As we come together to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.'s life and challenge each other to be more engaged within our communities, I cannot help but think of when I truly realized the importance of community service.
In 2008, finishing my undergrad experience at SUNY Plattsburgh and with my idealistic plans of joining the Peace Corps just fallen through. I was a man without a plan. I began the task of applying everywhere under the sun. Then, one morning before Graduation, an Advisor's introduced me to AmeriCorps. I had a plan (or at least a thought).
Moving my focus to the AmeriCorps website I researched all of the branches. AmeriCorps NCCC, AmeriCorps State/Local and AmeriCorps VISTA. And applied to every single one. Realizing AmeriCorps VISTA, with its focus on poverty, was right in line with what I was looking for and I focused my scope. Upon applying I was offered three spots - Texas, Idaho and New Hampshire. Thus, opening up Operation Coin Flip (which is how I choose my undergrad) and Concord, New Hampshire won out (which is good cause a 5 hour drive is much better than a 20 or 32 hour drive).
The Job
I was hired by Campus Compact for New Hampshire as a VISTA to help work on College Access programs throughout the state. Service would include: Developing an inventory of current college access, retention and completion programs that are currently being run throughout New Hampshire Working with existing 21st Century after-school programs to help bridge relationships with local colleges Instituting a College Access Partnership program to increase support for low-income students at risk of not enrolling in post-secondary education.
Here I worked between two non profit offices, with 8 full time adults and various other stakeholders. The first month on the job was full of transition and learning. I struggled finding my place in the office.
Langdon Mills
This all changed dramatically in August after receiving a call from the Director of Saint Anselm College's Meelia Center for Community Service, Dan Forbes regarding a pressing need. An apartment complex, Langdon Mills complex, in Manchester was infested with bedbugs. However, a larger issue became apparent at Langdon Mills, most of the children were refugees and did not speak English. This challenge led to poor grades in school and parents struggling to connect with teachers and administration.
Dan called a meeting of all the Community Service Directors and my office, in order to organize a response to these challenges. At this meeting Dan outlined the challenges within the complex and the wheels started turning in my head about how Campus Compact could respond collectively in a meaningful way. Meanwhile, Dan spoke with the property manager and was given access to a rent-free apartment in order to help with the infestation; as well as to help families with English and class work - creating The Langdon Mills Community Center.
With Dan's guidance, I joined the Integrative Pest Management (IPM) team with three other members. The IPM team enters family apartments to locate and report bedbugs in the building. This was a long, complex process that kept us working late into the evening. Soon the Langdon Mills project was integrated into my job description and I started going there once a week to better focus on the issue at hand.
Along with the IPM team, the Community Center offered ESL (English as a Second Language) activities and a tutoring program. The student, aged 5 to 14 years old, arrive at the Community Center; had a quick snack and then spend an hour to two hours completing homework or reading with myself or a student at Saint Anselm's. After this, the children had an hour of play time. The structure proved to be successful; the Langdon Mills youth showing improvement in their English and school work at the end of the first year of the Community Center.
Other Important Events
During this time I began my Masters in Public Administration at Marist College. After doing research it seemed public administration opened up enough doors in community service, non profits and politics as I was interested in perusing one of those three as a career. I ended up graduating from the program 2 years later. Attaining this was easily the most difficult accomplishment of my life, attempting to complete a graduate program full time while working full time. However, completing the program is easily one of the top three things I have done in my life.
I finished up my service in February. I stayed an additional two weeks to finish up tasks at Langdon Mills (and applying for jobs). I fell in love with that place. My last day the kids provided me a scarp book which I hold dear to my heart and has followed me to ever subsequent office.
My last night was pretty amazing. A few VISTA's and myself got together for one last dinner and drinks. Many stayed and we talked until 3:00am. I went home...packed my car...shed a tear...and left Concord, NH at 7:00am with nothing close to a plan for my future.
An Epilogue
So, I said good bye, sure.
But I moved back to New Hampshire three months later. I officially began my political career. Starting with an incredible couple on their campaigns for public office I met while serving in AmeriCorps; you just never know the connections you make and how they will change your life.
From there, we won in November and a began exploring my journey in politics. I worked throughout New Hampshire and New York over the next five years.
Coming full circle, to where I am today - back at SUNY Plattsburgh and working in higher education. I am also an adjunct professor teaching a diversity course on campus. Not realizing at the time, but my AmeriCorps service provided me excellent skills and resources to advance into higher education. Making the full jump into higher education, now going into year two of this new journey. Loving every single second.
You never really know what experience will bring to you. AmeriCorps served as my "first job"; rather, a job away from home where I had to find a way to make it or fail. That experience made me who I am today. I learned the value of community, professionalism, stakeholders, and the importance of service to our friends and neighbors.
As a recent grad considering AmeriCorps or other service oriented programs should be on your to do list. Whether job opportunities arise, new friends formed or family made - everything matters in making you who you are, rather, who you want to be.
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