LEWIS-CLARK SERVICE CORPS
CONTACT PERSON
Director: Charlette Kremer BA
Office: LIB 161
Phone: 792-2084
Fax: 792-2058
Web:
http://www.lcsc.edu/americorps
OVERVIEW
The Lewis-Clark Service Corps Office promotes volunteering
and service in the community.
AMERICORPS
The AmeriCorps Program at LCSC places AmeriCorps members
as tutors and mentors in targeted schools and other institutions
throughout Idaho, helping students successfully deal with the
challenges of staying in, or returning to, school and planning for
their future.
Funding: This program is made possible by a federal grant through
the Corporation for National and Community Service. Eighty
percent of this budget is local non-federal cash match provided
by the community host-sites where AmeriCorps members are
placed.
AMERICORPS ENROLLMENT
AmeriCorps is a national service program, sometimes referred to as
a domestic Peace Corps. LCSC students may join AmeriCorps and
serve one to two years while attending college or after graduation.
The Lewis-Clark Service Corps AmeriCorps office on campus
places students as tutors and mentors, either on campus or in local
schools and agencies. AmeriCorps members may serve full-time
(1720 hours) or part-time (920 hours) and receive a small living
allowance and, upon successful completion of service, earn an
Education Award which can be used for educational expenses
such as fees, tuition and books, or to repay qualified student loans.
In addition, “Ed Award Only” positions are available to members
serving a minimum of 300 hours. AmeriCorps members also
organize service projects in the community and participate in
statewide training events. To serve, a student must be a US citizen
or legal resident and be at least 17 years old. There is no maximum
age limit. Recruitment for members begins in April with the service
year beginning September 1 each year.
AMERICORPS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
After AmeriCorps members complete their service, many continue
to have the desire to serve the community. The AmeriCorps
Alumni Association provides an opportunity to stay in touch with
other national service veterans to plan service projects, mentor
new AmeriCorps members, recruit new members for the program
and advocate for public policy changes to support national service.
Funding: The AmeriCorps Alumni Association is funded through
the fundraising efforts of local chapters as well as an agreement with
the Corporation for National and Community Service to provide a
full-time AmeriCorps *VISTA for 2-3 years to act as a coordinator
of this project.
COMMUNITY WARRIORS VOLUNTEER CENTER
The Community Warriors Volunteer Center provides volunteer
opportunities for students, faculty and staff of LCSC. The Center
acts as a liaison for individuals seeking to serve the community and
organizations looking for volunteers. Students who volunteer gain
important experience and often continue a life-long commitment
to serve the community.
Funding: The Community Warriors Volunteer Center is funded
through appropriated dollars which provides a full-time AmeriCorps
member to act as coordinator of this project.
SERVICE-LEARNING PROGRAM
Service-Learning is a teaching method that combines academic
classroom curriculum with meaningful service throughout the
community. It integrates community service with instruction and
reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility,
encourage life-long civic engagement, and strengthen communities
for the common good. Students are matched with appropriate
community partners who provide projects relevant to the course
content. For instance, engineering students designed and built a
wheelchair ramp for a local family.
Funding: The Service-Learning Program is funded through a
grant provided by Learn and Serve America and Washington
Campus Compact. In addition, the Corporation for National and
Community Service provides the services of a full-time AmeriCorps
*VISTA member to act as coordinator of this project.
FIRST BOOK-LCSC
This non-profit organization has a simple mission: to ensure that
low-income children in Nez Perce, Lewis, Clearwater, Idaho and
Asotin counties have the opportunities to read and own their first
new books. Since the LCSC chapter was organized in 2005, more
than 35,000 new books have been distributed to children in need. In
2008, First Book-LCSC was recognized by the Governor of Idaho
with a Brightest Star Award for its efforts to promote literacy.
Funding: First Book-LCSC is supported through fundraising efforts
and a grant from the Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation.
