AmeriCorps Alums Feature: Meet Lauren

by Meghan Oakley

category: Featured Alum

Published August 20, 2009 @ 05:00AM PT

Name: Lauren Fayish
Program Served In: National AIDS Fund AmeriCorps/Caring Counts Program
Years Served: 2006-2007
Location Served: Regional AIDS Interfaith Network, Charlotte, NC

What made you want to join AmeriCorps?

After sitting in a classroom for more than a decade and a half of institutionalized education, I decided to join AmeriCorps to get off of the beaten path that pulled many of my peers into a fast-paced world of long hours and competitive salaries.  Although the drive for conventional success was a pressure, I felt drawn to disconnect from the race, move to a new place, meet new people and learn new skills in a supportive environment.  At its core, I discovered AmeriCorps to be a great way to get out into the world and translate my passions and abilities into real change.  AmeriCorps was also a wonderful opportunity to apprentice in a career without making the pricy commitment to a graduate program before more completely understanding the field of work.

With an academic background in biology and anthropology, I was very interested in the fight against HIV/AIDS.  The dynamic nature of public health work seemed exciting to me, and I was fortunate to find an AmeriCorps Program that fit my interests. The National AIDS Fund AmeriCorps/Caring Counts Program caught my attention not only because it was in the field of HIV/AIDS but because it integrated quantifiable training on a range of issues into its service program.  Although the AmeriCorps stipend was just enough to get by, I knew that the real reward of this opportunity would be to directly serve clients and other community members while also gaining some valuable insight about a career path that was of interest to me.

What your experience serving like?

Serving in AmeriCorps was an empowering experience.  NAF’s program allowed me to apply my creativity, planning and leadership skills at a community based organization in a way that is often reserved for management or more senior-level employees in the for-profit world.  Local non-profit agencies need creativity, energy and innovative thinking in order to overcome the restrictive environments in which most of them operate.  Because of my position as an AmeriCorps member and because of the ‘all-hands-on-deck’ mentality at the host agency where I was placed, my term of service was a very rewarding and educational experience. I was able to play a larger creative role in the addressing community needs than if I had started working at a non-profit at an entry-level administrative position. I believe that AmeriCorps programs in general present a wonderful opportunity to build confidence and to foster leadership in the next generation of social activists.

But beyond the professional development that I was able to undertake, serving in AmeriCorps opened my eyes to the myriad of social problems that we are facing in this country, many of which contribute to the spread of HIV/AIDS.  Challenges in education, poverty and healthcare systems are often interrelated, making AmeriCorps an enlightening and well-rounded look at many of today’s most pressing social issues.  Above all else, I value the perspective that I gained by working with some of the most marginalized people in our society.  Serving in AmeriCorps broadened my perspective of humanity by casting a spotlight on the obstacles that so many people face in the shadows of our country’s bustling progress.  After only 11-months of service, I was forever changed in the level of consciousness that I bring to my life as a citizen of this country, and of the world.

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

After my year of service, I felt somewhat limited by the local obstacles that I had witnessed while working at a community-based organization.  In an effort to broaden my understanding of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, I wanted to work at the national level to affect how our country responds to the challenges that I had witnessed during my year of service.  A natural transition for me was to seek employment at the National AIDS Fund.  In addition to managing an AmeriCorps program, NAF leverages and invests resources for the fight against HIV/AIDS in communities around the country.  I believe that my year of experience in AmeriCorps allowed me to demonstrate my professional skills and advanced understanding of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, giving me a clear edge over other applicants in a competitive job market.

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

Joining AmeriCorps after college was one of the best decisions that I’ve ever made.  The 11 months that I dedicated to serving in the field of HIV/AIDS not only taught me what I am capable of achieving with dedication and hard work, but it also broadened my view of our country and humanity in a way that I am grateful for having achieved at such a young age. Service learning can be as rich as you make it but AmeriCorps gives you the opportunity to see the world from a new perspective, and it allows you to develop leadership skills that you can later apply to your career in any number of ways.  AmeriCorps is an empowering program for the individuals who commit themselves to the service of others, but it is also empowering for the communities in which members serve.  It’s a win-win situation for everyone involved.

How to Make Lemonade Out of a Lemon of a Position

by Meghan Oakley

categories: Tips for Alum, Tips for Applicants

Published August 17, 2009 @ 03:07PM PT

It happens. You spend weeks or months researching, applying for, and landing your dream AmeriCorps position (or any job for that matter). You jump-in with both feet, but a few months in to it, you realize that there is something wrong. Maybe the positions isn't what you expected. Maybe you were hoping to be working more in one area, and less in another. Maybe it's not just the right fit.

Whatever it is, you aren't happy. But you made the committment to a year of service and want to stick with it. Here are a few tips on how you can stay in a less-than-stellar situation, but make the most of it for you and for your career:

Use the time to develop your professional network: Go out and meet people in the field. No matter what you are up to now, you might plan to stay in the non-profit sector and this is your chance to meet people and see what the field has to offer.

Learn new skills: Look at your current position as an opportunity to take on new responsibilities that teach you use skills, like grantwriting, project management, or program evaluation. Even if you don't think that you would want to work in one of these areas forever, this is a great opportunity to test drive an area of non-profit management, while developing marketable skills.

Teach yourself people management: No matter where you go next, you will have to work with people. Learning how to work with people of different work styles, personalities, and perspectives will benefit you in every job for the rest of your life. Take advantage of your current position to learn your own work style and what it takes for you to work well with others.

Whether it is a year-long AmeriCorps position or a full-time job, at least once in your life you will be in a not-so-ideal position that you need to stick with. Use these tips to make the most of it and come out of the experience a more well-rounded person.

Pic from: http://www.cabaretsquidoo.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/lemonade512269687_aa4444973b.jpg

United We Serve Health Week: AmeriCorps Alum Feature

by Meghan Oakley

category: Featured Alum

Published August 13, 2009 @ 12:55PM PT

Name: Howard Liebers
Program Served In: Community HealthCorps (AmeriCorps*State and National)
Years Served: 2003-04; 2005-06
Location Served: Hudson River HealthCare, Inc. – Multiple Sites in the Hudson Valley Region of New York & Lutheran Family Health Centers – Brooklyn, NY

What made you want to join AmeriCorps?

As I graduated from college, I knew that the next step for me was community service. Through volunteer and internship opportunities, work experiences, and academic coursework, I was poised to make a contribution in public health. Previously, I had volunteered and worked in hospital settings, held leadership positions with local first aid squads, and had an administrative internship with the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center of Columbia University. Studying medical anthropology at Ithaca College I became interested in the illness experience. I was interested in how people were willing to share their stories with you, if you asked them to, and how by listening to those stories, and their authenticity, you could find ways to help those people take steps towards finding better health. But I needed to figure out where I could serve. My first instinct was to join Peace Corps. However, I was moved by a cross-country road trip I took as a senior in college – and instead felt determined to have an impact on people and communities right here in my own backyard. I did some research on the AmeriCorps website and found a perfect fit in Community HealthCorps.

What was your experience serving like?

Community HealthCorps is the nation's largest health care based AmeriCorps program (National Direct, State Commission, and VISTA programs), which engages more than 650 AmeriCorps members in national service through health centers across the country. In the 2007-08 program year our AmeriCorps members recruited nearly 6,000 people who volunteered nearly 45,000 hours to assist health centers and other community-based organizations with addressing health and human needs. More than 385,000 medically underserved people benefitted from the diligent service of Community HealthCorps members nationwide.  The program was founded in 1995 by the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC), a non-profit organization whose mission is to enhance and expand access to quality, community-responsive health care for America’s medically underserved and uninsured.  NACHC represents the nation’s network of over 1,200 Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) which serve more than 18 million people through 7,000 sites located in all of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam. As an AmeriCorps member in health centers, I performed community outreach and let people know about the resources available to them in their community. I helped patients better navigate the health system by reminding them of their appointments, and by connecting them with referrals for specialty care. I provided health education, and support with self-management goal setting, to empower people to gain better control of their own health. Additionally, I managed a medication assistance program which helped patients access free and low-cost prescription medications, sometimes directly from pharmaceutical companies. It has been truly inspiring to watch medically underserved patients become more compliant with their treatment plans, and share their smiles and gratitude and strength over time.  This type of experience can be eye-opening and humbling; it’s hard to put into words what “hope” looks like on the face of a single mother, an elderly couple, a young child, or a struggling family.

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

Community HealthCorps sits at the crossroad of the two things I am most passionate about—health care and community service. I used my two education awards to complete my Master of Public Health degree, and now work for the Community HealthCorps program as a Senior Program Officer. I have witnessed a culture in community health centers that makes each person who comes through their doors feel at home; both providers and patients alike become part of a family. Something else that makes community health centers unique, and demonstrates the fact that they understand the passion of service in AmeriCorps members, is their board structure. Thousands of volunteers serve on patient-led health-center boards, of which at least 51% of members are patients or “consumers” of the health center. I hope to always work within the realm of health care and community service; my experiences with Community HealthCorps will forever remind me about the value that exists in a patient-centered care model and the transformative power of volunteerism.

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

Anyone can serve. It doesn’t have to be in a 1700 hour AmeriCorps program; it can be as simple as volunteering 20 minutes of your time to give somebody a ride to the local farmer’s market so that they can purchase more nutritious foods than at the fast-food chain in walking distance. But AmeriCorps provides a framework and a structure to better channel that passion for service. It gets you involved with a whole team of members who have set out to be change agents like yourself. AmeriCorps provides a true sense of civic engagement and lets you be a part of something on a national level. Day to day activities help community members one on one, team events on national days of service can help communities at large. Be yourself, and you can become larger than yourself.  Get out there and join a movement that is “Getting things Done”! Reach out to nearby AmeriCorps Alums and ask questions; volunteer at a local event and get to know your community better—the United We Serve initiative this summer is a great opportunity to do that. This week they are featuring stories of service in health care, and their blog is also promoting Community HealthCorps. Find out other ways Community HealthCorps is mobilizing volunteers for United We Serve and give back in your community (http://bit.ly/tzscv). National Health Center Week , August 9-15, is another opportunity to get involved with your local health center. I know that AmeriCorps programs work, and that I’ve made an impact. I’ve received much more in return than I’ve ever put into it.

What To Do On The First Day After The Last Day Of Your Job

by Meghan Oakley

categories: Tips for Alum, Tips for Applicants

Published August 10, 2009 @ 04:04PM PT

There are two types of job seekers, those that currently have jobs and those that don't. This post is for the latter.

Whether you have completed your term in AmeriCorps, fulfilled your obligations in a contract position, or been laid-off from your job, there is something very unique about being in this category of job seekers. When you aren't currently working, the job hunt can be more than just daunting... it can be all-encompassing.

Here are just a few tips on how to handle this transitional period, some will help you find a job and others will keep you sane while you search:

Give yourself a break... recognize that transitioning from working full-time to searching full-time is going to be a challenge, so don't get hard on yourself if things don't fall in to place like you think they will.

Get out and get involved... Volunteer at an organization that you care about. Set-up informational interviews with people in the field. Join an association or club. The best job search entails a lot of different strategies... networking, researching, and marketing yourself. People don't get jobs by staying at home and emailing resumes to jobs@dreamorganization.org.

Work hard at what you are doing now... Whether it is a temp job, a part-time gig, or a volunteer position, put all your effort into doing the best you can... you never know if that is where you are going to get noticed.

Use your personal network for job hunting... you can see a few blogs on this topic here and here.

Stay motivated... Do things to remind you why you want to do the work you want to do. Keep up on the issues, stay in touch with people that you know in the field, keep a picture near your computer that inspires you.

Lastly, remember that your job search WILL END... some days it might feel like forever, but you will find the right place for you.

Photo from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mamosa/74593822/

AmeriCorps Alum Feature: Meet Joe

by Meghan Oakley

category: Featured Alum

Published August 07, 2009 @ 06:29AM PT

Name: Joe Bowmaster
Program Served In: Fulton AmeriCorps
Years Served: 2005-2006
Location Served: Fulton High School, STARS After School Program & 2 months in Pass Christian, MS

What made you want to join AmeriCorps?

Wanting to join AmeriCorps was never something I had ever thought about. In my first year of college I had joined a fraternity and had volunteered daily alongside of my brothers at an after school program for 2nd-5th grade students. By the end of the semester every student there had named me “Mr. Joe” and I was their favorite jungle-jim to play on. The children would hang off my arms, curl up against me in reading sessions, take the time to pay attention to me when I helped them with their homework, etc. Thus, at the end of the year, the AmeriCorps Director for the site approached me and offered me a position with her Corps. My parents had a strict rule about not working during the school year, so it was a natural fit for me to volunteer my time fully with the children and get a living stipend out of it. It was a win-win situation.

What your experience serving like?

I had always wanted to join the military, it was a dream I had had from a young age. However, when I came out to my family as a Kertbenian male within my first few months of college, I knew that I would never be able to serve honorably without hiding a part of who I am. So when I became an AmeriCorps member it opened this new door to me filled with opportunities to serve my nation.

I wanted to expand the possibilities for me and my fellow Corps members to serve in. Though our program was centered on education for at risk youth between the ages of ten and eighteen; I saw so many areas in the community and nation that we could expand our service upon. That is why, when Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast, I gave up my entire winter break from college to travel to Pass Christian, MS to serve with the St. Louis AmeriCorps Emergency Response Team. I really took a portion of our swearing in as a life statement, ‘I will carry this commitment with me this year and beyond’. When I graduated from my one year contract I took on AmeriCorps Alums as my new passion. In my eyes a full time AmeriCorps member was equivalent to a soldier in the army, and AmeriCorps Alums were equivalent to a soldier in the National Guard, someone who could be called to action if needed.

Over the next three years I rose through the ranks of the AmeriCorps Alums position, at one point even being offered a Commissioners position with the Missouri Community Service Commission. Service enveloped my way of life and I was averaging around 3,000 hours of community service a year directly impacting my community. I took on my local AmeriCorps Alumni chapter and turned it from a list of names on a sheet of paper into an AmeriCorps Alums emergency response team. We responded to tornados, flooding and ice storms that devastated different portions of our state. The most notable of these events was when in late 2007, our AmeriCorps Alums chapter took on the entire volunteer cleanup efforts for central Missouri for a course of four months from a crippling ice storm.

In mid 2008, I was appointed as the Executive Director of the Missouri AmeriCorps Alums state chapter and tasked with developing the statewide program into a cohesive organization. Though funding has been limited, I am excited to continue to fight for a unified organization throughout the state. Recently I worked with AmeriCorps Alums National to pass the Serve America Act through congress and have also been tasked with judging a portion of this year’s Eli Segal Award applicants.

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

I never intended for AmeriCorps to become my career path, nor am I sure it will continue to by a direct career path that I will follow; however, AmeriCorps so greatly influenced my life that I doubt I could have ever imagined the accomplishments I’ve made had you asked me about my future before I joined. Rather than discuss the ways in which AmeriCorps related to my current career path, I think it would be more prudent to explain the resulting factors that have occurred through my experiences with AmeriCorps an AmeriCorps Alumnus.

There are five directly impacted aspects of my current career that I can trace back to my AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Alums experience. The first is Mentoro Inc. I developed Mentoro Inc into an organization that paired college Kertbenian (LGBTQ) men and women with high school and middle school Kertbenian youth; thus forming a Kertbenian big brother/sister program for the rural areas of Missouri that I was residing in. Through Mentoro Inc I also created, through fundraising and donations, two $250 scholarships for graduating high school Kertbenian seniors who had mentored younger Kertbenian youth. As Mentoro developed, we began to create Kertbenian alliance groups for rural counties in Missouri. One of the promotional videos for Mentoro Inc for the “Hatchlings Programs” can be featured here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMh6fFxlZDQ . Mentoro Inc has definitely created a lasting impact on numerous youth in the area.

The second career impact came in the form of becoming a lifelong PeaceJam mentor. PeaceJam [http://www.peacejam.org] is an organization that pairs Nobel Peace Prize Laureates with youth to create a global awareness of global peace and service projects. In my year of AmeriCorps I was one of the first mentors for the newly created Heartland Region of PeaceJam, encompassing the states of Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma. To this day I volunteer yearly with PeaceJam and value all the amazing stories and friends I have made with the organization.

The third career impact came in the form of Be the Change, Inc (BTC) and the ServiceNation Campaign [http://www.ServiceNation.org]. Just before my graduation from Westminster College in the spring of 2008 I was selected out of over 500 applicants to become one of 30 Change Agents tasked with leading the grassroots’ campaign of ServiceNation. As the directing Change Agent for the state of Missouri I oversaw forty different service events and numerous local campaigns to bring awareness to national service programs and creating awareness and support for the Serve America Act. I networked with numerous nonprofit organizations and attended the first Change Agent Academy focused on expanding the education of national service programs across the United States. On September 11, 2008 I attended and worked the national forum of community service with key note speakers John McCain and Barrack Obama. To view some of the amazing work that was conducted between ServiceNation, myself and some of the NPOs please watch this short video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=281VyReIxv0

The fourth direct career impact, and the impact I am most excited about, is the Foundation for the American Constitution in Education (FACE) [http://www.ConstitutionInEducation.org]. I co-founded FACE with the BTC state director for Alaska, Karl Wing. Together we recruited other AmeriCorps Alums and created an organization that’s mission centers around an increased education in American civics in the public school system. One of the main components of FACE is to create a mandatory examination over the US and individual state constitution(s) before a student is able to graduate from high school and to also implement AmeriCorps members into more public schools to help facilitate this education. Currently as the Chairman of the Board for FACE I am overseeing the 501(c)(3) application to make our organization into a nonprofit organization. The origins of FACE can be tracked directly back to my AmeriCorps year in Fulton High School where I was the civics tutor for the high school and saw a lack of understanding and meaning coming from the education provided to the young students there.

Finally, the fifth direct career impact is that of City Year. I am just beginning my last of two years of active service with AmeriCorps as a City Year Corps member. I am extremely excited about all the opportunities and ways in which I can serve my nation with such an amazing organization such as this. To find out more information about City Year please visit: http://www.CityYear.org.

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

Advice for any persons entering into AmeriCorps is short and straightforward. When you dawn your “grey’s” you step out of the role of a volunteer and into the role of a civic servant to your nation. Do not ever forget all the hard work that has come before you, and know that your work that you do as an AmeriCorps member is part of a long lasting service of American Patriotism and Honor. You ARE an AmeriCorps member and you WILL GET THINGS DONE FOR AMERICA.

How To Navigate The Ultimate Job Search Catch-22

by Meghan Oakley

Published August 03, 2009 @ 01:00PM PT

Okay. Here is the situation. You are just starting your career. You have just finished a year of AmeriCorps or completed your Bachelors and Masters degree and you are still working on figuring out the next step.

While you look for your dream job, you get a temp or part-time job (i.e. Starbucks) and live at home in New Jersey. You really want to get a job in Washington, DC, so you spend your evenings and weekends writing cover letters and sending your resume to opportunities that you see online.

What you don't realize, is that as soon as your resume hits the desk of the hiring manager at the organization in DC, it gets put in the "don't bother" pile, because of one little line on your resume "Newton, NJ 07860."

People hiring for non-profit, entry level positions aren't going to consider a candidate who a). Will cost the organization money to interview in person and/or b). Won't be able to start ASAP.

So this is the Catch-22... To get job in a new city, it really helps you to already live there, but to live there, you need to have a job! Three ways to keep yourself out of the "don't bother" pile from easiest to hardest:

1. Use someone else's address: I'm not kidding. If you have a friend who lives in DC, use her address on your resume, so that you can stay in the "plan to read" pile as long as possible.
2. Take a month and visit DC: Stay on a friend's couch and do the search (including networking and informational interviews) from there. Make it clear that you can start as soon as needed.
3. Take the plunge: Move to DC, get a temp job, internship, or part-time job, and spend the rest of the time job searching.

AmeriCorps Alum Feature: Meet Julie

by Meghan Oakley

category: Featured Alum

Published July 31, 2009 @ 07:37AM PT

Name: Julie Balasalle
Program Served In: Massachusetts Promise Fellowship
Years Served: 2005-2006
Location Served: Dorchester, MA (Boston)

What made you want to join AmeriCorps?

When I was in high school I joined an after school program that was supported by Mass. Promise Fellows. This opportunity literally changed my life because before this point I was not academically engaged and did not really see college as an option for me. The fellows really helped me see that it was an option for me and helped me through the entire process of applying and making the decision, which was not a part of our program. They believed in me and saw that I had potential, and went out of their way to help me see that in myself. They pushed me to look outside the box and look at schools outside of Boston, which most kids in BPS don't do. I went to a great school in North Carolina, Guilford College, that was exactly what I needed. Without the support, mentorship, and commitment, of the Mass. Promise Fellows (who I still keep in touch with)I really don't know where I would be today.
When I was graduating in 2005, I knew I wanted to give back to the program that had opened the door to my amazing college experience. Serving as a fellow was the best way for me to pass on what other's had given to me.

What your experience serving like?

My service year was challenging and rewarding. I worked with a group of youth in Dorchester where I grew up, and its pretty safe to say that I learned more than the youth did! At first I was nervous and focused on building rapport with the group, but eventually I learned how to relax and really support them in their goals. The model was about youth leadership, and learning how to foster that while doing it was challenging but so rewarding.
I was lucky to have phenomenal support from the staff at the Mass. Promise Fellowship who trained on everything you could ever think of in supporting youth development. That high level of support and the camaraderie of the other Promise Fellows was priceless during my year.

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

Being on the other side of program planning and implementation was an eye opening experience for me, and one that has definitely changed the way I think about my career. My service year helped me recognize my passion for youth development and supporting youth to recognize and build on their potential. I worked in youth supporting non profits following my year, but then saw that I needed more clinical skills to be able to really understand what services are best and most effective for positive youth support, particularly for at risk youth. That led me to where I am now, which is pursuing a MSW degree at Tulane University in New Orleans. Eventually I would like to use all my experience to effective change on a macro policy level, but only after experiencing what is happening and effective and not effective on the ground.

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

AmeriCorps will change your life. Its a challenging and demanding experience, but one that will help you grow in ways you wouldn't have expected. I would recommend thinking strategically about your AmeriCorps service not as just a resume builder, but one that has the potential to expose you to great personal and professional opportunities. Using your AmeriCorps experience as a holistic way of thinking of personal and career development is strategic, smart, and useful. Even if a field is not what you eventually may want to go into, what skills will this service year give you? If you are working with youth, how will that experience help you in management skills? Organization? Think about your strengths and weaknesses, and what service position will give you an opportunity to strengthen what you excel at and work on the things you feel you need to. Although the monetary issue is not ideal, the investment in your growth is worth it.

I would also recommend people evaluate the specific AmeriCorps program they are thinking of doing. They are definitely all not the same, and offer different perks and benefits. One key thing is to see how much support the staff of the actual AmeriCorps program gives to its members. Do they have monthly trainings? I would also recommend asking to speak to alums of the program to get a different perspective as well. Its a year of your life, so you want to make sure you get what you need and know what to expect (as much as possible) going in.

Picture provide by Julie.