In what could be a landmark program development, Boxerwood recently secured a 9-month federal contract to explore the feasibility of BEA/ AmeriCorps partnership. “Basically, we sought and received funding to determine if Boxerwood would be a good match for AmeriCorps goals,” explains Elise Sheffield, Education Director. “AmeriCorps is somewhat a domestic equivalent to the Peace Corps,” she says, but noted there are different types of programs for volunteers (known as “members”). “We are looking at a Virginia program called AmeriCorps State, that funds full-time members in direct services like teaching, tutoring, planting trees, etc.” In return for a year of full-time service, members receive a federal living allowance and an educational credit to offset student loans or future study.
“Rockbridge has a lot of needs,” says Elise, “and many of those needs won’t go away after the pandemic. Our idea is to serve as an administrative host organization. In this configuration, we would place a small group of youthful members not only at Boxerwood, but also with other allied education groups in Rockbridge, and with nearby nature centers--right now there is no other Virginia organization placing members for nature centers. We could all use some additional people-power.”
It’s a big undertaking, hence the $50,000 planning grant. “This grant does not lead directly to an AmeriCorps program; instead it funds the legwork needed to determine whether the program is right for Boxerwood and the Rockbridge community,” says Elise. Usually Boxerwood staff would be too busy to add this research to their responsibilities. The pandemic changed the equation. “This funding is perfectly timed,” says Elise. “We can dream big, research best practices, talk with partners, and earn our keep all at the same time: we can’t overestimate this grant’s helpfulness.” If BEA determines at the end of the study that AmeriCorps is indeed a good fit, the next step would be to apply for federal funding to support an inaugural Boxerwood AmeriCorps program year starting Fall 2022. Stay tuned!
