AmeriCorps ACCESS Project

ABOUT AMERICORPS

AmeriCorps, a federal agency, brings people together to tackle the country’s most pressing challenges through national service and volunteering. AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers serve with organizations dedicated to the improvement of communities. AmeriCorps helps make service to others a cornerstone of our national culture. Find out more about AmeriCorps.

 

ABOUT AMERICORPS CROSS-CULTURAL EDUCATION SERVICE SYTEMS (ACCESS) PROJECT

The ACCESS Project is an AmeriCorps program under the Center for New North Carolinians at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Incepted in 1994, we are our state’s oldest and longest-running AmeriCorps program. We help immigrant and refugee families gain access to resources and support needed to integrate and become economically self-sufficient and contributing members of society. We do this by placing AmeriCorps members with our partner agencies (host sites) to provide families with job services, case management, English language instructions, tutoring, education support services to students in grades K-12, and so much more. We have partner agencies in Alamance County, Guilford County, Mecklenburg County, Orange County, and Wake County.

WHAT DO AMERICORPS MEMBERS IN THE ACCESS PROJECT DO?

AmeriCorps members are matched with a position and host site of their choice to provide direct service to immigrants and refugees to help families integrate into life in North Carolina. These services may include case management, employment assistance, English language instruction, interpretation, transportation, and education support services (e.g., tutoring, school assignments, and other school-related activities). Other activities performed by the AmeriCorps members may include community outreach, volunteer recruitment, management, retention, networking, and collaborating with other non-profit organizations to enhance service to these marginalized community members. Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.

ACCESS MEMBERS & PARTNER AGENCIES

COMMUNITY IMPACT

2019-2020 program year: AmeriCorps members

  • Conducted disaster preparedness workshops for 148 immigrants/refugees
  • Provided job services to 296 immigrants and refugees, of which 112 attained jobs
  • Provided education support services to 207 K-12 immigrant and refugee students

2020-2021 program year: AmeriCorps members

  • Conducted disaster preparedness workshops for 132 immigrants/refugees
  • Provided job services to 289 immigrants and refugees, of which 103 attained jobs
  • Provided education support services to 163 K-12 immigrant and refugee students

2021-2022 program year: AmeriCorps members

  • Provided job services to 231 immigrants and refugees, of which 56 attained jobs
  • Provided education support services to 122 K-12 immigrant and refugee students

MEMBER EXPERIENCE

From September 1994 – August 2022, more than 1200 members joined the ACCESS Project! Read alum stories of “Where are they now?” below.

AmeriCorps ACCESS PROJECT MEMBER AND SITE SUPERVISOR OF THE YEAR 2022-23

WHAT WILL I GAIN FROM JOINING THE ACCESS PROJECT?

  1. AmeriCorps members will receive professional development trainings from the program and service site. Training topics such as cross-cultural communication, conflict/resolution, interpretation, diversity, and more will help members engage with and better serve the immigrant and refugee community members. Ultimately, by the end of the service year, members will gain experience and transferrable skills they can proudly put on their resumes.
  2. Members will receive a living allowance of up to $20,000 full-time and $10,000 part-time in a program year. The living allowance is subject to tax and will be slightly lower after a tax deduction.
  3. Upon completing the service term, members will also receive an education award of up to $6,895 full-time and $3,447.50 part-time – limited to 7 years spending period and subject to tax at the time used. The education award can be used to:
    • pay educational expenses
    • repay qualified student loans

Contact

Khouan Rodriguez, Program Director, at 336.256.1060 or acaccess@uncg.edu.

The ACCESS Project is supported by a grant from the North Carolina Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service in the Office of Governor Roy Cooper.

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