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Volunteer Alexandria
Volunteer Alexandria
Bryanna

Bryanna Folks

Story of Service: Bryanna Folks

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...
Tanay Gonzalez 2026 Winter Honor Roll

Tanya Gonzalez

Story of Service: Tanya Gonzalez

Motivated by her desire to welcome others, Tanya has found purpose and connection through her role volunteering as the lead Dance Instructor for the Sacred Heart Folklorico dance group at the Sacred Heart Center in Richmond, Virginia. She teaches children and youth traditional Mexican and Latin American dances and helps the students perform at area festivals and events. Her service builds community among the children and families participating in the dance group, as well as the larger Richmond region. In the fall of 2025, her dance group received an invitation to perform at a local nursing home to bring joy...
RICKETTSFRAN10131--C-CAP Director Fran Ricketts 10/24/2013 MATT ARMSTRONG PHOTO

Frank Lott

Story of Service: Frank Lott

AmeriCorps member Frank Lott has not allowed the current COVID-19 pandemic to stop him from serving his community. As an AmeriCorps member at CARITAS AmeriCorps, Frank provides essential community services as well as support for clients in their recovery and assistance with developing workforce readiness. Frank started his training to become a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist in January as a part of his service.   When COVID hit, Frank dove into alternate service activities by training with and taking calls for 2-1-1 VIRGINIA. Volunteers have been very successful in providing information and resources to thousands of individuals in need. Because...
RICKETTSFRAN10131--C-CAP Director Fran Ricketts 10/24/2013 MATT ARMSTRONG PHOTO

Mechele Hairston

Story of Service: Mechele Hairston

Congratulations to Mechele Hairston of Chesapeake - winner of the 2021 Governor's Volunteerism and Community Service Award for Outstanding Adult Volunteer! When two Hampton Roads neighborhoods lost their last remaining grocery store, the largely minority population of nearly 18,000 citizens faced dire food scarcity challenges. Michele Hairston served as a driving force that led to the free food distribution of 25,000+ pounds of food over a two-weekend period. But it was her ongoing efforts on behalf of Impact Southside and the Solid Rock Worldwide Outreach Ministry that she made an even greater impact. In 2020, Mechele and a volunteer army...
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Ashley Coulson

Story of Service: Ashley Coulson

As a recent high school graduate and 2024 Governor's Volunteerism & Community Service Award honoree, Ashley Coulson has been a dedicated volunteer in Y Street, the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth's youth-led statewide initiative, where she served 115 service hours in the past year. She helped lead the program's Share the Air campaign, working towards tobacco-free and e-cigarette-free parks, playgrounds, beaches, and trails across the Commonwealth. Her service included organizing booths at community events, gauging Virginians' attitudes toward tobacco-free outdoor policies, and meeting with elected officials and community leaders. Ashley also served on the Y Street Leadership Team for three consecutive...
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Esha Venkat

Story of Service: Esha Venkat

At 20 years old, Esha has already built a global movement rooted in kindness, equity, and service. As co-founder and COO of NEST4US, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit she launched at age ten, Esha leads a network of more than 8,000 volunteers working across five core programs to address hunger, poverty, education, mental health, and sustainability. What began as a small family project has evolved into an international organization that has donated over 300,000 meals, delivered millions of dollars’ worth of resources, and empowered more than 100,000 youth worldwide. Through NEST4US programs including NEST Nurtures, NEST Tutors, NEST Kares, NEST Buddies, and...

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