Millions of pieces of robot equipment, thousands of robots and a couple hundred NCCC members

August 24, 2012, 9:34 am

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One sponsor shares how, since 2005, NCCC has helped children learn about math and science. Her story explains the process of having an NCCC team from concept to completion, with a lot of hard satisfying work in-between.

Hello, my name is Jenny Beatty, and I am delighted to be asked to write this blog post about my experience working with AmeriCorps-NCCC from a sponsor perspective.  This is a story about making connections, working with volunteer -driven organizations, and inspiring students. 

It’s also about robots and getting things done.

Beatty has worked with many NCCC teams since 2005.  Here she is with the Southern Reigon's River 1 at orientation at Disney World 2011.

 Since 2005 I’ve been working with NCCC team members out of the Atlantic Region.  I’ve worked with over 250 members over the years. I’ve heard some inspiring speeches at Induction and gotten teary at the Graduations.  I have taken many photos of teams-lots of Buffalos, Ravens, and Moose, and even a River from the Southern Region where we had our orientation on a beach at Disney World. I’m getting older in these photos, but the teams seem to stay the same – usually smiling, often wearing khakis already filled with paint stains, in the joking-around poses. On my desk I have a handmade card from a team that says “You are a rock star” thanking me for sponsoring them.  I smile every time I look at it because how many opportunities are there to ask people to work long days doing hard work and then they write you thank you notes?

So this story is personal as well as about getting things done.

Yesterday we said goodbye to Moose 5. They are headed to Vermont to a remote area a few miles from the Canadian border after spending the past 3 weeks living and working in hot and noisy inner city Baltimore. Talk about transitions! This is the story of how they eventually got here this summer.

Beatty received this thank you card from River 1 of the Southern Region which she found ironic since she was the one that wanted to thank them.

FIRST Robotics

I first learned about NCCC eight years ago. In 2004 I was hired under a “New Generation Grant” sponsored by AmeriCorps for a non-profit called FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology).  FIRST seeks to inspire kids to enter the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) fields and has a menu of programs which all involve building robots. I became a volunteer for FIRST a decade ago while my son was on a high school team, and then was hired by the organization.

Unlike many of the thousands of volunteers drawn to FIRST - I’m not really interested in robots.  But I am interested in students having opportunities to work in teams, and to experience problem-solving – the skills needed to succeed in life no matter what content area.

There were 15 of us hired (we were given the title of Senior Mentor), and we were spread across the US. Our marching orders were to go out and help start new teams, and recruit and support mentors and event volunteers. There were various competitions that needed to happen in Maryland, and I got introduced to the area of “volunteer-driven event management.” I had always been interested in volunteer-driven organizations and public service, had worked for various non-profits and educational institutions, and had been in the National Health Service Corps, which shares many of the AmeriCorps values.

During the Senior Mentor training we were encouraged to forge relationships with the local AmeriCorps programs and volunteer centers. I knew about VISTA, but not the other programs. So I did some research and discovered there was something called “AmeriCorps-NCCC” and the office for the Atlantic Region was right here in Maryland. I made some inquiries within FIRST and discovered that a staff member in California had a written proposal to engage NCCC members for FIRST robotics competitions in the western region a couple of years before. So I figured it was worth the time to submit a project concept form to bring a team on board for a few days to help with an event we were holding in Maryland.   The concept form, and then the full proposal were accepted and that partnership still exists to this day.

VEX Robotics

I retired as a FIRST Senior Mentor in 2009, but still do lots of volunteering for the FIRST programs-helping with events and local planning.  About 4 years ago I also started volunteering for a program called the VEX Robotics Competition. Like FIRST, VEX also has students building robots and going to competitions and a great community of volunteers helping to put on both small and large events.

So for the past 8 years I have found myself writing NCCC-targeted flyers for ISP’s and proposals for mini-spikes, helping various groups with robot competitions around Maryland.  NCCC has helped out at almost 20 events.

The teams over the years have provided a ton of support with set up and tear down, and playing many key roles at these robotics competitions.

Corps Members from the Atlantic Region Class 17 help set up one of the competition areas for the children and their robots.

Baltimore City Schools Summer Jump Program

In 2012 Baltimore City Public Schools received a 3-year federal grant (i3 ) to run a 5-week summer school program for middle school students based on lessons learned with a program administered the two previous summers.  The goal is to decrease summer learning loss, targeting students who scored basic on the Mathematics MSA (tests). The plan for summer 2012 included 10 sites involving 400 middle school age students, math instruction and forming lots and lots of robotics teams. And the hook to get the students to come to school was building robots. One of the key elements of the program is to provide exciting competitions for the students.

In March I was hired by Baltimore City Public Schools as a short term contractor, working with the summer school team as the “Robotics Events Director.”  My job was to work with the coordinators for the program, pulling together the pieces needed to run the events – finding venues, recruiting and training volunteers and doing what is referred in the business as the “run of show” (or, the game plan for the day) for what turned out to be one of the larger robotics competitions in the US. Only this competition would feature middle school students who had never been exposed to robotics, and unlike most robotic competitions, these students had only 4 weeks and a couple of hours a day to build a robot to compete.

The first hour of the first day on the job was spent figuring out how to get NCCC involved in this complicated effort. I knew it would be different than most of the NCCC projects, but that it did fit in the target area of urban development and it involved a targeted geographic area – Baltimore City.  The job plan would contain many logistical challenges -but I figured it was worth a try.



There were different components to the project – the events, the summer school and the enormous task that came to be known as “kitting” which involved breaking down the components of the robot kits as they are delivered into new storage containers that could be used by the summer school robot building program.  I saw a role for NCCC in all these areas so submitted a project concept. This was accepted, but then it got more complicated because I found out the campus had vacation and mandatory training time right smack in the middle of the project AND the project was split over Round 2 & Round 3. So the project was split into 2 parts.  The Program Officers in Perry Point were very helpful in walking me through the scenarios that could work with the timing, while I was juggling what needed to happen when and trying to craft a good proposal. 

Kits ready to go to sites

 The proposal was accepted. The Baltimore City Summer School Program Coordinators had never worked with NCCC before so there was a lot of sharing of information that needed to happen to put the plan together. The City Schools Program Coordinators also took on the challenge of figuring out housing and how to best use 8 people; working in pairs, but spread over 10 sites around the city and these sites had varying schedules and would require NCCC moving around by public bus.

I saw clear roles for a NCCC team with events:  set up and tear down and moving the competition equipment in an efficient system; playing a major role with the organization and management of one of the key event roles called “Team Queuing” including supervising other volunteers; as all-around problem solvers; and assisting with volunteer recruitment. And then there was the organization and classification of over half-million pieces of robotics equipment and helping with robot building in the classroom. Unfortunately, the professional development (the week to learn about building robots) was during the NCCC break, but Moose 5 was able to learn as they went. Their training in working together as a team was crucial to the effort.


Student on the practice field with some young fans



This summer was a learning opportunity for all. The feedback from Moose 5 will be valuable in figuring out how to use groups of volunteers in the future – hopefully including future NCCC teams.  I know they were invaluable at the events – 2 days of set up, 2 days of scrimmages, and 1 day of the Championship Olympiad. Moose 5 worked hard: they brainstormed with students, serving as great role models;  did a whole lot of heavy lifting, became proficient at assembling the fields; managed key event positions; unpacked, sorted and labeled tens of thousands of robot parts; and played a crucial role in getting things done. They’ve learned a new vocabulary and made a big difference to the summer school program.



Moose 5 Corps Members, Alice left and Chris right, assist with the robotics

 I hope Moose 5 had some fun. There were members who tasted Maryland crab for the first time, we watched the Olympic opening ceremonies (taped), they got to explore many parts of Baltimore, and we even went bowling.  I look forward to seeing them at graduation in November!

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For the Children: Gardens and Robots

August 31, 2012, 12:44 pm

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Read how Moose 5 helps children in Camden, NJ and Baltimore, MD with gardens and robots


Camden New Jersey Children’s Garden has been truly a great experience for all of us here at Moose 5. During our stay, we worked and built up new gardens for the community and children of Camden, NJ. We harvested vegetables, raised beds, helped out at community events, traveled across the city, and even left our mark on the side of a garden shed, manifesting our efforts into a symbolic tangibility. Whether it was helping the kids learn the hokey pokey (teammate, Cecelia) or dressing up as an anthropomorphic bear for a special event (teammate Justin), Moose 5 got things done in Camden, NJ. 

 


Moose 5 member Laura and Project Sponsor Mike Devlin survey the row of green

    

Example of the Robots




















Members of Moose 5 with mulch front to back- Justin, Tierra, Ethan, Chris and Laura

 

Members of Moose 5 left to right- Ethan, Alice, Cecelia and Laura



Moose 4 Member Cecelia with Project Sponsor Mike Devlin

 For the final week of round two, we stayed at the Baltimore Hostel, working with the Baltimore Public School system creating robot kits for local children in preparation for an upcoming summer camp program. We constructed models, created shelving for the parts, loaded and unloaded seemingly endless amounts of plastic bins, and sorted, sorted, sorted. Recently, we helped set up and run a robotics completion. As a team, we accomplished our goals and left a great impression with BPS. 

-          Alice, Moose 5 

Baltimore City Schools Robotics Competition Medals

Example of Robots

   

   

For more on Camden Children’s Garden view their blog here.  The Camden Children’s Garden and the NCCC Atlantic Region are also featured in a news clip about Camden Children’s Garden and Michelle Obama’s new book. See it here

The primary goal of the Baltimore City Schools’ 2012 Middle School STEM Summer Learning Program (Robotics) is to provide additional out of school time focused on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) instruction to help students to gain an appreciation of science and technology, the ability to work in collaborative teams, and to be exposed to research and technical skills as part of the Summer Learning Program at Baltimore City Public Schools (City Schools). The City Schools Summer Learning Program seeks to prevent summer learning loss and to increase mathematics proficiency in City Schools’ students. The Robotics Program is integral to helping City Schools achieve this important goal as this program has successfully been used as a hook for students, and has significantly contributed to the success of the Summer Learning Program as a whole last year.

Two Ways to Stay Sane with Bird Brains

September 12, 2012, 1:24 pm

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Team Leader Keiper reflects how her team Raven 1 keeps their sanity in what can be a very stressful environment.

We live together. We ride in the same vehicle everywhere we go. We eat together. We serve together. We joke, we laugh, we bicker. We are Raven One, and “together we R1” is our motto.

Now, for those of you not in AmeriCorps NCCC, this may not seem like a big deal.  But please, oh friend, please take a step back and put yourself in our shoes (or steel-toed boots for that matter). Now, think, you are with the same nine people 24/7. In fact, you might all be sharing the same large room, or have one bathroom between 10 people. That free-time, that moment of solitude that used to be so easily attained before AmeriCorps is mere memories now.

How do we do it? How do we stay sane in this Ameir-world? Well, to be honest, it can be really difficult sometimes. On top of having little free space, you also need to factor in how demanding serving can be, the amount of hours you work, and the fact that sometimes the work is dirty and not so glorious (pulling weeds all day); not to mention being away from family and friends, etc. There are many, many ways I could share with you about how my team remains motivated and does not lose their mind, but I am only going to focus on two.

The first is simple: we want to be here - each and every one of us is passionate about serving and wants to reach out to our country and lend a hand in any humble way we can. This is the backbone of our team - our passion. We know that nothing worth having is easy.

In NCCC team will do a variety of things to stay sane, including growing tails

Moving onto a, well, I guess you could call it a characteristic my team has taken on. We are an eccentric, creative bunch. Maybe I am biased because I love my team, but really let me give you some examples of what I am trying to explain. We use whimsy, humor, and downright ridiculousness as a stress outlet. We have a team gnome named Bach Lava who travels with us wherever we go and sits outside our door steps, protecting us from intruders and chipmunks. Henry has a magical wizard staff that we typically need to make room for in our 15-passenger van. For our weekly physical training we often do yoga, and one of our favorite stress relieves is the laughing baby. It’s a pose you simply cannot do without laughing. Sometimes, Ashley and I pretend we are archeologists when pulling weeds or small trees. We all have taken on different funny “voices” that we talk to each other with. And we have made up elaborate stories about one another and the people we meet, such as the security guard I am convinced is a fox during the day and security guard at night.



Raven 1 laughs during their PT when doing the yoga pose called the Laughing Baby

 Our shenanigans extend beyond our team and we often involve the sponsors and volunteers we work with. One day, Maddi and Cassie found a hidden treasure when we were demolishing a house: a broken baby arm from a small doll. We refer to this as “The Baby Hand,” and it typically makes appearances at the most pivotal moments. Cassie will shake someone’s hand with it or caress their face. It is a real crowd pleaser. But don’t worry; we know how to keep it professional when necessary. Another tradition is “Pig-Tail Friday,” when many members of the team wear their hair in pig-tails and encourage other volunteers to wear them as well. This too, is a crowd pleaser, as well as our famous “caw-caw” and “two-cheers” chant, which we have taught to many of our site supervisors, volunteers, and staff.

Michael receives a gentle caress from 'The Baby Hand' by Cassie

We have a childish excitement about little things, like using a nice clean public restroom rather than our usual Portable Toilet. Or getting to “dress-up” and wear real clothes and make-up out to dinner for a night. Our birthday parties are more extravagant than when we were kids - sometimes with water balloon fights, pin the tail on the aerators member, and a kiddy pool. It is common for me to walk into the house and hear my team singing. Or to be smacked in the face with a banana peel. Or after shopping to find them dancing in the parking lot to an outlandish country song.

We are outgoing, unique, fun, and whimsical. We constantly find ways to make an ordinary experience an adventure, like when we pretend we are in a traveling gypsy band. But most of all, we have become a family. One of our site supervisors, the lovely Margaret from Round 1 in Delaware at the Winterthur Museum, summed it up very nicely, “they are very unusual, but very, very good!”

~Keiper

“I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living.” 
― Dr. Seuss

Burn out with Raven 1 member Andre as he fights wildfires

September 24, 2012, 2:29 pm

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Andre checks out the view in Suffolk, VA while on the Phoenix 3 team



Everyone’s done it whether it’s been around a campfire or into a lighter, everyone has stared into a flame and been mesmerized by its overwhelming glow and thought of its unbelievable potential power. It can light your way in the dark, warm your body on a cold winter night, or destroy a life in less time than it takes to blink.

AmeriCorps NCCC offers its members experiences that many of them couldn’t think possible. One of those experiences is to be a wild land firefighter. In the Atlantic Region these selected members are known as the Phoenix unit. Each Phoenix is chosen and trained at the beginning of the term and placed back into their respective teams until they are called into service. Each round eight members are plucked from their permanent teams and placed into the honorable position of a Phoenix. It’s a chance for people from different units of the corps to meet and work together and get a chance to have a break from your permanent teams. (Which I don’t really need since mine is so awesome).

The Phoenix 3 team, which included Raven 1’s Maddi and me, had the privilege to be the first team in five years to go out west to Idaho to fight the wildfires that were raging across the state. In a chartered flight of over 800 firefighters from the east, Phoenix 3 flew to Idaho and started their adventure at the Trinity Ridge fire. When we arrived we joined a world we couldn’t have prepared for. The camp site, surrounded by the beautiful Idaho Mountains, was a sea of tents and commotion, trucks and people moving around, going in and out of tents.

P3 goes west - left to rigt Maddi, Emily, Andre, Rebecca, Liz, Erik, Ben and Bobby

Myself and the Phoenix members were placed in a crew of 80 other firefighters and we were known as the Virginia Crew. An hour into our arrival after being briefed on the plan of action to contain the 90,000 acre fire, we were sent to assist other crews to protect the town of Featherville. After two days of hiking up mountains, digging line, and prepping the town for the worst, we were able to proceed with the burn-out operation. (A burn out is a term of firefighting where a section of land is burned and turned to black to stop the main fire from spreading.)

When the day came to start the burn-out operation, we were so excited but then disappointed because it had been canceled due to weather. Just when we had lost hope the weather changed and the burn was back on. Helicopters flew overhead, drip torches set the ground to flame. Trees torched 50ft into the air and we stood facing the flames and around the town of Featherville, making sure no embers flew overhead to start spot fires and endanger the town. As the night grew on so did the fire. Hours after the fire blazed it grew stronger, and faster, and brighter. It was a sight to behold. Just before the sun rose, we were relieved of watch duty. As we rode in a lime green school bus back to camp, before our heavy eyes gave way to exhaustion, we looked back and saw the amazing power of that which is fire.



A few members of Phoenix 3 fire team pause for a photo- left to right Maddi, Andre, Erik, Robert, Liz and Rebecca

-Andre

“Love is like a friendship caught on fire. In the beginning a flame, very pretty, often hot and fierce, but still only light and flickering. As love grows older, our hearts mature and our love becomes as coals, deep-burning and unquenchable.”

-Bruce Lee-

Raven 1 Invites Readers to Ask About Joining NCCC

October 3, 2012, 3:27 pm

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The winter 2013 application deadline (10/31) is approaching!  Do you have questions about joining NCCC?

The NCCC team, Raven 1, invites you to ask your questions on their blog.

The AMERIBROTHERS and the Wall

November 1, 2012, 7:53 pm

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Based on the true story of three men on Raven 1 and their epic saga of removing a foundation wall from the ground to make room for post holes for a fence.

Three AmeriBrothers faced adversity this week. Completion of a simple task halted by a wall of stone embedded in the infinite earth. The early morning air filled the breath of the AmeriBrothers giving them life to tackle this ancient wall.  They chipped, axed, and hammered, but yet the wall remained. The afternoon sun beat down its heat on their backs and faces zapping their strength from them and testing their will and still they hammered on. But yet the wall still remained. The day was done, but the battle was not.

Another day came to the AmeriBrothers and with that day came the wall unmoved and unchanged. And so the fight raged on, axe to stone, and hammer to earth. With weary bones and sweaty bodies, the AmeriBrothers powered through the day and yet the wall still remained unmoved and unchanged.

The AmeriBrothers came the next day drained, devoid of strength, and their muscles screaming to rest. They were motivated by only one thought: Today is the day, the day the wall moved. The day the wall will change. This day the wall will fall. Each AmeriBrother gripped their axes and hammers so tight their knuckles turned white. They attacked the wall with a new fire and determination. There was no time. There was no pain. The only sound they heard was metal to stone. Then they each stopped suddenly at once when a marvelous sight came to their eyes. The wall cracked. They looked at each other and smiled. The unspoken thought of victory entered their minds. Today was the day.

Again the sound of metal to stone rang in their ears along with the welcome sound of crumbling rock. The AmeriBrothers hit faster, hit harder until there was nothing left to hit the wall was gone. Nothing but dust, rubble, and invisible memory was to be lost in the dirt. The AmeriBrothers stood among the ruins of their formidable enemy and breathed a great sigh of relief, letting the silence of their victory humble their young and tired hearts. They released their tools from their aching fingers and placed them on the shoulder of the brother next to them. The day was done. The battle was won and the AmeriBrothers stood proud.

“It takes as much courage to have tried and failed as it does to have tried and succeeded.”

Romerio Scott

FEMA Corps Member Brings Sandy's Lessons to White House

February 11, 2013, 8:03 am

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by Greg Tucker

(This post originally appeared on the National Service Blog on February 8, 2013.)

The chance to get in on the ground floor and build something new attracted recent college grad Ben Barron to the FEMA Corps AmeriCorps NCCC unit. Last fall his class went to work with the Hurricane Sandy relief and recovery effort in New York, where he learned a lot about himself and the strength of the human spirit.

Barron was on the path to law school when he learned about the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) and FEMA Corps from another student at California State University, Northridge. This idea led to him to join the first FEMA Corps class in July 2012 to begin training as a Team Leader with the new unit.

Change of Plans

Barron's team was on an assignment in New Orleans when Sandy struck the East Coast and altered their plans. Soon, he would be providing disaster assistance to victims of that storm and “sleeping in a hold with 149 of (his) best friends” on a ship docked off Staten Island in New York.

Barron was impressed immediately with the mobilization of people who assembled to provide assistance. As he continued in the recovery effort, Barron was also surprised by the resilience and selflessness he saw as people worked to regain control of their lives.

“I don't know how many times I heard from people who had just lost their homes -- lost pretty much everything they own --say, ‘Can you go down the street and help them because they got hit worse?'” said Barron. “We heard that every day … that sense of camaraderie was the most touching thing.”

Adapting to the Situation

As part of the roving disaster response center, Barron pursued an initiative to use laptops and iPads to register storm survivors for disaster assistance, as well as keep track of the areas that had received aid from other organizations.

Early on, people were borrowing FEMA Corps members' phones to call in and register for assistance because they had no computers or electricity to do so at home. By embracing mobile technology, they were able to make the process more efficient while maintaining face-to-face interactions.

At first, they set up stations at relief centers by tethering laptops to their Blackberry phones to create mobile internet connections. Later they moved to tablet computers.

“The iPads helped streamline the process,” said Barron. “They helped us get people registered in their neighborhood or even at their door.”

Through the program, FEMA reached and documented thousands who may not have received adequate disaster assistance, avoiding redundancy and wasted resources. Barron's efforts brought him to the White House earlier this week to speak at a FEMA Think Tank on innovation in emergency management.

His experience as a FEMA Corps Team Leader has taught Barron about working with a people who have “different personalities, different dialogues, and different objectives.”

“If you are looking for a future in emergency management, FEMA Corps will help you with that,” said Barron. “Where else are you gonna get that opportunity?”

Barron also learned about time management and prioritization, adding that the amount of resolve and the resilience needed to work in disaster relief is something that inspires confidence.

“Don't be afraid to jump in and do something. Being a bystander is not something that's going to get the job done,” he said. “Be ready to be amazed.”

AmeriCorps NCCC Leads to Teach for America

February 14, 2013, 3:18 am

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My name is Kate Kavouras, and I am a 2005 Teach For America (TFA) corps member and a proud member of NCCC Class VII (Denver Campus).  I know that you may already be familiar with TFA, but I am writing to share with you a little bit about my involvement with NCCC and how it led me to TFA.

I joined NCCC because I needed to know more – about life, about our country, about myself – than I was able to learn in my hometown.  I finished NCCC knowing how to shingle a roof, teach letter sounds, take down 10 acres of barbed wire fencing before lunch, and that never – under any circumstances – was I to drive a 15-passenger van.  More importantly, I finished NCCC with a conviction to continue to work with other equally committed, smart, and ambitious people to get things done for people, for communities and for our country. 

But where could I go from there?  They say that you can’t be an AmeriCorps member forever; you have to join the real world sometime, but that’s not completely true.  I first heard about TFA because it’s an AmeriCorps program.  As I learned more, I realized it was an opportunity for me to continue serving as an AmeriCorps member while beginning a career as a full-time, salaried teacher.  Even if a long-term career in education is not what you’re looking for, I’d still urge you to consider TFA.  The career and leadership development you receive as a TFA corps member is designed to help you succeed across multiple sectors. 

From 2005 to 2007, I served as a TFA corps member teaching middle school social studies in Harlem.  Along with more than one thousand other corps members serving in New York City, I worked relentlessly to close the achievement gap plaguing low-income youth.  Like my time in NCCC, I was having fun, serving with other young ambitious people from across the nation, and making a tremendous impact.

Let’s be honest –   

It’s hard – like building a trail at 10,000 feet in the winter or running an afterschool program without supplies or direction – but you know hard. 

It’s intense – like counseling families whose lives have been devastated by a disaster – but you know intense. 

It’s inspiring – like seeing Michael, one of my 8^th graders who had been expelled from his previous school, propose a graduated income tax as a way of rebuilding the nation after the Civil War. 

It’s impactful – like seeing Ivelis and Stephanie, my two 7^th grade girls that just-wouldn’t-stop-talking at the beginning of the year, channel their energy into starting a book club to read David McCullough’s 1776.  

It’s transformative – like watching my former 7^th grade students five years later, as they graduated with offers to four-year colleges. 

You know inspiring, and impactful, and transformative.  You’re an AmeriCorps member.  The problems facing students in low-income classrooms – the doors that will never open for them simply because of inadequate education – are too important for your service to end with NCCC.  By continuing your service with Teach For America you can become a leader in the effort to expand educational equity.  

Whether you’ve already considered Teach For America or not, I am writing to ensure that you remember to APPLY NOWto Teach For America’s final deadline, which is thisFriday, February 15^th.. You can also email Molly Friedlandif you’re interested in meeting with a TFA representative.  I hope that you will consider applying to Teach For America and continue having an impact on communities across the country.

All the best,

Kate Kavouras

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A 2nd Generation NCCC Member Leaves His Mark

February 20, 2013, 3:32 pm

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 Keivon Henderson shares his inspiring Class 18 graduation speech.



Two generations of NCCC: Class 18 NCCC member, Keivon, with his father, a Class 2 NCCC member, at Keivon's graduation in Vinton, IA.

Class 18, I want to start by telling a little about myself. I was that one kid that would walk around with the big black head phones blasting his music to tone out all other life. I was that kid you would never see at any campus activities unless they were mandatory. I was that corps member that you would have to force to get a simple “hi” out of. Now, the whole reason I say this is because, I’m now standing tall, talking loud and proud at my…our graduation.

AmeriCorps NCCC is a great way to see what you are really made of, to see who you can and will become. The NCCC experience can quickly pull out your doubts and your fears, put them together, and force you to face them. It has the ability to make you face all those doubts and fears to ultimately better yourself for what is to come, and for what you are to become later in life. I say this with no doubts because NCCC has done it to me and I am sure to many of you.

When I first joined NCCC, talking at the graduation was the very last thing on my mind, because public speaking was a fear of mine, but hey- look at me now! When I first joined NCCC all I could think about was going home, quitting for fear of the unknown. Of course, I assumed more then I actually knew: I assumed I wasn’t going to like the program, I assumed it was going to be a waste of my time. But hey- look at me now! Here I stand in front of you at our graduation, and when I look in to the crowd I see our future, the men and women who will take the places of important people that make our world work.

Look at us now! Class 18! We made it. We have overcome mountains of adversity and persevered through it all. We have been pushed to our breaking points and far, far past. We have figured out how to get along with people with very different personalities and backgrounds, navigating life alongside their weird habits, with all types of attitudes, and together we’ve helped a whole lot of other people in the process. We have been separated from loved ones for ten months, so far away from them, but class 18 -we still stood tall and strong through it all, and we made it!

Class 18, chase your dreams. Live your life to the fullest. Have no regrets, remember to treat people the way you want to be treated, remember that if you want to change your life you have to be willing to take a risk, you have to be willing to step out of your square of comfort and embrace the unknown. The unknown can bring so much change to your life, good and bad. You can’t control the unknown, but you do have a say in is the type of unknown you allow in your in to your life. So class 18, I leave you with this, a quote from a counselor on my first round project, words that he spoke at an at-risk youth program’s graduation: “May you live life as long as you want, and not want as long as you live.” Congratulations class 18 - we all made it. Enjoy your graduation, enjoy your lives.

Keivon Henderson

Inspiring Member Gets Denver's Inaugural FEMA Corps Class Off to A Great Start

March 14, 2013, 6:17 pm

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Hello! My name is Ariella, and I am truly honored to be a member of the inaugural FEMA Corps class at the Southwest Campus!



FEMA Corps (Glacier 5) member, Ariella Ross, was all smiles as she delivered the Corps Member Reflection at her Denver induction.



When we all arrived about a month ago the most famous question seemed to be “Where are you from?”  But the second most famous, and perhaps more important question was “Why FEMA Corps?”  For some of us the answer was easy, “I want to pursue a career in Emergency Management.” For others it was “I wanted to get away from home and try something new.”  And yet others it was the pure reason of serving people and serving our country.  May answer is a mix of all these things and today I would like to share with you part of my story in the hopes that it may motivate you and remind you why you decided to serve, because in any public service job, whether within the government or not, remembering your initial motivation for the job is absolutely vital for your success in the field.

It was the end of my sophomore year of college when I decided to pursue a career in Emergency Management, but the next school year I took a class that ended up being very discouraging toward my new career choice.  The class was called “Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in World Affairs” and the most poignant part of the class was when we did a case study of the response in Haiti following the earthquake of 2010.  We discussed the misallocation of response funds, organization and program overlap, corruption, and other social issues that were made worse by the quake.  We discussed everything negative produced by the earthquake, and I seriously began to doubt the value of disaster relief and recovery as a career.

But then I had a conversation with an alum from my college that changed my entire perspective.  I was expressing to him my intellectual doubts about disaster relief agencies, and he responded by saying “Well, you’ll always have doubt” and looking me straight in the eyes  he said, “But don’t let that deter you from pursuing what you want to do or what you think is right.”  I took those words to heart and began to intentionally seek out positivity amid crisis.

A positive outlook and a strong value for service is absolutely crucial for the type of work we’ve signed up for.  Without at least a little bit of optimism you will become paralyzed with doubt and depression about our world, and I can tell you from experience that is NOT a productive or fulfilling way to live.

But I’m not saying that you should deny reality.  Do social problems exist? Yes. Are they made worse by disaster? Absolutely, and yes, it’s true that some may never go away. But doing something to resolve an issue is better than doing nothing.  We can’t save everyone, but the key to success is coming to terms with reality and putting 110% toward those who you can help.  This year, when we enter a community recovering from disaster we may feel like we’re not making a contribution.  We may not understand our purpose in a certain place and it is very likely that we will leave some places feeling like our job is unfinished (afterall, we only have 10 months).  But remember that you WILL make a difference! Even if it’s only family, at least they can rest easy tonight.  One organization cannot take an entire community through recover and gauging your impact is probably the hardest thing to do when you’re in the midst of your work.  But the work we will do this year WILL make a difference and WILL contribute to stronger communities and a stronger America.

So, FEMA Corps Class 19B, as we approach our term of service, I challenge you to accept reality, work through your doubts, intentionally seek positivity amid the crisis and remember that your role is important. Then we can really get things done for America.  Let’s go!

Questions About Training You Always Wanted to Know

May 16, 2013, 12:39 pm

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Team Leader Tanner recounts his first two months of training

I write to you today from Vicksburg, Mississippi; home of the AmeriCorps NCCC Southern Region campus. As of now, our AmeriCorps NCCC Class 19 teams are serving in a variety of ways throughout the 11 states that make up our Southern Region. Some teams are serving as mentors to school aged children whereas others are providing relief to towns affected by disaster. These teams consist of eight to 12 highly capable, bright, and motivated Corps members along with a Team Leader (TL) to help guide them along their journey. They are out in the field and getting things done for America. However, what may go overlooked is how exactly they got to that point.  

The new Class 19 Team Leaders for the Southern Region


In early January, a vibrant group of Team Leaders arrived to campus. Some were veterans who had served in the past while others were eager to learn more about their duties. For the next month, they went through Team Leader Training (TLT) that consisted of everything a Team Leader needed to know to be a successful, safe, organized, and well-balanced leader. Everything they learned during TLT had a specific purpose. From filling out paper work correctly to safely handling a chainsaw for hours on end. They were given the resources, knowledge, and taught the skills to make the greatest impact possible and they had a blast doing it.

My name is Tanner Shepherd and I am a proud Team Leader for the AmeriCorps NCCC Southern Region campus. I, along with the Corps, have had an amazing experience during TLT and Corps Training Institute (CTI) and I am honored to give you the inside scoop on both trainings. 



Habitat for Humanity of Tuscaloosa, Alabama

My favorite part of TLT, and AmeriCorps NCCC in general, are the opportunities this program gives us for personal development. During our training, we were presented with obstacles. Whether it was an actual 15-foot wall, an emotional scenario, or the ability to drive a 15-passanger van, we developed the skills to tackle it. We sat down for eight-plus hours a day in a classroom learning about budget management, professional paperwork, and the guidance to lead a team for the next nine months. Our tool safety training consisted of traveling to Tuscaloosa, Alabama to be instructed by the local Habitat for Humanity. While we were being educated on the importance of tool safety we were helping build a house in an area affected by a tornado in 2011. For our team bonding exercise we went to a ropes course in Saucier, MS that consisted of high and low element courses. During our time in Hattiesburg, MS, we were grateful enough to go through Camp Shelby’s LeaderShape exercise course. The month was jam-packed full of information, new experiences, and exciting times that we would have never gained if it was not for AmeriCorps NCCC.

 



Chainsaw training in Hattiesburg, MS

CPR Training

Once the rest of the Corps got to campus the real preparations began. Each Corps member went through rigorous training to understand what he or she would be doing for the next nine months. They became certified in Adult CPR, driving a 15-passenger van, and safely operating a chainsaw. They went through exercises such as diversity training to expand their knowledge on leadership styles. The Corps demonstrated their newly found skills through hands-on activities such as a city park clean up in Hattiesburg, MS. They also stayed at Camp Lake Stephens located in Oxford, MS to help revitalize the campground, as well as participate in the local University’s ropes course for team building exercises. All of these trainings were to prepare them for the journey ahead. 



Delta 5 at the ropes course for team building.



River Unit hug!

The greatest part about TLT and CTI was the bonding that occurred. Before we came to AmeriCorps NCCC, we were individuals within our own groups. Now, after these trainings, we are a part of a much larger family. The bond that has been created within this family has been the most important. Throughout their journey they will endure hardships, but with their teams they will overcome. Through these next nine months they will bring communities together and they will “GET THINGS DONE!”

Check out his video I made for the Corps about arriving to campus and our first months of training!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIvGqQc1aK0

FEMA Corps Aids Residents of West, TX After Deadly Explosion

May 30, 2013, 3:42 pm

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An AmeriCorps NCCC-FEMA Corps team utilizes new iPad technology to support survivors of fertilizer plant explosion

by Jamie Flynn, FEMA Corps, Alpine 2

West, Texas, May 21, 2013 -- Crews remove debris from the parking lot of an apartment building destroyed in the April 17 fertilizer plant explosion. Norman Lenburg-FEMA

On April 17th, a fertilizer plant exploded in West, TX. The blast destroyed a nearby apartment complex, a nursing home, schools, and many houses in the vicinity, damaging hundreds more. Of the 2,800 residents of West, 14 were killed as a result, most of them first responders who had been called to the fire that led to the explosion.

Not long after, my AmeriCorps NCCC-FEMA Corps team, Alpine 2, deployed to West as part of the Disaster Survivor Assistance Team (DSAT).

As we pulled into town roughly a week after the event, the damage unfolded in front of us. It started out as a few boarded up windows, but as we moved closer to the explosion site, we observed bricks blown off the sides of houses, garage doors caved in, and piles of debris pushed to the sidewalks.

We arrived at the high school, where FEMA and other agencies had set up their operations. We made our way to an English classroom that was now the DSAT office. On one wall an assignment dated "April 17, 2013" was written on the whiteboard. On another, a enlarged satellite pictures of West with colored dots representing different degrees of damage. The contact info for different agencies, meeting times, and priorities were written in marker next to it. And here we were amid the seasoned FEMA staff, in our crisp blue jackets, feeling a bit out of place and unsure of ourselves.

West, Texas, May 5, 2013 -- Local residents get help registering for disaster assistance during a town hall meeting. FEMA Corps was on hand for on-the-spot registration.

We went over the game plan, were introduced to the FEMA reservists we'd be working with, and tested out our systems and connections to make sure our equipment was ready to go out in the field. Next, a couple of the staff members took us for a drive around town to see what kind of damage we would be dealing with. After some safety briefings and a welcome from the local emergency manager, we headed to our hotel in neighboring Hillsboro and prepared for our first day in the field.

As DSAT, our mission is to reach out to the community and help them understand the steps they can take to get back on their feet. This can mean going door to door, attending town hall meetings, and being present at other community gatherings. We are the eyes and ears of the operation, since we are talking with survivors, business, churches, voluntary organizations and community leaders. All the information we pick up is then reported up the FEMA chain so that the issues we come across can be addressed.

West, Texas, May 5, 2013 -- Bianca Bellino, a FEMA Corps member from New York City, answers a question about disaster assistance before the start of a town hall meeting.

Additionally, FEMA recently developed a way to register survivors at their door. Together with the reservists, we ran the pilot program for this method. In my opinion, it worked great. In the past, after a disaster, people had just three ways to register for assistance. They could call 1-800-621-3362, go online at www.disasterassistance.gov, or travel to the Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) set up in their area. As you can imagine, people who have just survived a major disaster do not always have access to a phone, an internet connection, or transportation. But with our iPads, we can bring the DRC to them. In about 20 minutes, we can register the survivor and explain to them the next steps in the process. If we’ve come across someone who already registered, we have the ability to look up their case and inform them of the status.

West, Texas, May 5, 2013 -- Samantha Miller (center), a FEMA Corps member from New York State, answer questions for a homeowner affected by the April 17 fertilizer plant explosion.

FEMA Corps was able to bring this new technology to the field and combine it with the knowledge and experience that the FEMA reservists possess. The working relationship between the two groups was excellent. We learned so much about FEMA programs and the application process just from listening to what they told the survivors. We’d had weeks of training in the classroom, but seeing how they interacted with the people we met made everything all come together.

It’s one thing to learn how to talk to a survivor in the classroom, but it’s another thing to be standing in front of what used to be someone’s house and trying to find the right words to say as they fight back tears. For me, this was the most difficult part but also the most rewarding. It was heartbreaking to listen to the stories and see the damage. But it was also incredibly inspiring to hear someone who had experienced so much loss talk instead about how thankful they are that it wasn’t worse, and that they had their health and their family and the whole community taking care of them. I was in awe of the way the community and the whole nation came together to support those who were affected. It was rewarding to be a part of that process and to see that little glimmer of relief on the faces of survivors who had just taken one more step on their long road to recovery.

West, Texas, May 21, 2013 -- Crews remove debris from the parking lot of an apartment building destroyed in the April 17 fertilizer plant explosion. Norman Lenburg-FEMA

AmeriCorps NCCC Members Give Back to Scouting

June 13, 2013, 11:37 am

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Corps Member and Eagle Scout Matthew Payne prepares to serve two outstanding service organizations at the same time in West Virginia

I didn’t quite fully understand the magnitude of our upcoming project with the Citizens Conservation Corps of West Virginia until our recent conference call with its organizers. The Reaching the Summit Community Service Initiative -- or The Initiative, as they call it -- will invite a towering 50,000 volunteers to work on community service projects in nine counties for a five-day period.

This will also be the site of the 2013 Boy Scouts of America National Jamboree. And for the first time ever, this Jamboree with host an enormous community service project, combining the resources of the Scouts, the Citizens Conservation Corps and us! AmeriCorps NCCC will be there to lead, organize and assist in this massive community service project!

I recall organizing my Eagle Project for the Boy Scouts of America; bringing together 10 volunteers for a day of work seemed like a colossal undertaking. I can only imagine how the coordinators of this Initiative in West Virginia feel. As an Eagle Scout myself, I was thrilled to discover that the majority of the volunteers with this project will be Boy Scouts (my peeps) and not only will we be working alongside them, but NCCC will act as leaders guiding the Scouts through the Initiative. It is a very unique and surreal opportunity for me to lead other Scouts while wearing the AmeriCorps "A" on my shoulder instead of my patrol patch, and I can be a role model to the Scouts.

While I may not be earning a merit badge, I am certain it will be immensely rewarding to give back to a program that has made me the man, servant and leader I am today. Scouting taught me invaluable lessons I carry everyday into my service with the National Civilian Community Corps, such as hard work, integrity and humility. I feel honored to be working with the Scouts and hope to instill in them the same love for service that Scouting and AmeriCorps instilled in me. Beyond myself, our NCCC teams from Vicksburg, Mississippi are beyond excited for this project. We are getting the opportunity to work on one of the largest service projects ever coordinated in U.S. history. We are prepared to show West Virginia what NCCC is all about!

40,000 Scouts. 14 NCCC Teams. One Amazing Service Project.

July 22, 2013, 8:13 am

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Tyler Monroe of AmeriCorps NCCC Team Delta 5 recounts his first week in West Virginia serving at the enormous Boy Scout Jamboree and discovering life in rural Appalachia

Team Leader Alex, sporting the AmeriCorps NCCC backpack, observes the view at an overlook during a hike along the gorge trail.

West Virginia, a state filled with green trees, rolling hills and a ripe chance for people to make a difference. My team and I arrived on a Wednesday afternoon, playing witness to the radical change in landscape along the way. Driving from Alabama, we saw the horizon rise and fall until it folded up into sheets, peaks and valleys of mist-covered greenery. Along the way, my team laughed about the sheer scale of this project. Forty-thousand Boy Scouts? Hundreds of projects? Potentially hundreds of thousands of people impacted? 

It almost sounds like the summary of a blockbuster movie. Instead, this is really the work that we'll be doing for the next three weeks. 

We drove and spoke, watching the land twist and turn, occasionally spotting a structure on the ridge of a mountain. Of all things, we'd been amazed at the distinct kind of rural place we'd come into. We were used to cell phone reception, the comforts of Wal-Mart and easy driving. No doubt, it's been difficult to call everyone we'd like, and the drive to get groceries has been a little scary from time to time, but the kindness of the communities we've encountered has more than made up for the absent amenities. 

AmeriCorps NCCC team, Delta 5, led volunteers at the RAIL Community Center. Corps member Brandi Monnet helped paint this sign for volunteers to write their signatures.

So far, the team has worked on opening up trails and digging grade for a concrete walkway, and we've only been in West Virginia for less than a week. 

For a bit of fun, Delta 5 met up with several of the other AmeriCorps teams before the second week of work kicked off, getting to hike the gorgeous trails in Grandview State Park. The scenery around us is just one of many unique facets of this project, and the opportunities for outdoor recreation are just beginning to show themselves. Still, we are fully aware and eager to know that our primary purpose here is to facilitate an enormous impact on the people of West Virginia.

AmeriCorps NCCC Assistant Program Director for the Southern Region April Bazzi joined the Corps members on their trip through the gorge.

There's a lot of work coming our way, but at the end of it all, we're going to do some great things for America and for West Virginia. 

To learn more about this incredible feat of national and community service, check out some of the local media coverage in these videos below!

Boy Scouts Give Back During Jamboree WVVA News Today (TV—WV), July 18, 2013

Boy Scouts Come to West Virginia NewsWatch 4 Early Edition (TV—WV), July 18, 2013

Tulane University Graduate Student Combines Disaster Education with National Service in FEMA Corps

August 26, 2013, 12:59 pm

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Team Leader Ben McNeil, who just completed a month of Team Leader Training, will welcome his new members Corps members who arrive today at the Southern Region Campus in Vicksburg, MS

Ben at a ropes course training with my fellow Team Leaders.

With my graduate school graduation finally over, I can finally begin focusing on my service as a Team Leader with FEMA Corps Southern Region. I have spent the past two years as a MS Candidate at Tulane University’s Disaster Resilience Leadership Academy (DRLA), taking an inter-disciplinary curriculum on all phases on the disaster cycle and learning first hand the many lessons New Orleans has to offer on preparedness, recovery and resilience (not to mention how to eat well). But after the Dali Lama’s commencement address at the Superdome, I am now ready to step out of academia and begin my career in emergency preparedness and response.

Here I am with two of my fellow graduates, before walking out onto the Superdome floor!

Although I paired my classes at DRLA with work opportunities at the Red Cross and the Louisiana Bucket Brigade, I knew I needed to gain much more experience working in and around emergencies. After meeting with Erika Roberts in March and learning more about the FEMA Corps program and Team Leader position, I knew this would be the perfect opportunity to put my academic and professional background to the test, and to further strengthen my management and leadership capabilities. The job also aligned with my commitment to public service and wanting to be a part of helping young folks early in their lives – I wish FEMA Corps had existed when I was getting out of high school and undergrad!

The Louisiana Bucket Brigade’s Rapid Response Team meeting with Incident Command at the New Orleans US Coast Guard office before a deployment after a pipeline accident.

I have about a million questions about what life will be like as a Team Leader, but first things first, my concerns are focused on life in Vicksburg. I’m glad to be staying in the South and on the Mississippi River – this region has suited me rather well since moving here two years ago - but I reckon life will be quite different from New Orleans. What should I bring with me: clothes, books, food (I never travel without peanut butter), bicycle, scooter? What sights and sounds, other than battlefield tours, does Vicksburg have to offer? How hot does it really get during a Delta summer?

This is me at ropes course doing a team building exercise with my Unit Leader Justin Fuller

The few weeks before I arrived at Vicksburg entailed packing boxes, last meals at favorite local restaurants, and far too many goodbyes to dear friends. Then I came back to Mississippi in mid-July for the start of Team Leader Training. It was great to recharge the batteries before facing the responsibilities, challenges and opportunities the next 12 months. I’d be lying if I said I was not nervous about the upcoming year, especially with the recent events in Boston, West and now Moore, OK revealing just how challenging this work can be. But I am eager to put my experience and study of disaster resilience to work as a FEMA Corps Team Leader.

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Lapse in Federal Funding

October 1, 2013, 8:56 am

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We're sorry, but due to a lapse in federal funding, we will not be posting updates to this blog. Our website and social media also might not update.

If you are an AmeriCorps NCCC member and need assistance, please contact Andrea Gewirtzman at agewirtzman@cns.gov.

Yukon Ho! FEMA Team Helps Alaskans Recover from Flood

October 25, 2013, 2:00 pm

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FEMA Corps team Green 2 deployed to Alaska to help the small town of Galena recover from a devastating flood. For the next four weeks, we will feature their unique service experience in the remote and beautiful American frontier. This week, team member Amethy introduces us to their first days after arriving in Anchorage - a stepping stone to their final destination - and beholding the wonder of the landscape.

After spending two months doing recovery for Super Storm Sandy in New York City, roughly two months working under the Federal Emergency Management Agency at their headquarters in Washington, DC and months’ worth of traveling and exploring the scenic mountains and plains that create the backdrop for the intricate piece of art that is our country, we have been granted the staggering opportunity to serve in Galena, Alaska. In May, Galena was hit with massive glacial movement that overflowed the Yukon River and rendered over ninety percent of the village unlivable.
   

Homes, schools, stores, government facilities, and other businesses were fated inoperable, and, although I am elated to say that all 470 members of the village survived with their lives, many individuals and families are residing in Fairbanks, Anchorage and other surrounding villages. In addition to those locations, many of these Athabascan people and non-Natives in the village, are being relocated to shelters being run by a coalition between FEMA, the American Red Cross, and the Salvation Army. One of the largest concerns among the people of this village is that if the homes of the older generations are not restored to a livable condition before the harsh winter months arrive, they will not return to their homeland and the culture of their people will be lost.

After hours of restless sleep and first day jitters, Green 2, consisting of eight Corps members and a Team leader, deployed from our home base in Sacramento, California and began our journey to Anchorage, Alaska. Enduring only one layover in Seattle, Washington, we arrived Monday afternoon alongside our sister team, Gold 2. Lily, Michelle, Andy, Reid, Nicole, Trestin, Rebecca, Diana and I were side swept with emotion as we stepped into a wonderland many of us thought we would only visit in dreams. 
        

After settling into our temporary housing at Bent Prop Hostel, and unpacking our lives from our big, red bags, we prepared for our first day at Anchorage’s Joint Field Office. As we pulled up and exited the 15 passenger van the following morning, the smell of cool autumn air lent a sense of grade school nostalgia as we entered the building to learn more about our project. As every other FEMA employee we have encountered has in the past, we were greeted with a sense of enthusiasm for service and endearing professionalism. We were briefed on safety concerns that exist regarding moose, bears and the eroding riverbed, along with cultural challenges we will face while working with a Native American tribe.

Yesterday, our Assistant Program Director Dominique, versed in the wonders of Alaska, rounded up both of our teams and we began a day journey down Seward Highway, through Chugach State Park. The whole of us drank in the majestic, snow-capped mountains and wandered along the shoreline of Resurrection Bay, spotting beluga whales and wildlife all the while. Coming upon an artesian water pipeline, carved through a mass that scraped the sky, we refreshed ourselves with the sweet, mountain water before embarking on a tedious hike to the top of Exit Glacier. The day found us hours down the coastline in the small fishing town of Seward, where we picnicked on the bay and watched the waves breathe in and out over rocks and driftwood, forcing us into a state of reflection and admiration for the opportunities laid before us. As our day neared its end, the clouds overhead heavy with rain, the sky blanketed in a veil of grey and green, we weaved through the infinite vastness only to be stopped in our tracks as the congestion opened up before us revealing a double rainbow, hand painted in the final falling drops…just for us.
         

Tomorrow morning, we will board a 16 passenger plane and fly out of Anchorage International, journeying the 350 miles north to rural Galena, as the village has no roads leading in or out. Technology will be minimal to intermittent, and I am anxiously awaiting the chance to unplug from the world for two months. We know our mission and we are ready to help these resilient and remarkable people, with the same passion and work ethic we have always prided ourselves on. I don’t know what the next few months will hold for us, but I do know that if we continue to grow and prosper in the manor that we have in the past, then I am ecstatic to meet the remarkable versions of my teammates that will emerge on the other side.

A Year After Sandy: AmeriCorps NCCC is Dedicated to Rebuilding the Northeast

October 29, 2013, 3:16 pm

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From Serve.gov, Greg Tucker remembers the destruction from the massive storm and the equally massive recovery by AmeriCorps NCCC teams from across the country.

 

An AmeriCorps member and CNCS CEO Wendy Spencer look at a 150-year-old home in Union Beach, NJ, that was cut in half by Hurricane Sandy.

One year ago, Hurricane Sandy left a trail of destruction in its wake across six states, doing the most damage in heavily populated areas of New Jersey and New York. The recovery that followed – and even continues to this day -- required a massive response and thousands of national service members joined their fellow Americans to answer the call for help.

Sandy led to 160 deaths, making it the deadliest hurricane to hit the United States since Katrina in 2005. Beyond those gruesome numbers were the $65 billion in property damage, not to mention the emotional toll the storm took on the survivors left to pick up the pieces of their destroyed homes, scattered memories, and shattered lives.

While no program can replace these losses, national service members, affiliates, and volunteers joined others from around the nation to help residents throughout the recovery process.

Brick, N.J., Nov. 5, 2012 -- FEMA Corps members help survivors of Hurricane Sandy begin the process of registering for disaster assistance at this Disaster Recovery Center. Photo by Liz Roll/FEMA

Immediately after the storm AmeriCorps members from around the country, including newly formed FEMA Corps units, mobilized to the northeastern United States to put boots on the ground and provide assistance to begin the relief effort as soon as possible. Additional national service members deployed to help with shelter operations, manage volunteer reception centers, staff call centers, and support emergency food pantries to the storm’s survivors.

When cleanup efforts were allowed to begin, crews from across the country came to the East Coast to begin the hard work that needed to be done, helping residents muck and gut more than 3,700 homes damaged by the storm’s wind and flood waters. AmeriCorps VISTAs continue to serve local groups to build their capacity as they work to help residents get the information they need to rebuild and work through the recovery process. And AmeriCorps crews even worked at iconic landmarks, removing trash and storm debris from Ellis and Liberty islands to ensure that the Statue of Liberty could reopen in time for this summer’s 4th of July celebrations.
 

Union Beach, N.J., Nov. 14, 2012 -- AmeriCorps NCCC members help homeowners clear debris after Hurricane Sandy flooded their homes with four feet of water. FEMA is working with state and local officials to assist residents who were affected by Hurricane Sandy. Photo by Liz Roll/FEMA

All told, more than 3,800 Corporation for National and Community Service participants served in six states during the Hurricane Sandy recovery. Our members worked with national and local relief agencies to leverage the services of more than 30,000 volunteers who contributed millions of dollars in assistance. This service will continue as we honor our commitment to the recovery in New Jersey and New York as AmeriCorps members continue to serve in the hardest-hit areas.

Check out this video about FEMA Corps' impact on Hurricane Sandy relief and recovery.

And this work hasn’t gone unnoticed.

“I will tell you from traveling the state that what AmeriCorps volunteers did was not just the work that needed to be done -- and is still being done by AmeriCorps volunteers to get people back in their homes,” said New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie at the National Conference on Volunteering and Service earlier this year. “… AmeriCorps volunteers lifted the spirits of the people of our state.”

Trial by Fire: Reflecting on Sandy's Destruction in Breezy Point

November 13, 2013, 8:14 am

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When FEMA Corps member Casey Stewart arrived at the burned neighborhood of Breezy Point, NY, she had no idea how much of an impact Hurricane Sandy and her national service experience would have on her.

More than 150 homes were destroyed from a fire in Breezy Point, NY the night Hurricane Sandy hit the Atlantic Coast. Photo by CNCS.

When I started in AmeriCorps NCCC-FEMA Corps, I had no idea how much history we would be a part of. Class 19 was not only the inaugural class, but we would also respond to the second costliest hurricane in US History. It's been a year, and I can still remember the hundreds of people in line at DRC #9 in the Rockaway's, what Breezy Point looked like a few days after the storm, and the amazing strength and resilience of the East Coast. Until I finished the program, I didn't realize the impact Hurricane Sandy had on me.

In the weeks leading up to Sandy, my team and I were working at the Region IV Headquarters in Atlanta. We were working in different departments on a few different projects.  Some were locating resources and creating spreadsheets, some were helping with the Great Southeast Shakeout, and others were sorting through old disaster documents and filing them accordingly. We had settled into a normal everyday job, unaware that we were about to respond to one of the biggest Hurricanes of our time.

As Sandy neared, we were sent to the Emergency Management Institute in Maryland to wait out the storm and await deployment. We sat with the rest of the country and watched the devastation unfolding on the news and ready to get out to help.

Rockaway, N.Y., Nov. 5, 2012 -- FEMA Corps Members Casey Stewart, Lizz Locke and Victoria Lomas check in disaster survivors at the Rockaway Disaster Recovery Center. FEMA is working with state and local officials to assist residents who were affected by Hurricane Sandy. Photo by Sean Kerr/FEMA

On November 2, my team was deployed to New York to begin the recovery process. Our first day, we were told we would be working in the neighborhood of Breezy Point, the site of a huge fire in Queens, New York City, which destroyed 162 homes. We were handed flyers with the number to register for assistance, and simply told walk in that direction. We spent that day walking the streets, seeing the damage first hand, talking to residents, and answering any questions we could to the best of our ability. In total, FEMA distributed more than 1 million multilingual flyers. We walked the same streets that days earlier we had seen on TV being destroyed by flooding and fires.

My team spent the next few months at Disaster Recovery Centers in the Rockaways and Staten Island. We arrived as one center opened, saw hundreds of survivors a day who needed assistance, and stayed until the crowds dwindled and the center closed. Within 48 hours, five mobile disaster recovery centers were opened, and $1.7 million in Individual Assistant grants were approved. We learned to do case work and help survivors to get assistance. We made an impact, whether a small or big one.



A year later and I realize how blessed I was to be a part of this response. This program showed me that regardless of everything, when disasters strike there are people willing to help. I learned that the people of the East Coast are some of the most resilient people around. I witnessed survivors who had just lost everything forgetting about themselves to help a neighbor. 

Breezy Point, N.Y., Aug. 5, 2013 -- About 350 of the more than 2,800 homes in Breezy Point were completely destroyed by the fires or flood surges caused by Hurricane Sandy. Ten months after Sandy, about 60 percent of the community has returned. K.C.Wilsey/FEMA

The program and the work I did there had a huge impact on me. It helped me decide what I want to do as a career. Through the devastation, I've learned that I want to be a first responder. I want to be the first boots on the ground to help someone when they need it, and I would not have realized it without this program.

I'm amazed and humbled to sit and look at pictures today of different sites in New York. To see homes being rebuilt in Breezy Point and across New York and New Jersey gives me hope. No matter what happens, we will be there to help our neighbors and we will rebuild.

The Life of an AmeriCorps Member

December 18, 2013, 12:59 pm

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Hello my name is William Custus. I am 22 years old. I was born and raised in Baltimore MD until I was 12 years old before moving to Washington, DC. I grew up in the foster care system from infancy to the age of 18. Unfortunately, I had parents who were hooked on drugs and unable to care for me properly so I was adopted by my cousin. She loved and cared for me like I was her own. As I was growing up, I always wondered if I would be able to care for people and help them in a way I wasn’t helped or cared for. As I grew up, I was going down the wrong path by doing things I wasn’t supposed to do. I never had a mother and father around so I had to learn how to become a man on my own. I dropped out of school at the age of 14 and started to run away from home because I thought it was cool. I was always surrounded by negative people so I never really had a positive role model to keep me on the right track. After being brutally hurt and almost losing my life, I realized that being negative was not the way to be. Later, I joined the Woodstock Job Corps Center where I received my high school diploma and multiple certifications in Business Management. Throughout my time there, I was still indecisive about how I would help strengthen our communities and build more leaders in this world. I overheard my instructor talking about a program called “AmeriCorps NCCC”. I looked into the program and decided I should give it a try. Once I applied for and was accepted to AmeriCorps NCCC, I had a lot of goals to accomplish. One of my main goals was to be as professional as possible and obtain lots of skills to become successful in life. Two months into the program, I discovered that I had achieved my main goal and that made me so happy for the first time ever in my life. Working on a team with people from diverse backgrounds was a little challenging. I thought that I would not be able to fit in as much as everyone else did. Then I realized that AmeriCorps NCCC is not a place for a person to be judged. It’s a place for people to learn new things, meet some awesome people, and serve communities, not be served by communities. Now that I have formed a bond with my Amerifam, I realize that I can do anything in this world that I want to do as long as it has a positive outcome. I have accomplished a lot of things and I feel so proud that I have joined a program filled with caring, happy, positive, and dedicated people. Since I have been in the program, I have learned self-control, compassion for others and myself, and also that as long as you keep a positive mind you can get through any storm. AmeriCorps NCCC has been so great to me since the day I arrived. This is only a little bit of my life. I just want others to know that just because you come from a background like mine doesn’t mean that it’s the end of the road. AmeriCorps NCCC can be a new beginning.

William Custus

Class XIX, River 7

William successfully completed his term of service at the Southern Region campus of AmeriCorps NCCC on December 12, 2013.  William also is the recipient of the Class XIX Personal Growth award, presented at the Awards Banquet the night before.