AmeriCorps

AmeriCorps

AmeriCorps, the domestic PeaceCorps, consists of over 50,000 Americans each year who have provided service work in their communities and have earned educational awards in return for their service to help finance college or pay back student loans. The primary focus of the organization is to improve communities by meeting their education, public safety, health and environmental needs. It brings together individuals from different backgrounds and institutions with varied experiences in the common effort to improve our communities. AmeriCorps is made up of three programs: AmeriCorpsState and National, AmeriCorpsVISTA, and AmeriCorps*NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps).

For more information on AmeriCorps, click here to go to www.americorps.org

Montana and AmeriCorps

There are numerous AmeriCorps members throughout Montana participating in AmeriCorpsVISTA and AmeriCorpsState Programs. These programs include Blackfeet Youth Initiative (BYI), Prevention of Elder Abuse VISTA, Montana Campus Compact (MTCC) Campus Corps, Montana Disaster and Emergency Services VISTA, Montana Faith-Based Cooperative VISTA, Montana Legal Services VISTA, Montana Technology Corps, Prevention Resource Center VISTA, Senior Service Corps and Western Montana Literacy Support Corps.

There is a representative council of AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps*VISTA members from all across Montana called ACMAC. ACMAC participants work to encourage networking across all AmeriCorps programs in Montana through action, communication and representation to enhance the national service experience in our state. The following link provides information about ACMAC as well as AmeriCorps programs/contacts in Montana.

For more information on ACMAC click here to go to www.state.mt.us/mcsn/acmac

MSU-Billings and AmeriCorps

The Office for Community Involvement coordinates the efforts of Montana Campus Corps, which is an affiliate of the AmeriCorps national service network. Campus Corps-AmeriCorps members engage other college and university students in community service by serving as a liaison between the campus and the community. Through partnerships with community agencies, members serve to raise awareness of the communities needs and to increase the number of student volunteers.

The Office for Community Involvement also works closely with other local AmeriCorps organizations such as VISTA, in order to perform service within the Billings area.

For more information on Montana Campus Corps click here to go to www.mtcompact.org

The Office for Community Involvement AmeriCorps Positions

The Office for Community Involvement currently oversees five part time members and one full time team leader. All part time members are enrolled students serving for one or two academic years. They each have separate responsibilities which include:

Reducing youth substance abuse by starting Bronc Connection, a tutoring program at Senior High School for at risk students
Working with the local and campus Habitat for Humanity chapter to raise awareness for homelessness
Participating in Discover Zone, an after school program at Lewis and Clark Middle School
Facilitating programs at Friendship House, an after school program that is located down town.

Two part time members work directly in the Office for Community Involvement. Their responsibilities include building relationships with a variety of community service organizations while providing the students at MSU-Billings with a central location for community service to raise the awareness of opportunities available for students.

The Office for Community Involvement also has one full time (1700 hour) team leader. Her responsibilities include linking the part time members together to keep them focused on the common mission of AmeriCorps. She is expected to "anchor" the team, taking on additional responsibilities and ensuring the team's overall progress toward the objectives.

All positions provide a monthly living allowance and if terms are successfully completed, each member receives an education award to use for ongoing and/or past or future higher education expenses.