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Misunderstanding
Posted by Shiley • 5/06/09 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: americorps, city year
After visiting a thread created by Agit8r www.blogcatalog.com/discuss/entry/do-you-agree-or-disagree-1
I've come to the conclusion that people are going on hearsay. I am a former City Year member. Not all Americorps members wear uniforms just City Year. It's like a corporation that sells KFC and Taco Bell clearly they are different. One is Kentucky Fried Chicken and the other sells tacos.
I stated in the previous thread:
"As a former City Year corps member there are so many things that I learned about myself and others because of it. I joined City Year on purely selfish reasons, a college scholarship. Once I spent half a year it became so much more than that. I worked with a lady who had mental retardation who couldn't even hold a paint brush. After a year with her she could paint. I worked in a class with kids who have developmental disorders and then I learned they don't have disorders they have learn different. I've worked in a domestic violence shelter, elderly home, worked with Habitat for Humanity, tutored children, worked with greenpeace, the Cleveland Museum of Art, The Cleveland Public Theatre, Cleveland Caveliers (I met Shawn Kemp), met Colin Powell, Mayor Micheal White, and Shook hands with President Bill Clinton. It gave me confidence in myself. It also gave me the idea for my blog Proof Positivity. I woke up and did jumping jacks in clothes from City Years sponsor Timberland in the freezing rain and I loved it. I recommend it for anyone who is 17-24 which is the age restriction."
"The uniforms are a unity thing and some of the places these organizations are in are gang infested. The uniforms hide the gang symbols and people have left gangs because of organizations like this. We are talking 100- 200 corps members per region. There are no boot camps but you are given boots to work in mud and dirt. You are also given dress shoes for occasions like meeting the President or some other official. I would not call it "Military training." I was overweight through the whole thing. I do believe the military does more than 30 minutes of jumping jacks and dance steps."
Just though I'd clear some of the misconceptions there are with Americorp.
User Comments
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Agit8r has major issues (totally unfounded and completely baseless) with public service in return for financial aid for college. He equates it with indentured servitude. I 100% support the program as do most people.
Public service is a good thing.-
There are people going to that thread thinking people are getting military haircuts and that just isn't the case. I feel a need to inform people because I was a City Year member and an Americorps member.
I continue to have contact with City Year. If I felt the urge I could interview Alan Kazie co founder of City Year. I want them to get all the facts not just his whatever.
Public service made me who I am.
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I remember you doing a post about it, right? Or was that in the interview I gave you? -
Probably both it was a big part in my life. I changed my voting status because of it. (I used to be a republican)
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While there is some concern about the language being proposed in the changes to the project, I don't think Agit8r opposes it outright.
I will say that there are groups on both sides who are watching this cautiously, mainly due to language in the bill, and not without some good reason.
However I think that volunteer programs are wonderful, I support them, I think they give the participants opportunities they would otherwise not have, and even if participation became required to obtain a scholarship or grant for school, I think that's a good thing.
It'll take all of the sting out of the "You're going to school on my dime/for free/free loader" insults that are constantly hurled at low income earners. Not only are they walking away with an earned grant, experience, and volunteer hours, but they also have the moral high ground, too.
As long as it stays voluntary, I support it.-
the key word here is "voluntary" and yes as long as it is voluntary I support it too.
"ven if participation became required to obtain a scholarship or grant for school"
But it still would be a choice because students could search for other grants, loans etc, so I think it is just another choice available for students and yes a good thing in that regard. -
I knew a girl whose father was an architect for The Mall of America. They lived in a gated community, had a swimming pool, a mansion, etc. They told their daughter we aren't paying your education unless you do City Year. The mother was a lawyer and one of my team sponsors. It isn't just for low income. Wealthy do it as well.
The Americorps expansion for City Year is for people who are out of high school. It is a requirement to obtain your G.E.D. by the end of your time doing City Year and they schedule that time for you.
The give medical and how much government pays is based on how much is raised in the community. In Cleveland during my time the community gave 62%. -
Jafa, I agree.
Shirley, that's awesome - I wish more affluent families would make their kids get involved with community work like that! -
My understanding is it will remain voluntary. You are interviewed like any other job. They don't have to give you the job. You are getting a weekly living stipend. So, you are paid.
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It all smacks of authoritarianism to me. The Chinese Red guard and the Hitler youth were voluntary too. Seems like a slippery slope to get on to me.-
Hahahahahahahaha! No smoking, drinking, cursing you are told you are a role model for children. No guns, knives, or hail Hitlers.
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My understanding is that the Hitler Youth was compulsory and the Red Guard was a militant youth organization loyal to Mao.
Americorps doesn't fit either group you mentioned.
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Americorps is really mostly just the funding/ scholarships aspect of it. www.americorps.gov/ things like City Year, Habitat for Humanity, grandparents program are just affiliates.
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