AmeriCorps, a federal agency, brings people together to tackle the country’s most pressing challenges through national service and volunteering. AmeriCorps Volunteers 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.
Access Project Volunteer of the Year:
Karol Leiva
“When this service year began, I didn’t imagine I would have the opportunity to nominate a Volunteer of the Year due to unforeseen circumstances. Then Karol entered the picture.
Karol joined our community center first as a volunteer, then again during her internship and unexpectedly stepped into the role of AmeriCorps Volunteer with grace, humility, and an open mind. What began as an internship quickly became something much greater. As she transitioned into her service role, I watched her grow into a confident leader who consistently went above and beyond for the families we serve.
Despite serving in a reduced part-time position, Karol took on responsibilities that would typically require a full-time AmeriCorps Volunteer. She led our weekly food pantry serving more than 15 families, conducted weekly home visits for homebound families, managed our after-school youth program three days a week, recruited volunteers, registered more than 15 children for our summer youth program, and helped coordinate programming across the center. She met every challenge with professionalism, initiative, and compassion.
One of Karol’s most meaningful accomplishments was the exceptional case management she provided to a family facing food insecurity, unemployment, legal challenges, and other significant needs. She connected them with critical resources while offering steady encouragement and support. One family member recently shared how grateful they were to have Karol by their side every step of the way—a testament to the trust and genuine relationships she built through service.
Karol also demonstrated outstanding leadership while helping coordinate our Spring Block Party that had 100 attendees. With limited staff and time, she took initiative, engaged community partners, delegated tasks to volunteers and interns, and ensured every detail came together. Her positive attitude, patience, and ability to connect with youth and families were instrumental in making the event a success.
Watching Karol’s confidence and leadership flourish has been one of the greatest joys of my year. Her dedication and positive energy have inspired our staff and made a lasting difference in the lives of the families we serve. Simply put, many of our programs and activities would not have been possible without her.”
-Nathaly Diaz, Site Supervisor at Oakwood Forest Community Center
Meet the Current team
Access Project Site Supervisor of the Year:
Joceyln Santillan-Deras
-Alex Mendez-Hernandez and Faith Marindich, AmeriCorps ACCESS Project Volunteers at Immigrant Health Access Project“We are honored to nominate Jocelyn Santillan-Deras for the outstanding leadership, dedication, and impact she has put into us and IHAP, despite starting from “scratch.”
Because Jocelyn wasn’t hired until early January of this year, we didn’t get to know her as closely as we might have wanted at the beginning of our service. But she has done more than we could have ever imagined, making our service a meaningful experience. Since joining IHAP, Jocelyn has worked tirelessly to streamline our policies and procedures by creating and improving essential documents and workflows, enabling us to better serve the community. These include Authorized Representative forms, letters of support, notarization procedures, case note documentation, and filing systems. These improvements have made our work more organized, efficient, and consistent while ensuring our clients receive high-quality services.
Beyond improving internal operations, she has prioritized networking by building relationships with agencies such as the Guilford County Community Network (GCCN), FaithAction International House, the Department of Social Services (DSS), and our own community centers within CNNC. Through these connections, she has managed to raise IHAP’s profile and ensure that agencies connect with us as well. She has also sought funding opportunities to strengthen health education, for instance, hygiene baggies to hand out to clients, and has received funding to promote dental health education for the community.
Jocelyn has gone above and beyond in supporting our service year. She invested time in training us, providing thoughtful feedback, and answering questions. One example was implementing community health assessments, which allowed us to better understand the health needs of the populations we serve, connect clients with appropriate resources, and provide referrals if needed. She also ensured we gained hands-on experience through community outreach events and direct client services, helping us build confidence and develop practical skills. Even while balancing graduate school and the demands of managing a growing program, she remained approachable, patient, and deeply committed to supporting both her team and the communities we Serve.
Jocelyn’s abilities, dedication, and support have made a lasting impact not only on our service experience, but also on her as a great professional and personal inspiration. We are very grateful to have had the opportunity to have her as our site supervisor, even though she was with us for only half our service. And we wholeheartedly believe she deserves this recognition!!!!!”
Community Impact
2021-22
Program Year, Americorps volunteers:
Provided job services to 231 immigrants and refugees, of which 56 attained jobsProvided education support services to 122 K-12 immigrant and refugee students
2020-21
Program Year, Americorps volunteers:
Conducted disaster preparedness workshops for 132 immigrants/refugeesProvided job services to 289 immigrants and refugees, of which 103 attained jobsProvided education support services to 163 K-12 immigrant and refugee students
2019-20
Program Year, Americorps volunteers:
Conducted disaster preparedness workshops for 148 immigrants/refugeesProvided job services to 296 immigrants and refugees, of which 112 attained jobsProvided education support services to 207 K-12 immigrant and refugee students
Lived Experiences
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