In 2008-2009, Rhode Island Service Alliance – Rhode Island state commission for national and community service – is funding nine AmeriCorps State initiatives:

City Year Rhode Island unites young adults of all backgrounds for a year of full-time service, giving them the skills and opportunities to change the world.  Its 40 AmeriCorps members (ages 17-24) begin their year in September, finish in June, and serve on one of two types of teams.  Whole School Whole Child teams provide in-class assistance, intensive mentoring, and after school enrichment programming to middle school students four days a week.  Young Heroes team runs an intensive Saturday service program for middle school students and also provides either after school enrichment programming or in-class assistance and intensive mentoring to students two days a week.  Additionally, City Year corps members work together to plan and engage volunteers in monthly community service events and week-long vacation camps for elementary school students.  Visit http://www.cityyear.org/applynow.aspx  to apply online, or call 401-454-3740 for more information.

The Met/Highlander AmeriCorps Program reaches almost 1000 students at seven small schools, grades K-12.  The program engages two teams of AmeriCorps members in tutoring, mentoring, arts and enrichment activities with elementary and high school students both in and out of school.  Service-learning projects, summer and vacation camps and field trips are all activities available to participants. For more information call 401-752-2671.

The Ocean State Environmental Education Collaborative (OSEEC) is a joint initiative of Save the Bay, Norman Bird Sanctuary, and Roger Williams Park Zoo. This AmeriCorps program has 15 full-time members providing environmental education to local city schools. The four-member teams placed at each site create and deliver a variety of hands-on, experiential education programs to children all over Rhode Island.  The program runs from January through December; recruitment period is September through December. For more information call 401-272-3540.

Providence Children’s Museum AmeriCorps members are part of a team of dynamic and diverse individuals.  Members, in conjunction with Museum staff, create and implement programming for Head Start and inner city after school centers, as well as coordinate volunteers working at the museum.  For more information call 401-273-5437 x134.

Ready to Learn Providence (R2LP) engages a 35-member corps who are placed in library branches, child care centers and R2LP.  They promote R2LP's vision that all children in Providence will enter school healthy and ready to learn. Their focus is on several key areas: professional development activities for early care providers, family engagement activities around early literacy and school readiness, and early literacy activities in association with local library branches and R2LP programs. R2LP's AmeriCorps program is currently accepting applications for the program that begins August 1, 2008 and runs through June 30, 2009. R2LP is accepting online applications, resumes and cover letters until June 1, 2008.  Bilingual candidates are highly encouraged to apply. For more information call 401-490-9960.

Rhode Island Campus Compact’s Scholarships for Service: Bridge to Civic Participation program engages 70-100 college students per year inactive service.  Fulltime students from Rhode Island’s 11 higher education institutions engage in 300 hours of community service over the span of one year in exchange for a $1000 education award.  Students perform service in a variety of areas that meet and match their interests as students and residents of Rhode Island. Service focuses on the areas of Education, Human Needs, Environment and Public Safety.  OneScholarships for Service student, identified as a leader on their campus from each participating school, is invited to participate in the Civic Leadership Corps.  Civic Leadership Corps members play a dual role in engaging their fellow service members in activities through out the year while also providing a direct student voice to the Rhode Island Campus Compact.  For more information visit www.compact.org/ricompact or call 401-427-4841.

Mount Hope Corps is a group of six full-time and two part-time AmeriCorps members who either live in or have a deep connection to the Mount Hope community in Providence. (In 2008-2009 program year, the program will grow to 15 full-time members.) The purpose of this initiative is to help strengthen the community by devoting AmeriCorps members’ time and energy to the key needs identified by the community:  education, health & human services, and housing & community development. The first year's primary focus has been on education (including after-school programs, reducing the drop-out rate, life-long learning, and connecting families to educational opportunities). It its second year, AmeriCorps members’ service will cover the entire spectrum of needs (education, health, human services, housing, and community development). A year's commitment to the Mt. Hope Corps will result in the opportunity for each member to become knowledgeable in each of these areas and become a “go-to” person for other members of the community. For more information, call 401-455-8875.

Communities Connected, sponsored by the Diocese of Providence, places part-time AmeriCorps members in service to address critical needs throughout the state.  Members will serve at least 300 hours during a term of service to be completed by December 2008.  Opportunities include assisting in senior centers, outreach to low income families, English as a second language classes, immigration and refugee services.  Projects may also be tailored to meet the interests and skills of the volunteer. Upon completion, members receive a $1,000 education award.  For more information call 401-421-7833 x114.

The National College Advising Corps at Brown University seeks to increase the college-going rates for first generation, low-income and under-represented youth in Rhode Island’s core cities.  College Guides are recent college graduates from Brown University and the University of Rhode Island, and serve full-time in specific high schools and community agency sites.  Guides assist youth and their families to prepare for and navigate the college application process.  Upon completing a pre-service training program, Guides provide onsite advising and information about colleges, the application process, and financial aid; organize workshops and programming for high school students and their families; provide individualized support with college and financial aid applications; and track the progress of college-bound students.  For more information call 401-863-9574 or visit CollegeAdvisingCorps@brown.edu.

National Direct Programs

These AmeriCorps programs operating in Rhode Island receive funding directly from the Corporation for National and Community Service through National Direct grants:

International Institute of RI  [U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants]
International Institute’s USCRI’s Citizenship AmeriCorps Program is designed to increase immigrant community involvement during the naturalization process. AmeriCorps members serve to establish and expand projects that help immigrants become active participants in their new communities, and to engage local community leaders in the process. Communities can then help new citizens embrace U.S. values, and identify themselves as Americans.  For more information call 401-461-5940.

The Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) places full-time AmeriCorps members in Rhode Island Community Development Corporations (CADs).  AmeriCorps members work on affordable housing finance and development, community outreach and neighborhood planning, and lead paint education programs in Providence, Woonsocket, Central Falls, and Newport. For more information call 401-331-0131.

University Of Rhode Island- Jumpstart working toward the day every child in America enters school prepared to succeed. We know every child enters the world with potential. Jumpstart ensures that those children most at-risk still reach this promise. By providing extraordinary attention in yearlong one-to-one relationships, Jumpstart inspires children to learn, adults to teach and communities to progress together.  The results are transformational.  Jumpstart recruits, trains and supports college students to serve as part-time AmeriCorps members, working directly with and supporting young children Head Start and other early childhood education program.  Jumpstart focuses on building school success for young children by developing their early language, literacy, and social skills; encouraging strong family involvement to help families support children's learning; and training college students to be future teacher and leaders in early childhood education.  For more information call 401-874-2090.

The Student Conservation Association, a program whose 1800 members serve nationwide to protect vital habitats, threatened wildlife, and other at-risk resources in our nation’s parks, forests, and urban green spaces.  This unique experience instills an ethic of conservation and inspires life long stewardship that benefits our members, our society, and our environment.  Rhode Island’s two members serve at the RI Wildlife Refuge on refuge property, state property, and private lands.  The service sites cover over 15 miles of beach face to study the Piping Plover.  For more information call 603-543-1700.

AmeriCorps VISTA

Volunteers in Service to America (AmeriCorps*VISTA) is a year-long national service program for men and women 18 years of age and older committed to increasing the capacity of low-income people to improve the conditions of their own lives, builds permanent infrastructure in nonprofit organizations to help them more effectively bring individuals and communities out of poverty.  

For more information contact Vincent Marzullo at 401.528.5426 or vmarzullo@cns.gov, or check the Rhode Island VISTA website at www.americorps.org.

SENIOR CORPS 

RI Senior Corps is a network of more than 4,500 volunteers who are making a difference as Foster Grandparents, Senior Companions and Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) volunteers.  These programs tap the experience, skills, talents, interests, and creativity of seniors age 55 and over – in more that 650 RI community service agencies.

The Foster Grandparent Program (FGP) offers seniors age 60 and older opportunities to serve as mentors, tutors, and caregivers for more that 1,400 children and youth with exceptional needs.  Nearly 170 Foster Grandparents volunteer in schools, hospitals, drug treatment facilities, correctional institutions, and Head Start and day care centers.

The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) helps people age 55 and older put their skills and life experience to work in their communities.  Approximately 4,200 RI RSVP volunteers serve in organizations (580) that range from hospitals and environmental to local police stations and education facilities.

The Senior Companion Program (SCP) pairs individuals 60 and over with seniors and other people who have difficulty with daily livings tasks.  Eight-five RI Senior Companions are assisting close to 800 frail elderly through supportive community health arrangements.

For more information about VISTA and Senior Corps programs in Rhode Island please contact Rhode Island State Office of the Corporation for National and Community Service:

Vincent Marzullo

400 Westminster Street, Room 203

Providence, RI  

Phone: (401) 528-5426

Fax: (401) 528-5220

Email: vmarzull@cns.gov