​Kadasha Hershey served not just one but two year-long terms as a Systems Change AmeriCorps VISTA at Community Opportunity Alliance before joining their staff as a Program Associate. She helps coordinate capacity building programs and membership operations, including support for several projects that she started during her service. 

“A lot of what I’m working on now has flowed very naturally from my VISTA service, and I’ve been able to see through the completion of multiple projects,” says Kadasha. “I’ve been able to begin things as a VISTA, end things as a Program Associate, and now am looking into the future and seeing how we’re going to continue these services, programs, and strategies.”

AmeriCorps members take many different paths when they finish their terms of service, from continued national service to graduate school or traditional employment. Kadasha Hershey, Paul Panciera, and Rae Lindow—and 34% of our 2024-2025 Housing Action Corps cohort—are continuing their professional development at their host sites after accepting full-time staff positions. We caught up with these three recent alumni to learn more about their experiences during service and their new staff roles.

​After witnessing the housing crisis in Vancouver Island while attending college, Paul Panciera applied for a Chicago-area position with Housing Action Corps to learn about housing development firsthand and start a career in the field. 

“AmeriCorps was perfectly aligned with my future goals, and I got the exact experience out of it that I could have hoped for,” Paul says. “I knew that I wanted to get into housing after college, but I didn’t necessarily have the background for it as a political science major….AmeriCorps could help me get that foot in the door, while also serving my community.”

As an Affordable Housing Development VISTA, Paul helped coordinate the closing of an 81-unit mixed-use development in South Chicago, a project Claretian Associates has been working on since 2009. This development is being constructed on one of several vacant parcels of land lining a commercial corridor that the organization is planning to develop and rehabilitate. After completing his year of service, Paul accepted an offer as a Corridor Manager, where he is excited to continue supporting the development of this commercial corridor. 

“It’s one thing to study housing from the policy side, but it’s another to actually be the one doing the development yourself. You end up learning a lot more about how development actually works,” reflects Paul. “One of the things that made staying at Claretian more attractive was this land and the opportunity to shape a whole corridor. You are part of the team that decides the direction of this whole city block.”

Rae greets participants at Open Communities’ Walk the Redline event

“This role is almost a continuation of what I was doing before. As an Intake Coordinator VISTA, I built up our intake program. Towards the end of my service, and moving into my current role, I shifted to doing more communications projects, too,” Rae notes. “Open Communities has been very accepting and welcoming. They trusted me to do a lot of work independently and take the lead on projects.”

Rather than direct service, AmeriCorps VISTA members focus on capacity building projects that work behind the scenes to expand their programs, resources, and partnerships. One of Kadasha’s favorite projects from her service was planning a Midwest Convening, which gathered community development leaders from throughout the region in person to share best practices and opportunities to support their work.

“We gathered in St. Louis to share meals and learn from one another, while also getting to see and hear about the local community development landscape,” describes Kadasha. “The relational resilience and the strength of [the community development] sector has been encouraging to observe. It’s very mutually supportive and beneficial–we’re all out to support each other. It really is about relationships at the end of the day.”

Kadasha decided to serve in AmeriCorps after finishing graduate school to build professional experience and explore ways to apply her education in macro social work. While she was already familiar with social programs and systems, her AmeriCorps VISTA position opened her eyes to the field of community development and set her on track for a future career path. 

“Community development is the backbone of our communities,” Kadasha reflects. “It’s so impactful to see the work going on in the field and the difference that investing in communities can make. Community development often goes, ‘Look at what this neighborhood could be, if it had the resources and support.’ …It’s the beauty of people seeing the potential of their homes and being able to make these aspirations a reality. They see the beauty already, because it is already there, but they get everyone else to see it and support it as well.”

While Paul chose his Housing Action Corps position with intentions of launching a career in housing, he recommends AmeriCorps service for anyone looking to grow their professional development and explore new fields.

Paul discusses Claretian Associate’s development projects at a community breakfast

After gaining more experience in community and economic development while at Claretian Associates, Paul hopes to leverage this knowledge into a future career in housing policy. 

“Ultimately, I would like to have a policymaker role at the city or state level, reforming some of the laws to make [housing development] easier,” Paul says. “Now having worked on the development side, I have a better understanding of what that means.”

During Rae’s service, she created a comprehensive Intake Manual that outlines how to support people through a variety of housing circumstances, as well as how staff can practice self-care after handling a crisis situation. Serving with Housing Action Corps helped her learn about fair housing issues, as well as housing resources and programs. 

“Coming from a different state, and being in a college bubble before, I learned so much moving to Chicago,” Rae recounts. “Each person’s story is completely different. Everyone deals with issues related to their housing–even me–but we don’t talk about it, and there are not enough action plans to help everyone in all situations. I wish more people knew about some of the housing programs that are available, and also that these programs were funded better, so they are more available and accessible to people.”

Rae is currently applying for law school and hopes to pursue a legal and policymaking career, a decision which she attributes to her experiences with fair housing. 

“While working my intake position, I refer so many people to legal aid, for issues small and big,” says Rae. “I see law as a way of doing both direct service, but also working on bigger issues at the same time. While I may start out working 1:1 with people, I think it is so pivotal to expand access for people, so I would want to work on that side of things too.”

When asked what advice Kadasha has for those who are considering AmeriCorps service, she had an immediate answer: “Just go for it.”

“AmeriCorps is a great way to see where your passions and skills lie, and how those match up with the work you want to do,” Kadasha describes. “If you are interested in what equitable housing and equitable opportunities for entrepreneurship, food access, parks, creative placemaking–if you’re interested in what these organizations are doing to brighten and support their communities, then Housing Action Corps is a great way to get introduced to this work and to find others who are also interested and passionate about this work too.”

About Housing Action Corps

From launching new programs to growing volunteers and donors, Housing Action Corps members spend a year of service helping their host sites enhance their services, resources, and partnerships to meet community needs in new ways.

Applications to host AmeriCorps VISTA members with Housing Action Corps in 2026-2027 will close on January 31, 2026. Members will serve full-time with organizations in our coalition from September 2026 to September 2027. 

Learn more about serving as a Housing Action Corps member or becoming a 26-27 host site »

AmeriCorps VISTA Sandra Lee-Reams at Senior Services Plus’ annual open house

Sandra’s role as a Home Repair VISTA has shown her firsthand how essential Senior Services Plus’ programs are. Sandra helps manage the organization’s Direct Installation Measures (DIMs). “These measures include LED light bulbs, kitchen and bathroom faucet aerators. We have shower heads. We have pipe insulation, window insulation kits, door sweeps and smart power strips. So we keep those all in the office, and I distribute those to the community as they come in and ask for them,” says Sandra. 

When asked how she spreads awareness about these services, Sandra says, “A lot of traffic goes in and out of the building…so people just come in and inquire…We also have an open house once a year where the whole building is open and we offer soft drinks, water, tea and things like that, and we have all our direct style measures out on tables…there’s tables from different departments, and each department lays out flyers about what they do here in the building.” The community center functions as a hub to help people find whatever type of help they need.

In addition to working within the center, Sandra and her colleagues plan outreach events throughout Senior Services Plus’ service area. There, they hand out bags with essential items and educate residents about weatherization and energy efficient resources provided by Ameren, the energy company serving the region. Sandra acknowledges the difficulty of this outreach, especially when SSP covers such a wide area. “There’s a need for a lot of home repairs in this area, if you’re trying to cover Madison County and all the other surrounding counties, East St Louis and other places, there are a lot of people who need to have home repairs done, and you know, it’s just kind of hard.”

However, Sandra came into her VISTA year ready for the challenge. “I’ve always loved community outreach. I’ve loved working in the community. It’s an extension of what I used to do, working in education—working in the community, working with children.” 

Sandra’s VISTA position is designed to help raise awareness and scale up assistance  so more people can benefit from SSP’s support. These programs show the power of ensuring older adults can maintain their own homes while also belonging to a community that helps them access the resources they need. SSP manages to bring both to the table–and, in doing so, strengthens the seven counties of the region it serves.

A client browses the CFB furniture warehouse

That spirit of service is echoed by Michael Tracy, a former Housing Action Corps AmeriCorps VISTA member who was hired as the Development and Marketing Coordinator after his service year at CFB. Tracy’s journey—from early service work in the PeaceCorps to serving as a VISTA member to his current role—has been driven by a deep commitment to community. “It’s inspiring to me… to know that whether you’re in and around the city, if you’re a part of Chicagoland, your work matters here,” he says. His work has been instrumental in expanding volunteer outreach, bringing more hands and hearts to a mission that continues to grow.

Tracy emphasized how his VISTA year prepared him to step into a full time role. “It prepared me because I’m doing similar work. I’m working with a lot of the same people in the same space,” he explained. It also helped him learn how to pivot quickly while taking on a wide range of tasks in different areas depending on current needs.”

When asked about his decision to stay on at CFB, Tracy shares an excitement  about the future of CFB. “It’s a young organization. They just celebrated their seventh year in July, and they’ve made massive strides in those seven years. They’ve served thousands of homes and grown tremendously, but I still think there’s untapped potential.”

One of CFB’s new events, the Great Chicago Bed Race, is taking place this Sunday, September 28th, when 10 teams will race twin XL mattresses on wheels down Walnut Street. “It should be a lot of fun,” Tracy says. ”We’re going to do a bunch of heats and we’ll have a winner.” Proceeds from team registrations go towards furnishing homes. The event will be hosted at Midwest Coast Brewing and is free for spectators.

When explaining the unique importance of their organization, both Ullum and Tracy emphasize what’s often overlooked: furniture poverty. “People don’t think about the need for furniture,” Ullum explains. “We think about clothing, housing, and food—but if you have nowhere to sleep or sit or eat, that impacts your daily life, too.” Tracy adds, “Having a home is one thing, but having a furnished home—a place you feel comfortable—is just as important.” For the families served by the Chicago Furniture Bank, furnishing a space isn’t just about comfort; it’s about anchoring themselves in a new chapter of hope. 

Photo provided by CPAH, featuring a mom and daughter who are smiling because they realized their dream of owning a home by purchasing a CPAH Community Land Trust affordable home in Wilmette, IL.

Bobby’s supervisor, Brad Dennison, President of Affordable Housing Corporation (the construction arm of CPAH), brings a similar sense of purpose to the work. From his beginnings in for-profit housing, Brad gravitated toward service-based approaches that prioritize tenant well-being and stability. CPAH has expanded into new construction projects, including plans to develop 40 affordable housing units annually. AmeriCorps VISTAs such as Bobby have played a key role in this growth, contributing to data infrastructure, project management systems, and capacity building efforts that support CPAH’s evolving needs. Brad sees their work as foundational to community health: “Home is your safe place—when people have that, they can focus on the rest of their lives.”

Both Brad and Bobby emphasize a simple but vital truth: many in the community cannot afford safe, decent housing. CPAH helps over 1,000 households a year, and yet the need is growing. Brad notes, “We are very grateful to our Housing Action Corps VISTA. Having Bobby support our efforts is making a big difference, and will enable us to help even more people!”

After serving as the Financial Literacy Development VISTA at Spanish Coalition for Housing (SCH), Audrey Carberry was excited to accept a full-time staff position at their host site. They are looking forward to building on the relationships and communications skills they developed during their service as the Marketing and Communications Coordinator at SCH.

“AmeriCorps set me up for this role,” Audrey says. “I worked with the previous coordinator, and he happened to transition out of his role right when my service was coming to an end. It was a smooth transition into my new role and the staff at SCH were excited to welcome me!”

It is not always easy to figure out what to do next after a year of service, and it’s a challenge to complete that year of volunteering full-time with a community organization to begin with. In fact, fewer than 200 people in Illinois served in AmeriCorps VISTA last year. We are grateful to have connected with 29 dedicated AmeriCorps members who served in our Housing Action Corps network from the summer of 2023 to fall 2024. These individuals were matched with 21 host organizations throughout Illinois, as well as in 6 other states (these positions are through our national Housing Counseling Corps initiative). During a year of full-time AmeriCorps VISTA service, they took on a variety of projects to build organizational capacity, advance housing opportunities, and strengthen communities.

While serving, Housing Action Corps members receive the benefits of the AmeriCorps VISTA program, including a biweekly stipend, health care and child care benefits, an end-of-service education award or cash stipend, and a year of non-competitive eligibility status for federal jobs. They also receive tailored professional development to launch a career in the housing field. Our alumni pursue diverse paths after their term ends, including higher education, continued national service, and traditional employment.

Audrey is excited to witness the long-term impacts of their AmeriCorps service and continue their professional development with SCH. 

“Over the course of my service, I was able to work on many projects that I now get to see pushed into the future! The one I am most proud of is the financial literacy curriculum,” reflects Audrey. “I studied HUD curriculum and financial literacy for months, and worked with our housing counselors and community health workers to learn what their clients still needed to know. It was a big undertaking for a 22-year-old with very little financial knowledge, but the housing counselors were thrilled with the final result.”

Katie Ellis joined AmeriCorps to gain professional experience and try out potential career paths while furthering causes that are meaningful to her. Driven by her interest in affordable housing, Katie served as the Communications and Development VISTA at Housing Action Illinois. She is transitioning from serving in her home state to serving internationally with the Peace Corps. 

“I just started serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Timor-Leste, where I will be co-teaching English and helping develop educational resources in partnership with a local school,” Katie describes. “Throughout my time at Housing Action, I learned that I love working with people, doing creative projects, and working toward a cause I care about. [AmeriCorps service] was a solid foundation for both my professional skills and for developing a direction for my next steps in my career.”

As the Fair Housing VISTA at Open Communities, Vanessa Johnson-McCoy was motivated to serve her local community in Evanston and build relationships within the nonprofit sector. She recently accepted a full-time position with FirstRepair and the Reparations Stakeholder Authority of Evanston (RSAE), where she will continue working to help Evanston community members access the resources they need to thrive.  

“AmeriCorps service helped me confirm that I would like to continue working with an organization that aligns with my passions of working with those who are underserved and underrepresented, especially in my local Black community,” Vanessa says. “Both [my AmeriCorps service and my new role] focus on addressing systemic social change, fostering healing, promoting equality and justice, and ensuring that Black voices in the Evanston community are heard and considered.”

Demonstrating her aptitude for outreach and organizing, Vanessa planned several educational events throughout her service that brought Evanston community members together to learn about fair housing. 

“I am especially proud of the lead role I took in the collaborative event with the Evanston History Center (EHC) held around Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day about fair housing. It was an excellent, well-attended event with a wonderful panel—and I moderated the panel discussion,” Vanessa reflects. “It went so well that the Skokie Public Library used it as a model to plan a similar event. [I also helped plan] the Open Communities’ Walk/Roll the Redline, which provided so much information about the history of fair housing and how housing discrimination still impacts our community today.”

AmeriCorps VISTA alumni are eligible for several end-of-service benefits, including the AmeriCorps Segal Education Award, which is a voucher to repay student loans or cover future education and training expenses. With this benefit, Vanessa’s AmeriCorps service will not only create change for generations in Evanston, but also the next generation in her family.

“Something unexpected was that I could transfer the [AmeriCorps Segal] Education Award to my son, who is currently in college,” Vanessa describes. “That was a pleasant, financially helpful surprise!”

For Katie, the chance to use her creative skills and explore a variety of new activities were some of the best parts of her AmeriCorps experience. 

“Try lots of new things!” Katie recommends. “Don’t say no to new projects or learning experiences, even if you’re not sure whether you’d like it or be good at it.”

Alongside professional skills and connections, Housing Action Corps service also allowed Audrey to develop lasting friendships.

“The other VISTAs [in my cohort] were such fun and wonderful people,” Audrey shares. “I didn’t expect to genuinely enjoy spending time or have so many laughs when we attended conferences, meetings, and volunteer days together. I have learned a lot from the people that AmeriCorps has brought into my life and it is so great to be able to call them friends.”

About Housing Action Corps

From launching new programs to growing volunteers and donors, Housing Action Corps members spend a year of service helping their host sites enhance their services, resources, and partnerships to meet community needs in new ways.

Applications to host AmeriCorps VISTA members with Housing Action Corps in 2025-2026 will open December 2, 2024 to January 31, 2025. Members will serve full-time with organizations in our coalition from August 2025 to August 2026. 

Learn more about serving as a Housing Action Corps member or becoming a 25-26 host site »

Since 2010, Housing Action Corps has placed hundreds of AmeriCorps VISTA members with organizations across Illinois. AmeriCorps VISTA members in our network dedicate a year of full-time service to projects that build organizational capacity, advance housing opportunities, and strengthen communities. Last year, our network expanded to match members of our Housing Counseling Corps initiative with housing counseling agencies nationwide. While the majority of Housing Action Corps members serve in Illinois, six Housing Counseling Corps members are serving with organizations in Arizona, Georgia, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

In the last few months of their service, two of our national Housing Counseling Corps members—Jada and Naara—reflected on their experiences with the program, as well as how AmeriCorps service is impacting themselves and their communities. 

After serving as an AmeriCorps member in her hometown of Philadelphia, Jada Washington enrolled for another year of service as a Marketing & Housing Counseling Outreach VISTA at Consumer Credit Counseling Service of the Savannah Area (CCCS) in Savannah, GA. Although she considered other AmeriCorps programs, she decided that AmeriCorps VISTA roles would help her gain the nonprofit professional development she was looking for. 

“I had been volunteering for about 14 years and wanted to utilize my love for media studies and communications to help an agency grow in their marketing initiatives,” Jada describes. “Homelessness and poverty is something that has touched my heart for a long time, so when I found Housing Action Illinois, the only question was to find a location that had a position open for housing counseling and marketing. I would say I found CCCS, but the truth is, they found me! All of the skills I had were exactly what they were looking for and it almost felt like kismet.” ​

Similarly, Naara Silva found Housing Counseling Corps when she was searching for ways to transition to a nonprofit role after working in the mortgage industry. She is serving as a Housing Counseling Community Outreach VISTA at Affordable Housing Centers of Pennsylvania (AHCOPA) in Philadelphia, PA. 

“I used to work for a mortgage servicing company. During the pandemic, when borrowers in certain states were falling behind, I was required to advise them to speak with a HUD counselor,” Naara remembers. “When I decided to pivot to nonprofit work, working with a HUD-certified organization focused on preserving affordable housing felt like a perfect fit. It just so happened, the role I was interested in was an AmeriCorps role.”​

While immersing herself in the housing counseling field, Jada was surprised to find out there are a variety of resources available to help people with housing and financial management that are not widely known. 

“Housing counseling is like a secret tool that should not be so secret,” Jada says. “I have learned a lot—from laws to how to approach and guide clients. A lot of [housing counseling] is about knowing resources and things that already exist to fully support your clients. People come to you in need and you have to be a problem solver.” 

Both Jada and Naara have taken trainings and studied for the HUD Housing Counseling Certification Exam. While Naara is scheduled to take her exam in July, Jada took the test twice and successfully became HUD-certified in April. Members serving in Housing Counseling Corps, as well as all Housing Action Corps members, are eligible to attend Housing Action’s trainings for housing counselors during service.

“To prepare for the HUD exam, I was able to utilize various forms of training assistance from Housing Action, as well as shadowing within my host site, and then using the online module on the HUD website. All of these things made it easier to study for the exam, but it also made it feel like I wasn’t alone,” reflects Jada. “When I passed and became a certified housing counselor, it brought me great joy. Not only did I get to cross something off of my VAD (VISTA Assignment Description), but I was now able to be more hands-on when assisting clients.”

Part of Jada’s AmeriCorps project includes collecting stories from people who have received housing counseling services at CCCS. Hearing these testimonials made it clear to Jada that the positive reach of housing counseling goes well beyond the individuals receiving services. 

“I have seen how couples come in needing help and leave knowing how to budget, save, and get out of situations where debt forces them to choose from feeding their family and paying off a credit card or loan,” Jada describes. “I have been able to see the beauty in the small tasks and how one small action has a big wave of a ripple effect—not only in one home, but within the community.”

At AHCOPA, Naara is building partnerships, compiling resources, and conducting outreach to help launch their Homeownership Success Program. This program aims to demystify common concerns of new and first-generation homeowners, as well as provide tips for budgeting mortgage payments and repairs. The first workshop, which was booked within a week of registration opening, will reach more than 100 households in Philadelphia in July. 

Naara can continue expanding this program next year, as she is re-enrolling for another year of Housing Counseling Corps service at AHCOPA. While she is motivated to keep learning about the housing counseling field, AmeriCorps VISTA service is also a bridge for Naara to take the next steps in her future legal career. 

“I enjoy doing outreach for my host site! Working full-time as a housing counselor would be rewarding, but I plan to attend law school,” Naara says. “It would be more difficult to balance studying and applications if I had a full caseload with my host site, so I decided to do a second year of outreach [with Housing Counseling Corps].”

When asked why someone should consider Housing Action Corps service, Naara had one piece of advice: Do it! “It’s a fantastic opportunity to gain experience in nonprofit work and the housing justice advocacy field,” she continues. 

As Jada finishes up her service in August, she is also starting an exciting journey as a new parent this summer. In the future, she is interested in continuing to work in the housing counseling field and also pursuing further education in business administration and marketing. 

For Jada, the most meaningful parts of her AmeriCorps service are the relationships and skills she has built over the past year. She views service as a unique opportunity to find your direction in life. 

“Come into this with your eyes open and with a heart for what you’re doing,” Jada recommends. “[AmeriCorps service is] not just another thing to put on your resume, or do for the benefits. The experience can last a lifetime if you stay focused and stay the course. Connect with the other AmeriCorps members…Connect with the staff—learn from everyone around you and take the time to truly find your direction for the years to come.”

About Housing Action Corps

From launching new programs to growing volunteers and donors, Housing Action Corps members spend a year of service helping their host sites enhance their services, resources, and partnerships to meet community needs in new ways.

We are recruiting for 35+ Housing Action Corps positions. Members serve full-time with organizations in our coalition from August 2024 to August 2025. 

Learn more about serving in Housing Action Corps »

In February, four generations of Housing Action AmeriCorps Network alumni attended the Illinois Affordable Housing Forum, a statewide affordable housing conference hosted by Illinois Housing Council. The Forum brings together housing industry leaders from across Illinois, including staff from Housing Action Illinois and several AmeriCorps alumni who remained in the field after service. 

This moment reflects the sustainability of our movement. We are shaping the future of housing justice. 

Our AmeriCorps network helps AmeriCorps members grow and change throughout their service term, just like the organizations and communities we serve. After serving in our network, AmeriCorps alumni are prepared to take the next step in their future goals, whether that be further education, employment, or another term of national service. Many of our alumni remain in the housing and community development fields, often finding employment within Housing Action’s coalition, and one-third of our alumni are offered staff positions by their host site.  

Willie Heineke, National Service Director at Housing Action Illinois, was elated to see currently serving AmeriCorps members alongside AmeriCorps alumni from our network represented at the Illinois Affordable Housing Forum. To add to the excitement, he announced to attendees that he was recently promoted to National Service Director. 

“I almost cried when three AmeriCorps alumni came to my table at the conference,” Willie describes. “They served in our network at different points of my time at Housing Action, and I was overwhelmed to see that they all continued in housing-related fields.” 

Four generations of AmeriCorps alumni at the Illinois Affordable Housing Forum, (from left to right) Marshall Goldsmith (‘22-23), Rachel Gaunce (‘18-19), Willie Heineke (‘15-16, current National Service Director), Cassidy Kraimer (‘17-18)

One such alumni is Cassidy Kraimer, Program Officer at The Preservation Compact, Community Investment Corporation (CIC). She was attending the Forum to build connections and learn new strategies for supporting her work at CIC, where she advocates for policies that preserve unsubsidized affordable multifamily rental housing. Cassidy served in the Housing Action AmeriCorps Network in 2017-2018 and considers AmeriCorps service as an opportunity for both personal and professional development.

Cassidy while serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA in 2017 at NW HomeStart in Rockford, IL

“From my cohort during my VISTA term, I learned about ISU’s (Illinois State University) Stevenson Center program for VISTA and Peace Corps alumni,” Cassidy remembers. “I was also encouraged by other alumni at Housing Action’s Housing Matters conference to go back to school there.” 

While she was a Stevenson Fellow, Cassidy earned a Master’s in Political Science and Government. After graduation, she started working at her current role with The Preservation Compact, the policy arm at CIC.

Alumni Associate Board Presents New Opportunities

This summer, we are launching an AmeriCorps Alumni Associate Board to provide a platform for alumni to collaborate on resources and events to support past, current, and future AmeriCorps members in Housing Action’s network. The Alumni Associate Board will also coordinate more ways for alumni to connect with each other after their service ends, such as networking and professional development events.

Since 2010, our network has supported more than 350 AmeriCorps members. We are excited to see what new partnerships and ideas arise from the Alumni Associate Board.

“We have so many alumni, and a growing cohort of AmeriCorps members, but most of them do not know each other,” Willie explains. “When I run into alumni, I always learn about the amazing things they are doing. If alumni and AmeriCorps members could start collaborating more directly with one another, the possibilities are endless.” 

Cassidy was one of the first to join the Alumni Associate Board. She wants to help others get involved with AmeriCorps VISTA while building community with alumni and current AmeriCorps members. 

“I am so excited to get involved with the Alumni Associate Board because I feel so lucky to have been a VISTA at HomeStart with the support of Housing Action,” Cassidy says. “I hope to connect others to the program and learn from alumni and current VISTAs about all the work they are doing.” 

The ultimate goal of the AmeriCorps Alumni Associate Board is to continue fueling our movement of housing justice and community service.

“AmeriCorps members can feel isolated at their organizations, and the many issues our communities are facing can be overwhelming,” Willie describes. “The Alumni Associate Board will help make sure that AmeriCorps members know they’re not alone.” 

Are you an AmeriCorps Alumni from our network? Apply to join the Associate Board »

About the Housing Action AmeriCorps Network

AmeriCorps members in Housing Action’s network tackle a wide range of capacity building projects during a full year of service with organizations in our coalition.

We are now accepting early bird applications for AmeriCorps members. Positions will be posted to the AmeriCorps portal and Housing Action’s website starting in April.

Learn more about the Housing Action AmeriCorps Network »