By ND Commerce
BISMARCK – Communities in North Dakota will celebrate National AmeriCorps Week March 4-11 by recognizing projects and volunteers across the state. The event is designed to create a better understanding and expand knowledge about the North Dakota AmeriCorps grant program.
“AmeriCorps engages North Dakotan’s in intensive service each year at nonprofits, schools, public agencies, and community and faith-based groups across the state,” program coordinator Ryan Volk said. “Its programs do more than move communities forward; they serve their members by creating jobs and providing pathways to opportunity for young people entering the workforce.”
Last year, the North Dakota AmeriCorps program had 132 members serving over 70,000 hours of volunteering. The program received $521,088 in grants along with $710,000 match from local groups.
Current AmeriCorps projects in North Dakota include:
Cooperstown Community Activities - Cooperstown
The Cooperstown Community Activities Authority offers alternative youth programs focusing on health and education. For more information, contact Michelle Zaun at 701-789-0921 or rccooperathletics@gmail.com.
North Dakota Read Program—Fargo
North Dakota Reading Corps is a multi-region initiative to help every child become a successful reader by the end of third grade. The program places AmeriCorps members as literacy tutors in Fargo, Jamestown, West Fargo, Mandan, and Bismarck schools plus three child care centers to implement researched-based early literacy efforts to help struggling readers. For more information, contact Jolene Garty at 701-446-3173 or gartyj@ndseec.com.
Grand Forks Housing Authority—Grand Forks
This program aims to provide educational support to elementary-aged students. For more information, contact Makenzi Smith at 701-795-6300 or msmith@thegfha.org.
YMCA of Cass & Clay Counties—Fargo
Members are placed in school programs as mentors with children in small groups or on an individual basis to promote improved behaviors and skills that translate into academic success. A smaller number of members are placed as healthy living coaches who give health and nutrition coaching to small groups and individuals. For more information, contact Amanda Nordick 701.356.1467 or amanda.nordick@ymcacassclay.org.
Youthworks—Bismarck and Fargo
Youthworks provides direct services to at-risk youth and homeless young adults at its offices in Bismarck and Fargo. For more information, contact Joan Neilan at 701-232-8558 or Lauren Bosch at 701-202-9889.
AmeriCorps grants provide assistance to programs to recruit, train, and supervise AmeriCorps members meeting critical community needs in the areas of education, disaster services, health, environmental stewardship, economic opportunity, and service to veterans and military families.
For more information, you can visit www.AmeriCorpsND.com.
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