AmeriCorps
Volunteer Infrastructure Program
The Volunteer Infrastructure Program focuses on nonprofit organizations that serve low-income children and families. We train and coach AmeriCorps fellows in the best practices of volunteer recruitment and management, and place them within nonprofits to improve existing volunteer programs. Even as nonprofit budgets shrink, adding volunteer support can enable nonprofits to sustain their services for families and children.
Our 2011/2012 AmeriCorps VIP Partner Sites are:
- Alameda County Community Food Bank, Oakland, CA
- Berkeley Food and Housing Project, Berkeley, CA
- Fresh Approach, Concord, CA
- Habitat for Humanity East Bay, Oakland, CA
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Alameda County, Oakland, CA
- Super Stars Literacy, Oakland, CA
- Tri-City Volunteers, Fremont, CA
The Volunteer Center is excited to announce it’s hired seven AmeriCorps Fellows for our 2011/2012 AmeriCorps program who will start their yearlong term of servce in mid August 2011.
Testimonials from Previous AmeriCorps VIP Fellows
I came into my year of service with expectations of what my position would be, but was completely surprised by my experience. Your AmeriCorps year is so much more than the job description presented to you on your first day. With the guidance of both supervisors, I felt like my potential was endless. I was encouraged to take on tasks and responsibilities that proved to benefit me both professionally and personally. The knowledge and skills that I established from working for AmeriCorps will only prove to be valuable as I continue on my career path. I am leaving my year as a more confident, experienced and grateful individual.
- Erin W.
I have been an AmeriCorps member in the Volunteer Infrastructure Program for almost two years now- whew! It has been an interesting, enlightening, sometimes frustrating, sometimes awesome two years. I have seen how nonprofits function from the inside, and now know much of the criteria I want to look for in a job. As a young person who had little work experience in this sector, this has been extremely helpful. Another big part of AmeriCorps for me has been learning skills. I have learned customer service skills, mediation, some graphic design, social media utilization, a lot about excel, technical writing, recruitment, event planning, and lots more. And I have me a lot of amazing and inspiring people at the different places I’ve worked and through AmeriCorps itself, which is another perk!
- Zaylia P.