MCC Daily Tribune

Rochester AmeriCorps Member and Navy Veteran Paulette Benton Speaks About Her Journey of Service

As we as a nation honor and recognize the sevice of our military veterans on Veteran's Day, we want to highlight the service of one of our currently serving Rochester AmeriCorps members. Paulette Benton is a Rochester AmeriCorp member and US Navy veteran serving full-time at James Monroe High School, a 7-12 grade school in the heart of the city of Rochester. Ms. Benton’s placement at Monroe provides her with daily opportunities to draw on her extensive service, professional, and life experiences to support students, school personnel, and families. A little over a month into the term, Ms. Benton has quickly become an integral member of the school community, contributing to key functions and initiatives and engaging with students with genuine care, compassion, understanding, and respect.

I was able to sit down with Ms. Benton to learn more about her service in the Navy and how the skills and experiences gained during her military career have informed her decision to join AmeriCorps. During the interview, Ms. Benton spoke with deep, reflection and thoughtfulness about her unique history and path to service with Rochester AmeriCorps, and what service means to her as a veteran and active community member.

We are so pleased that The New York State Commission on National and Community Service, the lead state entity responsible for networking volunteer resources including AmeriCorps, has published Ms. Benton's story in their November What's Getting Done newsletter (PDF).  

We want to sincerely thank Ms. Benton for her service, past and present, to the country and the Rochester Community!

Garth Freeman
AmeriCorps
11/08/2023