More than 180 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 two days of training to prepare the members for service. The training this year will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the AmeriCorps program. It will include a service project on Friday morning where members will pack weekend food backpacks for elementary school children.
AmeriCorps engages West Virginians in solving community-identified issues through service. AmeriCorps members serve most 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 11 year-long AmeriCorps programs in West Virginia and two summer programs. This year, more than 180 members will serve in the year-long programs across the state. Next summer, more than 520 members will serve with the Energy Express AmeriCorps and Camp Horseshoe summer programs.
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.
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, by visiting www.volunteerwv.org.
