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Northwest Federal Credit Union
Northwest Federal Credit Union
RICKETTSFRAN10131--C-CAP Director Fran Ricketts 10/24/2013 MATT ARMSTRONG PHOTO

Deenia Carico

Story of Service: Deenia Carico

AmeriCorps State Member of the Year (Robert E. Wone Award for Exemplary Service) Deenia Carico, Carroll County Public Schools Lift Up AmeriCorps, Hillsville Following a lifetime of service in teaching, Deenia continued her passion for education by joining AmeriCorps where she serves by tutoring at Oakland Elementary in Galax. In her fourth year of service, Deenia has a strong collaborative relationship with the teachers at her school and has successfully trained three new AmeriCorps members. She is also passionate about serving her community -- not only taking each of the National Days of Service to heart, but also active in...
RICKETTSFRAN10131--C-CAP Director Fran Ricketts 10/24/2013 MATT ARMSTRONG PHOTO

Lori Schmiege & Huey Gordon

Story of Service: Lori Schmiege & Huey Gordon

National Service Alumni of the Year Huey Gordon & Lorie Schmiege, CARITAS, Richmond Both AmeriCorps Alums with CARITAS, the dynamic duo of Lori Schmiege and Huey Gordon manage the CARITAS Furniture Bank operations. Lori, who served from 2010-2011, and Huey, who served from 2011-2012, both react with empathy and a resolve to “get things done,” attitudes they developed as members. They are also both willing and happy to coach and mentor other AmeriCorps members and ultimately show these members how to be excellent employees when they move on to the workforce. Since joining CARITAS staff, they have mentored 40 AmeriCorps members...
Sydney Sanders

Sydney Sanders

Story of Service: Sydney Sanders

Sydney Sanders is an AmeriCorps VISTA member serving with the Federation of Virginia Food Banks. She originally discovered AmeriCorps VISTA in college, hearing fellow students discuss their post-graduation plans. "After I graduated, I knew I wanted to find a program or position that would afford me the opportunity to apply the knowledge I gained in school, while also cultivating new skills," she recalls. "What drew me to serve was the unique position I applied for and ended up being offered." Through her VISTA service at the Federation, Sydney has had the chance to be involved in a broad range of...
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Change the World RVA

Story of Service: Change the World RVA

For many kids, high school and college is an exciting and memorable time in their lives. But imagine what it would be like to go through this challenging and important phase without family support, without the tools to learn, and without a place to sleep at night. Change the World RVA, winner of the 2016 Governor's Award for Outstanding Community Organization, is the only organization in Central Virginia specifically addressing the needs of high school and college students who face homelessness. An all-volunteer organization, Change the World saw an overwhelming need in the community – with nearly 1,800 homeless students...
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Veronica McMillian

Story of Service: Veronica McMillian

When Veronica McMillian founded the Micro-Nonprofit Network in 2009, she wanted to educate, empower, and equip small nonprofits through capacity building and program development. Since then, the Network has helped more than 300 small nonprofits (making $50,000 or less in the first three years) become 501c3 organizations and create sustainable infrastructure that empowers them to thrive with pride. Though she holds an M.A. in Human Services Counseling from Regent University and is an adjunct instructor at Tidewater Community College, her nonprofit expertise comes from firsthand experience starting and running her own nonprofits. After her first nonprofit shuttered in the 2008...
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Nethan Reddy

Story of Service: Nethan Reddy

Nethan Reddy recently completed his year-long term of service as an AmeriCorps VISTA at the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) as a Substance Use Abatement VISTA. In this role, he was tasked with working on and implementing programs and policies that deal with substance use, especially as it impacts families. Nethan reflects, “I still remember, the position description said that the North Star of the position was to work towards ‘keeping families together’ and I thought that was a good thing to do. From a clinical perspective, it is clear that disordered substance use can do a number on...

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