The AmeriCorps Story: Getting Things Done for America

1. The AmeriCorps Story Getting Things Done for America Tennessee’s Community Assistance Corp (TCAC) Evonne Surber-Green, AmeriCorps Director

2. The TCAC AmeriCorps Story • Since 1991, TCAC has administered AmeriCorps VISTA , a public housing statewide initiative. • VISTA members create programs specialize in Education (Tutoring and Child) Literacy, Education (Job Preparedness, School to Work), Health/Nutrition, Tenant Organization, Public Safety, and Veterans. • VISTA members can serve 365 day terms (full-time) and also as VISTA Summer Associates for 10 weeks (full-time).

3. The TCAC AmeriCorps Story • AmeriCorps VISTA members may attend college classes as long as their service comes first and the class schedule is approved by their host site supervisor and the TCAC program director. • Benefits/365 days: bi-weekly living allowance, free health insurance, childcare and a choice of $5350 for college, or a $1500 stipend. • Benefits/10 weeks: bi-weekly living allowance, and a choice of $1132 for college, or about a $290 stipend.

4. The TCAC AmeriCorps Story • Since 2002, TCAC has administered the AmeriCorps State Community Cares program. Created to serve the frail, challenged and disabled in public housing communities. • Since 2004, the program has expanded to meet other crucial needs for non-profits as: Second Harvest Food Bank, Boy Scouts, Anti-drug Coalitions, senior and disabled group homes, Community Action Centers, Rural Health Clinics, Alzheimer's Day Care Centers and faith based organizations that care for individuals with disability.

5. The TCAC AmeriCorps Story • AmeriCorps members serve full-time or reduced terms in the Community Cares program. • Full-time benefits include: a bi-weekly living allowance of $12,100.00, free health insurance, childcare assistance and $5550.00 for college. • Members may work another part-time job and attend college while serving as long as they can meet the terms of their AmeriCorps service first.

6. The TCAC AmeriCorps Story • 2010- TCAC unveiled our newest AmeriCorps program “Making Veterans Priority” MVP • MVP addresses the needs of Veterans and Veterans families by placing members with agencies that target unmet needs of Veterans as regards: • Housing assistance, job skills training, college entrance • Physical health and disability (home modification) • Mental health/Trauma/Substance Abuse • Social networks including service learning social groups for youth.

7. The TCAC AmeriCorps Story • What is your destination? • What is your road block? • Take a right turn - get involved. If your not sure if a full year commitment is right for you, then apply to our summer associate program and try it for 10 weeks. • Signs of success – Last year 26,000 seniors remained living independently because of the TCAC Community Cares AmeriCorps program. 14,000 families living in poverty had enough food, clothing and heat because of AmeriCorps VISTA. 12,000 at risk youth had a safe places and meaningful activities during the summer.

8. AmeriCorps Rooted in America’s Tradition of Service 1933: Civilian Conservation Corps 1961: Peace Corps 1964: VISTA 1993: The Corporation for National and Community Service and AmeriCorps

9. The Corporation for National and Community Service and AmeriCorps • The Corporation for National and Community Service is the federal agency that improves lives, strengthens communities, and fosters civic engagement through service and volunteering. The Corporation administers three programs: • Senior Corps: 500,000 Americans 55+ • AmeriCorps: 250,000 members • Learn and Serve America:1.4 million students inservice-learning

10. AmeriCorps Fast Facts AmeriCorps members since 1994 Hours served by AmeriCorps members Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards earned by AmeriCorps members Volunteers mobilized by AmeriCorps members in 2008 Number of organizations AmeriCorps members served in 2008 AmeriCorps funds invested in nonprofit and community groups since 1994 637,000 718 Million $1.59 Billion 2.2 Million 4,100 $5.7 Billion

11. AmeriCorps TodayMeeting critical needs across America • Teach and Tutor • Mentor Youth • Build homes • Fight poverty • Conserve the environment • Provide health services • Respond to disasters • Recruit and managevolunteers • Much, much more…

12. AmeriCorps TodayThree Programs AmeriCorps State/National AmeriCorps VISTA AmeriCorps NCCC

13. AmeriCorps State and National • Largest branch of AmeriCorps • About 250,000 members serve each year • Members serve with more than 2,900 organizations • Members address needs in education, environment, health, housing, disaster response and more • Sponsors include Habitat for Humanity, Teach for America, City Year, American Red Cross, Boys and Girls Clubs and thousands of other nonprofits • Various terms of service

14. AmeriCorps VISTA • AmeriCorps’ poverty-fighting arm • Created in 1964 as part of War on Poverty • 6,500 members serve each year • VISTAs collaborate with low-income individuals and communities to fight poverty • Focus on capacity building: raising funds, recruiting volunteers, and designing sustainable programs • More than 1,200 project sponsors • Full-time year-long service

15. AmeriCorps NCCC • Team-based residential service • Focus on disaster response, environment, housing, and youth • Teams travel to projects in neighboring states • Open to 18-24 year-olds • 1,100 members serve each year • Members live on 5 campuses: Sacramento, CA; Denver, CO; Vinton, IA; Perry Point, MD and Vicksburg, MS • Full-time 10-month service

16. Who Benefits from AmeriCorps? We All Do • Youth, Seniors, and Others In Need benefit from the tutoring, mentoring, health, housing, and other services members provide. • Communities benefit from having better schools, safer streets, more affordable housing, a cleaner environment, and more engaged citizens. • Organizations gain from having more reach and impact: 92% of sponsoring groups say members helped increase how many people they served to a large or moderate extent. • Members acquire leadership and career skills, earn money for college, and learn how to be active citizens.

17. AmeriCorps AlumniContinuing Their Service and Commitment • Longitudinal studies show AmeriCorps alums: • are more connected to their communities • continue to participate in community activities • choose public service careers in disproportionately high levels

18. Can AmeriCorps Members Help Your Organization? • AmeriCorps serves with 4,100 national, state and local groups. • AmeriCorps can expand your reachand impact – through direct service or capacity building such as fundraisingand volunteer recruitment. • There are a variety of ways to access AmeriCorps resources. • Visit AmeriCorps.gov to determine which program best fit your organization's needs.

19. Why Join AmeriCorps? • To help others • Career skills • Adventure • Benefits • Serve my community

20. AmeriCorps Benefits AmeriCorps Benefits include: • Living allowance • Health care • Student loan deferment • Training • Segal AmeriCorps Education Award to pay for college or pay back student loans • Benefits vary by program

21. Interested In Joining AmeriCorps? • Visit AmeriCorps.govto learn more • Think about how andwhere you want to serve • Talk to AmeriCorpsmembers and alums • Find out what programs are recruiting • Apply!

22. For more information To Apply to TCAC AmeriCorps:www.tcac1.orgor apply online at AmeriCorps.gov TCAC 423.586.7636 Evonne Surber-Green, AmeriCorps Director