AmeriCorps Week: A Time to Celebrate National Service

“I Have a Dream” Foundation of Boulder County honors local AmeriCorps members as the Federal Government expands National Service Initiatives

The “I Have a Dream” Foundation of Boulder County will join the third nationwide celebration of AmeriCorps Week, May 9-16, spotlighting the vital work done by AmeriCorps members in communities across Colorado since the national service program began 16 years ago. AmeriCorps Week provides the perfect opportunity for AmeriCorps members, alums, grantees, program partners, and friends to salute the work done by members—and to motivate more Americans to serve their communities.

“I Have a Dream” has one of the largest AmeriCorps programs in Boulder County, with 14 AmeriCorps members and two AmeriCorps VISTA members serving this year. Members provide invaluable support to the organization - helping students learn to read, mentoring at-risk youth (Dreamers), and helping the organization recruit more volunteers and better achieve its mission.

“My experience in the AmeriCorps Program has been a wonderful year of growth and new experiences,” said Karly Bjella, an AmeriCorps member working with “I Have a Dream’s” Casa Class. “I love working with the Dreamers and it seems like no day is ever the same. I've gotten to do so many fun activities and travel to new parts of the state. The other AmeriCorps members make this program worth-while and their energy always keeps me going.”

The initiation of the National AmeriCorps Program can be attributed to one of Boulder County’s very own community members. Josie Heath, President of the Community Foundation Serving Boulder County, served as the Assistant to the Director for the White House Office of National Service during the early days of the Clinton administration. During that time Josie was involved in the development of the AmeriCorps program. She served as the White House liaison to the various cabinet officers, the existing VISTA program as well as to the National Governors Association to secure their support for the concept of the AmeriCorps program.

In 2009, the vision is expanding. As part of the economic stimulus package, President Obama signed The Serve America Act, which will increase and enhance opportunities for Americans of all ages to serve by increasing AmeriCorps from 75,000 to 250,000 positions over the next eight years, while increasing opportunities for students and older Americans to serve. It will strengthen America’s civic infrastructure through social innovation, volunteer mobilization, and building nonprofit capacity.

This couldn’t come at a better time for the nonprofit sector which is experiencing a double whammy of increased demand for services at the same time it is experiencing drops in giving and public support. National service helps by providing nonprofits with an infusion of people willing to serve to recruit volunteers and manage programs. In today’s tough job market, national service also provides a way for AmeriCorps members to strengthen their skills, improving their chances for post-service employment.

“The success of the ‘I Have a Dream’ program and many other Boulder County non-profits have been greatly enhanced by partnerships with AmeriCorps,” said Lori Canova, “I Have a Dream” CEO. “We are grateful to Josie Heath for her initial work on the project and for all of the AmeriCorps members who give their time and talent to non-profits in need.”
AmeriCorps members serve with more than 3,000 nonprofits, public agencies, and faith-based and community organizations. Since 1994, more than 400,000 men and women have provided needed assistance to millions of Americans across the nation through their AmeriCorps service.
Upon completion of their term of service, AmeriCorps members are eligible to receive the AmeriCorps Education Award of $4,725, which can be used to pay back student loans or cover future tuition costs.

Great Photo Opportunity: See AmeriCorps members in action, tutoring and mentoring Dreamers, or taking them on a field trip. Contact Lori Canova to set up.

About “I Have a Dream” Boulder
Since 1990, the “I Have a Dream”® Foundation of Boulder County has helped 450 children from low-income areas achieve their education and career goals by providing long-term personal and academic support, tutoring, mentoring and four-year tuition-assistance scholarships to each graduating student. The organization adopts entire groups of students from elementary schools, or from low-income public housing sites and works with these children and their families through high school. Currently, there are six “I Have a Dream” classes in Boulder County, in Boulder, Longmont and Lafayette.

The program doubled expected graduation rates for its first two graduating classes of students, and awards over $90,000 in scholarships each year. The program follows the national model established in New York in 1981 by founder Eugene Lang. Since then, 180 Projects nationwide have helped more than 14,000 students. The “I Have a Dream”® Foundation of Boulder County’s main office is located at 3012 Sterling Circle, Suite 200, Boulder, CO 80301. For more information about “I Have a Dream” Boulder, call 303-444-3636 or visit www.ihadboulder.org.