AmeriCorps Alums Feature: Meet Rhonda

by Meghan Oakley

category: Featured Alum

Published September 17, 2009 @ 02:29PM PT

Name: Rhonda Ulmer
Program Served In: Volunteer Maryland, an AmeriCorps program of the Governor's Office
Location Served: Anne Arundel Community Action Partnership

What made you want to join AmeriCorps?

I wanted to make a difference in my own community. I understood and knew the challenges families in my community were facing because I was one of them.

What your experience serving like?

My service year change my life.  I made a bold career move by leaving a profession I loved with Southwest Airlines (free flight benefits) to join Volunteer Maryland, an AmeriCorps program of the Governor’s office. As a Volunteer Maryland Coordinator, I learned about nonprofit organizations and the many needs in the community and also gained the skills and training on how to build and create successful volunteer programs that helped many nonprofits meet challenges and measurable outcomes in the community. And most important AmeriCorps helped define my purpose and passion in life - parent education and community engagement.

How did your experience in AmeriCorps relate to your career path?

After completeing three years of AmeriCorps and receiving the Eli Segal Award from AmeriCorps Alums. I am currently studying for a degree in health administration and working as a community health advocate with Priority Partners / Johns Hopkins HealthCare LLC. I created the Van Bokkelen Family Network at the elementary school my children attended in Severn, Maryland, when the school was threatened with state takeover because of its low test scores. I recognized the need for parental involvement, so I formed a team of parents, teachers, and community leaders to addressed parents' needs first, fostering a sense of partnership between the school and the parents. My application of the best practices of volunteer management to promote parental involvement is now recognized as a national model for schools and PTAs across the country.  http://www.americorpsalums.org/resource/resmgr/alums_in_the_news/profiles_of_ac_alumni_sheet.pdf

What advice would you give to people considering or going into AmeriCorps?

I have encourage my three children to serve at least one year of AmeriCorps - either after high school or college. I too encourage every citizen in America to become passionate, a change agent for a worthy cause in your community and continue to look forward to the shape of things come because I believe the best is yet to come for our country with everyone actively engaged in the community.  And to begin this process - try joining AmeriCorps or supporting an AmeriCorps site by volunteering.

To learn about my life after AmeriCorps visit www.UniversityForParent.org.

AmeriCorps Alum Feature: Meet Natalie

by Meghan Oakley

category: Featured Alum

Published September 10, 2009 @ 05:00AM PT

Name: Natalie Wasserman
Program Served In, Years Served, Location Served: AmeriCorps*NCCC - Class 13,  July 2006-May 2007, Southeast Region Campus (Charleston, SC); AmeriCorps*VISTA, August 2007-August 2008, Serve DC - The Mayor's Office on Volunteerism, Washington, DC.

What made you want to join AmeriCorps?

I was unsure of what AmeriCorps was before I spoke with an AmeriCorps*NCCC representative at a job fair at my college in California.  I was instantly hooked and very interested in joining the program.  The intrigue of completing projects in different parts of the country and working on different things was what got me hooked.  After I completed my NCCC year, I knew I wanted to continue serving but not necessarily in such an intense role.  AmeriCorps*VISTA was a great way to continue serving and supporting the national service movement.

What your experience serving like?

My NCCC year changed my life.  I spent 10 months with 10 people from 10 different states which completely opened my eyes to all the different types of people there are.  I learned a lot about myself in those 10 months and pushed my own limits (both physically and mentally - think about building a trail in 100+ degree heat in South Carolina in August in long pants and long sleeves).  We worked all over the Gulf Coast and completed a variety of projects: re-building houses, gutting houses, building trails, tutoring kids, working with the mentally and physically disabled.  I got to travel to 9 states I had never been to before and experience communities I probably would have never been to.
After completing my NCCC year, I knew I wanted to continue serving but knew I wanted to move to Washington, DC.  I somewhat stumbled upon my AmeriCorps*VISTA position by accident but am very happy that I completed that year of service.  I was able to see the service world from a different angle and work to support local AmeriCorps members in Washington, DC.

How did your experience in AmeriCorps relate to your career path?

My experience in AmeriCorps is the reason I am on the career path that I am. Before joining AmeriCorps, I was sure that I would move to Washington, DC, work on Capital Hill, and lead a very political life.  Once I completed my NCCC term, I knew I wanted to work to support AmeriCorps and continue contributing to the national service movement.  After completing my VISTA term, I was lucky to be offered a position at my VISTA site which happened to be the State Service Commission for Washington, DC.  I currently serve as the AmeriCorps Program Officer at Serve DC - The Mayor's Office on Volunteerism in Washington, DC.  I manage nine AmeriCorps*State Programs for Washington, DC and have learned to use my experience as an AmeriCorps member to guide my management of other programs.  I hope that every AmeriCorps member that my work supports has the same great experience that I had.

What advice would you give to people considering or going into AmeriCorps?

I would say, 'go for it!'  Even though every AmeriCorps experience is different, I trust (and hope) that everyone who engages in AmeriCorps can have as much of a life-changing experience as I had.

Design for Change

by Meghan Oakley

categories: AmeriCorps in the News, Tips for Alum

Published September 09, 2009 @ 08:54AM PT

Posted by Whitney Soenksen of AmeriCorps Alums on August 3, 2009:

"Up for a Challenge?  AmeriCorps Alums is counting on YOU!

Change. It’s what we’re about. And it’s time we listened to those who are making it!  Every single day, over 500,000 AmeriCorps Alums work in their communities to make change.  Whether it’s online or in person, Alums are shaping what it means to be an active citizen… Now we need you to shape US!
Your challenge: Design a new AmeriCorps Alums logo and give us a slogan!

img-header.design contest

Your amazing piece of artwork could end up being used on all of our  stuff (from in-hand brochures to online marketing material) for the foreseeable future. It’s an amazing opportunity for the chosen designer! So fire up your creativity and… Design for Change!!

Check all the details and submit your winning idea here: http://www.americorpsalums.org/?designforchange

And please help us spread the word! If you don’t personally design, but know someone who does, let ‘em know! Tweet it, facebook it, whatever you can!

Prizes will be given to the artist behind the chosen design as well as the first and second runners up.  Top prizes include a FLiP handheld video camera and AmeriCorps Alums Inauguration jacket (limited edition). In addition, the chapter that submits the most individual entries will receive a service grant and an assortment of AmeriCorps Alums merchandise.

Design for Change will run from August 3 to September 14, 2009 and the winner will be announced on October 2.  For more information or to submit a design visit: http://www.americorpsalums.org/?designforchange"

AmeriCorps Alum Feature: Meet Gene

by Meghan Oakley

category: Featured Alum

Published September 03, 2009 @ 05:00AM PT

Name: Gene Shiau
Program Served: Teach For America
Years Served: 2002-2004
Location Served: Rio Grande Valley (McAllen, TX)

What made you want to join AmeriCorps?

The summer before my college graduation, I hopped on a Greyhound and toured America from the passenger seat for two weeks. In the Texas Panhandle, where the bus pulled in front of each little town's grocery store to pick up and drop off passengers, I saw first-hand the condition of being rural and poor; in Dallas, I waited at the bus station with a sea of brown-skinned people who spoke in Spanish, and all around there were few Whites and virtually no other Asians in sight. Bathed in the excitement of this alien experience, I hadn't been able to consciously process the meaning of what I saw at the time.

Six months later, I heard a recruiter talk about Teach For America's reason of being and how its corps members help to accomplish the corps' mission. It suddenly dawned on me that what I saw aboard Greyhound was the manifestation of a socioeconomic divide rather than cultural uniqueness. Furthermore, I had the power to help bridging an aspect of the divide, namely in the area of education. I knew right then I had to apply to Teach For America and do something about it.

What was your experience serving like?

Teaching in Rio Grande Valley was a humbling experience. Before visiting the Valley, I had briefly indulged in the fantasy that I was going to waltz in the classroom and gave my students the tool to lift themselves out of poverty by providing them an excellent education. After my first visit, I knew there was much more the Valley could teach me than I could offer it in terms of its traditions and cultures, its communities and lifestyles, its resources and potentials, and many more. The Valley teachers knew their students and their parents well and were doing a remarkable job teaching the students. I as a new teacher, on the other hand, had to break my stereotypes and learn from the veteran educators first on how to become an effective classroom teacher.

Joining Teach For America was more than doing a service project; being a Teach For America corps member meant a way of life. The work was hard, and every corps member worked long hours everyday. Still, every one of us would go the extra mile and take on extra responsibilities at school. There were days filled with tears and frustrations; then there were days filled with cheers and student accomplishments. Yet we weren't alone in any of these. As corps members, we had opportunities to collaborate, share lesson plans, exchange best practices, and be each other's emotional support through the highs and the lows.

How did your experience in AmeriCorps relate to your career path?

Before serving in Teach For America, I had envisioned myself in a research lab creating prototypes of artificial intelligence robots to vicariously save and improve human lives. Instead, my corps experience showed me that human touch was often the most effective tool to improve people’s lives: keep one fewer student from dropping out; encourage one more parent to send his/her child to college; inspire one more girl to study engineering…

This realization now guides my passion for working directly with people and empowering them through knowledge. In addition, four years’ teaching experience developed my confidence in multitasking while keeping organized, paying attention to details while having the goal in sight, and working supportively in a team as well as leading a team. These skills play an integral part in my current position as an engineer trainer at B&R Industrial Automation (www.br-automation.com), teaching customers' engineers and technicians how to use our programming software and hardware to fulfill various manufacturing demands.

What advice would you give to people considering or going into AmeriCorps?

My commitment to service didn't end when I finished my two-year commitment to Teach For America. Instead, my Teach For America experience shaped my passion for providing high-quality STEM education and became the foundation of my lifelong commitment to education outreach volunteerism and policy reform.

Whether you are considering or already serving in AmeriCorps, your AmeriCorps experience will be the best time to explore the issue that you care most about. Then you should turn that issue into a sustainable lifelong pursuit after AmeriCorps. Even if you cannot tackle the issue alone, you can use AmeriCorps and its alumni networks as your resources to help you to create a sustainable career of service and continue to pursue the issue of your interest.

Sometimes It Really Is Who Wants It More

by Meghan Oakley

category: Tips for Applicants

Published August 31, 2009 @ 02:21PM PT

I never really believed in the idea that if you just "wanted" something more than another person, you could get it. But then my sister called me on Friday.

I haven't mentioned it before, but my younger sister, Anna, is a recent AmeriCorps*NCCC alum. After serving on in the Midwestern Region for a year, Anna decided to apply to serve with CityYear in Washington, DC. It would be another year of service, but in a new place, working in a whole new area. Anna would gain more experience, while being able to put her roots down in a place that she wanted to live for the long-term. I seemed like a perfect plan.

The only catch to the plan is that Anna didn't get into CityYear. Already a competitive program, CityYear is like most AmeriCorps programs, in that it has seen a resurgence of new applications--in part because of the economy, and in part because of the new spirit of service that is sweeping the nation.

When Anna didn't get into CityYear, she did what most people do... she moved on. Anna started working for a home healthcare company, while applying to schools for the spring semester. The only thing that set Anna apart was her continued interest in AmeriCorps and her willingness to do whatever she needed to serve again.

So on Friday, when a staff member at CityYear called and asked Anna (living in Illinois) if she could report for duty on Monday (in Washington, DC), Anna quit her job, put her school plans on hold, packed her car, and drove the 15 hours (in one day) to the East Coast.

Today, Anna started as an AmeriCorps CityYear Member in Washington, DC. So in the end, I have learned my lesson. Sometimes, the opportunity really does go to the person who wants it more.

AmeriCorps Alum Feature: Meet Amy

by Meghan Oakley

category: Featured Alum

Published August 27, 2009 @ 05:00AM PT

Name: Amy Wheeler
Program Served In: AmeriCorps*VISTA
Location Served: Boston, MA

What made you want to join AmeriCorps?

I was just a year out of college and I was looking for a job that
would give me a lot of experience and allow me to work towards
positive change. AmeriCorps provides a great opportunity for young
professionals who don’t have a lot of experience and are looking to
get their hands dirty. I am passionate about community and
volunteering, and through AmeriCorps and I was able to follow those
passions.

What was your experience serving like?

I think everyone’s experience in AmeriCorps is different. Mine was
unique in that there were more AmeriCorps volunteers than actual
employees. It was a great way to serve along side others, where you
could support and encourage each other in each of our endeavors. I
learned the ins-and-outs of the nonprofit sector and also what I liked
and disliked about the nonprofit world. The best part was that I was
able to run my own programs and create new ones as well, where I could
use my creativity and innovation to really transform already existing
programs and those newly created. I was pleasantly surprised how much
reign I had over my programs and how my organization allowed me to
really take them as my own.

How did your experience in AmeriCorps relate to your career path?

AmeriCorps led me to realize that the nonprofit sector is not
somewhere I want to limit and focus my career path. Although I loved
my job and everything I learned while serving, I was also greatly
troubled by the inefficiencies not only found in my organization, but
in the sector as a whole. Before AmeriCorps I always thought since I
wanted to work towards something I believed in, I had to work within a
nonprofit. Now I understand that is not true, and I have used that
understanding to guide me where I am today. After AmeriCorps I took a
position with Whole Foods Market and have been there for two years
now. Through this experience I learned what a powerful tool business
can be for change. I will be starting graduate school this fall at
Bainbridge Graduate Institute where I will be getting my MBA with a
focus on environmental sustainability and social responsibility. My
path has been strange and something I never expected, but it has al
made since in the end. AmeriCorps definitely played a large part in
helping me realize my career goals.

What advice would you give to people considering or going into AmeriCorps?

I would say to approach your year of service with an open mind. This
is a great opportunity to get a lot of experience in a short amount of
time. Push your employers to let you try new things and always be
willing and eager to go above and behind. This is a great year to make
connections with people from all different backgrounds and interests,
so definitely take advantage.

The One Recession Lesson Nonprofit Professionals Have Learned

by Meghan Oakley

Published August 24, 2009 @ 02:02PM PT

Let's start by stating the obvious--we are in a recession. And the nonprofit sector is experiencing its own unique set of challenges and opportunities in how to get out of it. No matter how big your heart, if you don't have the financial head to navigate this climate and make good fiscal decisions, your organization can be toast in no time at all.

In 2008, nonprofits lost an estimated 18% to 64% in revenues from the year before. If there is one lesson that all nonprofit managers have learned from this recession is that it pays to have good financial management skills. For those of you serving as AmeriCorps members or even in entry or mid-level nonprofit positions, here are a few tips on how to use this time to develop your finanical management skills:

• If you aren't already, ask to be a part of your organization's budget process. Even if it is just as an observer, this will give you an idea of how and where money comes in and money goes out.
• Learn how to read your organization's audit, and what to look for in a healthy financial organization's balance sheet.
• Read-up on nonprofit financial management. It is a little thick, but I would recommend Zietlow's "Financial Management for Nonprofit Organizations"
• Get in on the grantwriting process. Find out who is the main fundraiser or grant writer in your organization, and volunteer to help write a grant. The best way to learn how to grant write is to do it. Check out the Foundation Center for resources in this area.

No matter whether you are on the path to be an Executive Director or Board Member, or you are just starting out at a nonprofit, everyone needs to learn how to financially manage nonprofits. We can't afford not to.

Picture from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/37260363@N07/3428454681/