AmeriCorps: Great Stories
The AmeriCorps members, who work in their local community, are doing great work to advance Prevent Child Abuse Iowa’s mission – to end child abuse in the entire state of Iowa. It goes without saying that children, families and community members are benefiting from the AmeriCorps members’ hard work; however, the members are growing personally and professionally, as well! Please see the great stories below, highlighting the value of the AmeriCorps experience – from the members themselves.
Gaylene Gilbert, Cedar County (2nd Year Member)
BANG and They’re off! — There is no other way to put the tremendous start to an amazing year. This is my second year as an AmeriCorp member and this site’s second year. It felt great when we had a preschool owner/teacher come to us and ask our help in providing education for preventing sex abuse amongst her students and their families. Yes, we are getting the word out that we are here and this is what we do.
We have a tremendous year mapped out and are filling in the gaps. I think it will be a fabulous year, an educational year, a giving time, one that will pass in the blink of an eye. We will all smile, sigh and wish it would not end.
What a group that has been assembled for the 2010/11 AmeriCorp year! I look forward to hearing all the great things we all will accomplish.
Calleus Orr, Polk County (2nd Year Member)
I feel so much honor and accomplishment for the work that I am doing. A year ago, I was just happy to have a new adventure. Now, I am living the adventure. The doors that are opened from the relationships that have been created in the community are fabulous and long lasting.
I have learned to put more value on relationships with other organizations rather than just assuming we can't partner. A year ago, I was so narrowed-minded and thought that I knew how things worked behind the scenes. Well, all the ups and downs with Decat in the last year were growth opportunities for me professionally and personally.
Today, I come to work with a clear purpose to families and children first. If I do not let my personal mission to get stirred or clouded behind all the politics than I am doing my best service as an AmeriCorp member. I have had many struggles in life and this experience has changed me from the inside out. I always want to have compassion for the families that are still struggling; that they may have the same opportunity to grow as I did. I believe that public service has taught me to be a good example to my mother and daughter. I want to thank you for this opportunity and the fun I am having along the way.
Sasha Trice, Scott County (1st Year Member)
I have always had a passion for working with adolescent young women. I love working with girls who are in high school and are considered to be "at-risk." I know what it is like to be a young woman in high school, and so I empathize with teenage girls and I’m aware of the obstacles that they have to face including interpersonal relationships, social interactions, academics, friendships, and dealing with other high school girls who have the "mean girl" syndrome. It can be hard facing not only the obstacles of being a young woman, but being a young woman in high school.
I can relate to these girls because I know what is like to face these same challenges, but I also know what it is like to overcome these challenges and accomplish my goals. I love going into the schools and mentoring girls who may "seem" to others that they are going down the wrong path. I have recently been given the opportunity to reconnect with my old high school and be a mentor in a girls group called Salvaging Sisterhood. In this group, teachers recommend young women they feel could benefit from this group due their negative behaviors and poor academic performance. In this group, the mentors will have discussions with these girls about the issues, challenges, and obstacles they face. The ultimate goal of this group is to initiate change in these girls. We want to show them that they have individuals who care about them, and want them to succeed. We will work with these girls on issues such as attitude, self-esteem, sex respect, family issues, friends, and self-respect (just to name a few).
I am excited to begin working with these young women and, hopefully, I will be able to assist them in their struggles. I love to listen to others and allow them to vent about their problems and their issues. I am more than willing to be the listening ear for these young women. In this program we are hoping to help these young women become leaders in their schools and assist other young women as well. We would like to see these young women change their negative behaviors and turn them into positive ones, as well as improve their academic performance. I am ready to be a positive influence for these young women, and help them make a difference.
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