Roswell Celebrates AmeriCorps Week

ROSWELL, GA -- The City of Roswell, in collaboration with two of its nonprofit partners, was the first city in North Fulton to receive AmeriCorps funding to lay the groundwork for a project supporting the education of community youth. In honor of that, Roswell Mayor Lori Henry issued a proclamation during this week’s council meeting in support of AmeriCorps Week, March 10-16.

The Mayor’s AmeriCorps proclamation acknowledges the 25th anniversary of AmeriCorps this September and Roswell’s work with nonprofit partners, STAR House Foundation and the Ed Isakson/Alpharetta YMCA, to implement an AmeriCorps education program locally.

Similar to the PeaceCorps, but with a domestic focus, AmeriCorps provides the opportunity for individuals to commit to a year of national service to “Get Things Done” for America, specifically by serving with organizations whose missions are to help address critical needs around disaster services, economic opportunity, education, healthy futures, environmental stewardship, and veterans and military families.

In Georgia, this translates into approximately 500 to 1,000 annual service opportunities in local communities. AmeriCorps opportunities exist in nearly one-third of Georgia’s counties and vary in nature from serving with United Way and addressing access to health care for uninsured and underinsured residents, to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, helping with research and community education.

The City of Roswell, with its nonprofit partners, seeks to provide enhanced academic support to elementary students striving to meet grade level goals, and to improve academic outcomes for Roswell’s next generation. With AmeriCorps grant funding in 2019, the City and its partners expect to enroll up to 24 AmeriCorps Service Members as tutors at three after school program sites, four days a week, beginning in August.

Applicants to AmeriCorps are subject to verification of citizenship for national service and criminal history checks. On successful enrollment, AmeriCorps members are eligible for benefits, which may include a modest living allowance, skills training and professional development. On successful completion of service, AmeriCorps members may earn the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award, for use in paying tuition or loans for higher education, and if over the age of 55, may transfer the award to select family members. Federal student loans may be eligible for forbearance during service and alumni may be recognized in job searches by 500 Employers of National Service.

Individuals interested in learning more about AmeriCorps and about the potential opportunity with the City of Roswell, can visit www.roswellgov.com/AmeriCorps or contact Grants Coordinator Megan Boynton at 770-817-6715 or mboynton@roswellgov.com.

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