This month 40 young men and women have stepped up to give their time and talent to serve our communities for the next year as AmeriCorps members. The reality of these emerging young professionals in service is distinctly juxtaposed against the images of other young people featured daily during the 24-hour news cycle.
The 40 AmeriCorps members deployed by Earn to Learn FL this month will take this pledge:
I will get things done for America – to make our people safer, smarter, and healthier.
I will bring Americans together to strengthen our communities.
Faced with apathy, I will take action.
Faced with conflict, I will seek common ground.
Faced with adversity, I will persevere.
I will carry this commitment with me this year and beyond.
I am an AmeriCorps member, and I will get things done.
These committed young women and men will serve as near peer coaches for postsecondary success. The pledge they take will be fulfilled by empowering high school students from income challenged families to successfully complete high school prepared for higher education success. It’s an enormous challenge, but I can assure you these AmeriCorps members are up to the task.
Continued pandemic-induced isolation, along with other stresses, means virtual success coaching will play a critical role to support students’ persistence, retention and completion of high school and higher education or technical skills training. Underprivileged students will be coached to develop better personal finance habits and learn what it takes to be a success in business and life.
Our AmeriCorps members are currently enrolled, or recent graduates, of our state universities and colleges such as Florida Gulf Coast University, University of South Florida and Florida Southwestern State College. They will serve in Collier, Charlotte, Hendry, Hillsborough, and Lee counties. During their year of service, the AmeriCorps members will gain valuable skills and professional experience.
The AmeriCorps members, sponsored by Earn to Learn FL and Volunteer Florida (https://mcusercontent.com/87c163fcea89600b2bf84b7b3/files/baf101b5-20ac-4633-a045-e7a2d78c2e3d/Near_Peer_Coaching_for_Postsecondary_Success_Sponsored_by_Earn_to_Learn_FL_and_Volunteer_Florida.pdf) , will each be serving 900 hours with a $9,000 stipend for their 12-month service, plus they will earn an additional education stipend of over $3,000 at the end of their completed service. The education award may be used to pay educational expenses at eligible post-secondary institutions, including many technical schools and G.I. Bill approved programs, or to repay qualified student loans.
Join me in taking regular breaks from the 24-hour new cycle to catch a glimpse of these 40 AmeriCorps members in service to “make our people safer, smarter, and healthier.” You’ll recognize them proudly wearing their AmeriCorps tshirt.
Your ongoing financial support to leverage our AmeriCorps Florida federal grant makes it possible to deploy 40 AmeriCorps members for 12 months of service to students this fall. with a total program budget for this year of over $540,000. We invite you to learn more by visiting our fundraising page for AmeriCorps Florida by clicking here. Click HERE to see our major Near Peer Coaching for Postsecondary Success underwriters for 2020.