Save AmeriCorps

The Corporation for National and Community Service is in jeopardy. Congress is considering cutting funding for this program which would eliminate several programs nationwide, it would mean job cuts, it could mean that certain nonprofits will fail due to the lack of help that they were previously receiving. At the end of this post I have provided several links so you can better inform yourself about what's going on. But here is a link to sign the petition to Save AmeriCorps: http://www.change.org/petitions/save-americorps

AmeriCorps is part of the Corporation for National and Community Service. Corps members give up a year of their life to help people in need. There are several organizations that stem from the Corporation for National and Community Service including: SeniorCorps, Learn and Serve, and AmeriCorps. These programs help millions of people across the country. They provide people and resources to help lead volunteers, institute new programs, maintain current programs and sometimes even provide disaster relief. While I personally am not a fan of large government programs, the Corporation for National and Community Service provided me a valuable learning experience that I will take with me for the rest of my life. It changed me for the better as it has thousands of others who have been through one of the programs. I wish I could give proper statistics and numbers for how this organization has helped our nation to be better, stronger and smarter. Instead all I can do is tell you about my experience in the program I served.

Over my ten months as a corps member for AmeriCorps' National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC). I documented much of the work I did in this blog. I worked with several nonprofit organizations, helped with flood relief resulting from the Nashville Tennessee Flood of 2010. I helped rebuild houses and better school systems in New Orleans; a city still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, and now from the Oil Spill. I tutored failing kids in California, I built houses for migrant farm workers, who would otherwise be living in squalor.  I even got to build playgrounds with KaBOOM! In ten months, I feel that I accomplished more than most people do in perhaps a lifetime.

Before I joined AmeriCorps, I had negative feelings about America and the state it was in, but had no idea of how to make changes. I didn't know what I could do to make a difference. I applied to the organization for several reasons, but probably the most compelling reason for me was I didn't have a job, but I wasn't ready for Grad school or the working world. I was able to spend 10 months doing community service work instead. I was able to learn new skills that I've been able to take with me. I learned how to be a better team player, a better leader, and the value of communication and flexibility. All skills most people need to be successful in the working world. Sure I could have gained these skills anywhere, but I was able to do it faster and possibly better in NCCC.

People who are in favor of cutting the program usually have this to say:
"The Corporation for National and Community Service was started by democrats, and we all know that they just want to frivolously spend government money on things that don't matter."
"AmeriCorps is a waste of money, it costs millions of tax payers money and what is there to show for it?"

This is what I have to say.

First and foremost, what many people don't know is that the organization has bipartisan support. George W. Bush signed the bill that allowed for people who completed the program received more money, John McCain voted for it. It's not just a democratic organization for bleeding hearted liberals. In my experience, I met all kinds of people in the program. I am a libertarian, I don't like big governments, I didn't vote for Obama in 2008. I certainly didn't consider myself to be apart of "Obama's Youth" or whatever Rush Limbaugh want's to call the program. It's not a brain washing organization. I still feel the same way about Obama, as I did before I joined the program. I still feel the same way about our country and how it should be run as I did before. I do have a little bit more pride for this country. I do feel that we as a people need to step up and work together to make it a better place.  I don't think that's a bad thing. I don't think that it's horrible that in 2009, I would've done whatever it took to get out of this country, and in 2011, I think we as a people should do whatever it takes (in a positive way) to make this country a better place. That is a positive paradigm shift, if I've ever heard of one.
My AmeriCorps NCCC class was composed of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents. We had Christians, Muslims, Jews, and Athiests/Agnostics. We had people who came from rich backgrounds and those who grew up in less than desirable means. People from all across the country came together for 10 months to make a difference. My point being, it's not a democrat or republican thing, it's a people thing. The program helps people, not just bleeding heart liberals.

Now about the money. CNCS is expensive. I won't argue that. Making this country a better place, helping people, isn't free. It can't be. Yet CNCS isn't taking the millions of dollars it receives and paying for Presidents of failing banks to take vacations or fly around on private jets. Instead it's taking the money and using it to help children who are failing, to help cities who were impacted by national disasters, to help people get back on their feet.

Here is how AmeriCorps NCCC spends some of it's money to make that happen:
Corps members are given a modest living allowance (less than $150 every two weeks). To work over 40 hours a week. Not at a desk job, no I was covered head to toe in dirt, pulling out insulation, I was covered in sweat putting up drywall in New Orleans in the summer time. I built houses in the desert. It was hot, and I worked hard. One week we spent hours raking leaves in a public park because the park couldn't afford to do it. We helped make that park beautiful. We helped people get back into their homes after they experienced disaster. We helped people in need for 40+ hours a week. And we were paid less than $2 an hour to do it. Correction, not paid it's a living allowance. But can anyone really expect people to give up 10 months of their life completing over 1600 hours of service for nothing? Personally, 1.88 an hour isn't enough for some of the work I did last year. Yet, I did it anyway.

Now we aren't expected to live off of less than 150 every two weeks. We are also given a modest food budget. $4.50 per person per day. Yep try feeding 10 people on $45 a day. It's tricky and I ate more peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in the last year than I ever wanted to.

We are also given a place to sleep. Now don't get confused. Some of my friends lived in tents, I lived in a variety of living situations. I lived in a dorm. I lived in a 4 bedroom apartment with 9 other people. The room was large enough to fit two beds and a cot. I lived in volunteer housing in New Orleans, I showered in a trailer, I ate in a large cafeteria, and I slept in a class room with 20 other people. I was not put up in a 5 star hotel. During training I slept in a cabin with no heat in Mendocino in October. It was freezing.


I got to do a lot of really cool things, but it wasn't a vacation. It was a year off of sitting around. I worked and I worked hard, and so did my friends.  I feel better knowing I made a difference. And here's the thing, I didn't leave AmeriCorps to go work some cushy job. No, I decided during the program that I wanted to dedicate my life to helping others. I want to work for nonprofits. I want to continue to make a difference. Most of my friends are doing the same thing. You can't spend 10 months of your life and go back to the way things were before. This program made me more aware of my surroundings, of what people go through when they don't have help. It made me want to actively participate in helping others. I don't think it's a bad thing.

CNCS is one of the few government funded programs that I actually believe in. It's better than welfare. It's better than the government bail outs. Not only does this organization help people in need, it helps to train the next generation of leaders. It teaches young people how to do better, work harder, and work together to make a difference.
 

Here are some links if you want to learn more:
Sign the Petition to Save AmeriCorps
http://www.change.org/petitions/save-americorps

The Corporation for National and Community Service
http://www.nationalservice.gov/

AmeriCorps
http://www.americorps.gov/

United Way's Stance
http://www.uwpiedmont.org/advocacy.php

An Article about the BiPartisan nature of AmeriCorps
http://blogs.wsj.com/capitaljournal/2009/03/27/the-real-story-of-how-americorps-became-bipartisan/



The video one of my teammates made for our time in Mecca, CA.

You can also read about my previous adventures in NCCC on this blog.




This post is strictly my opinion and is not the views of CNCS, AmeriCorps or any other program I mentioned. I can't speak for them, I can only speak for myself and the good I saw in my 10 months of service

incomprehensible....

Amerikus about tutoring:

Inadequate me
tutoring you in things I
just don't understand

Back to High School Fun
Joking with kids all day long
what could be better?

Un-enthused kids
force them to try problems now
That's if im lucky

All in all I love
Tutoring students its fun
but sometimes so hard

It's an up and down roller coaster, and I'm sure I have an extra syllable somewhere.

I'm tutoring students at Woodland High School. The majority of the kids are really cool, they just don't want to be in high school. I can't blame them. I didn't want to be in high school either, but I got through it by focusing on what I wanted to do after. These kids can't seem to think about the future. It's like their parents never told them the things mine did. Growing up my parents always encouraged me to do my best, and to try different things. They always told me that I could do anything I set my heart too. I don't think these kids have that, and it sucks. They seem to be okay with mediocrity and even worst, failure. It's incomprehensible.

On top of the majority of my students not having motivation, I have had feelings of inadequacy in my abilities to teach. I keep asking other tutors questions, and I'm always unsure if I caught the mistakes when I'm editing their papers. Then I feel like they're not learning, and that I'm doing all their work. Also, I feel like when I have to edit papers, I don't know what to do. Their papers need so much work, but apparently we only need to get them to pass. The problem is they're not improving at all, because with each essay they only do enough to pass. They don't learn.

BUT!!! The kids are funny, interesting, and amusing. They have this naivety about life that is refreshing. I am surprised at what I remembered from Algebra 1 and Geometry. I also never thought that I'd be at a point in my life where I'd rather solve math problems than work on English papers. It's weird.

In other news, I am going to be a Weed Warrior again tomorrow with Frank! He's a PeaceCorps alum that loves working with NCCC. To top it off he's so knowledgeable and friendly. I'm really excited about our day project. It will be a nice change of pace from being inside all day.

The Americorps Profile Questions, Answered

I had to answer these questions for the Americorps Member Profile, I figured it might help answer some of your questions. Also if you want to know more about what I will be doing click here. If you have any more questions, I'd be happy to answer them. Leave them in comments or send them to sara@sarapens.com, I'm a compulsive email checker, although that should change soon.

How did you hear about the National Civilian Community Corps?

In my last semester of college I was undecided in what to do after graduation. I was taking a class in British Contemporary Theatre and researching Blasted by Sarah Kane. Certain scenes in her play mirrored images of the Bosnian Rape Camps that were happening at the time she penned it. I had found myself in a state of turmoil; I was angry that things like this could happen and I felt helpless that nothing could be done to help. Seeing my sincerity and my strong desire to make the world better, my instructor told me about different programs where I could fulfill my need to help others. After researching a variety of programs the National Civilian Community Corps was the most appealing, so I applied. I’m not sure if my time with Americorps will allow me to change the world, but I do think that this program will help me gain the skills I need to make an impact.

Why did you choose to do a term of National Service?

I applied for the program and the opportunity to help people in need and to get to travel while doing it. I honestly didn’t think about the fact that Americorps was a term of National Service. I am excited that I get to serve my country in some way, but I originally did it for the opportunity to help others, to step out of my comfort zone and push myself to the limit. I think that this program is by far one of the best government sponsored programs, not only does it help communities in need but it also builds leaders while doing it.

What were you doing before you decided to do NCCC?

I was in my last semester of college at Florida State University, when I started the researching and application process. I was also working full time at a Living History Museum, as a receptionist. I spent a couple hours a week volunteering for two local organizations in Tallahassee the Council on Culture and Arts and Big Bend Cares, Tallahassee’s AIDS service organization.

What do you plan to do after you have completed your term of service?

Unfortunately, I don’t know for certain. I am undecided between a few different career paths, including: pursuing a degree in nonprofit management so that I can start a traveling arts education program for under privileged schools, going back to college for a degree in child psychology, or embarking on a career as a high school theatre teacher who happens to write on the side. Fortunately, NCCC gives me ten months to develop skills so that I can either make up my mind or fall in love with something completely different.