The City of Dubuque Partners in Learning Program will receive a $210,587 AmeriCorps grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service for fiscal year 2011-2012.
AmeriCorps is a national service program that engages Americans of all ages and backgrounds in service to meet critical needs in education, the environment, public safety and other areas. Its members serve in thousands of nonprofit and faith-based organizations in rural and urban communities throughout the nation. Among other activities, AmeriCorps members tutor and mentor youth, build affordable housing, teach computer skills, clean parks and streams, run after-school programs, help communities respond to disasters and recruit and train volunteers.
The Partners in Learning grant will support a total of 48 AmeriCorps members who will meet vital needs in Dubuque. Twenty-five members will be placed throughout the Dubuque Community School District providing academic mentoring for students in grades K-12. Twelve members will be placed at community organizations including the Multicultural Family Center, Carnegie-Stout Public Library, East Central Intergovernmental Association, Mines of Spain, Crescent Community Health Center and the Washington Neighborhood Development Corporation. Members will provide family and youth activities, enhance neighborhood communications and encourage greater parent/adult involvement in the community. Eleven members will serve during the summer at various parks and summer programs providing fun activities and safe places for children.
In addition, AmeriCorps members will be trained to operate a volunteer center in times of a disaster, participate in Make a Difference Day and Martin Luther King Junior Day. All members must be 18 years of age or older and have a high school diploma. In exchange for their service, members earn a small living stipend and an education award to be used within seven years. Members who are age 55 or older when they begin their service may transfer their education award to a child, grandchild or foster child.
AmeriCorps is recruiting now. Anyone interested in joining AmeriCorps and learning about open opportunities should contact Deb Bell, Program Director, at 563.584.8644 or deb.bell@clarke.edu.
For additional information, visit www.cityofdubuque.org/americorps.