Getting Things Done for America

AmeriCorps

AmeriCorps Rooted in America’s Tradition of Service

1933: Civilian Conservation Corps

1961: Peace Corps

1964: VISTA

1993: The Corporation forNational and Community Service and AmeriCorps

AmeriCorps Fast Facts

574,000

718 Million

$1.59 Billion

2.2 Million

4,100

$5.7 Billion

AmeriCorps members since 1994

Hours served by AmeriCorps members

Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards earned by AmeriCorps members

Volunteers mobilized by AmeriCorps members in 2008

Number of organizations AmeriCorps members served in 2008

AmeriCorps funds invested in nonprofit and community groups since 1994

AmeriCorps TodayMeeting critical needs across America

• Teach and Tutor• Mentor Youth• Build homes• Fight poverty• Conserve the environment• Provide health services• Respond to disasters• Recruit and manage

volunteers• Much, much more…

AmeriCorps TodayThree Programs

AmeriCorpsState/National

AmeriCorpsVISTA

AmeriCorpsNCCC

AmeriCorps VISTA

• AmeriCorps VISTA members spend one year in full-time service to address the needs of low-income communities. All projects focus on building permanent infrastructure in organizations to help them more effectively bring individuals and communities out of poverty.

AmeriCorps NCCC

• The National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) is a program that engages young adults, ages 18-24, in service. Members live on campuses and are sent on "spikes" at different locations during their 10-month term of service. Currently, NCCC operates in multiple sites nationally, including Baltimore, Maryland.

AmeriCorps State and National

• The largest of AmeriCorps programs, AmeriCorps State and National, provides funds to local and national organizations and agencies committed to using national service to address critical community needs. Each of these organizations and agencies, in turn, uses their AmeriCorps funding to recruit, place, and supervise AmeriCorps members.

• Youth, Seniors, and Others In Need benefit from the tutoring, mentoring, health, housing, and other services members provide.

• Communities benefit from having better schools, safer streets, more affordable housing, a cleaner environment, and more engaged citizens.

• Organizations gain from having more reach and impact: 92% of sponsoring groups say members helped increase how many people they served to a large or moderate extent.

• Members acquire leadership and career skills, earn money for college, and learn how to be active citizens.

Who Benefits from AmeriCorps? We All Do

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

Why Join AmeriCorps?

• To help others

• Career skills

• Adventure

• Benefits

• Serve my community

AmeriCorps Benefits include:

• Living allowance

• Student loan deferment

• Training and experience

• Health insurance and child care if eligible

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award

AmeriCorps Benefits

Segal Education Award Uses

•Go to school•Accepted by Title IV schools (finaid.org)•Some schools will match award

•Enrichment courses•Continuing education courses•Technical and outdoor education classes•Study Abroad

•Pay for student loans

Segal Education Award Uses

•Transfer award to child or grandchild if 55 or older during service

•Loan forgiveness after 120 months or 10 years working at a nonprofit or government agency

Must be used within 7 years of service completion!

Civic Works, Inc

• Mission: to strengthen Baltimore’s communities through education, skills development, and community service

• One of AmeriCorps pilot programs• Expanded to 10 AmeriCorps programs focused on

building brighter futures, healthy food and green communities, and safe and affordable homes

Building Brighter Futures• Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID):

• AmeriCorps members with some college or degree tutor Baltimore City and County middle and high school students who are in the academic middle and promote taking advanced classes and attending college

• Tutor 2400 students a year, 100% graduation rate, and 98% are accepted into college

• REACH! Partnership School• AmeriCorps members are advocates that provide one-on-one support and

intervention to middle and high schoolers

• YouthBuild• National program that provides a second chance for 17 – 24 year olds who

have dropped out of high school by providing construction training, assistance in earning a diploma or GED, and job placement services

• Baltimore Conservation Leadership Corps (BCLC)• Baltimore City youth work on city parks trails, farms, and transform

community lots into rain gardens

Healthy Food & Green Communities

• Baltimore Orchard Project (BOP)• Partners with communities to identify and care for the many fruit trees growing in

yards, streets, and public places to grow, glean, and give away fresh, local fruit in Baltimore

• Community Lot Team• Transforms vacant lots throughout the city into community gardens and green

spaces

• Real Food Farm• works toward a just and sustainable food system by improving neighborhood access

to healthy food, providing experience-based education, and developing an economically viable, environmentally responsible local agriculture sector

• Little Gunpowder Farm• provide Baltimore area residents with high-quality vegetables at an affordable price,

while prioritizing skills training for young farmers and environmental stewardship of the land.

Safe and Affordable Homes

• Baltimore Energy Challenge (BEC)• teaches low and no cost ways to save energy to Baltimore City residents,

businesses, and schools. AmeriCorps members install energy and water conservation equipment in homes at no cost and educate middle and high school students

• Cities for All Ages• makes homes safer for older adults living in Baltimore City by providing

services to Baltimore senior citizens over the age of 65, including fall prevention information, safety repairs and installations, referrals to supportive services, and occupational therapy.

Other AmeriCorps Grantees in Maryland

• Volunteer Maryland• Humanim’s Elev8• Teach for America• Reading Partners• Playworks Maryland

For more Maryland grantees, visit gosv.Maryland.gov

For more information

Civic Works website: civicworks.com

Anna Whitney, Member Development Coordinator410-366-8533 x 210

AmeriCorps website: AmeriCorps.gov

Toll free: 800-942-2677