Ryan Wilcox

Writing. Photography. Storytelling.

Why AmeriCorps is Worth It

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Recently, United We Serve published a blog post entitled “Was AmeriCorps Worth It?,” by Rachel Ogorek. Rachel shares her AmeriCorps experience as her service comes to a close. As I read Rachel’s reflections, I started thinking about my own AmeriCorps VISTA service–asking that question of myself.

I particularly identified with this line:

I know the skills I developed through AmeriCorps will help me be a better employee and a lifelong community member. My work challenged me to invest in a new community, allowed me to develop new relationships, and encouraged me to find innovative ways to tackle community problems.

Serving the Homeless as a VISTA

Cornerstone Assistance Network is a faith-based agency, and works with families on life and job skills. (Image credit: CAN).

Looking back on my own service experience, I can say it was worth it. I served as a VISTA with Cornerstone Assistance Network, a non-profit that meets the needs of people struggling with poverty in Tarrant County. Before my service, I had little direct knowledge of homelessness as a social problem, and relied on my perceptions.

The truth is, the reasons for homelessness are varied. I learned during my service year that everyone has a story, even the homeless man you pass on the street. We are all one or two wrong moves, or an economic downtown, away from needing help.

In my role as a VISTA, I had the opportunity to interview current and former clients, who shared their stories of struggle and triumph. In every case, I found a sense of gratitude, despite adversity.

I established a social media presence for the agency and was a key member of the website development team. Looking back, I take pride in my external relations role, helping Cornerstone tell its story online.

I’m proud that these contributions continue to live on after my service.

 Why AmeriCorps Matters

I make a point to tell my story of service because AmeriCorps is in danger of losing Congressional funding.

It has been my experience that national service is not only a fulfilling way to serve, but also an answer to our nation’s youth underemployment gap. AmeriCorps is a perfect partnership between young adults who serve, the federal government and non-profits around the country.

Last year alone, 80,000 Americans served with AmeriCorps, a Corporation for National and Community Service program.

It needs to be fully funded. Visit OneMillionNewJobs.org to learn more.

Reflecting on 9/11: A Call to Serve

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The National 9/11 Flag (Image: www.911Memorial.org)

September 11, 2001 was, as President Roosevelt said, “a date which will live in infamy.”

I’m sure you can remember exactly where you were on that day. I was in high school, and heard the news in class. I watched the towers come down with the rest of my French class, trying to make sense of what was happening.

America Responds

In the days following the attacks, we saw the best of America. We helped each other grieve by serving one another. We read stories of heroism and survival like this one from FDNY Deputy Chief Jay Jonas (published in 2011). We even got back to watching baseball, and the song “God Bless America” took on a new meaning in the wake of the tragedy.

Now, A Call to Serve

Want to get things done for America? Serve with AmeriCorps. (Image credit: www.AmeriCorps.gov)

Today, we mark another anniversary of our nation’s worst tragedy since the attack on Pearl Harbor. We can honor the memory of the nearly 3,000 people that lost their lives by serving others.

After 9/11, many answered the call to serve by joining our nation’s military. The United States military has defended our nation admirably in Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan. To these brave men and women who defend with honor, thank you for your service.

You may not be called to serve in the military, but everyone can serve.

After graduating from college, I served as an AmeriCorps VISTA with Cornerstone Assistance Network, a non-profit that fights homelessness. I loved serving my country, and enjoyed contributing to a cause bigger than myself. I continue to learn from the experience.

Service to Honor 9/11

If you’d like to volunteer in your community to honor the anniversary of 9/11, there are non-profits around the country that would be glad to have your time and service. Here are a few resources to help you find a project:

1. 911Day.org: A movement to remember 9/11 each year through service. If you are interested in serving, enter your vip-code here to search for local opportunities.

2. Mission Continues: Have you ever wanted to say “Thank You” to a veteran? Here’s your chance! There is no better way to thank a veteran for serving than to volunteer alongside them. Mission Continues provides fellowships to post-9/11 veterans. Click here to register for a project.

2. Serve.gov: United We Serve is a nationwide service initiative, launched by President Obama and managed by the Corporation for National and Community Service. Learn more about the nationwide effort to mark 9/11 with service.

How will you honor the anniversary of 9/11?

Note: The credit for the images in this post goes to www.911Memorial.org and www.AmeriCorps.gov. They can be found here and here.

Former Client Shares Her Story with Video Testimonial

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Over the past couple of days, one of my jobs as a VISTA has been to shoot some video testimonials of a few of Cornerstone’s former clients who have moved on and made productive lives for themselves.

In the coming days, I will be working with other Cornerstone VISTAs to turn the footage in to promotional material for Cornerstone’s various programs, but I thought I would share the story of one of our clients with you in advance.

Anita Morgan

Anita was formerly incarcerated. Caught up in a life of drugs, she came to Cornerstone for help and went through the Christian Women’s Job Corps program.

Designed to connect women to jobs and teach life skills about how to succeed in the workplace, Christian Women’s Job Corps exists to help women like Anita improve themselves so they can get a job or go to school upon graduation.

And that’s just what Anita has done.

After graduating from the CWJC, Anita enrolled in Tarrant County Junior College and started taking classes. With plans to graduate soon, she has confidence in herself that the she didn’t have prior to coming to Cornerstone.

Anita is a Powerful Witness

Anita’s story is like many who come to Cornerstone. I am blessed to work at Cornerstone, even it is just for a year. I work to help people see the potential within themselves. Anita’s story is a powerful witness for the healing power of Jesus Christ. Like many of Cornerstone’s clients, Anita wanted to change. God surrounded her with a new support system she uses daily to recover and set her on the right path.

Treating the Whole Person

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A few Tarrant County non-profits work to improve the lives of the homeless.
A few Tarrant County non-profits work to improve the lives of the homeless.

Recently I had an opportunity to visit two local non-profits, Mission Arlington and Union Gospel Mission of Tarrant County.

The goal of the visits was to learn more about their volunteer programs so that Cornerstone can develop a comprehensive volunteer management document.

Union Gospel Mission, founded in 1988, serves the homeless through daily chapel services, community meal and assistance programs, food and shelter for homeless men, women and children, as well as spiritual development for all their residents.

Like Cornerstone, Union Gospel Mission is a holistic ministry, working to treat the whole person, not just immediate physical needs.

Mission Arlington was founded on the idea that we should treat the areas we live just like the international mission field. They have set up bible studies in local communities all over Arlington. In addition to meeting the spiritual needs, they also meet physical needs as well. Their services include a dental clinic, food pantry, educational classes, job and transportation assistance. The goal is to meet immediate needs and plant seeds for Christ.

Mission Arlington has developed a large “word-of-mouth” following among Arlington residents, so they don’t do any active recruiting or advertising for their volunteers, instead relying on God to bring volunteers to them.

I enjoyed experiencing both ministries. It is nice to learn from ministries with like-minded missions. Cornerstone’s goal is to have a comprehensive volunteer program, so working with other non-profits only makes that process easier.

The Day I “Got” Cornerstone

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I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me. Matthew 25:40

Just after accepting the VISTA position with Cornerstone I had a chance to volunteer for a week, giving me a chance to learn about the organization and my job duties before actually assuming the role of VISTA.

I have always enjoyed volunteering. It seems I get more out of it each time than I give. Volunteering is funny that way. Give a little and you get a lot back. One of the days I volunteered I received the privilege of visiting the Welcome Back/Tarrant County program, a ministry for prisoners just about to be released from prison.

I’ll be honest, I was nervous. But my my boss, Carolyn Ayres, Network Development Director for Cornerstone, suggested I take the opportunity to learn a little about one of Cornestone’s programs. Such knowledge is helpful if I am going to communicate to effectively to potential volunteers.

So I went.

We have certain stereotypes of prisoners and ex-cons. Much of that comes from Hollywood I’d imagine. Turned out, almost none of what I thought would be true, was true.

That said, not many of them looked like me, but that I was prepared for. Tattoos were the norm, but I’ve learned enough in my life not to judge someone by skin color or tattoo markings. What I wasn’t prepared for was the incredible witness this ministry is to prisoners about to enter the real world again after their incarceration. The day I was there, five former inmates gave their testimonies. All have have steady jobs. All have homes or apartments of their own. All have family or church support systems. All have accepted Christ.

There stories of sacrifice and hard work were a lesson to me, even though I have never been to prison. They made a choice to completely walk away from their former life. If that’s not a walking advertisement for Cornerstone I don’t know what is.

That was the day I really understood what this ministry was all about. The goal, plain and simple is to change lives. In each ministry offered here, the goal is to have our clients walk away self-sufficient and changed for the better.

Praise God.

Until next time,

Ryan