05/31/2009
Ten new AmeriCorps volunteer positions will be filled starting as early as July 1, almost doubling the AmeriCorps program, which assists with outreach and community revitalization and improvement programs in Cortland County.
The AmeriCorps positions will be funded by a one-time $99,944 federal grant, said the project director, Richard Kendrick, who chairs the Sociology and Anthropology Department and directs the College's Institute for Civic Engagement.
The money was awarded to SUNY Cortland and the community by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), with funds from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.
The five full-time, three half-time and two quarter-time positions will be at four agencies already involved in the program: Family Counseling Services, Cortland City Youth Bureau, the YWCA and Lime Hollow Center for Environment and Culture. Two that are new to AmeriCorps are: Cortland Area Community Action Program (CAPCO) and the Cortland Child Development Program.
"These new positions are beneficial to the community because the AmeriCorps folks are serving at a number of local agencies that have experienced budget cuts due to the struggling economy," said Kendrick. "They will help these organizations to provide the same level of services to the community that they are used to."
The full-time volunteers will perform 1,700 hours of service over their year with AmeriCorps, which is roughly like a full-time job with a couple of weeks of vacation, said Kendrick.
"The volunteers provide a wide variety of services such as child care, run summer programs and act as youth mentors," explained Kendrick.
Those full-time members who complete their service earn a Segal Education Award of $4,725 to pay for college, graduate school or to pay back qualified student loans. Those who serve part-time receive a partial award. AmeriCorps members also earn a stipend during their term of service, and full-time members are eligible for benefits such as health care.
Last fall, 11 volunteers, equivalent to 10 full-time workers, were placed in 10 agencies in the county because of a $199,900 grant secured by CNCS. Two more volunteers are being added this summer to bring the total number to 13, Kendrick said.
In addition to the agencies listed above, since last year volunteers have worked in a variety of roles with Cornell Cooperative Extension in Cortland, Cortland Downtown Partnership, the Institute for Civic Engagement, Cortland County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Seven Valleys Health Coalition.
Each year, AmeriCorps offers 75,000 opportunities around the nation. AmeriCorps members tutor and mentor disadvantaged youth, fight illiteracy, improve health services, build affordable housing, teach computer skills, clean parks and streams, manage or operate after-school programs and help communities respond to disasters.
For more information or to apply to the AmeriCorps program, contact Manny Lann, who directs the Cortland County Youth Bureau and serves as the project coordinator for AmeriCorps in Cortland, at (607) 753-5067 or elann@cortland-co.org, or Kendrick at (607) 753-2481 or richard.kendrick@cortland.edu.