The AmeriCorps Story

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The AmeriCorps Story
Getting Things Done for America
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AmeriCorps Rooted in Americas Tradition of
Service
1933 Civilian Conservation Corps 1961 Peace
Corps 1964 VISTA 1994 AmeriCorps
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AmeriCorps Part of a Larger National Service
Family

• AmeriCorps is one of three programs of the
  Corporation for National and Community Service.
• Senior Corps 500,000 Americans 55
• AmeriCorps 75,000 members
• Learn and Serve America1.4 million students
  inservice-learning

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AmeriCorps Fast Facts
542,000 AmeriCorps members since 1994 705
Million Hours served by AmeriCorps
members 1.43 Billion Segal AmeriCorps Education
Awards earned by AmeriCorps
members 1.7 Million Volunteers mobilized by
AmeriCorps members in
2007 4,100 Number of organizations AmeriCorps
members served with last year 5
Billion AmeriCorps funds invested in nonprofit
and community groups since 1994
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AmeriCorps TodayThree Programs
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AmeriCorps State and National

• Largest branch of AmeriCorps
• About 67,000 positions each year
• Members serve with more than 2,600 organizations
• Positions in education, environment, health,
  housing, disaster response, and more
• Sponsors include Habitat for Humanity, Teach for
  America, City Year, American Red Cross, Boys and
  Girls Clubs, and thousands of other nonprofits
• Full-time and part-time positions

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AmeriCorps AlumniContinuing Their Service and
Commitment

• Longitudinal studies show AmeriCorps alums
• are more connected to their communities
• continue to participate in community activities
• choose public service careers in
  disproportionately high levels

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Why Join AmeriCorps?

• To help others
• Career skills
• Adventure
• Benefits
• Serve my community
• To gain leadership skills

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AmeriCorps Benefits

• 1,600 Living allowance
• Training
• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of 1,000 to
  pay for college or pay back student loans
• Workers Compensation
• Two nutritious meals
• Opportunity to earn college credit
• 3 gray T-shirts

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Segal Education Award

• Valid for 7 years
• Taxed in the year it is used
• Administered electronically through My AmeriCorps

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Talking the Service Speak

• Job vs. Service
• What are some differences?

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Member Attendance Policy

• Minimum of 300 service hours
• Must attend entire statewide training (June
  17-19)
• Serve entire 8 weeks
• Must be present every day

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Member Attendance Policy Excused Absences

• College orientation for entering freshman (two
  days)
• Job interview for college graduates (for two days)

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Results in the loss of the Segal Education Award

• An unexcused absence
• Missing year end reflection
• Serving less than 300 hours

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Personal compelling circumstances

• Available if member has served 15 of hours
• Member can earn a pro-rated education award
• Examples include Serious illness of member or an
  immediate family member, natural disaster, other
  family or personal emergency

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AmeriCorps Prohibited Activities

• Aiding a for profit entity
• Holding voter registration drives
• Aiding union activities
• Engaging in political activities, such as
  petitions, boycotts, advocacy
• Proselytizing
• Fundraising

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One child commented----- I admired the mentors
just being there. They took up a lot of stuff
they didnt have to. One mentor got hit in the
face with a football last year and still came
back.