Adam found his calling for conservation through AmeriCorps service with the Nevada Conservation Corps in 2013 performing wildfire mitigation and habitat restoration on public lands. Adam then went on to serve in an individual placement AmeriCorps position with the National Park Service (NPS) in Maine in 2015, which he parlayed into employment with the NPS. Since then, Adam has made a rewarding career in public lands management, also serving with state and local agencies and as a crew leader and staff administrator of impactful AmeriCorps programs.

Today Adam is Founder & Principal of Colorado Public Lands Advocacy & Conservation Expertise (CO-PLACE), LLC, where he supports clients in advocating for public lands and promoting their stewardship and public enjoyment.

Tim served as an AmeriCorps Recovery Navigator in the Winchester, VA Office of the Public Defender in 2025 where he supported clients in recovery while working with attorneys and statewide resources to build arguments for more rehabilitative legal outcomes. His service year led directly to his current position as the Mitigation Specialist in the Warrenton, VA Office of the Public Defender.

He graduated Summa Cum Laude from VCU in 2008 with a B.A. in Spanish, a minor in International Social Justice Studies, and a Certificate in Spanish/English Interpreting and Translation. He has spent nineteen years working overseas where he gained his expertise in cross-cultural communication, education, and training. When not in service, he can often be found on a hiking trail or inside a sweat lodge. 

Jada served with AmeriCorps VISTA in Houston, Texas, where she advanced economic empowerment initiatives through her role as Business Development Manager with The Mission Centers of Houston and as Volunteer Coordinator with SPB Houston. Following her service after serving on San Antonio City Council, she continues to lead community-centered impact as Founder of Majestic Royalty Incorporated, focusing on transforming lived experiences into pathways of empowerment and economic mobility.

Her service year strengthened her commitment to sustainable community development, workforce advancement, and uplifting underserved populations. Outside of her professional work, Jada is a motivational speaker and advocate who enjoys creating empowering spaces for women, families, and communities to rise and thrive.

Noah served two years through AmeriCorps State in the Hilltop neighborhood of Tacoma, Washington, providing in-school support to middle schoolers and running an afterschool community tutoring program. That experience launched what has become two decades of work in community engagement and social impact.

Today, he serves as CEO of the Salt Lake City Public Library, where he leads efforts to position the library as a vital hub for connection, learning, and civic life — work centered on strengthening belonging, expanding opportunity, and bridging divides. In his free time, Noah loves reading, walking his dog in the Salt Lake foothills, and riding bikes with his two daughters.

Shayna served as an AmeriCorps VISTA from August 2019 to August 2020. She served through the Community Action Association of Pennsylvania (CAAP) at Friends of the Poor in Scranton, PA. Her focus area was/still is food insecurity. As their Volunteer Coordinator, she managed their medical transportation program and secured volunteers for emergency pantry drives during the height of COVID.

She now works at her local Meals on Wheels as a Communications Coordinator, where she curates and manages their in-person/digital footprint - among other things. She is also a three-time appointed Commissioner for two Pennsylvania state boards (PennSERVE and the Selective Service). Shayna's inherent want is to serve others and tell stories; she now gets to do both thanks to capitalizing on the abilities she developed and the skills she learned during her service year.  

In her free time, you can find her reading Riverdale fanfiction, listening to One Direction, or traveling (ask her about her 25th birthday trip to Europe). 

Marissa served two times with AmeriCorps, for Reading Partners and AmeriCorps Missoula, MT. While participating in Reading Partners, she taught children in the local District of Columbia Public School system. During her time with AmeriCorps Missoula, MT, she served members of the Flathead Reservation and the local Missoula population, teaching young children STEM subjects and distributing STEM kits locally. Currently, Marissa works as a software engineer and continues to educate children on the importance of STEM and STEM careers.

Outside of work, Marissa enjoys reading, surfing, and exploring national parks.

Sabrina served with AmeriCorps State and National in Memphis, TN at Impact America, a nonprofit organization, where she provided free vision screenings for children at schools and daycares, and managed a free tax preparation site for the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. 

Sabrina now works in government as a municipal services coordinator at a regional planning agency in Greater New Haven, CT, working with fifteen municipalities and chief elected officials to drive cost-savings, improve service delivery, and increase efficiencies. 

Sabrina's service year solidified her commitment to advancing thriving and vibrant communities through public sector policies, programs, and services. 

Outside of work, Sabrina is a proud dog mom to Ace, her Corgi boy, and loves soaking up arts & culture.

Latojia Dawkins began her service work with AmeriCorps NCCC in 2007, completing two terms in Denver, CO, where she supported students at a local middle school, served over the Summer of Service Program, rebuilt homes with Habitat for Humanity, responded to disaster relief efforts, and completed conservation projects across multiple states.

Those two terms set the course for a career rooted in service . She went on to serve in various leadership capacities across Points of Light, Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa, and Citizen Schools, contributing as a team leader, program director, and recruiter within the national service movement.

A Johnson & Wales University alum, she likes to say her journey has gone "from Corps to Corps" — a life of service woven through youth development, education, recruitment, and now storytelling. Latojia currently serves as Director of Interview Collection at StoryCorps, the national nonprofit dedicated to preserving the stories of everyday Americans.

At the heart of her work is a simple belief: everyone has a story and deserves to be heard, and service is one of the most powerful ways to show that. Outside of work, Latojia is a poet, a self-proclaimed foodie, a water sports enthusiast, and a devoted movie lover — always chasing good stories, on and off the screen.

Austin served with AmeriCorps VISTA in the Upstate of South Carolina, where he engaged in work focused on mental health awareness, community development, and poverty alleviation.

He currently works as a Community Outreach Manager for Welcome.US, working to empower American Welcomers to creating communities of welcome for immigrant newcomers. He is also pursuing an MDIV from Duke Divinity School. His work with AmeriCorps VISTA fueled passion for the work of bridge-building and partnership development in community transformation. Outside of work, Austin finds joy in cheering for Duke and a good cup of specialty coffee.

James "Screal" Eberheart Jr. served as the Michigan Moonshot Ambassador with Lead For America's  - American Connection Corps, hosted at Merit Network in Ann Arbor Michigan, where he focused on digital opportunity and enablement, statewide.

He currently serves as Senior Michigan Moonshot Ambassador. Screal has expanded Digital Opportunity and Enablement statewide, Eduroam infrastructure in Detroit,MI, and led engagement to Detroit Housing Commission communities for Canopy powered by Connect 313 initiative, and scaled the Merit's LFA/ACC program from a single placement to five regionally positioned Moonshot Ambassadors across the state of Michigan all hosted at Merit Network.

Screal also brings in leadership within the nonprofit space being the Visioneer and Founder of M.I.N.D.S  — Motivating Inner New DreamS, a nonprofit built on four integrated pillars: entrepreneurship, mental wellness, community empowerment, and civic engagement, while also holding roles as National Team Lead for the American Connection Corps, a member of the Lead For America Alumni Board, and a member on the LeaderCorps AmeriCorps Michigan Alumni board.

His service years deepened a conviction he has carried his entire life — that systems change not when outsiders arrive with solutions, but when locally rooted people are resourced to hold those systems accountable from the inside out. That conviction shows up in everything he has built; "I can't lead where I won't go, and I can't talk about what I don't know."

A.J. Ernst served with AmeriCorps through Teach For America in Philadelphia, where he taught middle school science in the city's high-need communities. He now works as an education strategist, researcher, and professor, leading initiatives aimed at expanding opportunities for young people across the United States, Europe, and Asia. For A.J., service is the way he has chosen to live his life and the thread that runs through all his work. Outside of work, A.J. is an avid Springsteen enthusiast and proud New Jerseyan.

Nicki served with Volunteer Maryland as an AmeriCorps member from 2011 to 2012, supporting volunteer management and community engagement across the state.

She now serves as Director of Development and Communications at Transform Mid-Atlantic, a nonprofit advancing civic engagement and social impact across higher education institutions in the Mid-Atlantic region, where she leads fundraising strategy, external communications, and partnership development. Her service year ignited a lasting commitment to amplifying the voices of those who serve -- a passion she channels as host of the AmeriCorps Connections podcast, launched in 2023 and now home to over 100 interviews with alums and advocates nationwide.

Outside of work, Nicki enjoys studying astrology and keeping up with the cosmos, and can often be found doing handstands next to any random tree she comes across.

Aaron Frumin is a three-time AmeriCorps alum, first serving with AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) in 2007 and later as a Teach For America corps member from 2011–2013. Over the past two decades, he has worked alongside and led numerous AmeriCorps NCCC, State and National, and VISTA members in roles with the American Red Cross and Habitat for Humanity during the rebuilding of post-Katrina New Orleans. Those service experiences became a foundation for his professional and moral compass, broadening his understanding of community, exposing him to complex systems and inequities, and shaping his commitment to building institutions that expand access and opportunity.

Aaron is now the Founder and CEO of unCommon Construction, a nationally recognized workforce development nonprofit. Among his most proud achievements is that he has cut his own hair since 2007, a skill he first developed by choice and out of necessity while serving in NCCC.

Erica Fuller’s passion for service led her on a cherished journey with AmeriCorps. She served with AmeriCorps State and National (2013 & 2014), AmeriCorps NCCC (2017, and Summer of Service 2022), traveling across eight states and partnering with dozens of organizations. Each term deepened her commitment to helping others and inspired a dedication to the volunteer engagement profession.

Today, Erica channels that passion into her role as a Volunteer Services Specialist with Habitat for Humanity International. She’s driven by the belief that service transforms lives both for those giving and receiving support.

A defining experience came at the end of Erica’s 2017 NCCC term, when her team responded to Hurricane Harvey. Assisting Texas families devastated by the disaster left a lasting impact that continues to shape her life and inspired a life long commitment to service.

Marshall completed one year in an AmeriCorps State program and three years as a VISTA with three different organizations, and he is currently in his fifth and final year serving as a VISTA Leader. Marshall recently earned a Certificate in Nonprofit Management at University of Illinois Chicago and passed the exam to become a certified Housing Counselor; he is now seeking his next position.

During his first year of service, Marshall was homeless; but was able to come back home through service and continue helping others who are still on the streets get housed. Marshall also volunteers at the Lincoln Park Zoo as a behind-the-scenes helper, where he gets to work closely with animals - from little monkeys and penguins to even swimming with the polar bears.

Liz served with The Choice Program, an AmeriCorps program based in Baltimore, Maryland, where she worked as a Community Service Caseworker supporting youth navigating the juvenile justice system through mentorship, advocacy, and community-based case management.

She now works as a Senior Product Manager at JustFund, building technology that helps make philanthropic funding more equitable and accessible. Her service year fundamentally shaped how she approaches her work, grounding her in empathy, deep listening, and a commitment to keeping real people at the center of every system or process.

Outside of work, Liz can be found hiking the best trails Oregon has to offer with her two dogs, watching all of the movies, or cooking overly extravagant meals with friends.

Zack Huffman is a dedicated educator, nonprofit champion, and advocate for educational equity who currently serves as Director of Development and Network Support at Teach For America: Greater Delta Mississippi & Arkansas (TFA). A proud AmeriCorps member and 2013 Teach For America alumnus, Zack began his career in the classroom teaching 5th- and 6th-grade math at R.H. Bearden Elementary School in Tallahatchie County, Mississippi.

His experience as a corps member gave him a firsthand understanding of both the promise and the persistent challenges facing students in under-resourced schools. That classroom experience continues to drive his commitment to expanding opportunity and supporting the next generation of leaders in Arkansas, Mississippi, and across the United States.

At TFA Greater Delta, Zack collaborates with universities, school districts, and community organizations to strengthen teacher recruitment pipelines and expand access to high-quality educators. Committed to continuous growth, he is pursuing an Ed.D. in Rural and Diverse Educational Leadership at Southern Arkansas University to better advocate for and strengthen rural communities.

Zack lives in downtown Little Rock with his partner, Jon, and their two dogs, Oakley and Luna.

Doria served with Public Allies (State & National 2014–2015) and Reading Partners (VISTA 2016–2017), where she worked as a Life Skills Instructor and Academic Advisor at Public Allies NY while also supporting fundraising and capacity-building efforts that raised over $500,000 for literacy programs at Reading Partners NY.

She is now a social impact consultant, philanthropy professional, and civic leader, serving as Founder of Your Why LLC, Development Manager at Cool Culture, Board Chair of Food Sospeso, Inc., and a member/advisor on Manhattan Community Board 10. Her work spans nonprofit fundraising, governance, and community engagement, with a focus on advancing equity and expanding access to resources and experience. Doria’s service years ignited her commitment to resource mobilization and community-centered leadership, shaping her approach to building sustainable, mission-driven organizations.

Outside of her professional work, she enjoys playing pickleball, writing poetry, and taking wellness walks.

Imran served with AmeriCorps VISTA within the Delaware Division of Libraries, where he worked on data, emerging technology, and economic and workforce development initiatives. Imran now works as a government partnerships broker at CivicReach, where he works with government clients on enablement and procurement of AI voice technology, software and platform solutions, and municipality resident communication systems. His service year ignited a lifelong commitment to ensure government works. Outside of work, Imran enjoys baseball and spending time with his wife and children.

Ellie served as an AmeriCorps volunteer in the Federal Way Public School District in Washington State where she worked in a high school civics class for multi-lingual learners and an after school program for elementary schoolers. 

Ellie now works in philanthropy ensuring high-quality data reaches the communities it’s meant to serve — building systems, partnerships, and tools that connect research and funding to community needs and expand opportunity from the ground up.

Ellie’s service year gave her both a north star and a challenge she brings to every room she’s in: are we using the best evidence available, and is our work genuinely moving the needle for the communities we serve?

Outside of work, Ellie spends her time chasing her two toddlers through parks and playgrounds in Seattle.

Sarah served with AmeriCorps at City Year San Antonio from 2015 - 2017, providing 9th grade reading interventions at the same school district she attended high school in, and creating a positive school environment through near peer mentorship.

Sarah now works as a manager at Communities In Schools of San Antonio, where she ensures that children have access to a caring adult to connect them to community resources and help them work towards their goals. Through her service year, Sarah learned the importance of meeting children's needs outside the classroom, so they can focus on learning.

As a new mom, Sarah is committed to ensuring service years are thriving when her child graduates from high school!

Adriana is a proud AmeriCorps National alum who served two terms as a Volunteer Services Coordinator at Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County, MI (2020–2022). She accepted this role during her final semesters at the University of Michigan–Dearborn, earning her bachelor’s degree amid the COVID-19 pandemic. During her service, she engaged over 700+ volunteers and built strong community partnerships. She created mission-based content for all media channels and spoke at local, regional, and national levels. Her work supported the expanded access to safe, decent, and affordable housing for hardworking families pursuing homeownership in Monroe County. This experience helped develop her expertise as a communications professional grounded in nonprofit work and national service. 

After her AmeriCorps terms, she was hired as the affiliate’s Community Outreach and Communications Administrator, where she worked for an additional three years. Adriana recently entered a new role as an Internal Communications Specialist at the Domino’s World Resource Center (WRC), supporting internal communications across the business. 

Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, singing opera, tap dancing, reading, participating in her church’s community giving efforts, and exploring nature.

Matthew served with City Year Boston, at an under-resourced elementary school supporting student learning in the classroom, afterschool enrichment programs, and running vacation camps for students in the school district. He now serves students as the Chief Student Affairs Officer at a small, rural university working to support students both academically and socially through leading initiatives for student success, student resources, and student activities for all students on campus.

Matthew uses the skills and experience they gained through their service year to serve in school districts and universities to help students achieve their goals. The opportunity provided through his service inspired him to be the resource he never had for the students he serves. A proud father of two incredible daughters, Matthew enjoys traveling whenever he can.

Drake served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Kyrgyz Republic, where he helped expand access to information for marginalized groups through community radio and digital tools. He later worked for the Peace Corps post in Kyrgyzstan, leading public relations and communications efforts with Kyrgyz national TV and radio to highlight the impact of Peace Corps volunteers.

He currently works as a Community Development Manager at Google, supporting workforce development initiatives and expanding access to opportunity in today’s digital economy. His service experience sparked a lasting commitment to storytelling as a tool for connection, trust, and impact.

Outside of work, Drake enjoys cycling, basketball, art and design, collecting vinyl records, and performing stand-up comedy.

Libby (she/her) is dedicated to working with communities to affect change and is a strong advocate for national service. Libby began her career serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA with the Office of the Mayor in Baltimore in 2011-2012 conducting community outreach initiatives, including spearheading a community garden project and a talent show for recovery centers in Baltimore City. With a desire to do more direct service, from 2012-2013, Libby served as a State/National member with Children’s Hunger Alliance in Dayton, Ohio, teaching nutrition and physical education to elementary and middle school students. Since this time, Libby has taken on numerous roles in non-profits, including an Associate Director position of an AmeriCorps VISTA program, before making her way to the higher education field. 

Currently, Libby is a Service-Learning Coordinator at Montgomery College, encouraging and guiding the next generation of service leaders. She also serves on the AmeriCorps Alums DC board and will assume the new role of President this board year. In her spare time, Libby enjoys practicing and teaching yoga, baking and cooking vegan food, and spending time with friends and family in the great outdoors. Libby is thrilled to be part of AmeriCorps Alums Amplified to share her story to help protect and expand AmeriCorps so future generations can partake and benefit from the program.

Sarah Middleton is President and CEO of Mission Up, a social change consulting firm that works alongside companies, foundations, nonprofits, and movements. Her career in social impact began in 2001-2002, when she served with AmeriCorps as a residential counselor at the Girls Hope home in Fullerton, California, part of Boys Hope Girls Hope of Southern California. Living and working alongside the scholars at Girls Hope changed the trajectory of her career, sparking her lifelong commitment to service and community change.

Following her AmeriCorps year, Sarah spent six years in the nonprofit sector before moving into corporate social responsibility. She went on to become Senior Vice President of Global Corporate Citizenship at PIMCO and Executive Director of the PIMCO Foundation. 

Sarah has held leadership roles with Orange County Grantmakers, the Corporate Volunteer Council of Orange County, and IMPACT2030. She was named one of Orange County, California’s 100 Most Influential people of 2015. 

Sarah is a board member for the National Museum & Center for Service and a member of Independent Sector’s Strategic Volunteer Engagement Program Advisory Committee.

She holds an MBA from the University of California, Irvine and an undergraduate degree from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

Priscilla served with AmeriCorps Operation UNITE, where she mentored elementary students in mathematics, taught the Too Good for Drugs program, and established a UNITE Club to promote healthy choices and drug awareness and prevention. She also served with KY READY OPS, supporting the Medical Reserve Corps, and worked as a Community Health Worker through Kentucky Public Health AmeriCorps, completing 4,321 hours of AmeriCorps service.

She is retired due to an accident and currently works part time as a Community Health Worker at the Mercer County Health Department, serves as a Court Appointed Special Advocate, providing a voice for a child in the court system, is a member of the Upstream Academy, helping lead efforts in child abuse prevention, and serves as Chair of the Lincoln County UNITE Coalition, contributing to drug prevention and awareness initiatives.

Her service reflects a strong, ongoing commitment to improving the well-being of children, youth, and adults while expanding access to resources that support healthy, successful futures. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys watching her grandchildren participate in sports, spending time with family, taking care of her pup pups, and hiking.

Drew Mitrisin was elected to the Overland Park, Kansas City Council in November 2023. Overland Park is the second largest city in Kansas, and Ward 2—home to 35,000 residents—is a vibrant area with strong commercial activity, outstanding recreation opportunities, and great neighborhoods.

A father of two, Mitrisin began his AmeriCorps service journey in 2014–2015 with City Year DC in a Southeast DC community at Leckie Elementary School. There, he served in a 4th grade math classroom and helped launch a pilot program giving corps members access to the city’s bikeshare system. That year of service shaped his decision to pursue a career in public policy and continues to guide his approach to leadership today.

Professionally, he is a senior transportation policy consultant at Burns & McDonnell, where he helps municipalities and public agencies deliver critical transportation and water infrastructure projects. An ENV SP-certified sustainable infrastructure professional, he has experience in multimodal transportation, green stormwater infrastructure, and clean energy grant funding.

Mitrisin earned his Master of Arts in public management from Johns Hopkins University and his Bachelor of Arts in political science from William Jewell College.

Kristie first served with Knowledge to Empower Youth to Success (KEYS) Service Corps AmeriCorps providing underserved Pittsburgh children access to books and educational materials. She continued her service in the Peace Corps as an agriculture volunteer in Tanzania, then again as an AmeriCorps VISTA leader assisting VISTA members and Indigenous community members in the development of food sovereignty plans. 

Her appreciation for the ways AmeriCorps can get things done encouraged her to create new opportunities for members through the development of an AmeriCorps VISTA program across New York state for a food access nonprofit and hosting members from a State/National AmeriCorps program to help an urban park system address invasive species. Her service journey helped her discover her passion as an environmental educator which led to her becoming the District Educator with the Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District in Maine where she teaches people of all ages about environmental challenges and sustainable landscaping. 

When Kristie is not in classrooms or out in the field, you can usually find her playing roller derby, trudging around in the woods, gardening, or curled up with her three cats.

Geme served as an AmeriCorps Disaster Preparedness Coordinator with the Snohomish County Health Department in Washington State, where she led community engagement and developed public health preparedness programming.

She now works in Investor Relations at New Profit, a venture philanthropy organization that supports and scales social entrepreneurs to expand opportunity and economic mobility across the U.S. Her service year deepened her commitment to community-centered work and continues to shape how she approaches equity, engagement, and systems change.

Outside of work, she enjoys exploring art spaces, skiing, and going on walks with her two shih tzu poodles.

Ephraim Palmero began his service journey as an AmeriCorps VISTA with the City of Indianapolis, Division of Community Nutrition & Food Policy (2019–2020), while completing his Master of Science in Community & International Development with help from his AmeriCorps education award. His service year brought experience in grant writing, public policy, and coalition building; that shaped his lifelong commitment to board service and civic appointments in Indianapolis.

At the City of Indianapolis, he worked on initiatives that increased food access, developed partnerships with local businesses, nonprofits, and supported strategies that strengthen the Indianapolis food system through collective impact. His service also elevated his thought leadership nationally, including an invitation to speak at the 2021 Hunger Free Communities Virtual Summit on a workshop for Food Councils: Creating Food Equity and Accessibility.

Today, Ephraim works as a Program Officer at Rural LISC, where he serves as the main point of contact and advisor on small business and entrepreneurship for partners across the United States. In this role, he supports a network of Business Development Organizations that provide entrepreneurs and small businesses in rural America with the resources, capital, and partnerships they need to thrive. 

Mark served with Almost Heaven Habitat for Humanity in Pendleton County, West Virginia where he coordinated the out-of-state volunteer program, served as onsite host to the weekly volunteer groups, and aided with development and programmatic tasks.

Over ten years later, Mark serves as Operations Manager for Community Markets Inc., a nonprofit in West Virginia, where he leads the team in increasing food security for underserved Appalachian families while supporting local farmers. His service year introduced him not only to nonprofit work, but also to West Virginia, and was instrumental in setting his life course. Mark lives in Jefferson County, WV with his wife and three children.

Raquél served with AmeriCorps Rhode Island as a Resident Services Coordinator at Smith Hill Community Development Corporation, an affordable housing nonprofit partnered with Accessing Home AmeriCorps. In this role, she supported housing stability by engaging residents, leading trainings, and building partnerships with community programs. This experience shaped her commitment to advocacy and community-centered solutions, values that continue to guide her work today.

Raquél now serves as Executive Director of the Rhode Island State Nurses Association, where she advances professional opportunities, member benefits, and nurse-focused legislation statewide.

Outside of work, she enjoys traveling and is on a mission to visit all 50 states (she’s halfway there!).

Tawnya served as an  AmeriCorps Promise Fellow in Colorado, where she worked at an affordable housing community to design and implement wraparound services for residents. Her work included leading summer and afterschool programming for youth and facilitating enrichment opportunities for adults. 

Today, Tawnya serves in local government with the City of Brighton, where she leads youth engagement and leadership initiatives, including programs that elevate youth voice and create pathways for young people to shape their community. 

Her service year launched a lifelong commitment to community impact and developing emerging leaders. 

Outside of work, Tawnya enjoys spending time with loved ones, attending live music, and beekeeping.

Griff served two years in AmeriCorps NCCC. First, as a corps member at the Vinton, Iowa campus, and then, as a Team Leader at the former Perry Point, Maryland campus. Following those two years, Griff served as an AmeriCorps VISTA, where he developed educational curriculum and established community partnerships for the California Conservation Corps in Watsonville, California.

Griff now works as Counsel to the Judiciary Committee in the California State Assembly, where he analyzes bills and works with stakeholders to amend bills for passage. His passion for public service and making the world a better place grew from his first service experience with AmeriCorps.

In his downtime, Griff enjoys spending time with his family (dogs included) and being a big movie nerd.

Jordan served with AmeriCorps NCCC Southwest Region in 2018, where worked in small towns on community development, disaster response, and veteran reintegration into civilian life.

He now works with Co-Develop, a global nonprofit fund that supports public sector digital transformation in 40 countries. Jordan's service term amplified his career focus on promoting effective public service and competence at working across cultural contexts. Jordan's passions include watching sports and climbing large mountains.

A’Jay served from 2011 - 2014 as an AmeriCorps VISTA member in Topeka, Kansas.  Through the Washburn University AmeriCorps VISTA program, A’Jay led high-impact initiatives advancing youth development, health equity, and community revitalization in underserved communities and communities of color.

A’Jay is a nonprofit strategist and consultant who founded VLF DreamMakerz Community Solutions to help nonprofits secure resources, build programs, and develop leaders to drive sustainable mission success. After witnessing how poverty devastates communities—and how under-resourced organizations struggle to deliver solutions—A’Jay made it her mission to act. Her years of service taught her how to build capacity, enabling her to bridge critical gaps and ensure vital support reaches those who need it most rather than being lost to politics or ineffective systems.

A’Jay brings people together through food. By teaching cooking classes across the country, she uses shared culinary experiences to build connection and trust—proving that when words fall short, food becomes the language of the heart.

Jason first served with AmeriCorps NCCC in 2006 where he supported a variety of Environmental and Disaster Recovery projects related to Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana and Mississippi and would then serve a second term with a State & National program supporting Talbot Island State Park in the Jacksonville, FL area doing resource management work and environmental education. 

After nearly two decades in the national service space, Jason recently transitioned into the role of Community Engagement and Outreach Manager with Volunteer Tennessee where he works to encourage volunteerism and service in the State of Tennessee, from Memphis to Johnson City, by supporting the storytelling and convening of different groups ranging from AmeriCorps Alums and Volunteers to a Corporate Social Purpose Network.  Jason believes that by lifting up those who serve, we can support pathways to meaningful work, self actualization, and make the difference that is needed, but that none of us can do alone. 

Outside of work, Jason enjoys going on hikes around East Tennessee with his family, watching Fallout, Kpop Demon Hunters, etc. or taking naps in any number of soft places.

Emma Seitz is a CRM consultant at KPMG and a former All-American and professional ice hockey player. 

Emma was born and raised in Midtown Manhattan and was first exposed to AmeriCorps during a gap year midway through her time at Yale University. Her first AmeriCorps service year was with the New York City Department of Emergency Management, where she served as a Food Distribution VISTA Summer Associate. She worked with the New York State National Guard and other VISTAs to run a COVID-19 food distribution site in the West Bronx that harnessed the city’s yellow taxi fleet to provide meals to low-income and elderly households. That fall, Emma jumped right into her second AmeriCorps role as an Information Management Coordinator VISTA with HANDS, Inc., a nonprofit organization in Orange, NJ focused on neighborhood revitalization through community partnerships. She led a CRM migration project while also promoting change management across the organization and became so passionate about all things Salesforce in the process that she decided to make it her career. 

When she is not at work, Emma can be found playing ball hockey, watching baseball, or traveling. She also continues to give back to her community as a volunteer coach with the Ice Hockey in Harlem program.

Jordan served as an AmeriCorps Member with College Advising Corps through Furman University in South Carolina from 2023–2025, supporting education initiatives across rural counties with a focus on student and civic engagement, youth development, and postsecondary access. He currently volunteers with nonprofit networks across South Carolina to support AmeriCorps initiatives and serves on America’s Service Commission Board of Directors, after first beginning their leadership journey with the South Carolina Service Commission. 

Jordan's years of service strengthened his commitment to expanding access to opportunity and building stronger, more equitable communities through education and advocacy, and continues to shape a passion for civic engagement and youth development, especially in rural communities. 

Outside of professional and volunteer work, Jordan enjoys creating motivational content and developing tools that help others reach their personal and financial goals.

Christian served with AmeriCorps in Billings, MT; Boston, MA; and Buffalo, NY. He currently works as an attorney with the New York State Department of Health - Division of Legal Affairs, where he provides legal counsel to the State's Medicaid program. His service year opened up his worldview and understanding of the public health challenges across the nation.

Outside of work, Christian volunteers with the American Red Cross to coordinate response teams with persons affected by disasters.

Gretchen is an AmeriCorps VISTA alum who thought she’d become a teacher—but her service year showed her there are so many ways to teach, lead, and make a difference. While serving with the America Reads VISTA program through the City of Burlington’s Economic Development Office, she created a reading partnership that connected college students with childcare providers in rural Vermont towns, helping kids build a love of literacy while gaining access to books and supportive mentors. She then became a VISTA Leader—an experience that launched her into a career in state government and community leadership. 

Today, she serves as Executive Director of Volunteer NH, where she’s spent 15+ years helping others step into service and leadership. As a mom of seven and grandmother of five—with a son currently serving in AmeriCorps—Gretchen is passionate about showing young people that you don’t have to have it all figured out—just start—service will help you grow.

From 2002 to 2004, Shannon Stober served two terms as an AmeriCorps VISTA with the Prevention Resource Center in Montana, focusing on positive youth development. She went on to build a career in nonprofit and National Service leadership, including roles with the Montana Governor’s Office of Community Service, Montana Campus Compact, and Montana Conservation Corps. 

Shannon is now a leadership development professional working across the country and across sectors through her company, Jump Start Training & Development. Her service years shaped her commitment to personal transformation through civic participation, and the belief that authenticity, agency, and audacity are essential to how people show up in their communities and create meaningful change. 

Outside of work, you can find her doing all the things Montanans do, including camping, fishing, riding horses, and hooting and hollering about life, leadership, and whatever else comes up.

Laura Swier Kotelman is an AmeriCorps NCCC alum who served in 2001 out of the Perry Point, Maryland campus. Her service included disaster recovery after Tropical Storm Allison, assisting families with FEMA applications, habitat restoration, and food security projects. On September 11, 2001, she was in Washington, D.C. for a meeting at AmeriCorps headquarters—a turning point that led her to support crisis response efforts, including training volunteers bound for New York, sorting messages for first responders, and assisting postal workers tested for anthrax. She also worked in Baltimore schools helping children learn to read and supported the Special Olympics World Games in Alaska—an experience that inspired 13 years of living in that state.

Today, Laura is a Senior Advisor at Southcentral Foundation, where she supports 17 rural Federally Qualified Health Centers across Alaska with strategy, funding readiness, and rural health initiatives. Based in South Dakota, she is engaged with local food production, teaches honey tasting classes and is a mom to three active kids.

National Service is something close to Alex Tran's heart. He never could have imagined doing so much service through AmeriCorps. 

During his first term in the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC), he was based in Aurora, Colorado, and traveled with like-minded individuals to aid in disaster relief projects in Louisiana and environmental stewardship projects in Kansas. With his first term ending, he decided to go back home, where he joined Habitat AmeriCorps with Sussex County Habitat for Humanity, building houses and recruiting volunteers in Southern Delaware. He was later picked up by Delaware's State Volunteer Office as a VISTA in conjunction with Habitat, working on special projects. He thought he was done with service until the wildfires in Maui, Hawaii, happened, which inspired him to join the American Conservation Experience (ACE) in Asheville, North Carolina. One memorable story for Alex is his participation in AmeriCorps Disaster Response during the Iowa floods in the Summer of 2024. Mucking and gutting moldy homes for disaster survivors inspired him in his next phase in life.

He is currently a FEMA Reservist while pursuing his MBA at the University of the People. The service he provides continues in one shape or form. In 2023, he received the Lifetime Volunteer Presidential Service Award. Lastly, he enjoys hiking and needs to do more of it.

Demi Trimm served with AmeriCorps through City Year Miami, where she worked as a Team Leader and Student Success Coach supporting student achievement and engagement. She currently serves as a Grants and Programs Associate on her home island of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, where she advances community impact through grantmaking and scholarship initiatives that benefit the territory. Her service year challenged her to think beyond individual impact and examine how systems, resources, and relationships shape community outcomes. 

Outside of her professional work, Demi is pursuing her master’s degree at the University of the Virgin Islands. She enjoys spending time at the beach and with her friends and family.

Connor served with the AmeriCorps Kentucky College Coaches program at Breckinridge County High School, where he worked as a near-peer mentor to students in 9th-12th grade who may be the first in their family to go to college. 

Today, Connor serves as the Northwestern KY Outreach Counselor for the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority, where he continues to assist students in college access at middle schools, high schools, adult education centers, and colleges across ten counties. Connor’s service year helped him find purpose after active-duty military service, allowing him to ensure that students just like him have a chance to find success beyond their communities. 

Outside of work, you can usually find Connor at a nearby skatepark or going on adventures with his wife, Destiny, and their two dogs, Cash and June!

Sarah served four terms with AmeriCorps VISTA in New Hampshire, including with the VetCorps program and later as a VISTA Leader with Goodwill Northern New England. Her service focused on public health advocacy during the opioid crisis, supporting veterans and their families, and strengthening community-based nonprofit programs.

Sarah’s current work centers on program coordination, advocacy, and supporting community-driven initiatives designed to expand access and opportunity. Her service experience, especially navigating disability while continuing to serve, deepened her commitment to equity, advocacy, and ensuring that individuals facing barriers are able to contribute meaningfully to their communities.

Outside of her professional work, Sarah enjoys walking in nature and dancing to salsa, bachata, and swing music.

After college, Adam served in Americorps NCCC and AmeriCorps National Direct, where he worked on affordable housing, environmental, education, and disaster relief projects. In these experiences, he worked with communities like New Orleans, LA, Lexington, KY, Denver, CO, and many others. Learning how to work with people who he agreed and disagreed with pushed him to study intergroup conflict mediation, including studying and working in the Middle East, and has dedicated himself to educating and empowering young people to be civically-engaged leaders ever since.  

Adam is currently the Program Director at Generation Citizen (GC) where he and his team support nearly 300 Middle and High School teachers to implement GC’s project-based civics curriculum in 80 schools throughout New England. During his tenure, he has worked with state-wide coalitions, school partners, and governments to expand access to high quality civic education. 

Prior to GC, Adam was the Director of the Center for Community Engagement at Suffolk University in Boston, where he developed civic education programs that build up students' civic skills and understanding, partnering with over 60 nonprofit partnerships in the Boston area, nationally, and abroad.

Adam holds a B.A. in Sociology, and two graduate degrees in Religious Studies. He has taught courses on Social Change, Philosophy, and Religion at Johnson & Wales University and Suffolk University. He lives with his partner in Waltham, Massachusetts.

Allison's commitment to service began with City Year New Hampshire where she supported students in building confidence and skills to succeed through in-school and after-school programs. Unwilling to have a permanent address just yet, she then joined AmeriCorps NCCC-FEMA Pacific Region where she helped people sign up for disaster assistance, worked with regional and national headquarters staff, and contributed to disability and language access initiatives. 

Allison is currently a transportation planner with a public agency in San Diego, where she continues her mission to improve access to opportunity (and mobility) for people of all ages and abilities. 

Outside of work Allison can be found taking pictures of transportation infrastructure and complaining that the beginner crochet videos on youtube have misunderstood the meaning of the word "beginner".

Glenda Wright, JD, served as a Kentucky member of iFoster TAY AmeriCorps for three consecutive service years, officially concluding her service in December 2024. Some highlights of her service include mentoring foster youth on college campuses throughout Kentucky and helping to run a new program in partnership with the Kentucky Department for Community Based Services and a non-profit organization, The First Car Project. This program connects foster youth who have aged out of the Kentucky foster care system with their first vehicles, providing them with reliable transportation to support their pathways to success. 

After concluding her service, Glenda has remained involved with The First Car Project as a program partner, where she helps facilitate the program and provides training to participants. Most recently, in August, she joined other program partners in Orlando, Florida, to co-present on the program, with hopes of replicating and redesigning the Kentucky model for implementation across the nation.