By Jennifer Cohn
AmeriCorps VISTA: Youth Programs Development Assistant
This week, March 9-17, is AmeriCorps Week. AmeriCorps Week is a week dedicated to recognizing the commitment of AmeriCorps members and alums by highlighting their impact across the nation. Often referred to as the “domestic Peace Corps,” AmeriCorps members make a commitment (often 10 months to a year) to serve at an organization, addressing critical needs in a community. AmeriCorps members can perform any number of services such as tutoring children, recruiting volunteers, and assisting in disaster relief work. Here are some fast facts about AmeriCorps:
• 800,000: Number of individuals who have served as AmeriCorps members since 1994.
• 1 Billion: Total number of hours served by AmeriCorps members.
• 4 Million: Number of community volunteers managed or mobilized by AmeriCorps members in 2012.
• 15,000: Number of nonprofit, faith-based, and community organizations that AmeriCorps members serve with.
To celebrate AmeriCorps Week, my co-AmeriCorps member Claudia Wald and I are giving a presentation about AmeriCorps and our projects to the entire Brooklyn and Queens AAFSC staff. AAFSC has a long history of partnership with AmeriCorps. Many of AAFSC’s staff members started at the agency as AmeriCorps. Being an AmeriCorps member at AAFSC has given me the opportunity to work across different programs and with various staff members. It has allowed me to better understand this organization and develop valuable skills that I will take with me well beyond my year of service.
From AAFSC I would like to wish everyone a happy AmeriCorps Week! If you want to learn more about AmeriCorps or ways that you can get involved check out their website or watch this video.