COVID-19 has had an incredible impact on our state. The pandemic has increased the need for supportive services, food, shelter and so much more. As our schools, nonprofits and communities continue to work together to meet urgent needs, AmeriCorps is here to help.
This story was published originally by ServeMinnesota.
When Daniel Winker’s test scores made it clear that the Burnsville fifth-grader was struggling with math last year, his mom, Talitha, didn’t waste a moment. “I was concerned that he’d fall farther behind and get further disconnected,” she said. “The pandemic meant that he’d miss the face-to-face assistance he was used to receiving.”
With COVID-19 continuing to be a threat to public health and safety, AmeriCorps is stepping up to help slow the spread with a new case investigator/contact tracer position this September. “To slow the spread of COVID-19, we need to follow where the virus may be spreading in our communities,” says Sadie O’Connor, managing director of Reading & Math, Inc. “Case investigation and contact tracing is essential because it helps to quickly identify people who should stay home and away from others.”
We’re excited to help launch a new strategic initiative of ServeMinnesota in September! Developed by a climate design team, in collaboration with the University of Minnesota Department of Forestry, Minnesota Green Corps and Tree Trust, the Community Forestry Corps will engage a team of AmeriCorps members in the preservation and revitalization of Minnesota’s forests.
Minnesota Reading Corps is excited to partner with three great organizations to provide 5,000 learning kits for families in the greater Minneapolis-St. Paul area. With over 200,000 children in the metro area living in households with incomes at or around poverty levels, the PNC Foundation, Kids in Need Foundation, Science Museum of Minnesota and Reading Corps aim to ensure that all children, regardless of their circumstances, have access to quality learning materials.
Juneteenth originated in Texas where on June 19, 1865, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation, more than 200,000 enslaved people in Texas learned they were no longer property of their enslavers.
It became tradition to celebrate freedom every year around this time. Today as we celebrate Juneteenth, we examine our country’s past and work for a more equitable future.
Whether this is your first Juneteenth Celebration or a familiar tradition, we’ve curated resources to help you reflect, connect and celebrate.
This year marks 25 years of AmeriCorps! And during AmeriCorps Week, what better time to reflect on the impact of National Service in our state?
