Service members recognized during AmeriCorps Week
As part of AmeriCorps Week (May 9-16), AmeriCorps volunteers were recognized at a Vancouver City Council meeting. Volunteers from the LINKS and Washington Reading Corps members described their services and thanked ESD 112 and NWSA for the opportunity to serve the community.
Mayor Royce Pollard declared May 9 through 16 “AmeriCorps Week” at the Vancouver City Council Meeting on May 11. Donna Garton and Judith Guzman Montes accepted the proclamation on behalf of the Northwest Service Academy/LINKS Program and the Washington Reading Corps.
Garton and Montes shared stories of their experiences serving in AmeriCorps with the mayor and the city council.
“My experience was personally gratifying and very valuable to those I teach,” said Garton, who serves as a Citizenship Instructor with Lutheran Community Services and specializes in helping Russian-speaking refugees. “It is a special joy to work with refugees who are preparing for citizenship.” Since February, five of Garton’s students have become citizens.
Montes works with the ESD 112 Parents as Teachers Program which provides early literacy education for children before they go to kindergarten by coordinating Read-And-Play programs at local elementary schools in cooperation with the Fort Vancouver Public Library. “The program helps kids build a love for books at an early age,” said Montes.
AmeriCorps is a national service program engaging citizens age 17 and up in service projects designed to meet critical community needs. Assignments may be full-time or part-time. Some provide benefits such as a living allowance and health insurance. All members are eligible to earn an education award upon completion of service. To learn more about AmeriCorps, visit www.americorps.gov.
Erika Johnson - May 26, 2009