The support of essential community programs across America by millions of volunteers and members working through service organizations and local non-profits like The DREAM Program will be the focus of AmeriCorps Week March 9-15.
For over 19 years, DREAM has partnered with AmeriCorps to provide comprehensive mentoring programs in an effort to close the opportunity gap in Vermont and in Boston and Philadelphia starting in 2009. In Vermont alone, DREAM and other organizations operate over 300 service sites run by 2,300 volunteers and members, supported by $8.7 million in AmeriCorps and local funding.
“AmeriCorps partners with organizations like The DREAM Program, who recruit and train residents who want to strengthen their community,” said Jennifer Bastress Tahmasebi, Interim Agency Head of AmeriCorps. “Organizations like DREAM engage Americans from all backgrounds in service activities that improve lives and strengthen communities all across the country. We are thankful for their partnership and proud of their work.”
This year's AmeriCorps Week theme – AmeriCorps Works For America – celebrates volunteers, programs, leaders, and dedicated members like DREAM’s Alex Bregy who has worked as a mentor and afterschool enrichment coordinator in Bennington for over two years. During that time, Bregy launched an innovative teen program, shared his love of creative writing by teaching it to mentees, and became certified in Youth Mental Health First Aid. These experiences helped him acquire important professional skills like public speaking, planning, communications, and team coordination.
“I have really enjoyed working with DREAM, especially in the long term, since I have gotten to see our mentees grow and thrive over time,” said Bregy. “The skills I have developed while working with DREAM have benefitted me in my academic and professional endeavors and provided me with some great professional development opportunities.”
As DREAM expands across the Northeast, adding to its 55-plus programs serving over 800 youth in Vermont, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania, its relationship with AmeriCorps will be critical to hiring enough members to maintain high quality programming. Nolan Benoit, youth service director, said AmeriCorps makes it possible for the Northern Vermont chapter to hire 25 part-time members during the school year to serve in eight communities. In the summer, DREAM hires over 30 AmeriCorps members to lead free summer camps in the same areas.
“In so many ways, AmeriCorps is the backbone of the work we do,” said Benoit. “Those members recruit mentors, lead the mentor groups, and build strong connections with the communities and mentees they're serving. “Thanks to AmeriCorps we are able to serve so many more youth and have a much greater impact on our community.”
Since its founding in 1994, AmeriCorps has worked with over 1.2 million Americans and hundreds of thousands of AmeriCorps Senior volunteers to provide billions of hours of service across America. They have aided 2.2 million people with food security, helped more than 900,000 youth in 9,500 schools, supported disaster recovery efforts, invested in substance use disorder programs, and helped older adults and people with disabilities with independent living services.
“I have met some of the most amazing people through this program,” said Abby Brooks, a DREAM mentor for almost four years and part-time mentor coordinator for the past two. “The most impactful experience has been watching my mentee and her sisters grow up. Seeing the three girls interact with each other in such a supportive way and watching that grow has been such a wonderful thing to witness. I feel lucky that I have been part of their lives.”
The DREAM Program and AmeriCorps members can celebrate AmeriCorps Week in the following ways:
Kickstart AmeriCorps Week celebration on Day of the A. Show off your AmeriCorps gear – new logo, old logo – it doesn't matter! Don your favorite tee, break out your old baseball cap, or show off your AmeriCorps-themed arts and crafts project. Share a photo on your social media on Monday, March 10, in honor of the #DayoftheA.
Join us in celebrating our AmeriCorps family throughout the week on our Instagram and Facebook, @the.dream.program.
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