Bryanna Folks is an AmeriCorps NCCC alum and currently serving as site supervisor for NCCC Team River 4. She discovered AmeriCorps through a friend of a friend who had been involved in the program in the past. Bryanna recalls, “My friend and I were both attending Virginia Tech at the time and were both unhappy with the educational experience we were receiving due to COVID-19 causing all of our classes to be online. We both decided we wanted to take charge of our lives and experiences and do something that would help others and also teach us new skills.”

Before starting her AmeriCorps service, Bryanna volunteered at a couple rescue squads and  saw AmeriCorps NCCC as an opportunity to utilize her experience as an EMT while continuing to help others in new settings. She reflects, “My friend and I were both excited for a change of pace and to be pushed outside of our comfort zones, while also having unique experiences that would later change the trajectory of both of our lives.”

As an AmeriCorps NCCC member, Bryanna was selected for the forest team, which allowed her to travel across the U.S. She recalls, “Prior to being a part of AmeriCorps, I had little to no knowledge about wildfire and now it makes up a huge portion of my life. My team and I responded to the Caldor wildfire in Lake Tahoe, CA in 2022, where we were able to assist in rehab and mop op, and see how wildfires are managed logistically.”

Bryanna continues, “I have always been passionate about helping others and know that I am able to make quick and appropriate decisions under pressure which is why I have continually sought out new educational opportunities to expand my knowledge. The systemic barriers that exist and hinder an individual’s access to the care they need have proven to be challenging because I am able to help them in the moment, but then they still need help long term or in other facets of their lives that I cannot assist with as quickly. One of the biggest challenges I have faced in my years of serving communities all over the U.S. would be seeing how people have been personally affected by emergencies. I don’t always have the answer as to why emergencies and tragedies occur but I do know that I am able to help when they do.”

Earlier this year, Bryanna’s NCCC Team River 4 was serving in Pulaski, Virginia, when Hurricane Helene hit. The team pivoted to flood response efforts and Bryanna went into high gear to help community members. She recalls, “Prior to the flood hitting, River 4 and I were doing wildfire mitigation work, creating a firebreak around a threatened community within Claytor Lake State Park. When the flood hit the Pulaski area on September 27th, 2024, I sent River 4 home early and set off to perform damage assessments of roads and later that day assisted in two water rescues where people needed assistance evacuating their homes that had been flooded.”

Once the situation stabilized, Bryanna and the team shifted to flood recovery efforts, including tasks such as woody debris removal, manmade debris removal, mucking and gutting homes, shoveling mud out of basements and crawlspaces, aerating homes, stripping flooring, removing sinks and showers, and cleaning personal items that had been covered in mud and silt. She says, “The team and I assisted approximately 20 out of 65 homes that had been affected by the flood on both the Hiwassee and Draper side of the New River. I also spent days going door to door assessing needs of residents, documenting their information, answering questions, hearing their stories of their experience with the flood, assisting homeowners in filling out their applications for FEMA assistance, and delivering supplies to their doorsteps.”

Throughout her AmeriCorps experiences, Bryanna has learned a lot about herself and the the people in communities where she served. She reflects, “Being an AmeriCorps alum and site supervisor for River 4 has shown me how passionate I am about teaching others and passing down the knowledge I have gained from the people before me. I love getting to be outside everyday, performing physically demanding tasks, managing land, and restoring areas because I can see the progress I am making and the lives I am positively impacting. I plan to continue serving communities by obtaining my paramedic license in the future and working seasonal fire positions that will allow me to travel, gain new skills, and assist those in need.”

Bryanna adds, “My advice for those considering joining AmeriCorps is to sign up because there are so many things waiting for them, ranging from diverse people who will become lifelong friends, networking opportunities, travel opportunities, challenges that will make them grow as a person and a worker, and memories that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives.”