Aliyah Pelley-Livingston graduated from high school in 2022 and set out for some volunteer opportunities and a change of pace from her hometown of Wheeling, West Virginia. She decided she needed a gap year before entering college. Aliyah has a lot of practical work experience and a passion for volunteering wherever she’s needed, and the AmeriCorps program fits that niche for her.
Aliyah has spent the last ten months engaged with students at Kax̱dig̱oowu Héen Elementary (KHE/Riverbend) school in the Mendenhall Valley, working as an Early Literacy Specialist through the AmeriCorps program in Juneau.
In her own words, Aliyah states that it was a learning curve to become an AmeriCorps member. She had to learn how to correctly engage children without an education degree, but now she knows how to help regardless of her education because of her lived experience.
Especially in the social service branch, it's inspiring to remind ourselves of the power we hold in our hearts alone, and that a degree is only confirmation of our devotion to help our communities.
Though she is eager to attend college after this, she appreciates how her cohort never made her feel less than for only having a high school diploma.
The principal at KHE shared that Aliyah has done an excellent job in all aspects of her work at KHE. She created relevant and engaging literacy lunches, consistent and high-quality literacy interventions, stunning hallway displays around literacy, and engaged in family and student events. Aliyah is a trusted and valued member of the KHE Family and will genuinely be missed.
During her time in Juneau, and consistent with her desire to serve communities in a volunteer capacity, Aliyah has given her time to other worthy causes including volunteering at AWARE. This experience and the professional development she gained through this experience have given her a fundamental understanding of the depth and breadth of some of the social challenges many people face and how through her volunteer efforts and compassionate drive, patience, and understanding she can make a difference in the lives of others.
Aliyah has also participated in volunteer efforts including:
- Juneau Community Foundation's “fill a bag” project to ensure food security for many of the students she’s worked with during school breaks
- The Native Youth Olympics
- Day of Caring
- Juneau’s Maritime Festival
- Black Awareness Month activities
This dynamic young woman is moving on after her tenure in Juneau AmeriCorps to pursue her education in environmental science at George Washington University.
Without a doubt, Aliyah will be successful in whatever life offers her going forward. She will thrive in her continued efforts to be involved in other volunteer activities, bringing her lived experiences and the knowledge she has gained through AmeriCorps with her.
2023-2024 AmeriCorps Positions are open!
If you know someone interested in the program, send them to our site or have them apply!
