Latest news with #Americorps
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
LCHS earns award for student financial aid participation
Lee County High School was recently named a Financial Aid Champion by College for North Carolina. The title is bestowed upon schools who go above and beyond to support students through the financial aid process. The Yellow Jacket staff and students were the only large rural high school in the state to achieve over a 95% year-over-year increase in completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), generally regarded as the first step of pursuing higher education for any student. More than 41% of this year's senior class at Lee County High have completed the FAFSA. The designation comes with several key hurdles including providing bilingual support and Spanish-language materials at events and improving FAFSA completion at the school by more than 10% over the prior year. Lee County High was able to make huge strides in one year thanks to the placement of a College Advisor for the senior class through Americorps. Eden Briley served in that capacity this year and helped spearhead the additional events, outreach and targeted follow-up with students that helped make this award a reality. 'She worked with nearly every member of our graduating class and helped organize FAFSA Nights, Senior Signing Day, CFNC College Application Week events, field trips and so much more that made a tremendous impact on our students,' according to Senior Class Counselor Allison Poole. Briley's position was funded and supplied by Americorps and Duke University through a grant and partnership. While she is stepping away from this role, her impact will stay with the staff at Lee County High School and continue to serve as a model for excellence in student support through the college process, the release states. Briley cited Georgiana Scrisu for her support to bilingual students and families.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
AmeriCorps in Vermont will continue
MONTPELIER, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44) – Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark and 23 other state attorneys general, along with two governors, filed a lawsuit on April 29 challenging the Trump administration's plans to end $400 million in funding for Americorps, amounting to nearly half of the volunteer program's budget. On Thursday, a district court judge issued a preliminary injunction which requires the reinstatement of all Americorps members let go since the funding cuts were announced. Dr. Oz on Medicaid cuts: People should 'prove that you matter' Clark called the injunction a 'win for the rule of law as well as for Vermont communities, which have been well served by AmeriCorps volunteers for decades.' Recently, AmeriCorps held its annual 'day of service' in Vermont, which included maintenance work in Winooski as well as at Shelburne Farms. Vermont's State Service Commission says that 360 people are in AmeriCorps in Vermont in any given year. The injunction, which was issued by the court for the District of Maryland, says that the funding cuts did not give adequate notice to those affected and did not allow for public comment before coming into effect. It cites what the order calls irreparable harm if the volunteers dismissed in April are not immediately reinstated. By June 10, AmeriCorps must file a report documenting their compliance. Musk backs call to impeach Trump, replace him with Vance According to the Attorney General's office, 'by closing $400 million worth of AmeriCorps programs without explanation, the Trump administration harmed states that administer those programs as well as K-12 students, vulnerable seniors, and others who depend upon their services.' However, the administration, and specifically the Department of Government Efficiency formerly led by Elon Musk, argued that the cuts were necessary to improve the country's financial solvency. As this is only a preliminary injunction, the lawsuit will continue, and may proceed into higher U.S. courts. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Letters object to reparations, oppose Americorps cuts, and call out mountain biking damage
Just read the article about Olympia City discussing possible ways to give reparations to Black descendants of slaves. First thought: Black descendants of slaves is redundant. Then it occurred to me there are descendants of slaves who are not black. Then I thought no, no, no. In what world is it OK to address discrimination with discrimination? 180 or so years ago, the US acted disgracefully, so the Olympia City Council thinks treating Blacks better than everyone else now fixes that? That would be called discrimination. Blacks being treated better than everyone else, other Blacks, whites, women, Asians, American Indian, etc. Not a good look. Social programs are meant to help people with less, not some people with less. I have not voted for a Republican in at least 30 years. I am starting to look for a Republican to vote for or a Democrat with some common sense. Where did all the non-crazies go? Who believe in social welfare programs, not Socialism? And don't want to tax us to death? There must be Democrats who aren't Socialists, there must be Republicans who aren't Trump cultists. Aren't there? Sandy Novack, Olympia Donald Trump just gave the commencement address at the University of Alabama. It was the usual exercise in self-congratulation, dissing of Biden, threats to journalists, etc., etc. We know the drill. He dressed this one up with stories of how he made it against all odds and how these graduating students must do that too. 'Never, never give up.' But this selling of 'you can too, look at me' fell flat, coming a few days after the Trump/Musk attack on Americorps, a vital program supporting students in financial need who work on community projects (from local agriculture to just housing to disaster relief). Trump/Musk have issued stop work orders for Americorps projects, dismissed 85% of AC staff, and pushed 32,000 young people to exit the program (losing living allowances and support for student loan repayments). Campus Compact urges contact with Congressional reps to let them know of our concerns – for students, recent grads and community organizations. Washington state's Attorney General has joined with 19 others around the country to challenge this Trump/Musk escapade – one that will severely limit higher education's availability to students with limited resources. The Evergreen State College's Center for Community-based Learning & Action is deeply concerned about how this Trump/Musk maneuver will undermine students and the community projects they work on. Trump wants to lure people into modeling themselves after his self-serving success. But he's light-years away from grasping the life of students and the daily realities of community life. Lin Nelson, Olympia In reference to your recent story on Orogenesis, a proposed 5,000-mile mountain bike trail spanning from British Columbia to Baja California: The major harm that mountain biking does is that it greatly extends the human footprint (distance that one can travel) in wildlife habitat. E-bikes multiply that footprint even more. Neither should be allowed on any unpaved trail. Wildlife, if they are to survive, must receive top priority! What were you thinking? Mountain biking and trail building destroy wildlife habitat. Mountain biking is environmentally, socially, and medically destructive. There is no good reason to allow bicycles on any unpaved trail. Bicycles should not be allowed in any natural area. They are inanimate objects and have no rights. There is also no right to mountain bike. That was settled in federal court in 1996. It's dishonest of mountain bikers to say that they don't have access to trails closed to bikes. They have EXACTLY the same access as everyone else — on foot! Why isn't that good enough for mountain bikers? They are all capable of walking. Mike Vandeman, San Ramon, California
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Recent Americorps cuts putting local program in jeopardy
(WLAX/WEUX) – A local Fresh Start program is in jeopardy following recent Americorps funding cuts. 12 at risk youth are left without a supervisor to build a home in Strum, and without a supervisor, the crew can not continue the work themselves. The program has helped build the lives of 600 young adults by having them build homes since 1998. Western Dairyland is helping the Fresh Start crew with job placement and other resources, while also looking for contractors to help finish the home. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
DOGE cuts to AmeriCorps leave many Kansans jobless
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Thousands of AmeriCorps members were laid off in recent DOGE cuts. The program employed over 3,000 employees across Kansas and focused on supporting communities in a variety of ways. One of the organizations that depended on AmeriCorps labor is the Kansas Association for Conservation and Environmental Education (KACEE). The group is a subgrantee of the national program, meaning their existing workforce was supplemented by AmeriCorps members. 'How would you? And how could you?' said KACEE Director of Outreach and Student Engagement Leonore Enfield. 'The gamut spans as big as the need in the United States for what Americorps members could do.' KACEE lost six of its members who were dedicated to community education. Upon hearing the news that Kansas AmeriCorps programs are being cut, she worried about the impact their work could have. 'In seven months, our six members reached over 7,500 students in K-12,' Enfield said. Among the wayward AmeriCorps members is Annika Anzjon. A current student at WSU, she was one of the members who received academic incentives in the form of grants. The AmeriCorps Program operates like an enhanced volunteer program. It pays its workers and supplements the incredibly low salary with grants and housing stipends. 'It opened up so many doors, it was something I wasn't expecting to enjoy as much as I did, but I kind of fell in love with it,' Anzjon said. Wherever a particular group needs assistance is where AmeriCorps focuses its efforts, cutting the program effects not just Anzjon's community education sector, but the dozens of other fields where AmeriCorps operates. Fields like disaster relief, healthcare and homeless outreach. 'There's not an infrastructure to take over for what AmeriCorps is able to do and what is now lost,' Enfield said. The question they can't find the answer to is 'why?' 'None of us really thought that it could be possible because AmeriCorps has such a positive impact on our communities and all the things we're bringing to our teachers, parents and community members, it's all for the greater good,' Anzjon said. Enfield says that since her organization depended on its AmeriCorps members, they are looking for alternate ways of keeping them on payroll. It's proving challenging, and she says without Americorps, her reach will be much more limited. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
