AmeriCorps Week 2020: College and Career Coaches Changing Lives in Washington State
Since 2010, College Success Foundation has managed a results-driven AmeriCorps program which supports low-to-moderate income, underserved middle school students in our partner schools throughout Washington state. Our CSF AmeriCorps College and Career Coaches deliver CSF’s college and career readiness curriculum to enhance a college-going culture and help strengthen students’ college knowledge and aspirations. This AmeriCorps Week, we celebrate their passion for getting things done.
Sixteen AmeriCorps members are serving more than 2,100 eighth grade students across 15 schools in Washington state. During this program year, our College and Career Coaches organized several local community service projects as well!
Veteran’s Day of Service
AmeriCorps College and Career Coaches volunteered with the Tahoma Audubon Society to prepare plants and local trails for the upcoming winter season at Adriana Hess Wetland Park. This included raking leaves to clear pathways, trimming and removing shrubs and blackberry bushes, replacing mulch, planting trees, and performing other habitat restoration.
MLK Day of Service
Our AmeriCorps members and staff participated in Seattle’s largest tribute event to the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by supporting the Community Meal at Garfield High School. Members helped with organizing tables, carrying items, preparing food, and directing community members during lunchtime.
McKinney-Vento Winter Care Packages
For the second year in a row, our AmeriCorps members, alumni, and CSF staff came together to assemble 82 care packages and distribute them to McKinney-Vento students at Giaudrone, Stewart, and Gray Middle Schools in Tacoma.
“Serving our McKinney-Vento students with gift bags for winter break was very rewarding. I saw how much they appreciated the gift bags when they came to my office,” said AmeriCorps member Alexis from Stewart Middle School. “This experience reminded me that you never really know what students are going through. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in this project.”
Twenty-six care packages were also distributed to McKinney-Vento students at Lewis & Clark Middle School in Yakima for the first time.
“Seeing the joy in a student’s eyes warmed my heart,” said Casey, College and Career Coach from Giaudrone Middle School. “[The care packages] really went a long way for our students.”
“Your generosity made a significant difference in the lives of the students and is very much appreciated,” said Liesl, CSF-Tacoma Program Manager. “Thank you to the CSF friends and family that contributed! We hope to make this a yearly tradition to support our students.”
We are grateful for our AmeriCorps members who choose to serve our state. Your passion for service helps us build safer, stronger, healthier, and united communities across the country!