Congratulations to IDS for receiving a new AmeriCorps Program starting September 2014!!!!
Education, Disabilities, Veterans/Military Families, Economic Opportunity, and Health are the Focus of Mississippi's AmeriCorps Programs
State Service Commission Awards AmeriCorps Grants to Thirteen Mississippi Organizations
Jackson, MS - Volunteer Mississippi announced today that thirteen organizations in Mississippi have received AmeriCorps State grants from the Corporation for National and Community Service. AmeriCorps grants are awarded to eligible organizations that identify an unmet need in their community that will be addressed by AmeriCorps members that the organization recruits, trains, and manages. AmeriCorps members may receive a living allowance and other benefits while serving. Upon successful completion of their service, members receive a scholarship, known as an education award, from the National Service Trust.
These programs will support 544 AmeriCorps members across the state who will serve in in-school and after-school programs as tutors and mentors, provide resources and nutritional education to address food insecurity issues and healthy living lifestyles, cultivate school and community gardens, provide independent living skills trainings to individuals with disabilities, complete 9 home rehabilitations, connect veterans and family members of active military personnel to available resources, and provide financial literacy training to adults with disabilities.
Volunteer Mississippi will distribute $3.6 million in funding to these 13 organizations selected in a highly competitive statewide and national process. These organizations are providing a grantee share (cash and inkind match) of $2.2 million. In addition to the federal dollars to be used to operate these programs, a total of $1.66 million dollars will be available through the Segal Education Awards to be earned by AmeriCorps members.
AmeriCorps Programs focusing on education include:
AMERICA READS-MISSISSIPPI: 99 AC Members are serving as reading tutors for low-academic performing kindergarten through third grade students in 30 public elementary schools and early education centers across Mississippi. CONTACT: Ronjanett Taylor, 601.432.6380 or rtaylor@mississippi.edu < www.americareadsms.org >
BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF THE GULF COAST // IMPACT 2014: 20 AC members plan and implement activities related to academics, community service, and health to engage a minimum of 1645 k-8 club youth at the 5 gulf coast clubs. CONTACT: Tawana Banks, 228.896.3770, x329 or tbanks@bgcgulfcoast.org. < http://www.bgcgulfcoast.org/ >
GRENADA SCHOOL DISTRICT: 29 AC members tutor 1,000 K-8 students in reading and math within the Grenada Elementary and Middle Schools, participate in local and national days of service in the Grenada community, and reinforce tutoring through reading initiatives at the local library. CONTACT: Gwen Woodson, 662.226.1606 or gwoodson@grenadak12.com
SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH 1 - COOL Project - 64 AC members provide innovative tutoring and mentoring to 300 economically-disadvantaged k-12 students. CONTACT: Dorlisa Hutton, 601.853.9773 or dhutton@sr1tech.org <www.SR1Tech.org >
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI // CAMPUS LINK AMERICORPS - 80 AC members provide in- and after school tutoring to 300 economically disadvantaged 4th – 8th grade students in South MS. CONTACTS: Samantha Jones, 601.266.5205 - samantha.markland@usm.edu or Maribeth Love, 601.266.5208 - maribeth.love@usm.edu
AmeriCorps Programs focusing on Healthy Futures include:
FOODCORPS MISSISSIPPI: 10 AC members increase vulnerable children's knowledge of, engagement with, and access to healthy food, at three local partner organizations in Mississippi. CONTACT: Cecily Upton, 212.596.7045, x 112; cecily@foodcorps.org < www.foodcorps.org >
CITY OF JACKSON AMERICORPS : 20 full time AC members focus on two specific services: 1) 13 AC members serve as healthcare navigators to 150 clients in targeted communities at five non-profit agencies. 2) 7 AC members provide nutritional information and prepare/distribute a monthly food box to 300 low-income senior citizens/individuals. AC members also create and maintain at least 3 community gardens. CONTACT: Linda Caldwell, 601.960.0746 or lcaldwell@city.jackson.ms.us
UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI // UM COLLEGE CORPS focuses on both education and healthy futures. 122 students, serving as AC members at the University of MS, MS State University and MS University for Women, serve economically disadvantaged children by delivering an enhanced pre-K curriculum, by providing sustained after-school tutoring, and by supporting a summer learning program. Members also provide food and referrals to economically disadvantaged children and families. CONTACT: Sarah Smitherman, 662.915.2592 or sasmithe@olemiss.edu
AmeriCorps Programs focusing on Workforce Development / Economic Opportunity include:
CLIMB CDC // WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TRAINING INSTITUTE AC GULF COAST: 27 economically disadvantaged AC members receive in-depth job training and related skills training in the construction field to become more employable. They then apply their skills to rehabilitating 9 houses for low income persons in Harrison and Hancock counties. CONTACT: Stephanie Mathes, 228.864.6677 or smathes@climbcdc.org < http://www.climbcdc.org/climb/ >
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI // TRIAD AMERICORPS - 33 AC members are trained on the use of the Money Smart financial literacy curriculum and work readiness. AC members then provide financial literacy training to 600 individuals with disabilities who will gain knowledge for money management and financial independence. CONTACT: Jerry Alliston, 601.266.5979, jerry.alliston@usm.edu
Southern MS Planning and Development District - This Planning Grant will enable the legal applicant to work with stakeholders/partners in determining specific needs to be addressed, identifying resources to support an operating program, and developing a solid application for a 2015-2016 AmeriCorps operating program with AC members addressing specific needs in SMPDD's 24-county Twin District's Workforce Area. CONTACT: Marsha Taylor, 601.545.2137, mtaylor@smpdd.com
Veterans AmeriCorps Program:
NORTHTOWN CDC: 20 veterans serving as AC members connect veterans, their family members, and family members of active duty military service members to available resources. CONTACT: John Victorian, 601.842.6073 or j.victorian@msvsn.org
Disability AmeriCorps Program:
LIFE/Project LINC (Linking Individuals into Neighborhoods and Communities): 20 AC members provide life skills training to individuals with disabilities and ensure accessibility of local communities through each of LIFE's six office locations throughout the state. Life skills trainings enable individuals to remain living independently or transition from assisted living back into independent living. CONTACT: Margie Moore, 601.969.4009 or mamoore_jam1@comcast.net < www.lifeofms.org >
