If you have noticed people in the area wearing AmeriCorps sweatshirts and wondered what they do, the following snapshot of this important program will answer your questions.

AmeriCorps dates back to 1964, when it was created by President Lyndon Johnson. Today, there are three different factions of AmeriCorps: the state and national programs, the National Civilian Community Corps, or NCCC, and Volunteers in Service to America, or VISTA. Together, these three groups focus on specific issues such as poverty, illiteracy, homelessness and environmental sustainability. AmeriCorps, each year, offers 75,000 opportunities for people of all ages and walks of life to engage in community service. Generally, AmeriCorps is a one-year commitment where volunteers receive a modest living stipend and, upon completing their year of service, a choice of either a cash award of $1,200 or an education award of $5,250.

Here in Southwest Colorado, there are four AmeriCorps volunteers currently serving the community through a range of projects. Below is a bit more about what Whitney Gaskill, Darcy Cole, Liz Hamilton and I are up to during our service time.

I have happily been serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA since June 2009. I started my first year of service with the George’s Creek Watershed Association, a host organization of the Appalachian Coal Country Team in western Maryland. After completing my term in June 2010, I was offered the position of VISTA leader with the Western Hardrock Watershed Team, the sister team of the Appalachian group, and a program of the Southwest Conservation Corps in Durango. I now support VISTAs serving throughout Colorado and New Mexico who are placed with community or watershed improvement groups confronting the challenges that remain from historic mining in the West.

These VISTAs are doing amazing work throughout the region by building the capacity of underfunded nonprofit groups, leading environmental monitoring programs, educating community members about watershed issues and helping design projects that revitalize communities.

Gaskill is spending her VISTA term in Silverton serving with Mountain Studies Institute, a host site of the Western Hardrock Watershed Team.

One of Gaskill’s major goals is to expand MSI’s current educational programs to create “science people can use.” Gaskill facilitated a pilot program to engage local youths in hands-on field research and is working to build a program that will provide underserved youths with the opportunity to explore the beautiful San Juans. Gaskill is involved with many other day-to-day fundraising and organizational tasks and supports research, trails initiatives and public outreach campaigns.

Darcy Cole is in her second year of service, as well.

Cole finished her first year of Americorps in Stratham, N.H., where she worked in an at-risk middle school. One of the projects she had the opportunity to run was a social justice and diversity program for ninth-graders, which her team developed and implemented as well. Cole now works as the volunteer and outreach coordinator at the Boys & Girls Club in Durango.

Some of the projects Cole is working on include building a new garden, creating a mentoring program and fundraising. Although Cole has a bachelor’s degree in sociology, Americorps has given her the opportunity to learn many things outside of her field.

Liz Hamilton also works for the Boys & Girls Club as the AmeriCorps art coordinator.

Hamilton studied art at Southern Illinois University and focused on painting and film. Hamilton created the club’s “artist of the week” program in which she chooses an artist to highlight each week and coaches the kids about how to mimic his or her particular style.

These programs each provide important services to the community and rely on public resources to sustain them.

During the recent debates in Congress over the budget, you may have heard about the funding crisis, where organizations such as AmeriCorps, Planned Parenthood and National Public Radio were on the chopping block. This fiscal year has really been a trying time for AmeriCorps programs supported by the Corporation for National and Community Service.

In total, 2011 funding for CNCS is $1.08 billion, or about $339 million less than the president’s 2011 fiscal year request and 94 percent of the funding the corporation received in the 2010 fiscal year. Reductions to CNCS programs included a $12.7 million cut to the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, a $23.2 million cut to AmeriCorps’ state and national programs, and a $39.5 million cut to Learn and Serve America, eliminating FY 2011 funding for the program.

Fortunately, AmeriCorps was not completely cut and the programs that benefit this community will continue for the coming year.

Positively contributing to society and helping cthose in need is at the core of AmeriCorps. Where will you do your service year?

If you would like to contribute to any of these nonprofit organizations, contact Cole at darcy@bg claplata.org or me at sup port@hardrockteam.org.

Adrian Uzunian is the AmeriCorps OSM/VISTA leader for the Western Hardrock Watershed Team.