Community and Alumni Impact
About AmeriCorps
Nationally, AmeriCorps is known as the domestic Peace Corps with over 80,000 Americorp members serving in every state.
The AmeriCorps Volunteer Infrastructure Project (VIP) of the Service Learning Institute is part of a statewide AmeriCorps VIP program designed to build a volunteer support infrastructure in non-profit and governmental agencies serving local, marginalized, and underserved communities. The Napa County Office of Education is the lead agency for our AmeriCorps VIP program.
Learn more about the program on the AmeriCorps website.
AmeriCorps at the Service Learning Institute
AmeriCorps is not a job; it is a year-long service experience. The SLI's AmeriCorps VIP receives a monthly living allowance, health benefits, and an end-of-term education award. The program lasts for 11 months and requires the completion of 1700 hours of service.
- AmeriCorps is an 11-12 month service commitment that will begin in mid-August for the next service year.
- Full-time members (1700 hours) are eligible for health insurance and subsidized child-care for the length of their service term.
- AmeriCorps offers an opportunity to gain new skills and experience the tremendous satisfaction that comes from helping others.
- All positions are full-time (1700 hours/year).
- The positions focus on building the capacity of agencies by building and strengthening volunteer programs in community agencies.
- Upon successful completion of AmeriCorps service, members become eligible for an education award that can be used to pay for college and some work training programs or repay outstanding student loans.
- The education award for full-time members can be as much as $10,000.
The Service-Learning Institute of CSUMB hosts an AmeriCorps VIP (Volunteer Infrastructure Program) that places 10-15 AmeriCorps members with local Monterey County agencies or with CSUMB’s Service Learning or Watershed Institutes.
Recruitment for these positions begins in early March, with a selection of members by late May. Service will begin in mid-August and will run through the end of June.
Candidates for the CSUMB AmeriCorps Positions should submit to Robin Pelc, SLI AmeriCorps VIP Coordinator, at rpelc@csumb.edu the following:
- Resume and cover letter explaining why you wish to apply to AmeriCorps
- AmeriCorps application
For Agencies:
Agencies considering hosting an AmeriCorps VIP should contact Robin Pelc, SLI AmeriCorps VIP Coordinator, at rpelc@csumb.edu. New agency partners are brought aboard annually in March/April.
- MEarth (Carmel Valley)
- Grey Bears (Santa Cruz)
- Raíces y Cariño (Watsonville)
- The Village Project (Seaside)
- Loaves, Fishes and Computers (Salinas)
- College Corps (CSUMB)
- Veterans Transition Center (Marina, just off campus)