FEATURE
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Photo illustration by Valerie Skubal
Taking it out. Telling a complete stranger about the most personal experiences of your life may seem weird at first, but therapy can be beneficial to your health. Allevating problems can allow you to regain focus on academics, relationships and other Taking it out. Telling a complete stranger about the most personal experiences of your life may seem weird at first, but therapy can be beneficial to your health. Allevating problems can allow you to regain focus on academics, relationships and other
program or organization. State and National member Kendra Davis, Newton graduate, works full time at the Social Service League Thrift Store, 905 Rhode Island St. She collects items from donors and organizes them in the store, barters and banters with regular shoppers and stashes their payments for toy keyboards and old leather belts in the purple tanny pack slung around her hips. Davis works every day the store is open — Wednesday through Saturday. Occasionally she works on related projects outside the store, which currently include preparations for an Earth Day fashion show and establishing donation sites for move-out week at the KU dorms.
Davis also works extra hours outside of AmeriCorps as a waitress to supplement her meager monthly stipend of about $800. Living on that amount is doable but difficult, and she says she's willing to exchange a few free nights for a few extra bucks in the bank. "You figure out what your priorities are," Davis says. If your priority is to have lots of free time, then you figure out how to make the $800 last the whole month."
Davis' friend and fellow AmeriCorps member Paige Blait, however, got a crash course in budgeting when she returned from a three-week vacation to Costa Rica with $3 left in her bank account.
"I was like. 'What am I going to do for the next 12 days? I guess I'll ride my bike to work, and not go out, and tent movies from the library." Blair says. "I feel like that skill will benefit me for the
rest of my life because I know how much money
I really need and what treats are expendable."
AmeriCorps members like Davis and Blair often have the freedom to work a second job, along with the 1,700 hours they must complete during their one-year contract. AmeriCorps VISTAS like Michael Chavez, Topeka alumnus, have a stricter schedule and work about 40 to 55 hours each week.
Chavez works full time for KU's Center for Service Learning, 1246 West Campus Rd., on program and curriculum development and co-teaching Communications 201: Introduction to Leadership Studies. Service learning is "combining classroom experience with helping the community out," Chavez says. The program uses service learning to improve the situation of underprivileged students and teaches them how to be leaders. KU students can become service learning certified by taking classes with a service learning aspect, which are listed on the KU website in many areas of study.
Loeck became interested in agriculture during a journalism internship in Topeka, but she wanted to do more than write about it.
Katherine Loeck, Lincoln, Neb., alumnus, served as a VISTA in Oregon, helping low-income families access fresh food. She worked with the local farmer's market and initiated a community garden project.
"I had been looking at the Peace Corps actually, and was pretty far along in that application process and just started thinking about all my
experience growing up in this country and the problems I saw with people not taking care of one another here." Loeck says, "I felt drawn to spending my time and energy in the United States, because I happened to be born here for a reason."
Loeck's experience provided her with the skills she needed to become a farmer for Kansas City Center for Urban Agriculture, 4223 Gibbs Rd. Farm manager Alicia Ellingsworth says Loeck and other AmeriCorps members she has worked with are diligent and handle situations with tact and maturity. She says she believes it is not necessarily the experience people go through in AmeriCorps that makes them different, but that the type of people AmeriCorps attracts is unique.
Whether you're unsure of what to do with your college degree or you just need a little adventure before entering the work force, serving with AmeriCorps provides invaluable service to others while building your résumé and character.
"I think a lot of the idea of AmeriCorps is that it kind of provides you with professional skills, like a jumping off point," Blair says, "You have the opportunity to learn a lot of professional skills in AmeriCorps, you get a lot of experience doing things that you could then go on and do as your career. So it's a really nice transition."
Frequently asked questions about AmeriCorps and their answers, courtesy of www.americorps.gov
Is AmeriCorps like Peace Corps?
Yes AmeriCorps is often referred to as "the domestic Peace Corps." Both agencies are committed to service, and both offer challenging and rewarding full-time opportunities. Peace Corps assignments are all overseas, and AmeriCorps members serve only in the US. While Peace Corps Volunteers serve for two years, a stint in AmeriCorps usually lasts 10 months to one year (Some AmeriCorps projects also offer part-time opportunities, and some AmeriCorps members serve more than one term of service.)
Do I get paid?
For all AmeriCorps programs, members receive a modest living allowance, and some programs provide housing. You may not save much money during your year of service, but most members find the living allowance to be adequate to cover their needs. AmeriCorps members who complete a term of service also receive an AmeriCorps Education Award.
What if I'm out of school and not interested in the education award? Can I get that money in cash? If you're part of AmeriCorps VISTA, you may opt for a cash payment of $100 per month of service instead of the education award. All other AmeriCorps members are eligible only for the education award.
Can I join if I'm not a U.S. citizen?
You must be a U.S. citizen, national, or legal permanent resident alien of the U.S.
to be an AmeriCorps member.
Is there an age requirement?
of there are age requirements. You must be at least 17 years old, although some service opportunities require you to be at least 18. For one of AmeriCorps programs, the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC), members must be between 18 and 24 years old, but for most there are no upper age limits.
What skills do I need to have?
some programs have specific skill requests in certain areas, and others look for a bachelor's degree or a few years of related volunteer/job experience. For others, your motivation and commitment may be the primary requirement.
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