year of AmeriCorps programming and one of experimentation, confusion, and ever-changing policy. None-the-less, it was a highly rewarding experience for both myself and my fellow Corps Members.
The Corps was broken down into four units, each comprised of a number of teams. The team is the central unit for life in the corps; almost all work was done on a team basis. My team started with twelve members, including our team leader. It was diverse group with a range of ages, ethnic backgrounds, education levels, and life experiences and skills.
My team decided on the name Ujima (oo-JEE-mah). Ujima is one of the seven principles of the African-American holiday, Kwanzaa, and is a Swahili word meaning collective work and responsibility. My NCCC team learned how to work as a unit, knowing that we were both responsible to and dependent on one another. If one of us chose not to do our share, the rest of the team, as well as the project, suffered.
Meeting my teammates for the first time was both an exciting and frightening experience; I knew that these eleven people would have a serious impact on my life for the next eleven months. They could either make my life completely miserable, or provide invaluable inspiration and support. As it turns out, they did both. The members of Ujima became my closest friends, my support group, and my extended family.
The word Ujima embodies the spirit of National Service; it is our responsibility and our privilege to work together toward a stronger and healthier nation. Unfortunately, there is no single word in the English language that captures the essence of Ujima. Even so, AmeriCorps members across the nation are acting out the ideals of collective work and responsibility. They are aware that they are part of a larger network, even when they work alone.
Those serving their country through AmeriCorps often put in long hours for little compensation. They struggle to make a difference, although they know that they may never receive recognition or praise. They have stories of idealism, sacrifice, pain and joy. Unfortunately, their voices are often silenced in the political and bureaucratic race to obtain more and more impressive data and to obtain and justify program funding. Although AmeriCorps members serve as a network, without the individual choice to serve there could be no collective.
This paper seeks to give voice to those who have chosen to serve.
Its purpose is to tell the stories of the members of the greater
Ujima - the National Service family.
Civilian National Service has an impressive, but often quiet history in the United States. During the 1930's, in answer to the ravages of the depression and industrialization, Franklin Delano Roosevelt created the New Deal programs and set a precedent for federal social service programs. Included in this package was the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), a program that allowed young men to serve their country, not by military service, but by work in the environment [1].
The CCC placed young men in forestry camps, provided them with work, food, camaraderie and a chance to make a difference. The program was popular and successful, but it could not survive the financial and military stress of World War II. By the mid-1940's, it had lost its funding and the camps had been closed [2].
Despite the short-lived status of the CCC, state governments have sought to replicate the success of the program, both in its environmental and humanitarian impact. The California Conservation Corps, for example, was established in 1976 and still serves today as a model for corps programs nationwide, including AmeriCorps*National Civilian Community Corps [3]. In addition, other states, such as Indiana, have created similar youth corps programs.
In 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson created another historic
National Service initiative, Volunteers in Service to America,
or VISTA. The purpose of VISTA was to send volunteers into urban
and underprivileged areas to fight the effects of poverty as a
domestic version of President John F. Kennedy's highly popular
Peace Corps [4]. Today, VISTAs still battle poverty
under the new AmeriCorps legislation.
I will get things done for America to make our people safer, smarter, and healthier.
I will bring American's together to strengthen our communities.
Faced with apathy, I will take action.
Faced with conflict, I will seek common ground.
Faced with adversity, I will persevere.
I will carry this commitment with me this year and beyond.
I am an AmeriCorps Member...
and I am going to get things done.
the AmeriCorps oath
from the Corporation for National Service
In 1993 President Clinton signed the National and Community Service Trust Act and created the Corporation for National Service, the organization which oversees AmeriCorps. AmeriCorps provides service opportunities for tens of thousands of Americans every year through a network of sponsor organizations and two national programs: Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) and the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC).
Unlike previous national service programs, which focused on specific areas such as conservation or poverty, AmeriCorps covers a wide spectrum of issues. Programs provide service in the areas of the environment, education, public health and safety, and unmet human needs. Opportunities are available for Americans of all ages, education levels, geographic locations, and interest areas.
Program participants may serve as tutors and mentors, volunteer coordinators, construction workers, conservationists, teachers, lawyers, health care providers, youth advocates, counselors, disaster responders, fire fighters, and more. They may serve full or part-time, in residential or non-residential programs. They can choose to serve in any of the 50 states, Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands. There are programs for specifically for college graduates, parents, young adults, those with disabilities, and those pursuing GEDs. There is a program niche for any American willing to serve their country through civilian service.
AmeriCorps members receive a small living allowance while in service
and an education award at the end of their term which can be used
to take courses at accredited higher education institutions, or
to pay off existing student loans. Health care and child care
assistance are provided as well.
AmeriCorps has come under fire for its high price tag and alleged mismanagement. Opponents have tried time and again to cut its funding. The programs under AmeriCorps must justify their funding and provide hard data to prove they are meeting their program objectives. What is not reflected in their statistical analyses, is the impact of the service experience on those who have chosen to serve.
As an AmeriCorps alumna, I recognize the need for members and alumni to have the opportunity to speak out about what AmeriCorps means to them. To this means, I created a four-page "paper interview" with a combination of qualitative and quantitative questions about the service experience. The goal was to obtain specific information while also allowing the participants to speak freely about what most interested them.
Survey participants consisted of 58 AmeriCorps Alumni from 26 states (see Appendix A). They were either referred by their program directors, or AmeriCorps Alums, Inc., a separate alumni association. It is important to keep in mind that most participants felt positive enough about their experiences to maintain a connection with AmeriCorps after the end of their service term. While these alumni cannot speak for all AmeriCorps participants, they can speak for the possible benefits of National Service. A future study may include a wider alumni base.
Where possible, I have chosen to use actual quotes from the alumni
to provide examples of the subject being discussed. This allows
for multiple view points and experiences to be voiced.
Survey participants had a wide variety of reasons for taking part in National Service. Some were looking for a break from school, or a change in careers. Others wanted to help protect the environment or work with children. The survey presented a list of possible reasons for choosing National Service (Appendix B, question 10) and asked participants to rank them in order of importance. The chart below represents the number of participants (two or more) who chose each reason as one of their top three responses. Please note that responses such as "to protect the environment" and "to help others" reflect the nature of the AmeriCorps program in question.
"My job 'interview' consisted of being handed a brown sack and a key - I had to ask what grade I was teaching - given a roster of 35 5th graders (ages 11-13) - found myself in a dilapidated temporary building with 18 3rd grade size desks… My first thought… 'here I go…'"
Heather Alden, 28
"I was working on a lot of excitement and stimulation
from the new environment and exposure. I remember everyone's first
day of camp was a nightmare, from discipline problems to classroom
dilemmas to getting lost. I remember thinking, now, what is everyone
talking about - I had a great day, notwithstanding the two big
fights I had to break up - I was already in love with my kids!"
Truc-Linh Nguyen, 23
Leadership, Education, and Athletics in Partnership (LEAP)
"[I had] a feeling of excitement and pride - I was allowed
to fulfill a part of my dream and that is to protect the health
of people and their natural surroundings."
Jodi D. Rogers, 23
USDA Farm*A*SYST Program
When alumni were asked about their first impressions of service, the most common responses were "exciting" and "overwhelming." Many were thrilled to be involved in such a large service movement and to be around others who felt the same way. Some said they were unsure about AmeriCorps and their role in the organizations to which they were assigned. They were often a little frightened by the work ahead, and many were uncertain about their own abilities.
Many of the programs begin with intensive training. For some, the training was informative and useful, but others felt that it was a waste of time. Many of the survey participants said they felt under-trained when they started their service projects.
In addition to uncertainty about AmeriCorps and project objectives,
many alumni had concerns about their living conditions, commuting,
child care, and their supervisors, teammates, and coworkers. Yet,
while the initial experiences of members set the tone for the
rest of their term, many of the participants attempted to maintain
an open mind early on.
"Social work can be heartbreaking; [on my] very first
day I had to drop a child from the wait list because he killed
himself."
Annika Carlston, 23
Youth in Service
"Dealing on a friendly basis with homeless people…
is hard because they smell, they are sometimes very angry, sometimes
drunk, sometimes too touchy feely. I decided they were
people like anyone else and I didn't have to pretend they weren't
all these different things described above. They have very intelligent
thoughts about their situation…"
Molly Boehm, 23
AmeriCorps*VISTA Leader
"My first year as an AmeriCorps member was… [not
only] the first year for AmeriCorps, it was also the first year
for the program at large. Consequently, our goal was to get literacy
programs started around the city with basically no help or supplies
or even office space. It was a challenge that was hard for many
of my co-workers. Not only were they not used to doing everything
on their own, they were also not used to working with others as
a team."
Charity Burton, 25
Literacy AmeriCorps New Orleans
Family Literacy AmeriCorps East Louisiana
Survey participants were extremely vocal when asked about the obstacles to effective service. Their responses fell into four general categories: personal, program related, community related and work related.
Personal obstacles included the participants' own fears and insecurities regarding their abilities to be effective in their assignments. Some participants felt that shyness, a fear of public speaking, and a sense of being overwhelmed were obstacles in their workplaces. It was more difficult for them to create partnerships with other organizations and individuals, make phone calls, and communicate with their coworkers. However, these participants also noted that their service experiences helped them to overcome these obstacles and grow in confidence and self-esteem.
Other personal obstacles were more concrete. Difficulty in finding quality and flexible child care, poor living conditions (see below), and family crises hindered many of the alumni in their service experiences. Some participants were concerned with their stress level and a lack of personal (financial) resources.
The program related obstacles were often due to the newness of AmeriCorps and the problems inherent in fledgling organizations. Especially in some of the residential programs (NCCC, White Mountain National Forest), alumni complained about being treated without respect or like children. They felt that rules were too strict, but not enforced consistently and that they had no voice in their organizations. Once again, living situations played an important role in the happiness of the AmeriCorps member.
Other alumni complained about bureaucracy interfering with work, staff members who were difficult to work with and problematic teammates (see below). Some participants were given "grunt work," or felt that they were exploited by their programs or sponsor organizations. Others were frustrated because they had too much work and were unable to finish certain aspects of their programs.
Obstacles stemming from community relations often resulted due to a misunderstanding of AmeriCorps and its mission, as well as either an over or under-estimation of the skills of the particular members. Survey participants stated that they often had to define AmeriCorps to coworkers and community members. This was a major problem for members who were still unable to define it for themselves.
As in any work situation, AmeriCorps members often found themselves working with highly diverse groups of people. While this can be exciting, it is also a challenge. This challenge was compounded for many of the alumni by the fact they were living in totally new environments. They found racism and agism to be problematic, in addition to language and cultural barriers. They had to gain the trust of the communities in which they worked, as well as the trust of their coworkers. Moreover, they found themselves working with people who had different work and service ethics than their own. This proved to be both difficult and rewarding for many of the survey participants.
Lastly, the alumni cited everyday work challenges as obstacles. These included the ability to motivate students and parents in education arenas, and a difficulty funding programs and creating partnerships with other organizations. They also struggled with creative differences with their supervisors and the apathy of their coworkers.
The alumni not only provided obstacles, but creative solutions
for overcoming them. They were frustrated, but patient, with state
and federal bureaucracy. One alumna said that she decided to "kill
them with kindness." They relied on teammates or found other
groups for support and griping. Many of the alumni sought to focus
on the reasons they chose to serve as a way to move beyond the
daily struggles.
Notions of AmeriCorps and Youth Service
"Everyone's understanding of what AmeriCorps was and what
we did was different… so I spent 2 years explaining the programs
and repairing respect with people who had been burnt by a previous
experience. We were constantly being stereotyped and often people
took the opportunity to argue politics or attack President Clinton."
Molly Casteel, 26
National AIDS Fund
National Community AIDS Partnership
AmeriCorps programs are often viewed as "youth service"
programs, despite the wide range of ages of participants (Appendix A).
More importantly, organizations frequently see AmeriCorps members,
not as enthusiastic and talented workers, but as go-fers and unskilled
laborers. Most alumni had positive experiences with their project
sponsors, but some felt that they were treated with over-caution.
Judith Schirman, 53, says that the organizations saw AmeriCorps
members as "loose cannon[s]." In fact, many alumni complained
that their supervisors were too conservative and did not appreciate
the new perspectives they brought to the organizations.
"The good side of teams is that you have people who share
your experience, can motivate you with their enthusiasm, can inspire
you with their competence and vision, and often provide support
when times are rough."
Arash Anoshiravani, 24
"Prior to [my AmeriCorps experience], I thought of 'teamwork'
as one 'coach' bossing around several 'teammates'! Now I see how
truly terrific a real team can be!"
Linda Petersen, 44
Central Oregon Community College AmeriCorps
"Early on our team was not close because we had a few
members to create turbulence, but by the end there wasn't anything
our team could not have accomplishe. Being part of that team made
me push myself. Not only did it make me want to accomplish something
for them but [for] me also."
Jeffery Thomas Carlton, 24
Over 55% of survey participants worked in a team setting, either for all or some of their work. Most participants had some sort of team involvement, meeting occasionally with others, or sharing ideas and providing support. The team experience was, for some, extremely uplifting, while for others it was draining and unproductive.
Some of the participants described their teammates as close friends or even "family." These alumni felt that they learned from their teammates, and many attributed their program success to the relationships they developed. They described their teams using words such as "respect," "support," and "communication." These alumni felt that being part of a close team encouraged everyone to work to their potential. Moreover, each member contributed a different set of skills and perspectives. For many alumni, this was one of the most rewarding aspects of the program.
The downside of these close team relationships is that the team can be adversely affected if members have to leave the program for some reason. One Corps Member expressed his anger at losing several of his "brothers" and "sisters" either through disciplinary action, or by their own frustration with the program.
Not all alumni voiced positive feelings about the team experience. Some complained about the time and energy the team process required. They felt that some people chose not to work and others had to pick up the slack. This was detrimental to the emotional well-being of the whole group. There were conflicts, miscommunications, and misunderstandings. These problems were only small obstacles for some of the survey participants, while they were major roadblocks for others.
Those who worked alone or only intermittently in teams had mixed
feelings as well. Some of the participants missed the close interaction
that would have come with daily teamwork. Others felt that working
alone allowed them to be more creative and to become more decisive.
Even so, these participants often sought partnerships with coworkers
and other community organizations and still had to learn teamwork
and leadership skills.
"I had to pay about 50% of my income in housing expenses, which left living a little tight… In one place that I lived, there was only a space heater and it was very inefficient. To turn it on for about 20 minutes per day would run me about $100 per month. For lack of funds, I was forced to stop using the heater at all… Without being able to afford the heat, I didn't sleep all that well, even with the hats and gloves and five or six blankets. The following summer was the very serious heat wave in Chicago where temperatures were above 110 degrees… Five hundred people died during the heat wave. Obviously, as a VISTA, I couldn't afford an apartment with air conditioning and so was sleeping about 2 or 3 hours per night. Those were tough times, being on sleep deprivation from either extreme heat or cold and still having to report to work everyday and get all my stuff done. While I hope to never have to live through an experience like that again, it has definitely solidified my commitment to affordable housing and working with people in poverty."
Jennifer Cole, 25
AmeriCorps*VISTA - Habitat for Humanity
"My program was residential. For the first 5 months I
lived in what you might say was a little better than a rat hole.
There [were] water pipes along the ceiling that constantly leaked
water. Many times I would come home from work to find the bucket
overfilled [sic] with water and all my shoes, clothes, etc., soaked.
Although my roommate and myself made several requests to have
it fixed, nothing was ever done about it. Did this effect [sic]
my work? Well, it's kind of hard to concentrate on work with squishy
tennis shoes, so naturally I spent most of that 5 months being
sick… [Also,] the walls that separated our dorm rooms [were]
just one layer of brick, so if the fellow next door to you decided
to play music until 3 o'clock in the morning, guess what? You
listened to music until 3 o'clock in the morning, like it or not.
Eventually, they moved us all into nicer quarters which made all
the difference in the world."
Keith Phillips
AmeriCorps*National Civilian Community Corps
The AmeriCorps living allowance for full-time service usually ranges from $6-10,000 over a ten-month period, depending on the nature and location of the program. Many of the survey participants lived at home with their parents rather than try to pay rent and other expenses. Others lived with college roommates, or friends in the area. For those who had to move to new places where they knew no one, making ends meet became difficult and called for alternative and often creative solutions.
The most popular answer alumni gave was to live in an apartment or house with a number of roommates to help defray costs. VISTAs, who already have an established network of contacts, were often found in group living situations with other VISTAs serving in the area. While this is a cost-effective solution, there are often problems associated when living with strangers. One VISTA alumna recalled how one of her housemates took the rent money and moved out, leaving those remaining to scramble for rent - no easy task on a VISTA stipend. Some of the alumni also lived with staff from their programs. Others rented rooms from local families or attempted to live on their own.
Alumni who lived at home with family, with old roommates, or with partners and spouses, felt that their living arrangements had little affect on their work. If anything, it gave them a place to go and relax, away from the stresses of their workplace. In comparison to those in other living situations, these arrangements appeared to have the most positive impact on the stress levels of the members.
Those who were living in apartments, houses, or with local families mentioned slightly higher stress levels due to their living arrangements. Roommate arguments, a lack of private space, long or difficult commutes, budgeting problems, and unhealthy environments took their toll on a number of the survey participants.
It was the alumni from residential programs, however, who had the biggest complaints about living space. Close quarters, poor living conditions, curfews, room inspections and an inability to leave the stress of the workplace were some of their concerns. They were also unhappy about the noise level, lack of privacy, and quality of food. If there were problems in the workplace, they were merely exacerbated by the 24-hour presence of coworkers. Yet, despite their qualms, alumni from residential programs also cited a friendly and social atmosphere as a positive result of their living conditions.
While living conditions affected the emotional and physical well-being
of those surveyed, a lack of financial resources caused serious
problems for others. One woman was forced to take federal aid
to help with food for herself and her young son. Some of the participants
helped out with child care and housekeeping to help keep costs
low. Others were forced to take on part-time jobs in addition
to their service assignments.
Service learning activities help to put the service experience into perspective. Usually this involves some sort of preparation for a service project which allows participants to state objectives and personal views or fears. After the service project, participants reflect on their experiences, their feelings, and discuss what they learned from the experience. Service learning activities often include journals, project reports, and organized and creative reflection. The purpose of service learning is to bring service to a higher level than charity and to ensure that participants have an understanding of the greater issues at hand.
Alumni survey participants were asked about their service learning activities. Many of them were confused by the terminology. Some wrote that every day work was a learning experience in and of itself. Still others mentioned service learning programs they developed as a part of their program commitment. Most of the answers given involved enrichment activities.
Almost everyone surveyed had taken part in work related training sessions which included Red Cross Standard First Aid and CPR, team building, mediation and conflict resolution, grant writing, cultural sensitivity, and environmental issues. Member enrichment activities involved GED classes, resume writing, holistic medicine, self-defense, computers, and other courses designed to help members grow personally as well as professionally. Some alumni also did ropes courses, went on retreats, and kept journals.
When not in their workplaces, or sitting in workshops, those surveyed found themselves organizing and taking part in a number of outside service activities. They planned events for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and National Youth Service Week. They participated in day-long events in the communities where they lived and worked. They built and cleaned up parks, planted trees, helped out on local field trips, ran education events, visited nursing homes and more. Many of the alumni were trained in some form of disaster relief from floods to forest fires to hurricanes and tornadoes. This allowed them to respond to both local and national disasters in a timely manner.
AmeriCorps programs, in general, provide numerous opportunities
for members to expand their horizons, try new things, meet new
people, and develop important life skills. The goal is not only
to provide service opportunities, but to "foster civic responsibility,
strengthen the ties that bind us together as a people, and provide
educational opportunity for those who make a substantial commitment
to service." [5]
Overall Impressions of Service
"The entire experience is very valuable. You get to see a section of the population you may never have seen or understood, you learn to deal with others in an office, you learn to deal with city officials and city politics, you learn you have to prove your worth as a competent individual, you learn to be very flexible…"
Molly Boehm, 23
AmeriCorps*VISTA Leader
"I found myself… frustrated with all the logistical nightmares of being in a large governmental agency. I often questioned the validity of the projects, i.e., working for government agencies like the park and rec[reation] departments. I wanted to help the poor and work directly with the people. I wanted to feel more like a necessity versus something that looked great on paper."
Sandra Lee, 24
AmeriCorps*National Civilian Community Corps
"Overall it was great. Working on the farm was very rewarding. The service projects we did all over the 4-corners area were exciting, rewarding, energizing, and very rewarding emotionally. The people I got to met and work with and the places I got to see made it more than worthwhile…"
Randy Serraglio, 33
USDA AmeriCorps
"My service experience was hard work. Some mornings I woke up dreading - yes, dreading - the day before me. Other mornings I couldn't wait to get going. Looking back, I wouldn't trade my AmeriCorps experience for anything. The work paid off."
Becky McDonald, 24
AmeriCorps Works for Maine
Overall, alumni reflected in a positive way about their term(s)
of service. They felt that, despite the hardships and annoyances,
they had made a difference and they had gained valuable experience
and knowledge. While they were quick to point out flaws in their
programs and with AmeriCorps as a whole, they were also more than
ready to recommend National Service to others (see below).
"Serving with my organization, I was forced, by the very
nature of the position, to tackle my fears and insecurities. To
challenge my perceptions of what I could accomplish. To expand
my range of talents. As a direct result of my VISTA activities,
I can write grants. I can provide training and workshops. I can
engage in conflict resolution. Not to mention learning to oraganize
my time and my projects and developing my people skills. Without
a doubt, my VISTA experience was a strong foundation for my professional
growth and that has very positively affected my self-image."
Jennifer Cole, 25
AmeriCorps*VISTA, with Habitat for Humanity
"My self confidence and self-esteem are the highest in
my life. I have made many friends of all ages. I think that here
I have ALMOST reached my potential, and that is rewarding at my
age!"
Athalie "Mac" Neely, 75
Four Corners Rural Development
"I grew personally, professionally - I am much more assertive, more confident and I no longer find complacency acceptable!"
Heather Alden
Teach for America
Survey participants were given a list of some of the possible benefits of National Service (Appendix B, question 11) and asked to rank each one (from 1 to 5) according to how their experiences affected their lives. I took the average of each response and ranked them from most to least important:
Participants also had the option to write in their own answers. The most popular write-in answers were: communication skills, experience with/exposure to diverse groups, and management/supervisory experience.
These alumni overcame their obstacles and personal limitations
and gained confidence in their abilities. Many of them obtained
full-time positions within their AmeriCorps programs or with organizations
they had partnered with during their term of service. The education
award allowed a number of alumni to return to school or to alleviate
some of the stress related to student loans. Almost every participant
made reference to the importance these skills will have on future
endeavors.
Integrating the AmeriCorps Experience into Everyday Life
Becky McDonald says she joined AmeriCorps "to work at something [she] cared about; to bring [her] conscience to work with [her]." She spent her term of service with AmeriCorps Works for Maine in Portland, doing mediation casework. She battled a roach-infested apartment, a crowded office and her own shyness. When asked about her career plans, Becky answered, "Before AmeriCorps, I didn't know what I wanted to do because I didn't know what was out there. Now I still don't know what I want to do, but it's because I have too many choices, not too few."
"I would do it again in a second. No regrets… My teaching experience taught me that I could accomplish anything." Taggart Hanson is a first year law student at Yale Law School. He spent the year following his Teach for America term of service working with Youth Service America, a non-profit with headquarters in Wasington, DC. He continues his commitment to service and youth by teaching "Street Law" twice a week in a local high school.
Annika Carlsten says she "always intended to do some type of child advocacy work." She currently works as a Case Manager for Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Thurston County in Lacey, WA, the same organization she worked with under AmeriCorps.
Melissa Darnell served for two years with The Housing Foundation in Frankfort, KY. After her service terms ended, she stayed on as Member Coordinator. Melissa says she eventually intends to return to her former career, photography, and photograph homeless citizens.
"I began my service planning to be an engineer. I ended it planning to be an environmental engineer… because I see the service value in this field." Linda Petersen served two part-time terms with Central Oregon Community College AmeriCorps in Bend, Oregon while dealing with a separation and divorce, as well as raising her three children. She says, "I was not a volunteer or involved in my community prior to AmeriCorps. Now I am, I will be, and I encourage others to become more involved in their community. My entire attitude has changed!"
Mac Neely is 75 years old and had been volunteering with the Forest Service for 8 years before joining the Four Corners Rural Development program. She joined the program looking for a new adventure and a change of scenery. While serving with Four Corners, Mac wrote proposals and grants, served as volunteer coordinator for the school district and the forest service. She ran into some age discrimination with the young women she worked with, who, she says questioned her worth and her interest in returning to school. However, she recommends AmeriCorps as an "opportunity to travel, meet others and do something for the world and yourself." After graduation, she returned to her volunteer work with the forest service. She also serves on a number of local committees and intends to use her educational award to study the origin of the English language in England and Wales.
Arash Anoshiravani is 24 years old and spent 10 months with Partners in School Innovation. Arash says the program "created long-term collaborations with innovative public schools in low-income and underserved communities to help them achieve their visions of excellence in teaching and learning." His role was to develop curriculum for high school junior and seniors. Arash believes that his experiences helped to solidify his commitment and to give him perspective. He strongly recommends national service for a number of reasons, one of which is that "it makes people from different segments of our population… interact, work with each other, get past the stereotypes, learn from each other, and ultimately gain respect for people with lives different from their own." Arash is currently attending Harvard Medical School.
These are just a few of the examples of the ways in which alumni
are integrating both service, and the ethic of service into their
lives. Many more are still actively involved in their communities,
through politics, activism, and volunteerism. They are becoming
leaders and facilitators in society and continuing "to get
things done." [6]
"Without a doubt I would recommend National Service to
others. It is a phenomenal experience. I am always talking about
my years as a VISTA with people I meet. I learned so much about
myself and my world and what I want that world to be like. About
communities. About people working together. About successes. About
learning from your mistakes. About friendship. About hard work.
About surviving. About having fun. About helping someone to see
their gifts. About discovering your own gifts. Recommend it? Without
a doubt."
Jennifer Cole, 25
AmeriCorps*VISTA - Habitat for Humanity
"Whatever may bring you to AmeriCorps, there are very
solid benefits to be obtained if you are open to the,. The skills,
the diverse people, the experience, the ed[ucation] award all
come together and crate a unique opportunity to make 'what could
be' tangible, and right now."
Kristen Mangold, 21
National AIDS Fund AmeriCorps (Dayton Team)
"It was an experience that I wouldn't trade for anything
in the world. I got and gave so much through National Service.
I change and grew and met so many amazing people, and although
it was an extremely hard and even scary year, it was one of the
best years of my life…"
Rebecca Hogan, 24
4-H After School Activity Program
Many of the alumni surveyed have returned to school, often pursuing higher degrees in areas such as law, social work, and education. Others are still involved in AmeriCorps, either through their second or third term of service, or as a staff member. In fact, 57% of the survey participants are currently involved in service, either through work, or volunteerism. Those who are not, however, are only taking a break; 77% of the participants say they anticipate being involved in service in the future (see chart below).
Do you anticipate being involved in service in the future? (question
23)
The alumni were also asked if they would recommend National Service
to others. 91% responded that they would, and do, recommend National
Service.
"I hope that this report is adequate for your purposes.
I've tried to be objective, knowing its significance for your
research setting, but perhaps it may appear to be overly positive
in some areas. I think not. While it's predominantly a youth program
(though not fully so in Maryland), age barriers fell behind immediately.
We really were a 'corps' working together, very much focused on
the nature and development of volunteerism, regardless of extreme
differences in types of assignment."
Elliott Kanner,
Volunteer Maryland: Magic Me and Sarah's House
Like, Elliott, I have also tried to be objective and fear that my results may seem overly positive. As he says, "I think not." The alumni surveyed were enthusiastic, extremely verbose and more than willing to share their stories. They were quick to point out the obstacles and negative aspects of National Service, but had no difficulty in balancing those with the rewards they obtained. I did not have to search to find quotes that were inspirational; even their critiques had an air of idealism and excitement.
One of the biggest arguments against AmeriCorps is that Americans should volunteer without pay. It is clear, both from demonstrated program results and from alumni statements given, that consistent full or part-time service is highly beneficial. It justifies intensive training, allows for those serving to gain expertise in their area, and provides continuity for the program with which they work, as well as the people with whom they work. It is also clear that full-time service without pay is feasible only for the wealthy. The alumni surveyed stated clear and measurable benefits from their term of service. Are we to argue that these benefits are only for the wealthy?
AmeriCorps allows all Americans the opportunity to serve full-time in an area that interests them and to earn up to two awards to use towards further education, regardless of race, religion, economic level, or age.
On April 26, 1997, approximately 70 alumni from across the United
States and from a variety of AmeriCorps programs met to discuss
ways to ensure that "AmeriCorps is a year in a lifetime of
service."[7] It was the first national conference of AmeriCorps
Alums, Inc. and emotions were high. The alumni were aware of a
connection with those around them, even though the faces were
new. They were experiencing the effects of Ujima, and of a shared
experience. Jeffery Thomas Carlton summed it up when he wrote:
I have no idea who you are, but we share a common bond and
that is of the AmeriCorps experience… I just have this passion
for AmeriCorps many don't understand… I have just accomplished
one of the greatest things in my life. I will live the rest of
my life, creating a sense of community everywhere I go… I
will continue to do community service and teach my children (when
I have them) and my students how important it is.
AmeriCorps immunizes children, feeds the homeless, cleans our
water supplies, and provides health education. Perhaps more importantly,
however, it brings together diverse groups of people, affords
them the opportunity to give back to their communities, and instills
in them an ethic of service which will inspire them for the rest
of their lives. In the quest for data, this impact cannot be ignored.
It is time that the success of AmeriCorps be measured not only
in numbers, charts, and figures, but in America's most important
asset, the people.
1. Sam Carman et al., eds.,The
Young Adult Conservation Corps and Youth Conservation Corps in
Indiana 1974 - 1982 (Indiana Department of Natural Resources:
Division of Forestry, 1982).
2. The Civilian Conservation Corps, 1933-1942:
A New Deal Case Study (North Carolina:Duke University Press,
1967).
3. http://resources.ca.giv/ccc/cccabout.html
4. http://philadelphia.libertynet.org/~zelson/vhistory.html
5. The Corporation for National Service Mission Statement, as
stated in the Second Quarterly Report on AmeriCorps
6. From the AmeriCorps oath, and the Corporation for National
Service
7. The motto for AmeriCorps Alums, Inc.