Often referred to as the 'domestic Peace Corps', AmeriCorps is a network of national and community service programs that engages more than 75,000 Americans each year. Members work in intensive service to meet critical needs in education, public safety, health, and the environment. Community College AmeriCorps programs are designed to provide intensive learning experiences that integrates civic engagement, education, and service. They address the unmet needs of local communities while helping student-members understand the broader conditions facing these special and potentially vulnerable populations. AmeriCorps members accomplish all of this with an esprit de corps that lasts a lifetime.

AmeriCorps Foster Youth Mentoring Project (FYMP)
Engages Community College students in providing support to develop independent living skills for recently emancipated and current foster youths.  

AmeriCorps Teacher Reading and Math Development Partnerships Program (TRMDP)
Provides intensive teacher preparation service-learning opportunities for Community College students and resources for traditionally under-represented K-6 children.

Early Learning & School Readiness AmeriCorps Program (ELSRAP)
Employs a rigorous service-learning approach for Community College students to improve school readiness services for low income children ages 0-5.

 

Volunteers In Service To America (VISTA) is an AmeriCorps program that currently engages nearly 6,000 members nationwide in programs designed to strengthen the capacity of local community organizations. Since 1965, more than 140,000 individuals have served in programs throughout the country to enhance human, financial, and material resources in low-income and underprivileged communities.

In the fall of 2007, the Youth and Adult Services department developed the Youth Empowerment Strategies for Success–VISTA (YESS–VISTA) program. YESS–VISTA recruits individuals to provide full-time service to address the needs of foster youth through capacity building projects intended to create permanent infrastructure within the YESS–California and YESS–Los Angeles Programs. VISTA members receive a bi-monthly stipend/living allowance throughout their term of service and are eligible for a limited medical care package during their participation in the program. Upon completion of one year of service, YESS–VISTA members earn an education award/scholarship in the amount of $4,725.

The following schools participate in YESS–VISTA:

• Fresno City College
• Yuba College
• Los Angeles Mission College
• Long Beach City College

For additional information or to apply for YESS–VISTA please contact Colleen Ammerman at cammerman@foundationccc.org.

The Foundation for California Community Colleges (FCCC) AmeriCorps Programs offer opportunities for over 1,000 student-members each year from 27 Community Colleges. Student-members provide 450 hours of service over a 9-12 month period. Upon completion of their term of service they are eligible to receive a $1,250 education award. 

We provide campuses with performance-based AmeriCorps grants to facilitate their AmeriCorps programs. Three year grants amounting to $7.8 million and an additional $3.8 million for education awards is funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service through California Volunteers.