MCC's AmeriCorps program has been awarded more than a quarter million dollars to fund 20 community service members in 2004 and a bill in Congress could restore future funding levels for 100 members – assuring the future of a program plagued during the summer by a national budgetary shortfall.
“The government’s commitment to our program through these funding avenues demonstrates our success in providing a vital need to economically hard-hit organizations in the Rochester community,” said Marilyn Rosche, Rochester AmeriCorps project director. “We are grateful to our national legislators and local and state officials for working to ensure we remain a viable program.”
Rochester AmeriCorps, which is based at the Damon City Campus, received notification of its $256,000 award from the New York State Commission on National and Community Service (CNCS). Immediately, AmeriCorps staff began contacting individuals who were in the program last year and have been waiting since September to find out whether they would be able to enroll for a second term of service.
Last year, AmeriCorps at MCC, which started in 1994, received $1.24 million in funding to enroll 100 members, who completed 152,000 hours of service in the community. The members helped nonprofit groups carry out their missions in the areas of youth development, prevention and intervention services, and neighborhood public safety initiatives. In return for a year of full-time service, the AmeriCorps members receive a modest living allowance and, after 1,700 hours of service, an education award of $4,725 to pay for college or graduate school or to pay off student loans.
The national program’s funding crisis first unfolded a year ago, when national CNCS administration officials realized they had approved a higher enrollment for which they had funding.
“The situation impacted our local program when the contract that would have funded the member enrollment in September was both delayed and cut dramatically,” Rosche explained. “Last year’s members completed their service in August and we have been waiting since then for approval of this year’s contract.”
Funding for Jan. 1, 2004, through Jan. 31, 2005, has been issued in New York state for 289 full-time members. Nationally, 30,000 members were approved, down from 67,000 last year, according to figures from the national CNCS.
On Monday, Dec. 8, the House of Representatives approved an Omnibus Appropriations bill with a record $444 million for AmeriCorps – an increase of $170 million over the previous fiscal year. Once the bill is passed in the Senate and signed by the President, the monies are expected to enable AmeriCorps at MCC to enroll 100 members for a year beginning in September of 2004. “We accept applications at any time, and by May we will begin recruitment for the fall,” Rosche said.
Rosche is working with organizations across Monroe County, including the Rochester City School District, Center for Youth Services, Rochester Police Department and Wilson Commencement Park, to re-establish service opportunities that benefit the community.
Marilyn Rosche
Rochester AmeriCorps
12/12/2003 |