AmeriCorps

ICHD AmeriCorps State Program

ICHD AmeriCorps State Program

Commonly known as the “domestic Peace Corps,” AmeriCorps is a national service program governed by a federal agency – the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) – and administered in Michigan by the Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC). AmeriCorps is a network of local, state, and national service programs that connects Americans in intensive service to meet our country’s critical needs in education, public safety, health and the environment. AmeriCorps members serve with nonprofits, public agencies, and faith-based and community organizations. Since 1994, AmeriCorps State members have provided needed assistance to millions of Americans across the nation.

The ICHD AmeriCorps State Program places members within Ingham County to work directly with neighbors in areas of food access and healthy lifestyle programming. Through member's community involvement and programming the AmeriCorps Program strives to alleviate hunger, install healthy habits within neighbors, reduce chronic diseases, and work towards a food sovereign community. AmeriCorps State members placed through the ICHD program will provide workshops to neighbors on gardening, nutrition and exercise to increase healthy lifestyles and reduce chronic diseases. Assist and organize food distributions, pantries, meal programs or manage the production of fresh produce for distribution to alleviate hunger, and support community garden programs through garden management, assistance to gardens & gardeners to work towards food sovereignty with neighbors.

The AmeriCorps State Program is not hiring members at this time. Please check back early - mid winter for our Summer Corps positions!
Questions about the AmeriCorps Program can be sent to Andrea Villanueva, Program Director at avillanueva@ingham.org

Now Accepting AmeriCorps VISTA Applications!

The Ingham County Health Department's AmeriCorps VISTA Program is accepting member applications for the following positions, to begin in May 2020!

AmeriCorps VISTA is a national service program that has been working to alleviate poverty in America since 1965. VISTA members serve as catalysts for change, living and working alongside community members to advance local solutions. Members in the VISTA program commit to a year-long, full-time position with a sponsor organization, often nonprofits, faith-based and community organizations, and public agencies and have the unique charge of helping build their sponsoring organization’s capacity through organizational, administrative, and financial capacity.

The Ingham County Health Department AmeriCorps VISTA Program places VISTA members at host organizations, or host sites, throughout Ingham County to focus on project goals related to economic opportunity, education, and healthy futures:

MSU Student Housing Cooperative:
The AmeriCorps VISTA member will assist the staff at the MSU Student Housing Cooperative (SHC) with expanding the influence and impact of the cooperative. This includes exploring options for sustainable policies and initiatives that would reduce costs of maintaining, and thereby living, in cooperative housing, as well as researching potential redevelopment opportunities on existing land and assisting in the potential acquisition of new properties by the SHC.

AmeriCorps VISTA members serve full-time (36-40 hours per week) from May 11, 2020 - May 10, 2021.

Benefits of Service:
Living Allowance of $12,491 (distributed biweekly)
Education Award ($6,195) OR Cash Stipend ($1,803)
Non-Competitive Eligibility
Loan Forbearance for Qualified Student Loans
Professional Development and Training
Healthcare Benefit
Childcare Assistance
Paid Personal and Medical Leave

Questions about the VISTA Program should be sent to Jasmine Hardy.

Jasmine Hardy
AmeriCorps VISTA Program Director
jhardy@ingham.org

About AmeriCorps State

The Power of We Consortium AmeriCorps State Program places AmeriCorps members throughout Ingham County to increase food security and reduce chronic disease in residents by focusing on two project goals:

1. Increase consumption of healthy foods and reduce food insecurity with gardening, food distribution and referrals.
2. Teach community members the importance of eating healthy foods and strategies to adopt better diets.

About AmeriCorps VISTA

AmeriCorps VISTA, or Volunteers in Service to America, is a national service program that was designed to eliminate poverty through capacity building in American communities. The VISTA program, created in 1965 and conceived by President John F. Kennedy, was formally incorporated into the AmeriCorps network of programs in 1993 and now governed by a federal agency – the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS).

The Power of We Consortium AmeriCorps VISTA Program began in 2006 and has placed VISTA members at multiple host sites, or sub-sites, at area non-profits, public agencies, and faith and community–based organizations. The VISTA members commit to one year of full-time service in InghamCounty in the areas of education and economic opportunity. They have the unique charge of building their host site’s organizational , administrative and financial capacity. To view The Power of We Consortium current Americorps VISTA team, visit the AmeriCorps VISTA Sites page.