Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
Welcome to Georgia Focus. I'm John Clark on the Georgia
and Use Network. The Georgia Department of Community Affairs workship
build strong, vibrant communities. One way they do that is
by working with AmeriCorps. AmeriCorps in Georgia is the pass
through agency for AmeriCorps federal funds in Georgia. To talk
about those funds and America in general, is Linda Thompson,
Executive Director of Georgia Commission for Service and Volunteerism. The
(00:27):
Georgia Department of Community Affairs is where your house, but
tell us why are you house there?
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Well, it makes perfect sense.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
The departments within the Department of Community Affairs all focus
on community and the betterment of communities and the people
that they serve. And so that's really a great place
for America Orps because of who we are and what
we do.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
And two, I guess too, that is a good point
that you're close to the communities and they really do
they really prominent. Community of Affairs really services the communities,
and that's where you service most of your people. We
want your people to be.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
Exactly.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
We promote volunteers and we promote volunteerism and sell racial volunteers.
We serve the communities in many different areas, and education,
community betterment, disaster response, which is a big right now,
veterans and the military families. Yeah, we do almost anything
(01:33):
and think of that happens in communities.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
We support that.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
I didn't realize you service and disaster response. What are
you've got to be doing that a lot of right now?
Speaker 3 (01:44):
Yeah, now, AmeriCorps members. We have AmeriCorps members who serve,
you know, in many different areas, but in times of disasters,
we may call upon them, you know, after search and
rescue obviously, but call upon them as communities need extra
help and like reree removal, serving children, you know, volunteering
(02:07):
like and volunteer centers, passing out food, things like that.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
Okay, I didn't realize that. That's that's pretty good. That's
good stuff. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
What is AmeriCorps. I know it's called it's often what's
it's called Domestic Peace Corps. Often it's called that. But
what is AmeriCorps.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
Well, it's simply put is a core of people living
in America who serve their communities. So it's kind of
it's like the peace Corps, but it's right here at home,
and people can serve in schools by tutoring kids, helping them,
you know, helping children who may be at risk of failure,
helping young people to get into college and be successful
(02:51):
in college, Helping people who may be homeless, helping them
to find resources, helping the elderly, you know, with minor
repairs on the houses, things like that. We even have
one program, one World Link, who has been very active
in lowering the gun violence by being.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
Proactive, really and how do they work in that?
Speaker 3 (03:18):
They are they are very creative in doing that. But
this program is in making Georgia that where I understand
at one point their gun violence was the rate per
cap was higher than Atlanta, and in the past couple
of years they managed to decrease it by seventy five,
(03:39):
which I think is really impressive.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
It really really is. And that's an America program.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
Then it is a program. You know, they meet with
victims of gun violence and definitely put the way they
put it, people who get shot and usually shoot other
people or key because the reaction. So they meet them
where they are and they they talk to them, they
(04:06):
counsel them, they provide whatever resources they need.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
Uh just I know all their.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
Techniques, but it's just a matter of reaching the people
and talking to them.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
That's fantastic. Can somebody can somebody still be involved in that?
Is there somebody down there or anywhere Georgia can be involved?
Is that a Is that an opportunity for their somebody
to serve.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
Yes, they can serve in any of the programs. They
get involved in a MIRACORPS just by going to for
dot gov and clicking on join AmeriCorps. And then they
have the opportunity to put in their profile you know
what they would like to do, where they want to serve,
you know, things like that.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
Now there's some some payment involved, some type of money involved.
You get a certain amount of money from the government
each year, is that right at a certain yes.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Yes.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
The last year we we don't want at five point
five million dollars out to communities to America programs in
their in their neighborhoods. And this went to eighteen different organizations,
and these organizations going to recruit people to serve as
AmeriCorps members, and then those AmeriCorps members.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Can receive us.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
We call it a stipen because it's really you know,
living ways. It's a living allowance and they can receive
a living hours for up to twenty thousand dollars. And
then once they their term of service, if they are
a full time member, which is a full time member
is seventeen hundred dollars.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
But if they finish.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
Their satisfactory satisfactorily complete their term of service, they can
receive an education award for up to seven thousand, three.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
Hundred and ninety five dollars.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
And of course that's for full time members, so if
they're less than full time, it's going to be prograded.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
And you get that much money, and then but you'll
get to roll that money over. Do you you have
to spend it every year?
Speaker 3 (06:05):
Well, it depends. These are in three year cycles. We
have three years to roll the money over. Then that
three years, whatever is not spent go back to the treasury.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
You told me before and in the many years we've
been talking every year about this. How retire people do
it and they give the money to their their grandkids
or they give it for college funds. How does that work?
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Yeah, that's the education award.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
If you're fifty five years old when you start service
and you finish your service and you don't want to
use your.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
Education award, you can you can gift it to like.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
A grandchild or a step child or a child obviously,
which is I think that's a pretty good deal. Right,
So they turned up to two of those they don't
want to use and they can give them away.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
Wow, that's pretty good. You have a lot of people
doing that.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Yeah, yeah, yeah. As a matter of fact, I plan
to do that.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
Oh okay, I have.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
Two grand kids and when I retire, I plan to
serve if I can find an opportunity, you know, close
to close to home, and I'm going to serve and
give those educational awards for my grandkids who are now
in college.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
Okay. Wow.
Speaker 3 (07:19):
And it's important for whoever's doing to know that they
have up to seven years to use the education award.
So if you are going to gift it to someone,
make sure they're going to be somebody who's going to
be going to college and seven within seven.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
Years, right, right. And so you can and it's great
for retirees because you're retired, you want to do something else,
you want to give back. You can do something within
your realm of responsibility, or you can go somewhere else
and do stuff in a whole new area.
Speaker 3 (07:48):
Right if you can, And you can, and when you
input your profile, you can say where you want to serve.
So if you want to serve in another state, you know,
that's perfectly fine.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
If you want to.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
Serve within a certain area educational or environment I mean,
climate control.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
Is a big thing, right too.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
So you get a choice of what you want to do,
the type of service you want to provide, and where
you want to provide that service, and you get you
get a stipend. Obviously while you're doing it, and you're
a retiree, you may.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
Just need some pocket change. I don't know, but.
Speaker 3 (08:23):
It's a little bit, you know, twenty up to twenty
thousand dollars a year that for seventeen hundred hours that
you can use for whatever you want.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
And you can use that in another state. And I
didn't realize that either you can use it somewhere else.
I mean, you can can.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Serve ser want to serve in Georgia.
Speaker 3 (08:43):
You can say I want to serve in I don't know, Minnesota, Chicago, whatever,
But I mean that would mean you would be relocated.
Speaker 1 (08:50):
Right right, Okay, but you can still if you you
can still with Georgia. You can still get the moment
the Georgia money and then service somewhere else in Minnesota
for example. Yeah, yeah, okay, I didn't know that. I
thought you had to serve right here in Georgia. So
there you go.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
Most states, I think except for one as a state commission,
so they have they have America programs in most states
and Puerto Rico wam.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
Yeah. So the AmeriCorps is all over the United States.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
Right, and each each state has a certain amount of
like of Georgia, and there is Alabama and Florida and
so things like that too. You all have a certain Yes.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
Each state receives an allocation based on their population and
so you know Georgia is very well populated. Yeah, it is,
so we receive a very decent allocation that we can
grant out.
Speaker 1 (09:46):
Okay, okay, so you can go out and do a
lot of what are some of the other examples of
you mentioned that the group be making and what great
stuff they're doing with the gun violence there some of
the some.
Speaker 3 (09:58):
Of the other programs that we have a variety of
programs and we have eighteen of them and they're all
doing breaking you know, we have Breakthrough Atlanta that's in
Fulton County and they serve there are summer time program
and they serve during the summertime to prevent learning loss
(10:19):
while the kids are on summer vacation, so they continue
to provide classes and tutoring.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
And all of that during the summertime. And then we
have we have.
Speaker 3 (10:33):
Good Will Industries and you know pretty much what good
will industries do. Yeah, and plus they they're members. They
help them to find full time jobs too after they
leave there, and they have clients to find employment as well.
And then our Hands On Atlanta that does in class
(10:53):
bring for children who may be at risk of failure.
And we have the Scholarship Academy, which is a pretty
cool program. They help children to find scholarships for college
so that hopefully they graduate from college with no student debt,
no student owns are any type of debt. And I
think that is a pretty cool program. We have for
(11:16):
American Pathways who serve refugees who come here from other countries.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
They help to get them settled.
Speaker 3 (11:22):
And trying employment and they help their kids to get
educated and them.
Speaker 2 (11:27):
So we have a very diversified portfolio program.
Speaker 1 (11:34):
Yeah, yeah, the programs. They come to you and say, look,
we need some we need some help, we need some people.
Is that what they do? They come to you in
that and then you vet them and and.
Speaker 3 (11:46):
The money for the grant, and then there's an application
process that they go through and we have a board
of directors as well, and so once they sitment the application,
we review the application and we score it based on Rubert.
If their program scores high enough and it's funded, then
(12:07):
the program or the organization, the nonprofit or the local
government or the Indian tribe, whatever type of organization they are,
it is their responsibility to go out and recruit the people,
the America members to serve to help move their project forward.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
Okay, and are these are these new every year or
do some of them keep going every year after year
for year?
Speaker 2 (12:31):
Some go yeah, some are new.
Speaker 3 (12:35):
We have programs that's been in our portfolio for twenty years.
You know, some apply it and they get funded, and
then we're constantly getting new applicants to come in, and
we welcome new applicants to come in and apply for
these America programs.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
And then your individuals with who want to be in
America or they has to come and apply to you
as well, right from the other end.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
To the program that's recruiting them.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
Okay, and what do you look for with them? Would
they come to you and they go, well, I'm thinking
I want to I want to apply for something. Did
they tell you what they want to do? Or do
you put them in some area or how does that work?
Speaker 2 (13:12):
Well?
Speaker 3 (13:12):
Does let's just say if they if they are applying
through the programming making so they would the member or
the applic directly to them and they would screen them
and determine if they with them or not, and then
they would train them specific to what they're a mara
cose service is going to do.
Speaker 1 (13:34):
Okay, and so what do they need to do when
the people come and make an application for you? Uh? Like,
if I was going to go and I want to
make an application, what do I need to have? There's
some things I can't do, I can't do and things
like that.
Speaker 3 (13:48):
Yes, you have to be a low govenment or a
five oh one C three nonprofit or an educational institution
or in order to qualify to apply. And then you
would come to me and say, hey, I want to apply.
We're having an application workshop. As a matter of fact,
I think if that's next week, but I would encourage
(14:08):
you to attend the workshop so that we can train
you on how to complete the application. We train you
on what we're looking for, those type of things, so
that I hope my goal in doing that is to
put them in a better position to come in with
a very strong application.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
Okay, right, right.
Speaker 3 (14:25):
And so then we review those applications, we send them
to our board, and then we come together at a
court meeting and we make reputations on the applications that
we want to be for. The board makes a recommendation
of what they want to be funded, and then the
full votes on it.
Speaker 2 (14:44):
If the board votes on it.
Speaker 3 (14:45):
And approves it, I make sure that I pass it
all by DCA and make sure that you know there's
no red flags on anything.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
Then I send it to Washington d C.
Speaker 3 (14:56):
I send those applications to Washington to make the actual award.
And once Washington makes the award, we're ready to go.
They have to sign a contract with us, obviously, you know,
stating the dudes and the don'ts, the legal you know,
(15:16):
the legal rules and regulations, and then they're ready to go.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
They program and their program is probably going to go.
Speaker 3 (15:24):
For ten to twelve months and then you know they
did really well. But in the meantime, we're checking in
with them, and everything that they do is on a
reimbursement basis. So let's say if they apply for a
hundred thousand dollars, we don't just give them one hundred
and twenty thousand dollars each month. You know, the first
(15:44):
through all of their members. Say, if they're getting ten members,
they recruit those members, and those members have to go
through a serious criminal history that that's out. Then the
members okay, they have the green light to go ahead
and let the members start. But all their expenses that
they incur, they send them to us and then we
(16:05):
reimburse them. So, say they have expenses for August, they
submit to us in September, we reimburse them.
Speaker 2 (16:12):
So, uh, they.
Speaker 3 (16:14):
Have to So we encourage all all organizations to have
some cash match on the hand, so that you can
have money to that upfront money to pay people and
then submit it to us to reimbursement.
Speaker 1 (16:27):
Okay, all right, so it's okay. So so they they're
responsible for getting their people that their own volunteers or whoever,
and then you reimburse them.
Speaker 3 (16:37):
Okay, yeah, they choose those people themselves, a commission, which
is me and my staff.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
We view them. They interview themselves themselves.
Speaker 3 (16:46):
They screen them because they know they know the type
person they're looking for, they know the different personalities they're
looking for, they know the skill sets that they're looking for.
We don't, right, so we oversee them and they oversee
the members.
Speaker 1 (17:02):
What if you have somebody to come to to to
you to America ORPS like I don't know, somebody retired
to get think, come there and then I'll do anything whatever?
What what can I do? What do you? What do
you do? Then? How do you know where to put them?
Speaker 3 (17:16):
To apply to a to a program, you know, because
it has a lot, you know, we have to know
where they want to serve, what they want to do.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
I'll do anything that is pretty that's pretty broad, So
we will.
Speaker 3 (17:32):
I'll say, hey, here's all of our programs. If you
want to apply directly to them, that's fine. But if
you want to go to the website and apply, that's fine,
and they'll see your application. But and then the program
will determine what skill sets do you have? Doesn't match
what we're trying to do. For example, you're tutoring kids.
(17:53):
Of course you want someone with an education who's qualified
to tutor.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
Kids, right, right, that's true.
Speaker 2 (17:59):
Tutoring different areas.
Speaker 3 (18:01):
It may be math or English or you know, reading
or like some of the new math.
Speaker 2 (18:06):
I may not be ca.
Speaker 1 (18:09):
Yeah, I wouldn't. I wouldn't either.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (18:12):
There may be some training that I would have to
even take before I can help them with their touring program.
Speaker 1 (18:19):
Okay, so you you try to match them up as
closely as possible. Then really, right, and what are some
of the things right now that you have where you
have a big need, You have a specific need that
people may may want to take a look at. Maybe
they they somebody, somebody applies to it.
Speaker 3 (18:35):
Well, I would say, if they're interested in submitting at
a mirror for application, they can email me directly and
I can make sure that they receive the link to
attend the workshop and mikel is l I N d
A dot T H O M P s O n
(18:55):
at d c A dot g A dot G O
v so as Linda dot Thompson at d C A
dot g A dot gov.
Speaker 1 (19:05):
And now you can also tell them about future classes
coming up.
Speaker 3 (19:09):
Radition so we only have one workshop for a year.
But I think all of the specifics such as the
due date for applications and that kind of information.
Speaker 1 (19:18):
Okay, and that's that's just email you that email address
to find out more about that. And is that how
they apply? That go on on your website and apply too.
When they apply, well.
Speaker 3 (19:28):
They can go off to our website and get information,
but we don't have a portal on the website.
Speaker 2 (19:34):
And to apply through all the all of the applications.
Speaker 3 (19:37):
That has to go through E Grants, which is a
federal federal grants making system, right, so they have to
do they have to go to e Grants and register
and obtain to EAT and Grants log in.
Speaker 1 (19:50):
And to the places like Hans on Atlanta America, ORPS
and some other that you mentioned earlier. They want to
go on those those websites too if they're going to
apply those for the those certain organizations.
Speaker 3 (20:02):
I would say they could go on their websites and
get contact in form there, Okay, four Hands on Atlanta
and see if they're looking if they're currently recruiting for
Miracles members, things like that. If they go on that website,
they're going to see a lot of volunteer opportunities as well.
Speaker 1 (20:17):
I mean, right now, do you have do you end
up having enough people or do you always always need
we always need people?
Speaker 3 (20:23):
Well, we we always need more people, but we can
only fund so many due to our limited allocation. Okay,
so yeah, we we typically programs well, I would say
most programs have been very successful in recruiting the number
of members.
Speaker 2 (20:42):
That they request.
Speaker 3 (20:43):
Some have had some hiccups in the past, but for
the most part, most of them fully recruit the members
that the number that they're requesting.
Speaker 1 (20:51):
Okay, but all the time, hey, go ahead and apply
because later on it may come up two years from
now you may need somebody who knows it's it's always
it's always you're always doing it, always always going, always
looking for new money and waiting for that new money
to come over. So it's always a need, no matter when.
(21:11):
There's always a.
Speaker 3 (21:12):
Need to always there's always a need. You're right about that.
And there's there's plenty of work in Georgia to go around.
So yes, there's always a need for America members. But
for some reason, John America is still the best kept secret.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
You know, you and I talk about it. Other people
talk about it.
Speaker 3 (21:30):
But we're still spreading the word about America because a
lot of times I talk to people and they're like,
what is that?
Speaker 2 (21:37):
So, yeah, they love the best kept secret.
Speaker 1 (21:40):
They really Yeah, we've been talking for years about this
every year at the same time. Every year. Years we've
been talking and it's still a best kept secret.
Speaker 2 (21:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (21:51):
Yes, well, now not that that nobody listens to this show.
They did listen to the show, right, But yeah, I
had known.
Speaker 3 (22:03):
About a miracle when I was a young person. Is
that definitely going to use the money for college?
Speaker 1 (22:08):
Oh? Yeah, that is. That's great though, for retirees to
help their grandkids, Like you said, you were going to
do that when you retire, that's great to be able
to do that, right.
Speaker 2 (22:18):
And you know my grandkids are holding me to it too.
Speaker 1 (22:20):
Oh no, does that mean you're close to retiring. You're
not close to retiring at all, are you?
Speaker 2 (22:29):
Yes?
Speaker 3 (22:29):
I am?
Speaker 1 (22:30):
Oh oh no, oh, don't retired then? Were me? W'll
talk every year. So AmeriCorps is Uh, well, we're here
to tell you about it today. That's what we're telling
you about AmeriCorps. That's what we're talking about today, Eric Core, Well,
AmeriCorps is is. I think it's great. It's a great
(22:51):
opportunity to serve and to volunteer. You know, the making
thing is, that's fantastic, that making down there about that,
you know, and your programmer leaf for the hurricanes, we
just had that. You're gonna have ready for that. And
so there's just so many ways to volunteer. Don't sit around,
don't just sit around, get out there and volunteer with
(23:12):
a miracles right exactly.
Speaker 3 (23:13):
You know, some of our programs had members who were
actually impacted by Helene.
Speaker 2 (23:19):
Oh yeah, you know, they're okay, you know, physically they're fine.
Speaker 3 (23:24):
But they are in their own community right now volunteering
to help clean heleen and uh, they're still and I
told them, you know, go ahead, serve whatever capacity, and
you still get your service hours for that.
Speaker 1 (23:38):
That's right, you can't. That's great, that's great.
Speaker 3 (23:42):
So normally they would be in the school's tutoring kids,
but they can't because, like I said, they were back
to by Helene.
Speaker 2 (23:48):
It's just so much work to be done.
Speaker 3 (23:50):
They're volunteering in their own communities helping with that, but
they're still earning hours.
Speaker 1 (23:55):
And finally, just go ahead and tell us again how
to apply and the best way to apply and give
us all that information. We want people to go and apply.
Speaker 3 (24:04):
Yes, we are an organization and you're one to apply
for an AmeriCorps program. If you are a five oh
one C three nonprofit or an educational institution or a
local government, just come. Send an email to me Linda
dot Thompson at DCA dot g A dot go O
V and I will send you a link for an
(24:26):
upcoming Apple workshop that we're having and show you how
to apply for an a miracle program. If you are
an individual and you're wanting to apply to become an
AmeriCorps member, go to americorp dot gov and click on join.
Speaker 1 (24:43):
There you go. Folks, call call Linda, talk to her
about it. She knows everything about it. And I appreciate
you coming on today. Now, don't retire. Don't retire before
you come back and talk to me again.
Speaker 2 (24:54):
Well, you know what number so I can call you, you.
Speaker 1 (24:57):
Can call me. That's right, that's right, that's right.
Speaker 2 (24:59):
That's.
Speaker 1 (25:02):
Linda. Thank you so much for what you do and
for what you do with AmeriCorps, and thank you so
much for taking time to talk to us today. Appreciate
that of.
Speaker 2 (25:11):
Course, John, I always look forward to these talks.
Speaker 1 (25:14):
That's Linda Thompson, executive director for Georgia Commission on Service
and Volunteerism or AmeriCorps. We appreciate her being on today's program.
For more information on AmeriCorps, visit AmeriCorps dot gov. For
questions or comments on today's program, you can email me
John Clark at Georgeannewsnetwork dot com. Thanks for listening. I'll
talk to you next week right here on your local
(25:35):
radio station on Georgia Focus
Welcome to Georgia Focus. I'm John Clark on the Georgia
and Use Network. The Georgia Department of Community Affairs workship
build strong, vibrant communities. One way they do that is
by working with AmeriCorps. AmeriCorps in Georgia is the pass
through agency for AmeriCorps federal funds in Georgia. To talk
about those funds and America in general, is Linda Thompson,
Executive Director of Georgia Commission for Service and Volunteerism. The
(00:27):
Georgia Department of Community Affairs is where your house, but
tell us why are you house there?
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Well, it makes perfect sense.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
The departments within the Department of Community Affairs all focus
on community and the betterment of communities and the people
that they serve. And so that's really a great place
for America Orps because of who we are and what
we do.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
And two, I guess too, that is a good point
that you're close to the communities and they really do
they really prominent. Community of Affairs really services the communities,
and that's where you service most of your people. We
want your people to be.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
Exactly.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
We promote volunteers and we promote volunteerism and sell racial volunteers.
We serve the communities in many different areas, and education,
community betterment, disaster response, which is a big right now,
veterans and the military families. Yeah, we do almost anything
(01:33):
and think of that happens in communities.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
We support that.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
I didn't realize you service and disaster response. What are
you've got to be doing that a lot of right now?
Speaker 3 (01:44):
Yeah, now, AmeriCorps members. We have AmeriCorps members who serve,
you know, in many different areas, but in times of disasters,
we may call upon them, you know, after search and
rescue obviously, but call upon them as communities need extra
help and like reree removal, serving children, you know, volunteering
(02:07):
like and volunteer centers, passing out food, things like that.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
Okay, I didn't realize that. That's that's pretty good. That's
good stuff. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
What is AmeriCorps. I know it's called it's often what's
it's called Domestic Peace Corps. Often it's called that. But
what is AmeriCorps.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
Well, it's simply put is a core of people living
in America who serve their communities. So it's kind of
it's like the peace Corps, but it's right here at home,
and people can serve in schools by tutoring kids, helping them,
you know, helping children who may be at risk of failure,
helping young people to get into college and be successful
(02:51):
in college, Helping people who may be homeless, helping them
to find resources, helping the elderly, you know, with minor
repairs on the houses, things like that. We even have
one program, one World Link, who has been very active
in lowering the gun violence by being.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
Proactive, really and how do they work in that?
Speaker 3 (03:18):
They are they are very creative in doing that. But
this program is in making Georgia that where I understand
at one point their gun violence was the rate per
cap was higher than Atlanta, and in the past couple
of years they managed to decrease it by seventy five,
(03:39):
which I think is really impressive.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
It really really is. And that's an America program.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
Then it is a program. You know, they meet with
victims of gun violence and definitely put the way they
put it, people who get shot and usually shoot other
people or key because the reaction. So they meet them
where they are and they they talk to them, they
(04:06):
counsel them, they provide whatever resources they need.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
Uh just I know all their.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
Techniques, but it's just a matter of reaching the people
and talking to them.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
That's fantastic. Can somebody can somebody still be involved in that?
Is there somebody down there or anywhere Georgia can be involved?
Is that a Is that an opportunity for their somebody
to serve.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
Yes, they can serve in any of the programs. They
get involved in a MIRACORPS just by going to for
dot gov and clicking on join AmeriCorps. And then they
have the opportunity to put in their profile you know
what they would like to do, where they want to serve,
you know, things like that.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
Now there's some some payment involved, some type of money involved.
You get a certain amount of money from the government
each year, is that right at a certain yes.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Yes.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
The last year we we don't want at five point
five million dollars out to communities to America programs in
their in their neighborhoods. And this went to eighteen different organizations,
and these organizations going to recruit people to serve as
AmeriCorps members, and then those AmeriCorps members.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Can receive us.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
We call it a stipen because it's really you know,
living ways. It's a living allowance and they can receive
a living hours for up to twenty thousand dollars. And
then once they their term of service, if they are
a full time member, which is a full time member
is seventeen hundred dollars.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
But if they finish.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
Their satisfactory satisfactorily complete their term of service, they can
receive an education award for up to seven thousand, three.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
Hundred and ninety five dollars.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
And of course that's for full time members, so if
they're less than full time, it's going to be prograded.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
And you get that much money, and then but you'll
get to roll that money over. Do you you have
to spend it every year?
Speaker 3 (06:05):
Well, it depends. These are in three year cycles. We
have three years to roll the money over. Then that
three years, whatever is not spent go back to the treasury.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
You told me before and in the many years we've
been talking every year about this. How retire people do
it and they give the money to their their grandkids
or they give it for college funds. How does that work?
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Yeah, that's the education award.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
If you're fifty five years old when you start service
and you finish your service and you don't want to
use your.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
Education award, you can you can gift it to like.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
A grandchild or a step child or a child obviously,
which is I think that's a pretty good deal. Right,
So they turned up to two of those they don't
want to use and they can give them away.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
Wow, that's pretty good. You have a lot of people
doing that.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Yeah, yeah, yeah. As a matter of fact, I plan
to do that.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
Oh okay, I have.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
Two grand kids and when I retire, I plan to
serve if I can find an opportunity, you know, close
to close to home, and I'm going to serve and
give those educational awards for my grandkids who are now
in college.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
Okay. Wow.
Speaker 3 (07:19):
And it's important for whoever's doing to know that they
have up to seven years to use the education award.
So if you are going to gift it to someone,
make sure they're going to be somebody who's going to
be going to college and seven within seven.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
Years, right, right. And so you can and it's great
for retirees because you're retired, you want to do something else,
you want to give back. You can do something within
your realm of responsibility, or you can go somewhere else
and do stuff in a whole new area.
Speaker 3 (07:48):
Right if you can, And you can, and when you
input your profile, you can say where you want to serve.
So if you want to serve in another state, you know,
that's perfectly fine.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
If you want to.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
Serve within a certain area educational or environment I mean,
climate control.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
Is a big thing, right too.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
So you get a choice of what you want to do,
the type of service you want to provide, and where
you want to provide that service, and you get you
get a stipend. Obviously while you're doing it, and you're
a retiree, you may.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
Just need some pocket change. I don't know, but.
Speaker 3 (08:23):
It's a little bit, you know, twenty up to twenty
thousand dollars a year that for seventeen hundred hours that
you can use for whatever you want.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
And you can use that in another state. And I
didn't realize that either you can use it somewhere else.
I mean, you can can.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Serve ser want to serve in Georgia.
Speaker 3 (08:43):
You can say I want to serve in I don't know, Minnesota, Chicago, whatever,
But I mean that would mean you would be relocated.
Speaker 1 (08:50):
Right right, Okay, but you can still if you you
can still with Georgia. You can still get the moment
the Georgia money and then service somewhere else in Minnesota
for example. Yeah, yeah, okay, I didn't know that. I
thought you had to serve right here in Georgia. So
there you go.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
Most states, I think except for one as a state commission,
so they have they have America programs in most states
and Puerto Rico wam.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
Yeah. So the AmeriCorps is all over the United States.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
Right, and each each state has a certain amount of
like of Georgia, and there is Alabama and Florida and
so things like that too. You all have a certain Yes.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
Each state receives an allocation based on their population and
so you know Georgia is very well populated. Yeah, it is,
so we receive a very decent allocation that we can
grant out.
Speaker 1 (09:46):
Okay, okay, so you can go out and do a
lot of what are some of the other examples of
you mentioned that the group be making and what great
stuff they're doing with the gun violence there some of
the some.
Speaker 3 (09:58):
Of the other programs that we have a variety of
programs and we have eighteen of them and they're all
doing breaking you know, we have Breakthrough Atlanta that's in
Fulton County and they serve there are summer time program
and they serve during the summertime to prevent learning loss
(10:19):
while the kids are on summer vacation, so they continue
to provide classes and tutoring.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
And all of that during the summertime. And then we
have we have.
Speaker 3 (10:33):
Good Will Industries and you know pretty much what good
will industries do. Yeah, and plus they they're members. They
help them to find full time jobs too after they
leave there, and they have clients to find employment as well.
And then our Hands On Atlanta that does in class
(10:53):
bring for children who may be at risk of failure.
And we have the Scholarship Academy, which is a pretty
cool program. They help children to find scholarships for college
so that hopefully they graduate from college with no student debt,
no student owns are any type of debt. And I
think that is a pretty cool program. We have for
(11:16):
American Pathways who serve refugees who come here from other countries.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
They help to get them settled.
Speaker 3 (11:22):
And trying employment and they help their kids to get
educated and them.
Speaker 2 (11:27):
So we have a very diversified portfolio program.
Speaker 1 (11:34):
Yeah, yeah, the programs. They come to you and say, look,
we need some we need some help, we need some people.
Is that what they do? They come to you in
that and then you vet them and and.
Speaker 3 (11:46):
The money for the grant, and then there's an application
process that they go through and we have a board
of directors as well, and so once they sitment the application,
we review the application and we score it based on Rubert.
If their program scores high enough and it's funded, then
(12:07):
the program or the organization, the nonprofit or the local
government or the Indian tribe, whatever type of organization they are,
it is their responsibility to go out and recruit the people,
the America members to serve to help move their project forward.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
Okay, and are these are these new every year or
do some of them keep going every year after year
for year?
Speaker 2 (12:31):
Some go yeah, some are new.
Speaker 3 (12:35):
We have programs that's been in our portfolio for twenty years.
You know, some apply it and they get funded, and
then we're constantly getting new applicants to come in, and
we welcome new applicants to come in and apply for
these America programs.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
And then your individuals with who want to be in
America or they has to come and apply to you
as well, right from the other end.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
To the program that's recruiting them.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
Okay, and what do you look for with them? Would
they come to you and they go, well, I'm thinking
I want to I want to apply for something. Did
they tell you what they want to do? Or do
you put them in some area or how does that work?
Speaker 2 (13:12):
Well?
Speaker 3 (13:12):
Does let's just say if they if they are applying
through the programming making so they would the member or
the applic directly to them and they would screen them
and determine if they with them or not, and then
they would train them specific to what they're a mara
cose service is going to do.
Speaker 1 (13:34):
Okay, and so what do they need to do when
the people come and make an application for you? Uh? Like,
if I was going to go and I want to
make an application, what do I need to have? There's
some things I can't do, I can't do and things
like that.
Speaker 3 (13:48):
Yes, you have to be a low govenment or a
five oh one C three nonprofit or an educational institution
or in order to qualify to apply. And then you
would come to me and say, hey, I want to apply.
We're having an application workshop. As a matter of fact,
I think if that's next week, but I would encourage
(14:08):
you to attend the workshop so that we can train
you on how to complete the application. We train you
on what we're looking for, those type of things, so
that I hope my goal in doing that is to
put them in a better position to come in with
a very strong application.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
Okay, right, right.
Speaker 3 (14:25):
And so then we review those applications, we send them
to our board, and then we come together at a
court meeting and we make reputations on the applications that
we want to be for. The board makes a recommendation
of what they want to be funded, and then the
full votes on it.
Speaker 2 (14:44):
If the board votes on it.
Speaker 3 (14:45):
And approves it, I make sure that I pass it
all by DCA and make sure that you know there's
no red flags on anything.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
Then I send it to Washington d C.
Speaker 3 (14:56):
I send those applications to Washington to make the actual award.
And once Washington makes the award, we're ready to go.
They have to sign a contract with us, obviously, you know,
stating the dudes and the don'ts, the legal you know,
(15:16):
the legal rules and regulations, and then they're ready to go.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
They program and their program is probably going to go.
Speaker 3 (15:24):
For ten to twelve months and then you know they
did really well. But in the meantime, we're checking in
with them, and everything that they do is on a
reimbursement basis. So let's say if they apply for a
hundred thousand dollars, we don't just give them one hundred
and twenty thousand dollars each month. You know, the first
(15:44):
through all of their members. Say, if they're getting ten members,
they recruit those members, and those members have to go
through a serious criminal history that that's out. Then the
members okay, they have the green light to go ahead
and let the members start. But all their expenses that
they incur, they send them to us and then we
(16:05):
reimburse them. So, say they have expenses for August, they
submit to us in September, we reimburse them.
Speaker 2 (16:12):
So, uh, they.
Speaker 3 (16:14):
Have to So we encourage all all organizations to have
some cash match on the hand, so that you can
have money to that upfront money to pay people and
then submit it to us to reimbursement.
Speaker 1 (16:27):
Okay, all right, so it's okay. So so they they're
responsible for getting their people that their own volunteers or whoever,
and then you reimburse them.
Speaker 3 (16:37):
Okay, yeah, they choose those people themselves, a commission, which
is me and my staff.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
We view them. They interview themselves themselves.
Speaker 3 (16:46):
They screen them because they know they know the type
person they're looking for, they know the different personalities they're
looking for, they know the skill sets that they're looking for.
We don't, right, so we oversee them and they oversee
the members.
Speaker 1 (17:02):
What if you have somebody to come to to to
you to America ORPS like I don't know, somebody retired
to get think, come there and then I'll do anything whatever?
What what can I do? What do you? What do
you do? Then? How do you know where to put them?
Speaker 3 (17:16):
To apply to a to a program, you know, because
it has a lot, you know, we have to know
where they want to serve, what they want to do.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
I'll do anything that is pretty that's pretty broad, So
we will.
Speaker 3 (17:32):
I'll say, hey, here's all of our programs. If you
want to apply directly to them, that's fine. But if
you want to go to the website and apply, that's fine,
and they'll see your application. But and then the program
will determine what skill sets do you have? Doesn't match
what we're trying to do. For example, you're tutoring kids.
(17:53):
Of course you want someone with an education who's qualified
to tutor.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
Kids, right, right, that's true.
Speaker 2 (17:59):
Tutoring different areas.
Speaker 3 (18:01):
It may be math or English or you know, reading
or like some of the new math.
Speaker 2 (18:06):
I may not be ca.
Speaker 1 (18:09):
Yeah, I wouldn't. I wouldn't either.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (18:12):
There may be some training that I would have to
even take before I can help them with their touring program.
Speaker 1 (18:19):
Okay, so you you try to match them up as
closely as possible. Then really, right, and what are some
of the things right now that you have where you
have a big need, You have a specific need that
people may may want to take a look at. Maybe
they they somebody, somebody applies to it.
Speaker 3 (18:35):
Well, I would say, if they're interested in submitting at
a mirror for application, they can email me directly and
I can make sure that they receive the link to
attend the workshop and mikel is l I N d
A dot T H O M P s O n
(18:55):
at d c A dot g A dot G O
v so as Linda dot Thompson at d C A
dot g A dot gov.
Speaker 1 (19:05):
And now you can also tell them about future classes
coming up.
Speaker 3 (19:09):
Radition so we only have one workshop for a year.
But I think all of the specifics such as the
due date for applications and that kind of information.
Speaker 1 (19:18):
Okay, and that's that's just email you that email address
to find out more about that. And is that how
they apply? That go on on your website and apply too.
When they apply, well.
Speaker 3 (19:28):
They can go off to our website and get information,
but we don't have a portal on the website.
Speaker 2 (19:34):
And to apply through all the all of the applications.
Speaker 3 (19:37):
That has to go through E Grants, which is a
federal federal grants making system, right, so they have to
do they have to go to e Grants and register
and obtain to EAT and Grants log in.
Speaker 1 (19:50):
And to the places like Hans on Atlanta America, ORPS
and some other that you mentioned earlier. They want to
go on those those websites too if they're going to
apply those for the those certain organizations.
Speaker 3 (20:02):
I would say they could go on their websites and
get contact in form there, Okay, four Hands on Atlanta
and see if they're looking if they're currently recruiting for
Miracles members, things like that. If they go on that website,
they're going to see a lot of volunteer opportunities as well.
Speaker 1 (20:17):
I mean, right now, do you have do you end
up having enough people or do you always always need
we always need people?
Speaker 3 (20:23):
Well, we we always need more people, but we can
only fund so many due to our limited allocation. Okay,
so yeah, we we typically programs well, I would say
most programs have been very successful in recruiting the number
of members.
Speaker 2 (20:42):
That they request.
Speaker 3 (20:43):
Some have had some hiccups in the past, but for
the most part, most of them fully recruit the members
that the number that they're requesting.
Speaker 1 (20:51):
Okay, but all the time, hey, go ahead and apply
because later on it may come up two years from
now you may need somebody who knows it's it's always
it's always you're always doing it, always always going, always
looking for new money and waiting for that new money
to come over. So it's always a need, no matter when.
(21:11):
There's always a.
Speaker 3 (21:12):
Need to always there's always a need. You're right about that.
And there's there's plenty of work in Georgia to go around.
So yes, there's always a need for America members. But
for some reason, John America is still the best kept secret.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
You know, you and I talk about it. Other people
talk about it.
Speaker 3 (21:30):
But we're still spreading the word about America because a
lot of times I talk to people and they're like,
what is that?
Speaker 2 (21:37):
So, yeah, they love the best kept secret.
Speaker 1 (21:40):
They really Yeah, we've been talking for years about this
every year at the same time. Every year. Years we've
been talking and it's still a best kept secret.
Speaker 2 (21:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (21:51):
Yes, well, now not that that nobody listens to this show.
They did listen to the show, right, But yeah, I
had known.
Speaker 3 (22:03):
About a miracle when I was a young person. Is
that definitely going to use the money for college?
Speaker 1 (22:08):
Oh? Yeah, that is. That's great though, for retirees to
help their grandkids, Like you said, you were going to
do that when you retire, that's great to be able
to do that, right.
Speaker 2 (22:18):
And you know my grandkids are holding me to it too.
Speaker 1 (22:20):
Oh no, does that mean you're close to retiring. You're
not close to retiring at all, are you?
Speaker 2 (22:29):
Yes?
Speaker 3 (22:29):
I am?
Speaker 1 (22:30):
Oh oh no, oh, don't retired then? Were me? W'll
talk every year. So AmeriCorps is Uh, well, we're here
to tell you about it today. That's what we're telling
you about AmeriCorps. That's what we're talking about today, Eric Core, Well,
AmeriCorps is is. I think it's great. It's a great
(22:51):
opportunity to serve and to volunteer. You know, the making
thing is, that's fantastic, that making down there about that,
you know, and your programmer leaf for the hurricanes, we
just had that. You're gonna have ready for that. And
so there's just so many ways to volunteer. Don't sit around,
don't just sit around, get out there and volunteer with
(23:12):
a miracles right exactly.
Speaker 3 (23:13):
You know, some of our programs had members who were
actually impacted by Helene.
Speaker 2 (23:19):
Oh yeah, you know, they're okay, you know, physically they're fine.
Speaker 3 (23:24):
But they are in their own community right now volunteering
to help clean heleen and uh, they're still and I
told them, you know, go ahead, serve whatever capacity, and
you still get your service hours for that.
Speaker 1 (23:38):
That's right, you can't. That's great, that's great.
Speaker 3 (23:42):
So normally they would be in the school's tutoring kids,
but they can't because, like I said, they were back
to by Helene.
Speaker 2 (23:48):
It's just so much work to be done.
Speaker 3 (23:50):
They're volunteering in their own communities helping with that, but
they're still earning hours.
Speaker 1 (23:55):
And finally, just go ahead and tell us again how
to apply and the best way to apply and give
us all that information. We want people to go and apply.
Speaker 3 (24:04):
Yes, we are an organization and you're one to apply
for an AmeriCorps program. If you are a five oh
one C three nonprofit or an educational institution or a
local government, just come. Send an email to me Linda
dot Thompson at DCA dot g A dot go O
V and I will send you a link for an
(24:26):
upcoming Apple workshop that we're having and show you how
to apply for an a miracle program. If you are
an individual and you're wanting to apply to become an
AmeriCorps member, go to americorp dot gov and click on join.
Speaker 1 (24:43):
There you go. Folks, call call Linda, talk to her
about it. She knows everything about it. And I appreciate
you coming on today. Now, don't retire. Don't retire before
you come back and talk to me again.
Speaker 2 (24:54):
Well, you know what number so I can call you, you.
Speaker 1 (24:57):
Can call me. That's right, that's right, that's right.
Speaker 2 (24:59):
That's.
Speaker 1 (25:02):
Linda. Thank you so much for what you do and
for what you do with AmeriCorps, and thank you so
much for taking time to talk to us today. Appreciate
that of.
Speaker 2 (25:11):
Course, John, I always look forward to these talks.
Speaker 1 (25:14):
That's Linda Thompson, executive director for Georgia Commission on Service
and Volunteerism or AmeriCorps. We appreciate her being on today's program.
For more information on AmeriCorps, visit AmeriCorps dot gov. For
questions or comments on today's program, you can email me
John Clark at Georgeannewsnetwork dot com. Thanks for listening. I'll
talk to you next week right here on your local
(25:35):
radio station on Georgia Focus
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