AMERICORPS INITIATIVES

ReServe is pleased to be a partner of AmeriCorps, a program of the Corporation for National and Community Service. Each year, AmeriCorps supports the engagement of nearly 75,000 Americans at variety of ages in service to meet critical needs in education, the environment, public safety, homeland security, and other areas. Since 1994, more than 540,000 AmeriCorps members have served with thousands of nonprofit organizations, public agencies, and faith-based organizations nationwide. To learn more about AmeriCorps, visit www.americorps.gov.

The ReServe and AmeriCorps partnership has created more than 100 AmeriCorps ReServist direct-service opportunities in New York City and Miami, Florida.  Experienced and motivated older adults 55+ can contribute their life and professional skills by committing to long-term, direct-service AmeriCorps assignments. AmeriCorps ReServists create, improve and expand services that address diverse issues such as youth development, education, adult literacy, individual professional and economic development, and adults who are home bound and isolated. AmeriCorps ReServists receive a stipend and a post-service education award. AmeriCorps opportunities include:

Queens Library – Strengthening and Uniting a Diverse Community
A team of AmeriCorps ReServists serves in a variety of roles to improve and expand community-focused services at select branches of the Queens Library. These services include the adult literacy, job development, new Americans and the Mail-A-Book (home bound adults) programs.  AmeriCorps ReServists serve the nation’s most diverse county of more than 2.7 million residents. 

READY – Coaching Students and Their Families Through the College Applications Process
AmeriCorp READY ReServists help over-burdened college counselors in approximately 70 high-need urban high schools. They meet with students and their families to familiarize them with their college options, complete financial aid and college applications, and help them evaluate their financial aid packages. This program serves schools in New York City’s five boroughs and Miami, Florida.

Success Mentors – Motivating Students To Attend School Every Day
AmeriCorps Success Mentors work in teams of 4, each mentoring approximately 15-20 at-risk students by taking a very “hands on” and innovative approach to improving school attendance. The program is part of an initiative of Mayor Bloomberg’s Interagency Taskforce on Truancy and Chronic Absenteeism. ReServe’s AmeriCorps Success Mentors are among an intergenerational team of 300 individuals who were selected and trained from a variety of organizations, including CityYear, BuildOn, Citizen Schools, Children’s Aid Society, Princeton Center for Leadership Training, Lehman College School of Social Work, Partnership with Children, Good Shepherd Services, Wagner College, Counseling in Schools, social work students from Hunter and NYU, and the Department for the Aging. For the 2011-2012 school year, AmeriCorps Success Mentors are serving seven schools across Brooklyn, Bronx, Manhattan and Queens.