AmeriCorps volunteers clean up the streets of Charleston on West Virginia ’ s Day to Serve in honor of AmeriCorps ’ 20th anniversary .
AmeriCorps volunteers help with the Appalachian Forest Heritage Area Stuart Cabin project with HistoriCorps and the Monongahela National Forest .
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Serving West Virginia
In 2016 , West Virginia ranked third in the nation for producing AmeriCorps members . Based on initial data from 2015 , of the members serving annually in the state , about 90 percent go on to pursue a degree or find career opportunities as a direct result of their service . This pool of candidates is a significant , untapped resource for West Virginia employers looking for qualified applicants with real-world experience and proven results .
While some of those serving the Mountain State are natives , others come to West Virginia by choice — and they ’ re ready to stay . Based in Elkins , WV , the Appalachian Forest Heritage Area ( AFHA ) is a regional , grassroots effort to integrate central Appalachian forest history , culture , natural history and forestry management into a heritage tourism initiative to promote rural community development . AFHA recruits about 40 AmeriCorps members each year , and most move to West Virginia from out of state .
AmeriCorps not only makes AFHA successful , but it is also a magnet for drawing young talent to the state . Volunteers have relocated from as far away as Massachusetts , Oregon and Alaska to serve in Elkins .
“ In our program , we are looking for college graduates with skills in conservation , cultural heritage and community development ,” says Phyllis Baxter , executive director of AFHA . “ We know it ’ s hard for people to find jobs and stay here . We see this as a way to buck this trend . We provide an opportunity for young people in the state . They bring talent and enthusiasm , and some even find a way to stay .”
According to AFHA AmeriCorps Alumnus Dustin Smith , service is not only a pathway to staying in West Virginia but also to building a professional resume .
“ Before my time with AFHA , I would not have been qualified for the job I hold now ,” says Smith . “ Because I made an investment in my future by enrolling in AmeriCorps , I was able to develop the professional skills that allowed me to smoothly transition from AmeriCorps member to full-time staff member with Woodlands Development Group . It ’ s also allowed me to discover and stay in an area I love . Elkins offers so many cultural , recreational and social opportunities , and I never would have discovered it had it not been for AFHA .”
Lessons in Leadership
West Virginia ’ s AmeriCorps programs provide an outstanding starting point for business leadership development . The skills volunteers gain — paired with their commitment , dedication and work ethic — make them prime candidates for private sector jobs . It should come as no surprise then that AmeriCorps alumni are already contributing to the future in some areas of West Virginia .
Amanda Gribble from the Preserve West Virginia Ameri- Corps program is serving her second year in Morgantown . She is an entrepreneur with a small , local , organic foods business who participated in the launch of the new online news source , Zackquill . com . Gribble came back to West Virginia , in part , because she sees the chance to create a positive future here .
“ My decision to stay in West Virginia is based on the belief that the Mountain State ’ s potential to produce a thriving local economy will only happen if we invest our time and energy in healing what ’ s been broken for too long ,” she says . •
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WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE