Opportunities

Delaware Libraries is seeking applicants for TWENTY (20) AmeriCorps Summer Associate VISTAs, Positions start June 14, 2021 for 10 weeks

Essential Needs Summer Associates
Join our Social Innovation team this summer as an Essential Needs Summer Associate. Libraries are actively involved in helping people every day and are often stretched to meet the needs, even with our partners. Summer associates will be actively involved in listening to patrons and helping them with their various needs. The pandemic has made unemployment its own crisis- people need our help with resumes, job applications, unemployment, health insurance and much more. This means helping people with digital literacy as well as referring them to resources for other essential needs. Some of the libraries have a Read & Feed program for children as well as social workers and telehealth kiosks on site. An excellent training and great experience await you!

House Lights Summer Associates
Use your creative talents to design and lead a community service arts project. Be a part of the House Lights outreach team- work with fellow artists and community residents to understand and create a community profile with a focus on the past year that informs an artistic installation developed in partnership with the community. House Lights Summer Associates will develop a series of community art projects, including at least one visual installation and one performance. Plays, skits, music could all be part of the mix. This is a rare opportunity to hone your craft and learn to apply it in service to the community. This project is a collaboration with House Lights, LLC, Delaware State University and Delaware Libraries.

Apply: my.americorps.gov

In return for their service-
AmeriCorps VISTA members receive a modest living allowance during their service, and have the option of receiving a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award or post-service stipend after completing their service.

Watch:
http://tinyurl.com/h8wu9od & https://youtu.be/QgdRkzLKlPM

Print a Copy: VISTA Summer Associates 2021 PDF

New Castle, DE – Delaware’s AmeriCorps program will mark 20 years of volunteerism and service to the state on Sept. 12 with the swearing-in of a new group of members and by celebrating the many contributions of AmeriCorps alumni during a recognition dinner at the University of Delaware’s Clayton Hall Conference Center in Newark.

The event, beginning at 5 p.m., is open to the public, alumni, current members, nonprofit organizations, prospective members or organizations, and anyone interested in learning more about the services offered through AmeriCorps. All proceeds from tickets sales and donations will further the work of the AmeriCorps program across the state.

Registration is required for attendance and open through Aug. 31, or until capacity has been reached.

Beginning in September 2013, the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) launched a yearlong celebration of the impact of AmeriCorps and its 20 years of dedicated service to America. Through events, service projects and personal stories, Delaware will highlight the many contributions of AmeriCorps members and alumni, while also highlighting important moments in AmeriCorps history.

President Bill Clinton signed legislation in September 1993 creating AmeriCorps, and the first class of members began serving on Sept. 12, 1994. Working through service commissions in each state, AmeriCorps matches a member’s interest to the area in which they would like to volunteer, meeting critical community needs in social services, the environment, emergency preparedness and education. Each year, more than 85,000 people join AmeriCorps. Since 1994, more than 900,000 members have contributed more than 1.2 billion hours in service.

“Over the years, AmeriCorps members have helped build a stronger Delaware,” Gov. Jack Markell said. “They bring vitality, enthusiasm and a strong commitment to making a difference in our communities. In exchange, the nonprofit organizations, government agencies and schools where they serve offer them valuable on-the-job learning experiences. It’s a win-win for our state.”

In Delaware, the AmeriCorps program is coordinated by the Division of State Service Centers within the Department of Health and Social Services. Since 1994, more than 2,400 members in Delaware have contributed more than 3.3 million hours of service at a value of more than $66.9 million. On Sept. 12, Delaware will swear in 125 members who will serve for one year with the Delaware Commission of Veterans Affairs, the Delaware Economic Development Office, Habitat for Humanity, Ministry of Caring, Public Allies and Teach for America.

“For 20 years, AmeriCorps has been a remarkable force for good in our neediest communities here in Delaware and around the country,” said U.S. Sen. Tom Carper. “Without the efforts of these bright young men and women who make up the AmeriCorps, many great volunteering initiatives would not happen. I am so grateful to this program and its good works.”

“Welcome to AmeriCorps members who have devoted themselves to serving our communities, brightening the lives of everyone they help and improving the quality of living in our state,” U.S. Sen. Chris Coons said. “For the last 20 years, the work AmeriCorps members have done in Delaware, such as improving parks, tutoring children, and working with the homeless, has made a tremendous impact on an array of needs in our community. I thank the AmeriCorps members who have served in Delaware and encourage all who are considering serving to check out an event to learn more about how they can give back.”

“I’m pleased to welcome this group of dedicated young men and women to the AmeriCorps program,” Congressman John Carney. “AmeriCorps members have worked to make Delaware a better place since the program began two decades ago. They serve those in need, learn valuable skills that will benefit them in the future, and set a positive example for others. I’m a proud supporter of the AmeriCorps program and know that this new group of volunteers will inspire even more Delawareans to serve.”

In exchange for a year of service in Delaware (1,700 hours), members 17 and older receive:

• Valuable work experience in their chosen field.
• $5,350 to pay for college, graduate school or to pay back student loans.
• Health coverage and loan deferment while in service.
• In some cases, a living allowance of a minimum of $12,100.
• The opportunity to meet new people, make new friends and travel.

For online ticket purchases please visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/americorps-20th-anniversary-celebration-tickets-11779909025.  Tickets are $50 per person or $30 for AmeriCorps Alumni using promo code AC2014.

For more information about the nationwide celebration or details on AmeriCorps, please visit http://www.nationalservice.gov/programs/americorps/americorps20.

For more information about AmeriCorps, contact India S. Colon, Marketing and Media Coordinator, at the State Office of Volunteerism, at (302) 255-9745 or india.colon@delaware.gov.

Initiative critical as country prepares for 1.5 million service members, guardsmen, and reservists to return home in the next five years

WILMINGTON, DEL. – The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) and the National Guard Bureau today announced a collaborative effort to place AmeriCorps members in Delaware and locations across the country as part of a new Joining Community Forces initiative.

Wendy Spencer, CEO of CNCS, and Brig. Gen. Marianne E. Watson,  National Guard Bureau Director of Manpower and Personnel,  joined Sen. Tom Carper, Sen. Chris Coons, Gov. Jack Markell, and Wilmington Mayor Dennis P. Williams in making the announcement at the Boys and Girls Club.

The partnership will strengthen National Guard support services by providing access to the human capital of AmeriCorps VISTA members for all 54 states and territories. AmeriCorps VISTA members will help to expand  the National Guard’s  capacity to provide services for guardsmen and their families at risk of homelessness, joblessness, or otherwise in need of economic stability assistance.

“Today, leaders from diverse sectors – the business community, the nonprofit world, and government – unite behind a single goal: serving our nation’s veterans and military families,” said Wendy Spencer, CEO of CNCS. “National service has always been about applying America’s greatest resource – our citizens – as a solution to our nation’s greatest challenges. We are honored to join with the National Guard and leaders like those here in Delaware to honor our nation’s solemn obligation to the brave men and women who have served their country.”

“A growing concern over the past few years among military leaders is providing for the education, employment and well-being needs of currently serving military, veterans, and their families, especially those outside the gates of military installations,” said General Marianne Watson of the National Guard Bureau. “AmeriCorps members have the power to support our military members and their families at the state and local level with unprecedented ‘people-power.’  As our men and women in uniform return home, it is critical that we tap into this resource, align our efforts at the national, state and local levels, and capitalize on the AmeriCorps spirit of “getting things done.”

“Giving back to our communities is an essential American value,” U.S. Sen. Chris Coons said. “AmeriCorps embodies this ethic of service and community engagement and has a multiplier effect in our communities, delivering much more in benefits than the small investment we make to keep it running. The projects I was proud to help announce today will make a meaningful impact in the lives of Delawareans for years to come. I look forward to seeing these programs in action and thank the volunteers who work day-in and day-out on behalf of Delaware.”

“This partnership formalizes a collective power of people helping other people in need,” said Delaware Governor Jack Markell.  “This initiative offers all of us a unique way to meet the needs of military families who have  already sacrificed so much for their country but find themselves, for whatever reason, struggling in their current circumstance.  It will show how when we work together we can make a significant difference in the lives of other people.”

In addition to the National Guard project, CNCS also announced a commitment of AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) members to the Boys and Girls Club of Delaware to help renovate and restore a former National Guard Armory in Smyrna that is now home to a Boys and Girls Club that serves military-connected children and families.

“As a 23-year veteran of the Navy, I understand the sacrifice our servicemen and women and their families make to protect and serve our country,” said U.S. Sen. Tom Carper. “This AmeriCorps program will put resources and support behind helping the folks who deserve our thanks. The program is a win-win for Delaware and our nation.”

This announcement builds on previous efforts by CNCS to and for the military community. The AmeriCorps VISTA members join more than 4,000 CNCS-powered individuals engaged in service that benefits military families and veterans. Approximately 1.5 million veterans and military family members were impacted by AmeriCorps members and Senior Corps volunteers last year. More than 16,000 veterans have served in AmeriCorps since its inception, applying their leadership and organizational skills as national service participants and continuing their commitment to their country.

The Corporation for National and Community Service is a federal agency that engages more than five million Americans in service through its AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, Social Innovation Fund, and Volunteer Generation Fund programs, and leads the President’s national call to service initiative, United We Serve. For more information, visit NationalService.gov.

Photos are available on Flickr.

NEW CASTLE  – Celebrating the impact that AmeriCorps members have on Delaware’s communities, the state will mark AmeriCorps Week March 11-17 with several public events.

AmeriCorps Week provides an opportunity for Delaware’s 110 AmeriCorps members, alums, grantees, program partners, and friends to shine a spotlight on the work done by members — and to motivate more individuals to join AmeriCorps or to volunteer in their communities.

Whether improving schools, fighting poverty, rebuilding after disasters, providing health services, preserving the environment, or supporting veterans and military families, AmeriCorps members are getting things done. Since 1994, more than 775,000 AmeriCorps members have given one billion hours of service, mobilizing tens of millions of volunteers, and improving the lives of countless citizens.

In Delaware, the theme this year, AmeriCorps Works, communicates the value and effectiveness of AmeriCorps and the programs they support. AmeriCorps state, national and Public Allies members in Delaware will support Connecting Generations, Ministry of Caring, Emergency Services Corps, Habitat for Humanity and the Food Bank of Delaware with service projects during the week. Public events begin Monday with a clean-up at Fairview Elementary School in Dover, where Sen. Tom Carper will address those volunteering, and conclude with work on a Habitat for Humanity home on Friday in Lincoln.

Gov. Jack Markell said Delaware clearly benefits from the service that AmeriCorps members contribute.

“The young people of AmeriCorps bring vitality, enthusiasm and a strong commitment to making a difference to the communities in which they serve. In exchange for their yearlong commitment to giving back, the nonprofit agencies, governments and schools where they serve offer them valuable on-the-job learning experiences. This is the way we build a better Delaware for today and for tomorrow.”

Delaware Department of Health and Social Services Secretary Rita Landgraf praised AmeriCorps Delaware for the impact its members will have on communities this week and throughout their year of service.

“Delaware’s AmeriCorps members clearly demonstrate the power of service,” Landgraf said. “This coming week, we will see it when they help to clean up a school’s grounds in Dover or the inside of the Samaritan Outreach and Distribution Center at the Ministry of Caring in Wilmington. We’ll see the difference they make by helping to clear out the interior of a home in Lincoln so Habitat for Humanity can rehabilitate it for a family or by collecting donations all week for the Food Bank of Delaware. Wherever AmeriCorps members share their spirit and skills, they are protecting vulnerable populations and making our communities stronger.”

“One of the most important things we can do in life is to serve others, and AmeriCorps and its members spread that spirit of service throughout our communities and nation,” said Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del. “AmeriCorps members dedicate their time, talent, and hard work to make some of our most vulnerable communities stronger and I’ve seen first-hand the positive difference they have made in the First State. Moreover, the program helps AmeriCorps members develop valuable skills though on-the-job training and community engagement. AmeriCorps is a program that works, ensuring a brighter today and tomorrow for Delaware and our country.”

“Volunteerism is a fundamental part of what it means to be American, and I’ve long believed that those who engage in volunteerism and service to others in fact get more out of it than they put into it,” said Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del. “AmeriCorps provides a wonderful avenue for people to bring their gifts, their talents and their unique spirit to volunteering. As New Castle County Executive, I helped launch a new AmeriCorps program, the Emergency Services Corps, to help recruit volunteer firefighters, conduct training on CPR and first aid, and provide fire awareness training for schoolchildren across our county. So far they’ve recruited more than 220 new volunteer firefighters and logged more than 100,000 hours of service to our community in the five years since it was created. This program is just one shining example of the hundreds of AmeriCorps programs across our country that are making a difference.”

“As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, ‘Everybody can be great because everybody can serve,’ ” said U.S. Rep. John Carney, D-Del. “I commend the dedicated young people in AmeriCorps for answering the call to serve those most in need. They are a tremendous example for others to follow, and I hope that the events of this week inspire even more people in our community to serve others.”

AmeriCorps was created in 1994 under President Bill Clinton. Working through service commissions in each state, it matches a member’s interest to the area in which they would like to volunteer, meeting critical community needs in social services, the environment, emergency preparedness and education. Each year, more than 85,000 people join AmeriCorps, with more than 500,000 members serving since 1994.

In exchange for a year of service in Delaware (1,700 hours), members 17 and older receive:

• Valuable work experience in their chosen field.
• $5,350 to pay for college, graduate school or to pay back student loans.
• Health coverage and loan deferment while in service.
• In some cases, a living allowance of a minimum of $12,100.
• The opportunity to meet new people, make new friends and travel.

The list of public events during AmeriCorps Week in Delaware includes:

Monday, March 12: Connecting Generations Youth Ambassadors school clean-up, 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Fairview Elementary School, 700 Walker Road, Dover. Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., will speak at noon.

Tuesday, March 13: Book event with Public Allies CEO Paul Schmitz, 10 a.m.-noon, Trabant Center, University of Delaware. Schmitz is the author of “Everyone Leads: Building Leadership from the Community Up.” Public Allies is a national movement grounded in the idea that everyone leads. Its mission is to advance new leadership to strengthen communities, nonprofits and civic participations across the country. Schmitz, who served on President Barack Obama’s transition team, is recognized as one of America’s nonprofit leaders.

Wednesday, March 14: Ministry of Caring Samaritan Outreach Center clean-up, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., 1410 N. Claymont St., Wilmington. Staff members of Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., will be honorary AmeriCorps members as they help with the clean-up.

Friday, March 16: Habitat for Humanity “Interior Demolition,” 9 a.m.-3 p.m., 21064 Mayhew, Lincoln. Open to the public. Habitat for Humanity must clear out the interior of this existing home to rehabilitate it.

All week: At any public event, members of the public can drop off donations for the Food Bank of Delaware.

For more information about AmeriCorps Week, go to https://volunteer.delaware.gov or www.americorps.gov. Or contact Catherine Fox, Marketing and Media Coordinator, at the State Office of Volunteerism, at (302) 255-9745.