United Way of Southeast Alaska’s AmeriCorps Program Strives to
“Bring Out the Best of America”
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The 2022-2023 Juneau AmeriCorps Recruitment season has begun.
As an AmeriCorps host, the United Way’s responsibilities include the recruitment, placement, and evaluation of AmeriCorps members for 12 positions at 10 different sites in Juneau. For the 2022-23 season members will serve with Southeast Alaska Association for the Education of Young Children (AEYC-SEA), Juneau Suicide Prevention Coalition, Little Eagle Raven Childcare/Headstart, and Juneau Elementary Schools, and Shéiyi X̱aat Hít (Spruce Root House) Youth Shelter.
“It’s a privilege to continue developing a strong AmeriCorps presence in Juneau. Through this incredibly impactful partnership, our AmeriCorps members touch the lives of thousands of residents,” states Wayne Stevens, President of United Way of Southeast Alaska.
All AmeriCorps positions are service-based - members receive a modest living stipend, health insurance, and at the end of their service - an education award. The benefit, called a Segal Award, may be applied to current or future post-secondary education, including vocational schools or repayment of qualified student loans. Dollar amounts change from year to year but remain equal to the U.S. Department of Education Pell Grant (in 2021 this was $6,345).
Every host in America carries out AmeriCorps’s national service initiatives, each tailors its work to fit a specific local goal. The United Way has focused on improving literacy skills and academic skills in K-3rd grade, however, United Way is considered a multi-focus site and has members serving outside of this area.
“AmeriCorps isn’t just for young people, and you don’t have to come from ‘outside,’” states Shari Paul, AmeriCorps Program Director, “you just need to be motivated, passionate, and have the heart to serve the under-served.”
AmeriCorps members are not limited to college students or recent graduates. This can be an opportunity for stay-at-home parents thinking about returning to the workforce, or recent retirees, looking to stay active. AmeriCorps members older than 55 at the start of service can pass along their education benefits to their children or grandchildren.
For more information about serving as an AmeriCorps member, visit americorps.gov. Learn more about the United Way and its partners at www.unitedwayseak.org.
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OPINION: We work in childcare in Alaska. Our workforce problem is your workforce problem. |
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By Blue Shibler, Christina Eubanks Ohana, and Candace Richey
If you participate in any part of the economy in Alaska, as an employer, employee, consumer, or a passive observer, you likely know we have a significant workforce shortage. While the reasons for the shortage are a bit complex and mysterious, there is one major cause that is undeniable: an insufficient supply of affordable child care.
Child care is a foundational support for Alaska families and the economy that has been under-resourced for far too long and nearly decimated by the pandemic. As COVID-19 pushes us to the brink of the child care sector’s collapse, thousands of parents, especially mothers and women of color, have been pushed out of the labor force. The reality is that child care is the workforce behind the workforce — it is the sector that makes work possible for others. Alaska’s economy is not going to recover if we continue to short-change the valuable child care workforce that has risked life and health for poverty wages to care for children throughout a crippling pandemic.
A recent study published by the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development found that in March of 2022, 4.1% of Alaskans with children between 5 and 11 had worked fewer hours over the last month because of child care problems, and 2.3% had quit a job to care for children. When the child was younger than 5, the percentages jumped to 12.9% and 5%, respectively.
With the sole source of revenue for most child care programs being paid tuition, the industry is at an impasse with families unable to pay more, limiting providers’ ability to attract and retain quality classroom teachers. The market failure of the child care system in Alaska justifies the need for public investment. It is time to start investing in child care just as we invest in public schools. After all, it is child care providers who are preparing children for success in public school.
We believe House Bill 149, sponsored by Rep. Zack Fields, and its accompanying child care trust fund, provides an opportunity to change the dynamics of child care in Alaska for generations to come. This bill combines a child care trust with sectoral bargaining to assure efficient and effective use of state dollars by allowing sector members to participate in policy and funding decisions made by the state. A trust will ensure stable funding that will enable the field to recruit and retain a quality workforce. A stable workforce will help increase the availability of affordable quality care for families.
With this innovative legislation and funding model, families will see real relief from rising costs, faith-based providers will have the opportunity for full inclusion, and child care programs will receive meaningful investments to help meet the costs of providing high-quality care provided by adequately compensated early childhood educators.
We appreciate the many legislators who have worked on HB149 over the past year and urge all House members to vote for it.
Failure to pass HB149 will show a continued disregard for the valuable childcare workforce, prevent economic recovery, and further put Alaska children behind.
Blue Shibler is the former owner of Discovery Preschool in Juneau and the current executive director of the Association for the Education of Young Children - Southeast, Christina Eubanks Ohana is the executive director of Hillcrest Children’s Center in Anchorage, and Candace Richey owns and operates Candi’s Tot Stop in Fairbanks.
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Rosemary Havevig: A Legacy of Community-Mindedness for Juneau |
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With deep sadness, I learned of Rosemary Hagevig's passing at appropriately, a Chamber luncheon.
In the ensuing days, I have reflected on my interactions with Rosemary over the many years that I have had the pleasure of working with and for her.
At a multitude of chamber events over the years, during the interview process for my position with United Way of Southeast Alaska, as Executive Director for our partner agency, Catholic Community Services, and as a United Way Board Member for almost six years.
She was a tireless advocate for the nonprofit community, a dedicated supporter of United Way and the work we do with our partner agencies, a member of the Bartlett Regional Hospital Board, and lest you forget, a Grandmother to her granddaughters of whom she was fond of sharing many stories about.
It is always difficult to learn of the departure of individuals who have given so much of themselves to their community.
Their passing leaves a void in the heart and soul of the community, their friends, colleagues, and of course family and loved ones.
But they leave behind strong memories, the results of their community-building efforts, and the knowledge that they made a difference in their community, region, and State.
Rosemary had an influence on all who interacted with her. I for one will miss her sage counsel and advice.
With deepest sympathy to her family in their time of loss.
-Wayne Stevens
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Alaska Nonprofits Step Up to Serve Alaskans |
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"Alaska's nonprofit community heroically stepped up these past two years to serve Alaskans sickened, devastated, and set back by the devastating effects of the pandemic" - Opinion piece published in Anchorage Daily News on April 13, 2022
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AmeriCorps Member Service Spotlight: Lucas Oswald
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Where are you from?
I am from North Aurora, Illinois — a suburb about 45 minutes west of Chicago.
Why did you decide to come to Juneau for AmeriCorps?
I spent a year in Florida last year, and I felt like I needed a change of scenery. America is a very diverse place geographically and demographically speaking, and I wanted to experience something vastly different from what I was used to.
Where have you been serving?
I have been serving at Sayéik: Gastineau Community School as a reading tutor.
What has been your favorite thing about Alaska? Your service site?
I really enjoy the rain and the scenic mountain drives. I think there's a real sense of community among the staff and my service site, and everyone is always willing to help one another.
Has serving as an AmeriCorps member changed you in any way?
I'd like to say it has made me a lot more patient, but I'm not sure if that's true. It's harder for me to be overwhelmed. I am constantly bombarded with students' questions and I feel like I can stay calm. It's become easier for me to juggle multiple duties.
Are you enjoying your service year? Have you learned anything cool?
Yes, I'm enjoying my service year, though in a different way than I had imagined. I thought I would have a lot of fun experiences with my students, and while I have, that hasn't been the thing I've enjoyed the most. I've really enjoyed learning about the Tlingit culture and the history of Alaska. It has been enlightening to learn about the negative impacts of colonialism on Alaska's Native peoples, and I hope my service year has made me more culturally sensitive.
Your term here ends in a few months. Do you know what’s next for you?
I'm thinking New York City. It's the quintessential American experience, and I think that's the logical next step for me.
Anything else you'd like to add?
Juneau has been a great experience for me even if not in the ways I had imagined.
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Rain or Shine
Learning All the Time
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Kids learn language by listening to you, and research has found the more words they hear the better. Use complete sentences and scientific terms when appropriate. Ask your child to imitate the nature sounds he hears. |
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