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AmeriCorps Week
Sunday, May 13–Sunday, May 20, 2007 |
AmeriCorps Week highlights the community partners that deploy AmeriCorps members, from the 2,000 plus local nonprofits such as Marin Conservation Corps (MCC) to the prominent national organizations such as Teach for America, Habitat for Humanity, and the American Red Cross.
Since its creation in 1994, AmeriCorps members have provided more than 637 million hours of service. Using Independent Sector’s estimate of the dollar value of a volunteer’s time, those hours equate to more than $11.9 billion dollars in value. In addition to their direct service, AmeriCorps members have proved to be a powerful force multiplier for volunteer efforts. In 2006 alone, AmeriCorps members recruited and managed 1.4 million community volunteers. Once they complete their service, AmeriCorps alums remain highly engaged and active in their communities volunteering and entering public service careers at disproportionately high levels.
AmeriCorps opens the door for citizens to serve in a variety of ways. Through their service and the volunteers they mobilize, AmeriCorps members address critical needs in communities throughout America, including:
- Tutoring and mentoring disadvantaged youth
- Fighting illiteracy
- Improving health services
- Building affordable housing
- Teaching computer skills
- Cleaning parks and streams
- Managing or operating after-school programs
- Helping communities respond to disasters
- Building organizational capacity
MCC’s AmeriCorps program was begun in 1995. Since then over 200 young adults have participated in a wide array of service programs with an emphasis on environmental education and stewardship in Marin. As an AmeriCorps member at MCC you might monitor harbor seal or coho salmon populations; plan and organize Earth Day celebrations; lead middle- and high-school students in environmental services clubs; recruit volunteers for restoration projects on Marin’s public lands; or provide re-used materials and age-appropriate project ideas for teachers in Marin County schools. If you’re interested in learning more or are ready to apply for the 2007–2008 program AmeriCorps program at MCC, click here.
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PBS Documentary Features
Marin Conservation Corps
‘Voices of Vision’ Highlights the Work of the Corps from the 1930s to Today
Marin Conservation Corps (MCC) is featured in a documentary to be shown locally on PBS stations, KQED and KRCB.
“A Generation of Change: Strengthening America through Service and Conservation” uses the local corps to tell the story of conservation and service corps nationally. It will be shown on KQED on April 1 at 5:30 p.m.; on KQED Encore Channel 189 on April 9 at 1:30 and 5:30 p.m.; and on KRCB April 22 at 11 p.m.
The documentary, which is hosted by National Public Radio’s Scott Simon, features interviews with MCC executive director Marilee Eckert and local corpsmember, Rochelle Adams. It contains footage of local corpsmembers doing projects typical of the work done by local conservation corpsmembers, such as clearing trails, eliminating non-native species and other projects. More importantly, the documentary highlights the transformative value of programs offered by service and conservation corps, not only in Marin County, but throughout the United States.
MCC is a member of the National Association of Service and Conservation Corps, which supports state and local programs that engage primarily youth and young adults (ages 11-30) in full-time community service, training and educational activities.
In addition to promoting recycling and diverting garbage from landfill, corpsmembers construct and maintain trails, reduce fire and flood risks and restore wildlife habitats. Last year corpsmembers diverted almost 160 tons of Marin's garbage from going to landfills.
Few other Marin programs offer a combination of education, life skills and leadership development and employment training. Last year approximately 350 11 to 30-year-olds participated.
Today, the nation’s 108 Corps operate across 40 states and the District of Columbia. In 2005, they enrolled over 23,500 young people who provided their communities with 13.5 million hours of service in year-round and summer programs.
The majority of corpsmembers come to the corps looking for a second chance to succeed in life. Guided by adult leaders, who serve as mentors and role models as well as technical trainers and supervisors, crews of 8-12 corpsmembers carry out a wide range of conservation, urban infrastructure improvement, human service projects and disaster recovery.
In return for their efforts to restore and strengthen their communities, Corpsmembers receive a living allowance; classroom training to improve basic competencies and, if necessary, to secure a GED or high school diploma; experiential and environmental service-learning based education; generic and technical skills training; a wide range of supportive services; and in many cases, an AmeriCorps post-service education award.
MCC was the first non-governmental conservation corps when it was founded in 1982. It will kick off its 25th anniversary with a celebration this year.
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