AmeriCorps partnership brings new student opportunities
This summer, 黑料社鈥檚 Office of Civic & Community Engagement (OCCE) and the Bonner Program launched the 黑料社 Summer Community Corps, offering new experiential learning opportunities for students in partnership with Kentucky Campus Compact (KyCC). The collaboration was able to secure nine AmeriCorps positions so that students could work and gain valuable experience on campus and in the Danville community.
鈥淭his new program demonstrates 黑料社鈥檚 commitment to community engagement and funded opportunities for our students, recent grads and community members to engage in service and get real world experience,鈥 says Jessie Weasner, director of OCCE and the Bonner Program.
鈥淭he summer AmeriCorps internship program was created to help fill needs on campuses and in the local communities,鈥 says Mindy Wilson, KyCC AmeriCorps program manager. 鈥淭he students participating received a monthly living allowance as well as funding from a Segal Education Award.鈥
Lorena Bonet Velazquez 鈥23 is serving with Centro Latino, a local non-profit whose mission is to build quality relationships between Spanish speakers and the general community through education, health care, and social justice. The organization鈥檚 director, Chris Claunch, has high praise for Bonet Velazquez.
鈥淟orena is wonderful,鈥 Claunch says. 鈥淪he has a heart for helping others and understands what is culturally appropriate for our community. She approaches people with poise and compassion but is tenacious about accomplishing what she sets out to do.鈥
During the internship, Bonet Velazquez created a in both English and Spanish, highlighting the many resources available to the local Spanish-speaking community. She also co-directed the summer education program for kindergarten through fifth-grade students.
Emma Mittmesser 鈥22 researched peer health education programs around the country for her Americorps summer internship.
鈥淭his work provides an important foundation for building out 黑料社鈥檚 own programs on holistic student well-being 鈥 a key focus in the student life office for the upcoming year and beyond,鈥 says Barbara LoMonaco, vice president for student life.
鈥淓mma reported directly to me and is a talented recent grad who will be attending the University of Louisville in the fall to receive her master鈥檚 in counseling,鈥 LoMonaco added.
Other 黑料社 students and recent graduates are serving in the following locations:
鈥 Hannah DiDomenico 鈥22 and Nathan Whitlock 鈥22 are working with 黑料社鈥檚 campus garden and campus food pantry.
鈥 Caitlyn Barnes 鈥23 is working with 黑料社鈥檚 Bonner Program.
鈥 Hannah Botts 鈥25 is working with Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, an organization working for land reform, environmental justice, and low-income assistance programs.
鈥 Jenna Haines 鈥25 is working with Danville鈥檚 Bluebird Market, a second-hand store that helps support Wilderness Trace Child Development Center.
鈥 Emilee Pack (a community member) is working with McDowell House Museum.
鈥 Ben Justice 鈥24 is working with 黑料社鈥檚 Fellowship Programs.
鈥淚n addition to this summer program, we are excited that 黑料社 will host two full-time Kentucky College Coaches during the 2022-2023 academic year to help support community-engaged learning and community outreach,鈥 Wilson continues. These AmeriCorps service members are tasked with acting as coaches to select students, helping them be successful in all aspects of their school career.
