Boulder Bluff Grad Remembers AmeriCorps Volunteers

Sixteen-year-old Charles Orgbon has left the halls of , now attending Mill Creek High School in Hoschton, Georgia. But he penned a column today remembering his experience at the school and the lessons he learned from AmeriCorps volunteers.

They stood out and looked like an army of superheroes. In classes of 25 or more busy bodies, these AmeriCorps volunteers helped each student understand what was being taught. Ms. Kimberly eventually had to leave to go back to her home in Vermont … I hope she reads this blog post one day because she was an inspiration to me and so many of my peers. She cared at a time in my life when I was going through a lot of family changes. That is all it takes to make an impact with anyone.

Orgbon has started his own organization, Greening Forward, and has learned more from AmeriCorps volunteers on leadership and crafting grant proposals.

At a time when national service organizations are being increasingly relied upon to provide vital services to communities and growing numbers of citizens are looking for opportunities to serve, we should be looking to national service as a cost-effective solution, not eliminating funding to organizations providing essential support to families and communities in need. I only hope that stories of how AmeriCorps has impacted young people, like me as a student, will inspire decision-makers to continue supporting these programs. 

Read more of Orgbon's blog post on what he learned from AmeriCorps volunteers.