 Hello, welcome to CTN member highlight. I'm Leslie McVane and today my guests are AmeriCorps volunteers with LearningWorks Ames High AmeriCorps program. I have with me Eli Iman and Steve Welcome. Thank you. Now you've all come to the program for various reasons and I guess we'll start with Eli Sure. Tell me why you came to this program and how long you've been with it? So when I started my higher education, I guess my focus was on trying to make some sort of impact and upon completion of that I like many others didn't have much to do So I was looking for programs where I would have some sort of impact on the greater community Stumbled upon the Ames High program applied and that was this past summer. I was accepted and I've been here ever since That's terrific. And how about you Iman? Well, when I first came to America I knew that I had to everybody was so welcoming and the community was just great and I knew that I had to give back in some sort of way and I worked a lot with children when I was in Egypt and I volunteered a lot and I know that AmeriCorps Connects people with volunteers with people who can really benefit from their time and personal attention. So I applied to AmeriCorps and Especially at East End because East End is really diverse and a lot of people are immigrants And I know that I can connect to them in a way that nobody else can Thanks Leslie. I'm a retiree. I was doing some work and still am with the Riverton Boys and Girls Club In Portland and the director of that club thought I might like to work with some of the boys and girls club kids At the local elementary school the Riverton elementary school So she sort of brokered me into that which I very much appreciated And to do that I had to become an AmeriCorps volunteer Well, it all sounds so exciting. I every time I interview some of the AmeriCorps volunteers I want to sign up Just leave my job and go do AmeriCorps because you really do make a difference in the lives of the people you work with Tell me about some of the challenges and some of the really great rewards you you get Whoever would like to go first Okay. Well, I work with predominantly ELL students that students who are English language learners and these maybe They're students from all walks of life. They may be junior arrivals or they may have been here for a few years But are still trying to acclimate themselves to the language In this it creates a few different. I wouldn't say problems But just hurdles that myself and the teacher that I work under have to overcome Communication is a big one obviously, but there's also a lot of Background of the students that might not be readily apparent A lot of things going on at home going on in their past and that's another hurdle that we have to overcome and so working with these students it's You're trying to teach them English and teach them To communicate but as well you're trying to give them a safe space Where they can feel like they can learn and have that ability to grow And you are where are you doing this? I'm doing this at East End Community School I think Eli said it perfectly a lot of students have a lot of baggage that they just carry around and we don't realize this because a Lot of them are just really young But once you actually get to deal with them personally and give them your personal attention They open up and that's the best part about this they kind of blossom even with their peers And it's just really rewarding. It says Eli say they feel they know they have a safe space Yeah to be who they are. Yeah, and learn. Yeah, that's great Steve. How about you? I would pick up on that And second and third it Both the Riverton Boys and Girls Club and the Riverton Elementary School. I do volunteer stuff I think are terribly successful well-run Operations in a real real big part of their success is how good they are at creating an Environment for the kids that the kids can experience as being emotionally trustworthy And I think I and we as AmeriCorps volunteers Participate in this creation of an emotionally trustworthy environment Reinforce the success of these institutions that these institutions are already having and it's just terribly terribly rewarding the kids Are so wonderful and all of the adults at both places where I do volunteer stuff I Couldn't praise them highly enough their dedication. They're caring for the kids. It's been a wonderful experience And now the three of you are working in the Portland area, but there are other areas South Portland Jay Some other places where AmeriCorps is do you choose where you want to be or are you placed where the most need is? When you apply you're given or you're able to give preference and this Is for things like where you're currently located Wet age group that you want to work with the greater Portland schools or elementary schools However, Jay and Cara back high schools are the other two locations. We're at and so obviously that's a different level of student But as well they taking accounts what the need is Into where you're placed. That's great Tell me about the training program. Is it a long process once you decide to become a AmeriCorps volunteer? You go through an application Process and then some training Who would like to speak about that? You mind maybe It's it's not a long process. I think the interview is It's very thorough so it like if you have if you already have experience dealing with people then it's it's a lot easier And you know you get accepted right away It's just the orientation there. There are a lot of orientations. We are given a bunch of books and you know a bunch of Sources that we can study from you know children psychology and all that so it's it's I would say if you If you really want to you know excel at what you do they give you all the sources that you need to and now you've all been there for you've been Steve a couple of years actually and Iman and Eli have are fairly new to the program a year maybe or not even that Would you recommend it to? Others I know that they're in the recruiting process now I definitely would recommend it. I mean I Never saw myself in an elementary school setting Prior to being in one and once I'm once I've been here for a few months for half a year It is it's such a great place to both for the students to grow as well for The members to grow and so even if it's not what you want to do as your career. I think It is a great place to Find yourself even great. I think so too I think that the greatest thing somebody can do for someone is teach them something and it doesn't have to be academic it can be like something about life or anything and And you know the kids are so young and it's great to know that you're impacting their lives You know in such a positive way at such a young age and it's definitely gonna benefit them in the long run Just to know that somebody was there for them and gave them just this personal attention you you become their role models Yeah, and it's it's a wonderful feeling Steve It's been a wonderful experience for me I couldn't be more impressed with the AmeriCorps staff to which I've been exposed I would just add I think that if one is thinking of doing this kind of work in an elementary school setting or a high school setting It would be an awfully good idea if the person who's thinking about that introspects a little and Satisfies himself or herself that he or she genuinely likes kids But if you do There the rewards can be fantastic not least of which is being around so many other adults who share that with you Well, thank you. The three of you are just amazing spokespeople for the program They can be very proud of the three of you and if people want to find out more about the program We will be running the telephone number and contact information for the learning works AmeriCorps program and I think it just sounds lovely. Thank you both all three of you for being here. Thank you for having you