Monica Peña with MUNDU Media was invited to speak to AmeriCorps members for a professional development on Business Networking (Elevator Pitches) and Business Relationships. In Central Texas, AmeriCorps members are individuals from all walks of life who have chosen to volunteer for one year as a nonprofit professional through the AmeriCorps program. This is a great option for college grads, who gain valuable insight and experience in the nonprofit sector rather than jumping into the corporate world after college, or for individuals seeking to change their career trajectory. AmeriCorps programs do more than move communities forward; they serve their members by creating jobs and providing pathways to opportunity for people entering the workforce. Their service comes with a very small stipend (about $1,200/month) and they essentially give their service to community programs. AmeriCorps places thousands of individuals into intensive service positions where they learn valuable work skills, earn money for education, and develop an appreciation for citizenship.
The attendees were approaching the end of their service term and needed tips on jumping into the business world. This is where professionals play an important role in helping them navigate into what is next. The group was taking through rounds of Speed Networking by volunteers of outgoing professionals who gave positive feedback to Americorp members on their elevator pitches.
AmeriCorps is currently recruiting new members to begin service in July and August. AmeriCorps members serve one-year terms to make the world a better place: help children learn, protect the environment, or lift low-income communities out of poverty. Information about these unique professional volunteer opportunities can be found on the Literacy Coalition’s website.
A special thank-you goes out for the invitation to get involved to the Literacy Coalition of Central Texas, which relies heavily on the development and skill set that the AmeriCorps program brings to the area. The Literacy Coalition supports basic reading and writing, family literacy, workforce literacy, English as a Second Language (ESL), GED preparation, financial literacy, computer literacy, health literacy and more. By working with their network of partner programs, they have implementer services to underserved communities, expanded into new markets, increased the awareness of literacy needs in Central Texas, and effectively doubled the number of learners being served by literacy programs in the region. For more information, please contact Jocelyn Connell, Outreach manager at Literacy Coalition of Central Texas, [email protected]
