Hands On Northeast Georgia

Frequently Asked Questions

What is AmeriCorps?
AmeriCorps is a program of the Corporation for National and Community Service, an independent federal agency created to connect Americans of all ages and backgrounds with opportunities to give back to their communities and their nation.

Through AmeriCorps service members gain valuable work experience, acquire new skills and further challenge abilities you have already developed. You will also enjoy the satisfaction of making a difference, helping a community help itself. AmeriCorps members leave behind lasting solutions to some of our country's toughest problems.

What are the Eligibility Requirements for AmeriCorps?
You must be at least 17 years old, but there is no upper age limit. We are seeking members with high school diplomas and some college. You must be available to serve 1700 hours full time or for a specific program period – usually one year.

Who is Hands On Georgia?
Hands On Georgia believes that volunteer service lasts a lifetime and everyone can do something. Across the state, Hands On Georgia promotes the power of service – weaving together communities, supporting vital nonprofit organizations and transforming both those serving and those being served. While volunteering empowers people in communities to improve the quality of life for all, it also develops more informed and inspired citizens.

What is Hands On Georgia AmeriCorps?
The mission of the Hands On Georgia AmeriCorps Program is to build communities by creating stable, supportive relationships between affiliates and community members, community based organizations, AmeriCorps members, and service recipients. These connections increase social capital and build a solid foundation of engaged community networks that affect change both on a short-term and long-term basis. Hands On Georgia AmeriCorps members create a solid community infrastructure for volunteer participation.

This mission is achieved through a unique capacity building model. Under this program model—Affiliate Based Capacity Building—AmeriCorps members are placed with a local Hands On Georgia affiliate to support volunteer recruitment, training, and leadership development for a strategic portfolio of partnering community and faith-based organizations.

The activities of members fall into four categories:

· Recruit and engage volunteers in one time and ongoing service projects in their communities.

· Improve their capacity for leading their communities and develop the knowledge, skills, and abilities related to volunteer mobilization and civic engagement through undergoing local training and professional development.

· Create new opportunities for volunteers to serve their communities to address the critical needs around issues of education, the environment, public health, disaster preparedness, homeland security, and other unmet human needs.

· Train volunteer leaders in their communities by providing instruction to volunteers through the Project Coordinators training curriculum, service-learning activities, and other leadership development opportunities.

· Build the capacity of community based non-profit organizations and school partners through the engagement of volunteers.

What are the benefits of Hands On Georgia AmeriCorps Program?
AmeriCorps members who successfully complete a term of service are eligible to receive an AmeriCorps Education Award of $4,725. Additional benefits include training, a modest living allowance, limited health care benefits, and loan forbearance or deferment for qualified student loans.

Please submit your resume and cover letter to Art Ordoqui-Payton, Community Programs Director, at aordoqui@communityconnection211.org. Applications are due by August 29, 2008.