Of Builders and bricksKey people and events in the history of AmeriCorps

• National and Community Service Trust Act (1993)

•Waldman: “Classic Clinton”

(5).

•Signed with same pen as

Kennedy and Roosevelt

Bill Clinton(b.1946)

historicalstockphotos.com

Americorps Timeline

Charles Moskos

FDR JFK

PeaceCorps

WW II KoreaGreat

Depression Vietnam

Bill Clinton

National

Service Bill

Lyndon B. Johnson

Civil Service

forFinancial

AidCCC

GI Bill

“The House that Bill Built”A look at the structure of AmeriCorps

•National and Community Service Trust Act (1993)

•Established the Corporation

for National and Community Service

•Created AmeriCorps

“The House that Bill Built”A look at the structure of AmeriCorps

National and Community Service Trust Act

“The House that Bill Built”A look at the structure of AmeriCorps

Structure of AmeriCorps

AmeriCorps State and AmeriCorps National:

“Support a broad range of local service programs that engage thousands of Americans in intensive service to meet critical community needs” (americorps.gov).

AmeriCorps VISTA:Provides full-time members to community organizations and public agencies to create and expand programs that build capacity and ultimately bring low-income individuals and communities out of poverty (americorps.gov).

AmeriCorps NCCC:The AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps is a full-time residential program for men and women, ages 18-24, that strengthens communities while developing leaders through direct, team-based national and community service.

AmeriCorps State and AmeriCorps National:

• “Teach America” that Nick talked about, etc.

• Largest branch of AmeriCorps

• Provides federal grants to local organizations and agencies.

• Ages 17 and up. Varied degrees of education required.

• Full or part time.

• Maximum service length: 1 year

• Living expenses covered.

• Up to $5,350 toward student loans

“The House that Bill Built”A look at the structure of AmeriCorps

rtno.org

(americorps.gov)

AmeriCorps State and AmeriCorps National:

• AmeriCorps State and National provides funds to local and national organizations and agencies committed to using national service to address critical community needs in education, public safety, health and the environment.

• Each of these organizations and agencies, in turn, uses their AmeriCorps funding to recruit, place, and supervise AmeriCorps members.

• This year, (2010) more than 1.8 million individuals of all ages and backgrounds will serve with national and community non-profit organizations, faith-based groups, schools, and local agencies to meet needs in education, health, the environment, economic opportunity, veterans, disaster services, and other critical areas.

“The House that Bill Built”A look at the structure of AmeriCorps

rtno.org

(americorps.gov)

AmeriCorps VISTA:

• 6,500 opportunities to fight poverty at more than 1,200 projects across the country.

• Requires college degree

• Up to $5350 cash or student loan

payment

• Modest living allowance

• Healthcare benefits while in service

• Childcare assistance while in service

• Student loan forbearance or deferment

while in service

• One year of noncompetitive status for a

federal government job

habitat.org

“The House that Bill Built”A look at the structure of AmeriCorps

(americorps.gov)

AmeriCorps VISTA:

• AmeriCorps VISTA members serve full-time for a year in anti-poverty organizations and agencies throughout the nation, working on issues such as fighting illiteracy, improving health services, creating businesses, increasing housing opportunities, improving college access, and bridging the digital divide.

• VISTAs perform indirect service, which means they help build the capacity of organizations to deliver valuable direct services to people living in poverty. VISTAs typically create new programs, write grants, and recruit volunteers. For example, a VISTA could establish a tutoring program, recruit and train volunteers, and raise money for the program—but would not tutor the children.

habitat.org

“The House that Bill Built”A look at the structure of AmeriCorps

(americorps.gov)

“The House that Bill Built”A look at the structure of AmeriCorps

AmeriCorps NCCC: (National Civilian Community Corps)• Full-time residential program

for men and women 18-24

• Members assigned to one of five campuses. (Colorado, California, Maryland, Mississippi, and Iowa).

• Intensive 10-month commitment.

• Members serve in teams of eight to twelve.

• AmeriCorps NCCC members receive a living allowance of approximately $4,000 for the 10 months of service (about $200 every two weeks before taxes).

• Housing

• Meals

• Limited medical benefits

• Up to $400 a month for childcare, if necessary.

• Member uniforms

• Up to $5350 student loan payment

http://northcountrytrail.org(americorps.gov)

“Still building a Better America?”How is AmeriCorps doing now?

© 2008 HIT Entertainment Limited

So how well is AmeriCorps doing?

• 706,000: Number of people who have served as AmeriCorps members since 1994.

• 860 Million: Total number of hours served by AmeriCorps members.

• 2.5 million: Number of disadvantaged youth tutored,

mentored, or served by AmeriCorps members in fiscal 2010.

• 2.6 Million: Number of community volunteers managed or mobilized by AmeriCorps members in 2010.

(americorpsweek.org)

“Still building a Better America?”How is AmeriCorps doing now?

© 2008 HIT Entertainment Limited

So how well is AmeriCorps doing?• $480 million: Value of cash and in-kind

donations leveraged by AmeriCorps members in fiscal 2010.

• 14,000: Number of nonprofit, faith-based, and community organizations served by AmeriCorps members last year.

• $2 Billion: Total amount of Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards earned by

• AmeriCorps members since 1994.

• $7.2 Billion: Amount of AmeriCorps funds invested in nonprofit, community, educational, and faith-based community groups since 1994.

(americorpsweek.org)

AmeriCorps as Adult EducationRelating AmeriCorps to our course material

AmeriCorps: Service or Education?

• When President Clinton signed his 1993 bill, he talked about service, not education.

• Is AmeriCorps an adult education institution?

• Service-Learning:• (1966-1967) The phrase "service-learning" is first used to describe a

project in East Tennessee that links students and faculty with area development organizations.

• “Service-learning engages students in the educational process, using what they learn in the classroom to solve real-life problems. Students not only learn about democracy and citizenship, they become actively contributing citizens and community members through the service they perform” (learnandserve.gov).

AmeriCorps as Adult EducationRelating AmeriCorps to our course material

AmeriCorps: Service or Education?

• Service-Learning:

• “engages students in the educational process…”• Student as co-learners• Fuels their need to know

• “using what they learn in the classroom to solve real-life problems.”• Readiness to learn: Adults learn in order to cope with real-life situations.• Orientation to learning: Life-centered vs. subject-centered.• Learner’s self-concept: Increased sense of being self-directed.

• “Students not only learn about democracy and citizenship, they become actively contributing citizens and community members through the service they perform” • Motivation to learn: Likely increase in self-esteem, and improved job satisfaction.

AmeriCorps in GeorgiaVolunteer opportunities in the Toccoa area

Local AmeriCorps Opportunities

AmeriCorps in GeorgiaVolunteer opportunities in the Toccoa area

• Possible student loan forgiveness.

• Tutoring program: 50 students receive one-on-one tutoring during the school day (elementary school).

• Tutors also provide homework help through the afterschool program.

Atlanta

• AmeriCorps VISTA:

• Requires undergraduate degree.

• Lots of benefits

AmeriCorps in GeorgiaVolunteer opportunities in the Toccoa area

AmeriCorps VISTA:

References

Works Cited

Americorps.gov, http://www.americorps.gov/for_individuals/overview/index.aspAmericorpsweek.org, http://americorpsweek.gov/pages/about/americorps.aspCultureconnect.org, http://www.cultureconnectinc.org/gbmp.htmlLearnandserve.gov, http://www.servicelearning.org/what-service-learningNorthwestern.edu, http://www.sociology.northwestern.edu/people/faculty/charles-moskos.htmlSchwartz, Marvin, In Service to America: A History of VISTA in Arkansas. Fayettville, AK: The U. of Arkasas P., 1988. Print.Waldman, Steven, The Bill: How Legislation Really Becomes Law: A Case Study of The National Service Bill. New York: Penguin Books, 1995. Print. Whitehouse.gov, http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/johnfkennedy