About Us

AmeriCorps History

In 1993, President Bill Clinton signed the National and Community Service Trust Act, which created AmeriCorps and brought the full range of domestic community service programs under the umbrella of one central organization, the Corporation for National and Community Service. AmeriCorps, along with Senior Corps and Learn and Serve America, engage more than 2 million Americans of all ages and backgrounds in service each year to meet critical human needs in education, housing, public safety, disaster response, public health, and the environment.

UL Lafayette AmeriCorps History

AmeriCorps has been a part of the UL Lafayette campus since 1995. In that time, over 500 UL Lafayette AmeriCorps members have provided almost 300,000 hours of community service to South Louisiana. AmeriCorps has been instrumental in improving education, improving housing, responding to disasters, and making community service a central feature of student life on the UL Lafayette campus.

Program Creeds

AmeriCorps Motto: Getting things done

UL Lafayette AmeriCorps Mission Statement: To develop civic responsibility and leadership skills in college students through service.

Service

UL-Lafayette AmeriCorps participates in a wide variety of community service projects throughout the Acadiana area. Here are just a few:

Education:

UL Lafayette AmeriCorps members provide both in-school and after-school tutoring to elementary school students. Our members work one-on-one and in small group settings to improve reading and math skills, help with homework completion, and provide structured activities for children. Our Writing in the Galleries program offers curriculum-based tours of the Paul and Lulu Hillard University Art Museum to area schools and engages children in art and literacy activities.


Housing:

UL Lafayette AmeriCorps members provide a variety of housing related community service. We partner with Lafayette Habitat for Humanity to build new affordable housing for people affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, we partner with Rebuilding Together to build wheelchair access ramps for local disabled residents, and we partner with multiple agencies to help gut and reconstruct hurricane affected houses.


Other:

UL Lafayette AmeriCorps members serve on a variety of one time or short-term projects throughout the service year. Members help clean area parks, provide recycling for local festivals, staff community outreach events, restore our wetlands, assist the elderly and disabled, recruit volunteers, and much, much more!!!

 

 



Team

Members serve together, but they also participate in team building activities through team meetings and team retreats. UL Lafayette AmeriCorps is a team environment, and the friends you make will last a lifetime!

 

 

 




Training

Our team training focuses on preparing members to respond in times of emergency or disaster. Members receive training in First Aid/CPR and Point of Dispensing (POD) staging for biological emergencies.

Additional training places a strong emphasis for preparing members for life after AmeriCorps. All members receive training in conflict resolution, professional etiquette, public speaking, resume writing, professional interviewing, and project planning and management. AmeriCorps equips its members with a skill set to help them meet the challenges of AmeriCorps and life beyond.

Benefits

AmeriCorps instills an overwhelming sense of pride, civic responsibility, and a lifetime commitment to service in its members, but there are financial benefits as well. All members who complete the program earn an education award of $1250 to $2362.50, depending on their level of commitment. Many members also receive a monthly living allowance or work-study payment to help with expenses. And AmeriCorps is a fantastic resume builder that is sure to impress any future employer!