AmeriCorps engages more than 75,000 Americans in intensive service each year at nonprofits, schools, public agencies, and community and faith-based groups across the country. Playworks started our partnership with AmeriCorps in 2004. Since then, we have received over $9 million dollars in funding support and 1,071 members have contributed almost 2 million hours of service.
This year, Playworks Pacific Northwest is proud to have 12 members serving with us at our partner school communities. They are committed to contributing more than 20,000 hours to service during the 2015-2016 school year.
Meet our AmeriCorps coaches! Coach Caitlin, Coach Jake, and Coach T share with us the importance of service and what they have learned thus far.
Coach Caitlin
Being an AmeriCorps member gives me the chance to give back to my community. Through our national service days, our community engagement projects, and other various service projects, I am given a chance to make my community a better place. I think that’s what service is all about: making our community, ourselves, and ultimately the world a nicer place to live.
Coach Jake
I am the community.
I've lived in the Portland area for close to 16 years. Not all of those years have been happy. At one point my mother, my three year old sister, I were living out of a homeless shelter. Did I know it? No, because the people who ran the shelter went out of their way to make mine and my sister's time there enjoyable. They served those in need.
If I can make a child's day, week, month or maybe even year better, it will all be worth it. Not to bring to light all the negative things that happen in their lives, but the fun ones.
AmeriCorps has given me the chance to bring my naturally goofy nature to good use, serving as a hub of fun in a place that, without it, might be less than hospitable.
It takes a lot to raise just one child and not one parent can do it alone. It takes a community of bus drivers, teachers, cashiers, neighbors, police officers, waiters, strangers, and city officials, and I am overjoyed to be included on that list.
Coach T (Tanner)
Service is important because as a human race we need to look out for each other. It is important that we help and give aid to those in need so that everyone can have the same opportunities. Being an AmeriCorps member has changed my life. I view the world differently and do things now that I would have never done before this year. To me, it is not a sacrifice dedicating one year to service, it is a privilege.
The biggest thing I have learned so far is that helping others is the best way to help myself. I have gotten so much joy in seeing the work I do improve lives of families in my community.
Become a Playworks AmeriCorps Member:
