AmeriCorps’ Post

Today, on Mental Health Action Day, AmeriCorps CEO Michael D. Smith joined Pinterest, Schultz Family Foundation, and national service partners to launch the Youth Mental Health Corps.      The nation’s current mental health crisis was exacerbated because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Disruptions in routines and relationships led to increased social isolation, anxiety, and learning loss, which have particularly impacted our nation's youth. With one in three high school students and half of female students reporting persistent feelings of hopelessness, the Youth Mental Health Corps is an addition that will support AmeriCorps' efforts to eliminate barriers to mental health.      The innovative new program will deploy hundreds of AmeriCorps members across eleven states to serve as navigators in schools and community organizations, helping them kickstart their careers. Young adults serving as AmeriCorps members in YMHC will gain hands-on experience, develop skills, receive an education award, and obtain a credential while filling critical gaps in the mental health workforce and care delivery system. Learn more: Bit.ly/YMHC       #MentalHealthAwareness #NationalService #Careers #Volunteer Axios

AmeriCorps Seniors Director Atalaya Sergi joins the nation in celebrating Older Americans Month. During AmeriCorps' 30th anniversary, we recognize the hundreds of thousands of older volunteers who serve with AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors, addressing our community's needs. Older volunteers share their wisdom and dedication to make a difference in communities, supporting our nation's students, caregivers, organizations, veterans and military families, and much more.   Learn more: AmeriCorps.gov/Seniors    #AmeriCorps30 #OlderAmericansMonth #Volunteerism #OlderAdults

🚨Reimagining Cradle-to-Career Solutions through Service🚨Tuesday, May 14 | 3:30 p.m. ET AmeriCorps State and National Director Sonali Nijhawan joins The EdRedesign Lab to discuss how national service provides cradle-to-career place-based solutions for young people and families.     Learn more and register to join ⤵️ 

During Public Service Recognition Week, we're grateful to our AmeriCorps teams and staff who are committed to moving our mission forward and helping national service make a difference in our communities every day.      Meet a few of our teams and find out how they make every day #GovPossible:   1⃣ The AmeriCorps team's unwavering commitment led the way to the launch of AmeriCorps NCCC Forest Corps. With the first cohort of members beginning their service this summer, Forest Corps is the first major interagency partnership under the American Climate Corps.  2⃣ AmeriCorps' Office of Information Technology team keeps our agency cybersecure every day. Their efforts continue to help enhance our technology and operations.  3⃣ AmeriCorps' Office of Human Capital Personnel Security team ensures the smooth transition and onboarding of our staff members. The team of four allows us to get things done for AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers.     Thank you for #GettingThingsDone!     #NationalService #Volunteerism #PSRW 

Our nation's teachers and national service members commit to empowering students every day. AmeriCorps alum Kelly served with Reading Assist in Wilmington, Delaware, to support teachers' curriculums and tutor students.     Through her service, Kelly was able to kickstart her career, working as a first-grade teacher where she once served. This Teacher Appreciation Week, join us in saying thank you to our teachers and national service members dedicated to helping students succeed!    U.S. Department of Education #NationalService #TeacherAppreciationWeek #TeacherAppreciation #Education #Careers

AmeriCorps joins the nation in recognizing the 20M+ public servants from coast to coast who make the impossible possible. Hear more from AmeriCorps CEO Michael D. Smith and follow along as we spotlight our staff committed to helping national service make a difference in our communities every day.    #NationalService #Volunteerism #PSRW #GovPossible

🚨The Impact of Intergenerational Service🚨Thursday, May 9 | 2 p.m. ET AmeriCorps CEO Michael D. Smith, CoGenerate Co-CEO Eunice Lin Nichols, AmeriCorps Seniors Director Atalaya Sergi, and national service members are celebrating Older Americans Month! Join us to hear how intergenerational volunteerism makes a difference in communities, transforms lives, and builds bridges between generations.     Register now: Bit.ly/ACSCoGen24    #NationalService #OlderAmericansMonth #Volunteerism #Intergeneratioal 

#Shareworthy: AmeriCorps released its latest evidence and corresponding resources on how the Volunteer Generation Fund supported State Service Commissions in FY 2020 at the 2024 America's Service Commissions National Service Training. From helping increase the recruitment and retention of volunteers to supporting organizations in tackling our communities’ unique challenges, the report details how the nine participating State Service Commissions with Volunteer Generation Fund grants provided more than 2,000 organizations with capacity-building services and more. Read more: Bit.ly/VGFReport   #VolunteerGenerationFund #NationalService #Volunteer  Volunteer Florida, Volunteer Iowa, Massachusetts Service Alliance, ServeMinnesota, Nevada Volunteers, Volunteer NH, VolunteerNC, UServeUtah 

Alvin Warren, AmeriCorps board member, closes out Earth Month and shares his thoughts on our environment stewardship initiatives: For the last 30 years, AmeriCorps has been at the forefront of issues that our country cares about most— one of the biggest issues now is the climate crisis. That’s why AmeriCorps was proud to answer President Biden’s call to form the new American Climate Corps, serving as the coordinating hub across other federal agencies. The American Climate Corps will improve the lives of individuals and communities throughout the nation, while helping the United States face intersecting challenges – including the catastrophic and disproportionate impacts of climate change and unequal access to training, higher education, and high-quality jobs. This announcement builds on 30 years of AmeriCorps’ engagement in environmental issues. Hundreds of thousands of AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers have stepped up to support communities after natural disasters, helped residents conduct energy audits that save money and reduce emissions, built public green spaces like urban farms, and so much more.   For me, this work is personal. Indigenous peoples have been stewarding our lands since time immemorial. My own tribe, Santa Clara Pueblo, has fought to regain lands taken from us and to implement comprehensive natural resource and environmental programs to care for our lands and help them heal from four devastating wildfires. I’m proud to have played a role in the restoration of P’opii Khanu, the headwaters of our Santa Clara Creek, to our Pueblo and to continue supporting the return of stolen lands to Tribal Nations across our country.  I’m also proud that AmeriCorps supports Indigenous-led programs and projects that both engage folks across Indian Country in service roles and also prepare them for jobs in clean energy and resilience sectors. One of those programs is the Ancestral Lands Corps (Conservation Legacy), which engages young Indigenous members to serve on their own lands. They are gaining chain saw certifications, engaging in pre-apprenticeships in agriculture and other relevant climate/environment/land management careers. AmeriCorps is not a moment – it’s a movement to bring out the best of America! And the best is what we need to foster an environment that is healthy and safe for all. #AmeriCorps #Service #Environment

Meet Elizabeth, an AmeriCorps member serving in VISTA with the University of Mississippi. Elizabeth fights poverty by addressing food security and improving access to healthy food and dietary education in her community. Through her service, she helps build program capacity by increasing community partnerships and recruiting volunteers. Take a sneak peek into a day of Elizabeth's service ⤵️ and learn more: AmeriCorps.gov/Serve    #NVW #NationalVolunteerWeek #AmeriCorps #NationalService #Volunteer AmeriCorps VISTA