Nemanja’s journey into service was deeply personal, rooted in his experiences as a refugee. 

"Growing up, I often struggled in school. My family and I came to the United States in 2001 as refugees of the Yugoslav wars.” The transition made his school experience overwhelming, particularly as he was also learning English. Despite these challenges, Nemanja found solace and encouragement from "the champions in the school building”, those being the teachers and the other staff members. 

“They saw my potential and genuinely empowered it." Although he had studied political science and lacked a direct path to education, he was determined to give back through education. "After college, I knew that I wanted to somehow, in some way, champion students the same way that I was championed."

His search led him to AmeriCorps, where he served three years between 2018 and 2021. His motivation was clear: "What drew me to the service was that potential to advocate for a community of students...an opportunity to go full circle and to give back in a way that so many had given to me." 

His first AmeriCorps experience began at Fulton Elementary School in Chicago as a member of City Year Chicago. Nemanja's experience led to a realization that bridging gaps involved improving academic performance and connecting with students on a personal level. 

“In that classroom, I could see how important it was to understand each student’s background, their struggles, and their dreams. It wasn’t just about teaching but making those connections.” 

Teaching went beyond just imparting knowledge; it was about establishing authentic connections. Nemanja dedicated himself to building trust and fostering a supportive environment where students felt recognized and valued. As part of his efforts, he initiated after-school programs that offered additional academic support and engaged students in activities that resonated with their cultural heritage.

His foundational role at City Year set the stage for his continued service, which included two years with Reading Partners Seattle—first as a program coordinator at Rising Star Elementary School and then as a senior volunteer coordinator. 

"Reading Partners does a wonderful job of ensuring that members understand how literacy can be used to empower our students, welcome community members into our schools, and bridge divides." This approach deeply resonated with Nemanja, especially during his tenure at Rising Star Elementary.

At Rising Star, Nemanja worked with many students from East Africa, particularly Eritrea and Northern Ethiopia. 

"A commonly spoken language in the region is Tigrinya, and many of my students and their families spoke Tigrinya at home." Faced with the challenge of bridging language divides and fostering family engagement, Nemanja turned to a powerful tool: books. 

"The question for me became, how do we bridge this language divide, learn from each other, and continue to rally behind the students that we were all rooting for?" To address this, Nemanja organized monthly reading circles where families could participate in bilingual storytelling sessions, providing a platform for cultural exchange and strengthening community ties. 

Nemanja's solution to the language barrier was a virtual engagement event centered around bilingual literacy. 

“I was able to provide each of my Tigrinya-speaking students a copy of the English-Tigrinya bilingual book, The Runaway Injera.” This initiative was complemented by bilingual literacy activities for the families and featured a guest reader who was a Tigrinya speaker and a community leader from Yesler Terrace. "The event allowed our students and their families to engage with literacy together, promoted bilingualism, and allowed us as educators to form deeper, more meaningful relationships with both our students, their caregivers, and in some instances, even some of their siblings." The impact of this event was significant, as it not only improved the students' literacy skills but also strengthened the bond between the school and the families, fostering a more inclusive and supportive educational environment.

Through his experiences with City Year Chicago and Reading Partners Seattle, Nemanja demonstrated how to bridge divides by embracing the core principles of understanding, empathy, and collaboration. In each role, he focused on finding common ground and building relationships that transcended cultural and linguistic barriers. 

His efforts were not about changing anyone’s beliefs or trying to persuade them but about listening, understanding, and working together towards shared goals. Nemanja's approach involved creating spaces where diverse perspectives could be shared and respected, such as organizing community forums where different cultural practices were discussed openly. 

Nemanja’s journey highlights how national service can be a transformative experience, allowing individuals to connect across differences and build meaningful relationships. By addressing needs within his community and leveraging his experiences, Nemanja bridged divides, supported students and families, and championed literacy and inclusion.