AmeriCorps memories, "I do know that I will never regret my decision to join CalSERVES."

[Mojeoux]

This is from our local paper, and the needs for the service of young people like Francesca Soriano-Hersh
are the same all over our country. California alone has benefited from more than 100 million hours of services, for low costs to taxpayers, to pay for a program of volunteers!


<•>11 a.m. on a wet October Wednesday. In the tutoring room, the air hums with the focused, peaceful sound of 15 children and their mentors. I circulate among the desks, listening in: First-grader Jorge is carefully sounding out words, while third-grader Anthony re-reads a story about giant spiders, following his mentor's direction to “read it like a newscaster this time.” Esmeralda beams as her mentor adds today's books to their reading log: “Great job! You've read 10 books this week so far!” Across the room, Alexia's voice is smooth as she breezes through the chapter she painstakingly struggled with yesterday.

<•>5 p.m. on a warm spring afternoon. I am straightening up the room for the next day, clearing the desks, putting books back on the shelf, erasing the whiteboard. A first-grade teacher stops by on her way to her car. “Luis led the whole class in reading today. He was able to read the new book fluently! He is raising his hand in class all the time now, too, and I really think it's due to the confidence he has gained from tutoring. Thank Miss S. for me, will you?”

As she leaves the room, I lean against the counter for a moment. It is April 2001. I have been a college graduate for less than a year, and I don't know what I will be doing in 10 years or even this time next year. But I do know that I will never regret my decision to join CalSERVES. I am intensely grateful to AmeriCorps for giving me the opportunity to make a difference, to channel my enthusiasm and knowledge and energy into something that matters.

Congress is poised to eliminate funding for AmeriCorps. As a former AmeriCorps member who served for two years with CalSERVES, I have seen first-hand the value of this remarkable program, which has provided more than 1 million hours of tutoring and after school support to students in Santa Rosa schools over the last decade.

Please visit http://www.saveservice.org/, or contact your members of congress and ask them to vote no on any proposal that eliminates funding for AmeriCorps or other CNCS programs.


By Francesca Soriano-Hersh

Published: Tuesday, March 1, 2011 at 3:00 a.m.

http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20110301/OPINION/110229516/1307?p=2&tc=pg

[Mortos]

1. Seems like the first thing republicans want to cut is beneficial programs

for children. Look at Gov. Walker's enormous cuts to education. Here is a solution, tax the shit out of millionaires and billionaires until the country that made them obscenely wealthy is financially stable again.

[Mojeoux]

2. +100%

It gets me when they say that all these caring expenses are "unrealistic" relics of days gone by.

Yeah, because nobody rich pays taxes!

[Mojeoux]

3. I hope people go to the link and vote for AmeriCorps! nt