We Are AmeriCorps in Minnesota
ServeMinnesota works with AmeriCorps members and community partners to meet critical needs throughout Minnesota. We focus on solving tough problems in educational achievement, economic opportunity, and environmental protection.
As the state’s administrator for federal AmeriCorps funds, we provide grants to nonprofit organizations that have been selected to run an AmeriCorps program. ServeMinnesota provides training and technical assistance, and monitors these organizations to ensure that they adhere to all federal rules and regulations related to their AmeriCorps grant.
We administer a portfolio of 15 AmeriCorps programs with about 2,000 AmeriCorps members addressing critical human needs. More than 1,200 sites across the state are hosting an AmeriCorps member this year. These sites include schools, local nonprofits, and community organizations.
ServeMinnesota's primary goal is to invest its AmeriCorps resources in a manner that catalyzes positive social change in Minnesota. We align the power of AmeriCorps with successful strategies that provide cost-effective solutions and yield measurable results. We apply evidence-based practices and scale what works to increase our impact.
Our Strategic Initiatives: Minnesota Reading Corps and Minnesota Math Corps
Our largest strategic initiative, Minnesota Reading Corps, is a breakthrough program that is changing academic outcomes for students. The program helps struggling students transform into confident learners – something that translates into all areas of their lives. Minnesota Reading Corps began in 2003, serving just 250 children. Since then, the program has helped nearly 200,000 struggling readers, age 3 to grade 3, get ready for Kindergarten and on track for third grade reading. Thousands of AmeriCorps members are helping 30,000 Minnesota students become successful readers this year.
Recognizing that the proven Minnesota Reading Corps model could be applied to other academic areas, the ServeMinnesota Board of Directors endorsed the creation of Minnesota Math Corps in 2007. Math Corps was launched by a community-wide planning process that identified the achievement gap in math as a priority in the Saint Cloud School District. Through partnerships and collaborations with other districts seeking to address the same need, Math Corps has expanded to about 200 schools in 80 districts across the state. This year, Math Corps tutors are delivering evidence-based interventions to help 5,000 Minnesota students in grades 4 through 8 build and maintain foundational math skills.
Vision
Demonstrating the power of national service to solve complex social problems.
Mission
ServeMinnesota is a catalyst to address critical needs in Minnesota by working with AmeriCorps and community partners. We share our proven practices nationally.
We get measurable results through:
Innovation: researching and applying the best data-driven methods to create powerful local solutions
Investment: raising and allocating funds for AmeriCorps program development, and people serving in those programs, to maximize return
Alignment: aligning with local community and government priorities and setting consistent program standards to ensure measurable results