Stories of Service
AmeriCorps members in Minnesota have amazing stories to tell.
Welcome to our Stories of Service blog! Every day, Minnesota AmeriCorps programs and their members transform lives and get things done. Their actions and impact shows exactly what service to your state is all about. These are their stories. Subscribe to our newsletter to get them sent directly to your inbox.

Celebrating 20 years: How ServeMinnesota became a catalyst for positive change in MN
To this day, I am a big admirer of the legislation that created AmeriCorps, the 1993 National Community Service Trust Act.

“This is like magic”: Emerging Educators gave her a path to teaching
Boushra began volunteering at her son’s elementary school as a way to learn about the American educational system. Today, she’s

“I got to use all the skills I’ve built throughout my life.”
Geri (she/they) has been familiar with their AmeriCorps service site, Mahube-Otwa Community Action Partnership, since their childhood on the White Earth

How this former Promise Fellow and new ServeMinnesota employee is bringing theory to practice
Back when he was a student at Occidental College, Isa Kibira remembers living in “theory land.” He majored in political

A glimpse into service with the Refugee Response Initiative
The tech team for the Refugee Response Initiative does a lot more than just tech. In addition to setting up

For him, AmeriCorps service was a bridge to the nonprofit sector
David Langley has worked for more than two years as the Engagement Manager at Prepare + Prosper, a Twin Cities

“My wall is full of drawings students made for me”: How this AmeriCorps member connected with students during distance learning
When Alex began her service during distance learning, she noticed right away how challenging it was to connect with middle

With Heading Home Corps, this retiree helps keep students housed & in school
Renea knows Minneapolis’ social services inside and out. No matter what the students she serves are facing, she can figure

Here’s why AmeriCorps is a smart career move after graduating
It’s graduation season, and as nice as it might be to be done with classes, it can be stressful to

Finding the Community Forestry Initiative after life on the road
Before serving with Community Forestry Initiative, Sara Arsenault wandered the US, heading to wherever her next gig in environmental field

Announcing Our New Career Pathways: Transform Your Service into a Career Path
Many AmeriCorps members discover what they want to do next in life partly because of their experiences with service. One

How One Housing Resource Navigator is Helping Survivors Find Safe Housing
Minnesota is experiencing the greatest housing shortage in decades. Increases in both home prices and rents are outpacing wage growth

Meet the designers behind our fresh new brand
You may have noticed that ServeMinnesota’s website has a completely new look – featuring new colors, new icons, and a

Community leader Marc Johnigan on Why Recovery is for Everyone
We were devastated to hear that Marc Johnigan passed away in December of 2021, just a couple months after we

18 Houses and Four Service Terms Later, A Veteran AmeriCorps Member Reflects
AmeriCorps member Liam Poitra has collected the blueprint of almost every house he’s helped build. After years of building houses,