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Stories from Maine AmeriCorps Members
Lucy Van Hook, AmeriCorps Environmental Educator Program- Augusta |
First and foremost, serving as an AmeriCorps volunteer means opportunity.
Since I am volunteering my service I feel a sense of flexibility and responsibility that exceeds what would be expected of me in a normal 9-5 job. I can expand upon tasks and projects to incorporate my own interests and background while gaining valuable experience within the workspace.
I am really enjoying working under the title of “green intern” because it allows me to add my own sense of enthusiasm for environmental issues and concerns to the office. People now expect me to update them on the latest list of what can be recycled. I get emails with little or large environmental questions, concerns and newsflashes. I feel that I can be an environmental educator, even though I am serving in an office building, because the employees of MaineHousing are so willing to learn new green tidbits and practices. I truly believe that the AmeriCorps Maine Conservation Corps term of service is providing me the opportunity to delve wholeheartedly into green issues at MaineHousing.
My job description is ever expanding. The more I engage myself and the employees of MaineHousing, more change occurs. I am being given more responsibilities, more projects, more topics to explore, so in every essence of the word I am engaging in, participating in and making opportunities.
Beth Otto |
As the Maine Conservation Corps volunteer for MEEP and DEP I have undergone a very full and eventful year under the dynamic supervision of Peter Zack, Deb Avalone-King and Stefany Arsenault.
For AmeriCorps week I will be at the Children’s Water Festival giving a presentation on Hydropower and clean, renewable energy. And this is what I spend the majority of time doing – traveling around and educating children about energy, electricity and climate change.
I find it to be a very rewarding job, working with children of all ages, skill levels and backgrounds. The children enjoy our hands on activities and teachers appreciate our quality programs. It’s a great thing to be part of! We are constantly expanding what we do.
The first, and very necessary, step is to build student’s awareness about our energy use, how and why we use it and where it comes from. From there students can be given the opportunity to take action in our Green Schools activities to reduce the energy use of their school and possibly translate that to their own home energy use. These programs empower students of all ages to make positive changes in their schools, communities and homes.
Hanna Wheeler, AmeriCorps Member- Tenants Harbor |
I recently moved to a new town and I wanted to become involved in community service so that I could feel more at home. I immediately thought of AmeriCorps.
AmeriCorps workers touch so many people’s lives. Plus, my AmeriCorps position has let me combine all of my interests: environmental education, community organizing, and gardening. It doesn’t feel like work, doesn’t feel like a job. I do something different every day! I like that I’m getting career experience, hanging out with other fun AmeriCorps folks, AND doing something that enhances people’s lives and our environment.
Service to country is a tradition that is not taught anymore. AmeriCorps is bringing that service tradition back. Everyone should do a year of AmeriCorps!
Caitlin Kekacs, AmeriCorps*VISTA- Corinth |
One of my favorite projects this year has been developing a job shadowing program for Central High School students. Working with Junior Achievement, a nonprofit organization that provides economic education programs, I organized a job shadowing day in March for the entire freshman class.
Students had the choice of visiting Eastern Maine Healthcare, the Bangor International Airport, Clear Channel Radio, or the Bangor Daily News. They spent the entire day on-site doing tours and talking with people who have different careers at these businesses.
Some students had the chance to create their own commercials. Others got to drive the length of the runway on a guided tour.
It's important for students to understand at an early age how much education they will need to land a job in their field of interest and to have direct knowledge of what a day at work really entails. I hope this program will inspire these students to work hard in school and pursue some type of higher education, so that they will have successful and rewarding careers.
Alison Cole, AmeriCorps Member-Steep Falls |
I wanted to become an AmeriCorps member because of AmeriCorps' mission to improve communities across the country through providing community service opportunities to qualified applicants in a variety of disciplines. I felt this opportunity would allow me to give back to my country through service.
In addition to fulfilling my desire to serve, participating in an AmeriCorps program reflects my interest in social responsibility and working directly within smaller communities to make a larger societal impact, especially the state of Maine where I was raised.
I wanted this AmeriCorps term to be the beginning of a life-long trend and commitment to giving back and contributing my skills and time.
As an AmeriCorps member I have the opportunity to make a difference within an organization that might not otherwise have funding to support my position. In my position, I am also able to work on projects that other staff members are too busy to organize and implement. I believe AmeriCorps is an excellent opportunity that prepares one to become an active and contributing member of society while simultaneously creating a temporary staff position to help further community organizations' missions.
Find more inspiring stories by visiting, www.americorpsweek.gov