More than 160 AmeriCorps members from across the state will be sworn in Friday in the auditorium of the West Virginia Culture Center at 2pm. The ceremony marks the beginning of a year of service throughout the state and the culmination of several days of training to prepare the members for service.
AmeriCorps engages West Virginians in solving community-identified issues through service. AmeriCorps members serve in 53 of West Virginia’s 55 counties and focus on poverty, economic development, literacy and nutrition, just to name a few.
“The AmeriCorps swearing-in ceremony symbolizes the commitment that these citizens make to their communities,” said Stephanie Yu, executive director of Volunteer West Virginia, the state’s Commission for National and Community Service. “A year of service with AmeriCorps not only changes a community where a member serves, but also changes the member. These individuals are about to embark on a year that will teach them more about themselves, their fellow citizens, and our state.”
There are currently 10 year-long AmeriCorps programs in West Virginia and two summer programs. This year, more than 160 members will serve in year-long programs that include the Appalachian Forest Heritage Area (2 programs), Communities Helping Communities, Citizen Conservation Corps of WV, Education Alliance, High Rocks Educational Corporation, Kanawha Institute for Social Research and Action (KISRA), LifeBridge AmeriCorps, LifeBridge AmeriCorps Veterans Corps, and Mid-Ohio Valley Board of Health. Next summer, more than 500 members will serve with the Energy Express AmeriCorps summer program and 20 members will serve with Ohio-WV YMCA Camp Horseshoe summer program.
AmeriCorps members in West Virginia focus on community needs, recruit and train local volunteers, and increase the capacity of community-serving organizations. Members become better community leaders and receive an education award worth $5,550 that can be used to repay student loans or attend an institution of higher education upon completion of their year of service. Members can receive up to two education awards by serving two years with an AmeriCorps program.
AmeriCorps programs are supported in part by grants from Volunteer West Virginia, the state’s Commission for National and Community Service, as well as other public and private resources. Volunteer West Virginia is a division of the Department of Education and the Arts. The agency strengthens West Virginia communities through service and volunteerism.
Volunteer West Virginia will soon be seeking proposals for new AmeriCorps programs in 2013. Information on applying for AmeriCorps funding is available by contacting the agency at (304) 558-0111 or by visiting www.volunteerwv.org.
Volunteer West Virginia is the state’s Commission for National and Community Service. The agency challenges West Virginians to strengthen their communities through service and volunteerism by identifying and mobilizing resources, promoting an ethic of service, and empowering communities to solve problems and improve the quality of life for individuals and families.
