AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent recruiting adults 55 or older to serve as mentors and tutors

 

 

AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent (FGP) recruiting adults 55 years or older to serve as mentors and tutors. FGP is a federally funded project that empowers adults aged 55 or older to contribute to their communities through volunteer service.  

 

Members focus on school readiness and K-12 education success. As supporters, they assist children and youth with exceptional needs or multiple disabilities and those in after-school programming. Volunteers are hands-on to help with literacy, basic math, positive conversation, and recreational activities. Members provide appropriate behavior and social development guidance. 

 

The special child-grandparent relationship helps children feel secure, gain self-confidence and enjoy learning, leading to healthy minds and bodies that foster future educational success.

 

Foster Grandparents often report that, because of the program, they gain a sense of purpose and accomplishment while giving back to the children they serve. FGP program cultivates relationships by giving extra attention and guidance needed to navigate pressing challenges.  Children can advance through the support of AmeriCorps Seniors wisdom and skills.   

 


Program benefits include:


  • Participants are eligible to receive a bi-weekly stipend (non-taxed). 
  • Transportation and meal cost reimbursement during programming.
  • Enhanced social engagement with community partners, students, and other program participants.
  • Increased health benefits are associated with having a sense of community involvement.
  • Access to continuous training and professional development.

 

Background screening required


To learn more or to apply for the program, contact Toni Robinson at Toni.Robinson@mobilecountyal.gov or call 251.574.6488. Click here to download an application.


Websites of Interest



AmeriCorps


AmeriCorps Seniors

Foster Grandparents


Alabama Cooperative Extension System


AARP



Area Agency on Aging



BPSOS- Gulf Coast



Boys & Girls Clubs of South Alabama



City of Mobile


Mobile County Commission


Mobile County Public School System 


Social Security Administration 



South Alabama Regional Planning Commission


Mobile Public Library


United We Stand

 


 

Mark Your Calendar


October 1

International Day of

Older Persons


Breast Cancer Awareness Month



Domestic Violence Awareness Month



November 8

Alabama General Election





Thank you for joining us to learn more

about the United We Serve campaign, the 

President’s call

to serve, and the Administration's vision to make national service more accessible to all Americans.


Missed the briefing? Don’t worry – a recording of the webinar is available. Click the link to connect to the video.


During the briefing, we shared several immediate ways you can participate:

  • Help us amplify United We Serve. Share your success stories on how service unites people in your community on social media using the hashtag #UnitedWeServe.
  • Use the President’s call to service to support your work, open doors, and activate partners. Use this opportunity to reach out to foundations and the philanthropy community, state and local agencies, and other partners to make the case to support national service.
  • Help remove barriers to service. The President’s call to raise the living allowance gives us momentum to work toward removing a barrier to service by making national service a viable opportunity for any American. Raising the living allowance and stipends will take time and approval by Congress.
  • Share your ideas about how to move forward. As our partners in service, we want to hear from you. How can we make the most of this opportunity? What is working in your community that can be replicated in this larger effort? Send your recommendations to engagement@cns.gov.


As CEO Michael Smith said, “Service is a uniting force that has a wide range of positive impacts on the civic engagement of members and volunteers and the communities they serve in, on community resilience, and on social capital.”

Check serve.gov regularly for updates and what you can do to further this work. In the meantime, if you have questions or feedback, email engagement@cns.gov.

 


Brighten the Corner

By: Commissioner Merceria Ludgood


This month’s column begins with a confession. When I am sitting in a public space like an airport or waiting room I sometimes eavesdrop on people’s conversations. In my defense, who can blame me when they have long personal cell phone calls that are loud of enough for everyone to hear? Now I do not go looking for conversations but, if I am in the midst, I will listen. It amazes me the things people find interesting enough to devote extended time discussing.


Last week in the ladies’ restroom I overheard one side of a conversation about Megan the Stallion. I wanted to ask the person if she was a close personal friend but then she would have known I was in the other stall listening. Or was I just hearing? Listening suggests I wanted to hear but I did not-it was unavoidable so I give myself a pass on that one.

 

Celebrity gossip and the latest TikTok phenom rank high among the topics most discussed. In certain parts of the country, anything Nick Saban and SEC football dominate. Then some lament telemarketer calls that interrupt the flow of their conversations about how long it is going to take for their new car to be delivered, their weak WiFi connection, or the lengthy drive-thru line at Foosackly’s and Chick-fil-A.

 

Part of what I am listening to determine is whether the speaker is a “glass is half full” or a “glass is half empty” person. The Glass is half empty person views the world through a prism of lack, which often breeds discontent. Unfortunately, a pessimistic worldview evolves and is followed by a search for someone or something to blame for whatever they are being denied. Their conversations are long gripe sessions. The person whose glass is half full is optimistic and is more likely to be, as my elders are fond of saying, grateful for things being as well as they are. Click here  to read more. 

 

About AmeriCorps


AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism, provides opportunities for Americans to serve their country domestically, address the nation’s most pressing challenges, improve lives and communities, and strengthen civic engagement. Each year, the agency places more than 250,000 AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers in intensive service roles; and empowers millions more to serve as long-term, short-term, or one-time volunteers. AmeriCorps offers opportunities for individuals of all backgrounds to be a part of the national service community, grow personally and professionally, and receive benefits for their service. Learn how to get involved at AmeriCorps.gov/serve.

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