Welcome!
Serve Northwest Washington is a resource to connect volunteer communities in northwest Washington including AmeriCorps members, volunteer centers, non-profits, and individuals. We are proudly sponsored by the Skagit County Community Action Agency.
Serve Northwest Washington is made up of over 80 AmeriCorps members serving in Skagit, Whatcom, and Snohomish counties. Our three teams, ARRA, Northwest Washington Reading Corps, and Skagit VISTA focus on these service areas: food access, homelessness, education, weatherization, non-profit capacity building, health care access, and volunteerism.
Here you'll find:
- National service job opportunities through AmeriCorps State and VISTA, as well as resources for applying successfully to AmeriCorps programs nationwide.
- Volunteer opportunities through local centers and other online resources.
- Pertinent articles about service, non-profits and more!
Thank you, NWWRC 2009-10 Team!
Today marks the final day of service for the VISTA members who served on our team this year, thus wrapping-up our 2009-10 program year. Many thanks to all of you for the awesome service you provided to your communities this year!
Peace Corps needs teachers!
I can't believe it! The end of June and nearly all of the Washington Reading Corps positions are filled!
This summer has proven to be the most successful recruitment season since I started working with the Washington Reading Corps five years ago. I've heard from other AmeriCorps directors across the state that they have also had record numbers of applicants. Not only have we experienced quantity, but we've also seen an increase in the quality of our applicants: Masters Degrees in education, years of teaching experience, energy, passion for service, tons of community involvement, and much more. When I first began as a recruiter, it was like pulling teeth to get people to apply. Now, we're wait listing people who could run this program with their eyes closed and one arm tied behind their back!
However, yesterday I was shocked to hear that not all national service programs are experiencing this same bliss. I met with Kristina Lavcevic, a Peace Corps recruiter from the Seattle office. Surprisingly, she informed me that Peace Corps is having the opposite problem: too many positions and not enough applicants. They are having an especially hard time filling teaching positions. WHAT? When I thought of all of the out of work teachers in this country, I was floored!
I remember graduating from college in 2004 with the dream of serving in the Peace Corps. But just as I began my application, I was informed that without job experience, it was impossible to get in, and that even if you were lucky enough to get placed, it would take a year and most likely you would end up in Siberia. I, like many others, have continued to assume that getting in to Peace Corps was about as likely as getting in to Fort Knox. Kristina implored me to get the word out that Peace Corps needs you, and they need you now!
I'm not surprised that AmeriCorps programs are getting tons of applications this year. Now that unemployment is at an all time high, and many skilled folks are getting laid off, suddenly the monthly stipend, benefits, and education award don't sound so bad. President Obama pushed AmeriCorps into the spotlight when he signed the Serve America Act and asked for a renewed call to service. The Baby Boomer generation heard this call from JFK, and now their children, the Millennials, have their own. I think it was something we as a generation needed after the helpless feeling created by the aftermath of September 11, 2001. Renewing the call to service reinvigorated our communities, and gave us a purpose. Five years ago, it was rare to meet someone who had heard of AmeriCorps. Now, when I say, "I work for AmeriCorps," people actually know what I'm talking about!
So why isn't the renewed call to service invigorating the Peace Corps? Is it because people want to stay closer to home? Is a 10 month or year long commitment in your own country more appealing than 2 years overseas? What do you think?
Please join me in getting the word out about Peace Corps. If someone you know is out of work and they have skills in education, agriculture, business, or natural resources, tell them to consider Peace Corps! Wait out the recession in another country, doing great things for the most underserved communities. It could be the most amazing two years of your life!
Mysteries of the Education Award Revealed!
This man knows a thing or two about the AmeriCorps education award.
AmeriCorps members in NW Washington, you are invited to attend a free training on using your education award, hosted by the Northwest Washington Reading Corps, starring Bradon Rogers, AmeriCorps Education Award Extraordinnaire.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
Friday, June 18th, 10:00 am* - 1:00 pm at the Burlington Public Library, 820 E. Washington Ave, Burlington, WA.
We at Serve Northwest Wa are very lucky because we live in the same state as Brandon Rogers, who knows a thing or two about the AmeriCorps education award.
Brandon served with the National Service Fellowship program in 2001, with the task of helping former AmeriCorps members better understand the financial aid process when applying to college. What he discovered, however, was that many AmeriCorps members were actually losing valuable education money and paying ridiculous taxes because of misunderstandings of how the education award should be used to pay for college tuition.
Thankfully for all of us, Brandon changed his project focus to help clarify the rules about the education award with financial aid offices across the country. His study also gave recommendations to the Department of Education and the National Service Trust on how to better communicate with each other so that former AmeriCorps members will be able to maximize their education awards.
If you have recently filled out a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), then you have seen Brandon's handiwork. Worksheet C on the FAFSA asks you to report any AmeriCorps income earned in the past tax year, including your living stipend and payments made with your education award. This amount of money automatically gets deducted from your income, which is the amount of money that determines how much aid you will get. So if you were an AmeriCorps member serving from January 1st to December 31st last year, ALL of your income would be deducted, and your contribution would be $0, thus qualifying you for the maximum amount of financial aid. Pretty cool, huh?
If it weren't for Brandon's findings and recommendations, many of us would continue to lose out on effectively paying for college. He's a real AmeriCorps hero.
If you'd like to learn more about how to get the most out of your education award like paying for study abroad programs or buying a computer, then come to his workshop this Friday!
*Northwest Washington Reading Corps and ARRA AmeriCorps members will arrive at 9:00am for our regularly scheduled team meeting.
Now hiring for SCORE AmeriCorps!
AmeriCorps members sort toiletries for a local shelter.
We have been incredibly lucky this year to have an overwhelming number of applicants for the Northwest Washington Reading Corps. So many, in fact, that we are now having to wait list new applications. But that is not the end of your chances of getting a position with us!
If tutoring kids isn't your thing, and you'd like to give back to the community by serving in AmeriCorps, then you should consider applying to SCORE AmeriCorps.
SCORE stands for Skagit County Opportunities, Resources, and Energy. The mission of SCORE AmeriCorps is to provide economic opportunity for disadvantaged individuals including financial literacy, housing assistance, job training, and nutritional assistance, and to address unmet energy-efficiency and environmental needs of low-income individuals in Skagit County.
This is a brand new program made possible by the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act of 2009. We have 12 positions available at various non-profit agencies in Skagit County. Here are a few of the places where our AmeriCorps State members will work:
- Habitat for Humanity
- Skagit Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services
- Skagit Housing Authority
- Northwest Agriculture Business Center
- Community Action Housing Program
- Community Action Food Program
A few quick facts about this program:
- 12 AmeriCorps State positions on a team-based project
- All positions start September 1st and end July 15th
- Benefits: professional development, health benefits, travel reimbursement, student loan forbearance, $1050/monthly stipend, childcare, $5350 education award upon successful completion of service
For more information on SCORE AmeriCorps, contact Jennifer Rice at jen@servenorthwestwa.org or (360) 588-5720. To find positions on the AmeriCorps website, type "SCORE" in the advance search toolbar.
2010-2011 Reading Corps Applications on Wait List
A friendly notice from your NWWRC Program Assistant, Yana Way:
Because of the large number of incoming applications for the 2010-2011 service year, all future applicants will be put on a wait list. This isn't to discourage you from applying (or reapplying), but positions have filled up quickly. Thanks for your patience and understanding.
On a related note, feel free to look here: http://nationaljobs.washingtonpost.com/a/all-jobs/list/q-Americorps... other AmeriCorps job opportunities can searched by city!
1st Annual Have a Heart Run, May 22nd!
Hey everyone!
Do you like to run? Do you need extra service hours? Or do you just want to kick it with your Americorps buddies? On Saturday, May 22nd, you can sign up to to participate in the race for the SCCAA's annual Have a Heart Run fundraiser at Edgewater Park (in West Mount Vernon)! Registeration is from 8:15 - 9:15am, and the race starts at 9:30!
There's $30 entry fee ($35 the day of, $60 if you're getting pledges to supplement the entry fee), but it's for a great cause: proceeds go into the programs with the biggest immediate need, and every year, Community Action provides the tools to over 36,000 people to move beyond crisis and onto the pathways of self-sufficiency.
Skagit Volunteer Center: Open for business!
Remember a few weeks ago when I mentioned we'd be opening a volunteer center? Well, after many months of planning and physical labor, I am proud to announce that the Skagit Volunteer Center is open for business! We are holding drop in hours for volunteers Monday through Thursday, 10:00am - 12:00pm or by appointment from 8:30 to 4:30. We're using the space to inform the community about ways they can get involved!
You are officially invited to attend our Grand Opening celebration on May 26th, 3:30-5:30 at 2221 Riverside Drive, Mount Vernon. We will have a ribbon cutting ceremony, dedication to longtime volunteer Bill McIlraith, food, and schmoozing. It will be a great day!
Here are a few pictures of the process of our renovations!
Iwillchangeyourlife@HireMePlease.com
Today I came across this article about what your email address says about you to potential employers. As someone who hires people, I quickly found myself spitting water out of my nose as I flashed back to my all time favorite WORST email: partygrrrrrrl420@[I'm really not going to give this out].com. Wait, maybe there was another "r" in there. Hard to be sure.
Did I mention this was on an application for an elementary school literacy tutor?
All right guys and gals, get out your pencils for a pop quiz!
Q: Why didn't partygrrrrrrl420 get an interview?
- Quinn was worried that this applicant might bring a beer bong to school.
- Quinn had visions of students asking, "Why do you always smell like a fire and look tired during morning reading?"
- Quinn was terrified of who might show up for the interview.
- All of the above....and more!
If you said "All of the above....and more!" you are correct! If you didn't get it right, you should keep reading.
Here are few tips:
- Your Name@- Use your name! Employers will get to know you in your application, resume, cover letter, and hopefully, your interview. The most important thing in the application process is that they remember YOU, not your extracurricular activities. Also, using your name makes it much easier for employers to find the emails you've sent them. I won't remember that Mikey Torkelson loves Creed (and I wouldn't hire him on pure principle if I knew that). But I would remember a last name like Torkelson, so m.torkelson@... is much better than mikeyheartscreed@... for so many reasons.
- @SomethingI'veHeardOf.com - Where your email is hosted might say something potentially negative about you. Although I gotta admit I love the fact that I once had an applicant whose email was hosted ...@Elvis.com. It stood out to me and, though I hired her, it was because she was a fantastic applicant, not because we shared a love for the King. Because you never know who is reviewing your resume, just remember they may have bad associations with things you like, like Creed. If you have a creative host for your email address, make a new one with a free site like Gmail, Hotmail, or Yahoo, and have that forwarded to mikeyheartscreed@thekingisalive.com. It's free, easy to sign up, and easy to forward. Done and done.
- Dontwannaknowyourdrugofchoice@ - Echoing point 1, it isn't advisable to share your extracurricular activities, especially those that include illegal or controlled substances. Employers don't want to hear about it, and, frankly, it just isn't professional . Maybe at the work holiday party after a couple years you and your boss will discover you have a mutual talent for shot-gunning PBR; however, you should wait until that relationship has been established.
Now I'm not hating on all unconventional and/or creative email addresses. I'm just hating on them WHEN YOU PUT THEM IN AN APPLICATION FOR A JOB. You really could be giving people the wrong idea. Think of your email address like the gateway to your interview. Would you show up to an interview and say, "Dude, I just chugged three beers at Happy Hour at Red Robin!" Probably not. So just don't put it on your resume via your email address.
Now, I must end with my favorite email adresses from applicants over the years. Some are examples of what not to do, while others just made me laugh (details have been changed to protect the innocent):
reallyanemailaddress@...
specialkgirl@
kimberlysdaddy@
ireallyhatethecomputer@...
horselover@...
Americorps is Good For You… and Your Country!
Okay, okay, maybe that title sounds a bit propoganda-esque or something. But really. Check out John Bridgeland and Alan Khazei's April 23rd article in the Huffington Post on how service bolsters the economy and helps communities throughout America!
Here are some excerpts/fun facts from that article:
"At AmeriCorps, 79% of its state and national alumni reported that the organization gave them exposure to new career options. Sixty-seven percent reported that their service gave them an advantage in trying to find a job."
"And the desire to serve is clear... this is the third straight year in which applications have grown by more than 30%. AmeriCorps experienced a 170% increase in online applications, from 91,399 in 2008 to 246,842 in 2009."
"Engaging young Americans in service to the nation, especially in a time of war, would teach the next generation about their duties on the home front, foster civic habits over a lifetime, and make them more employable right at a time when more jobs are becoming available after their year or two of national service."
Sara Holodnick is good for America.
UW Law School Looking For Community Service On Resumes!
US News and World Report recently interviewed the higher ups at the University of Washington School of Law regarding the admission process, and it turns out that as of late, the UW has been specifically looking for "commitment to public service" on post-college resumes as a way to filter applicants! This definitely includes the AmeriCorps VISTA and State positions, as well as Teach for America and the Peace Corps!
This is rad for us because even in our increasingly competetive workforce and education system, our year of service sets us apart in the eyes of school administrators, and that's valuable beyond well beyond stipend and grant. Also, it's good press on one of the (many) perks of what we do! Click here for the full story on this awesomeness!
Americorps: still awesome.