Virginia Service

Baptist General Convention of Virginia - S.P.I.C.E.S. (Social, Physical, Intellectual, Cognitive, Emotional & Spiritual Endeavors)
S.P.I.C.E.S. for Life is an intervention and prevention program that seeks to reduce the healthcare gap of African Americans. The purpose is to educate, equip, and empower African Americans in Virginia to make informed decisions by participating in a six-fold holistic program that analyzes Social, Physical, Intellectual, Cognitive, Emotional and Spiritual behaviors.

Director: Barbara Crump
1214 West Graham Road, Suite 1
Richmond, VA 23220 [map]
Phone: 804-228-2421
Fax: 804-228-2138
Email: bgcvahealth@yahoo.com
Web: http://www.bgcva.org
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Boaz and Ruth, Inc. - BRACE (Boaz & Ruth AmeriCorps Endeavor)
Boaz & Ruth (B&R) is a faith-based nonprofit located within the heart of the blighted North District business corridor in the Highland Park community of Richmond. The program addresses a community revitalization challenge by engaging the members in service learning projects-restoring a blighted house, turning an abandoned fire station into a restaurant/entrepreneurial incubator, and developing and operating three "social entrepreneurial" ventures-all aimed at revitalizing the community. Furthermore, B&R addresses the prisoner reentry challenge by recruiting ex-offenders as AmeriCorps members and providing them training in life skills, civic responsibility, job skills, and leadership. The reentry community service program is aimed at assisting ex offenders in achieving emotional stability, life and job skills, and in assuming family, community, and civic responsibility while at the same time giving back to the community.

Director: Lloyd Price
3030 Meadowbridge Road
Richmond, VA 23222 [map]
Phone: 804-329-4900
Fax: 804-329-0190
Email: lprice@boazandruth.com
Web: http://www.boazandruth.com
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Carroll County Public Schools - Reading for Life
Reading for Life is a literacy tutoring program sponsored by the Carroll County Public School Board. Eleven full-time and ten part-time AmeriCorps members serve as tutors in eight K-7 schools.

Director: Ms. Tonyia Gibson
605-9 Pine Street
Hillsville, VA 24343 [map]
Phone: 276-728-3191
Fax: 276-728-3195
Email: tcgibson@ccpsd.k12.va.us
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City of Richmond, Department of Economic Development - A.C.E.S. (Action for Community Enhancement Services)
The AmeriCorps A.C.E.S. (Action for Community Enhancement Services) program provides the coordination of volunteer and referral services for City of Richmond government through the establishment of a Volunteer Office. Through the utilization of a Volunteer Office, the AmeriCorps A.C.E.S program will increase citizens' access to City volunteer opportunities; build community capacity by enhancing the delivery of City services; generate a centralized volunteer data base; and via a website, market volunteer opportunities to support the ongoing efforts of an efficient and effective volunteer program.

Director: Jennifer Swinson
701 N. 25th St., 2nd Floor
Richmond, VA 23223 [map]
Phone: 804-646-6612
Fax: 804-646-5145
Email: Jennifer.Swinson@RichmondGov.Com
Web: http://www.richmondgov.com/departments/humanservices/vcc/index.as
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Community Housing Partners - RISE (Respect, Involvement, Skills & Education)
Through Project RISE! (Respect, Involvement, Skills and Education), Community Housing Partners (CHP) is able to provide skills development to its youth residents in the topic areas of literacy, conflict resolution and mediation, and service-learning. AmeriCorps members are responsible for providing tutoring and skills-building in the topic areas on-site at CHP housing community centers, at local public and private schools, and at partner organization sites. Members provide services to at-risk youth residing in Virginia Beach, Portsmouth, Yorktown, Richmond, Charlottesville, Christiansburg and Pulaski.

Director: Jasmin Cotman
100 West Franklin Street, Suite 300
Richmond, VA 23220 [map]
Phone: 804-343-7201 ext:27
Fax: 804-343-7208
Email: jcotman@chpc2.org
Web: http://www.communityhousingpartners.org/development/resident_yout
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EMBRACE Richmond - Community Works
EMBRACE Richmond is a faith-based charitable organization helping Richmond area families and individuals who are experiencing a housing crisis achieve and sustain self-sufficiency. Services include home starter packages for individuals and families exiting local shelters, employment services including job placement and training, educational and volunteer opportunities towards community development, and access to a community-based support network for those who are transitioning out of homelessness.

Director: Wendy McCaig
1501 A Sledd St.
Richmond, VA 23220 [map]
Phone: 804-343-5008
Fax: 804-343-727
Email: embrace@embracerichmond.org
Web: http://www.embracerichmond.org/
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Escuela Bolivia, Inc. - Empowering Latino Families
Escuela Bolivia, Inc., a non-profit charitable organization was established to meet the needs of a growing immigrant Latino population and to address the achievement gap between Latino and other students. This mission is achieved through the provision of educational and cultural services that provide and strengthen linguistic and cultural values and improve the academic achievement of children, youth and adults so that they may gain better opportunities to improve their lives and their community.

Director: Natasha Quiroga
2801 Clarendon Boulevard, Suite 216
Arlington, VA 22201 [map]
Phone: 703-228-2560
Email: natasha@escuelabolivia.org
Web: http://www.escuelabolivia.org/
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Habitat for Humanity International - Habitat for Humanity / AmeriCorps - Virginia
Virginia Habitat for Humanity AmeriCorps has a wide range of opportunities in rural and urban settings to eliminate substandard housing. The following affiliates host AmeriCorps members who serve as construction assistants, volunteer coordinators and family coordinator: Charlottesville, Lynchburg, Northern Virginia, Richmond Metro, Roanoke Valley, Rockbridge Area, and Winchester-Frederick. Construction assistants participate in the day-to-day building of homes and leading of volunteer crews. Volunteer Coordinators help organize individuals and groups to volunteer and schedule and serve alongside those volunteers. Family coordinators assist homeowners through each step of the homeownership process.

Director: Hudson Heatley
P.O. Box 7305
Charlottesville, VA 22906 [map]
Phone: 434-262-2751
Email: hheatley@habitat.org
Web: http://www.habitat.org
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Literacy Council of Northern Virginia - ESOL Learning Programs
AmeriCorps Members serve as lead classroom instructors for adult beginning learners of English, empowering students to become more active citizens. The small-group classes are offered by the Literacy Council of Northern Virginia through ESOL Learning Centers and the Family Learning Program, and by the neighboring partner Loudoun Literacy Council. Members are trained to teach at least three classes at different sites throughout northern Virginia and are responsible for supervising volunteers and collaborating with partners at the sites. The two literacy councils also train volunteer teachers for these classes and for ESOL and basic literacy tutoring, among other innovative programs to meet heavy demand for ESOL instruction in fast-growing communities.

Director: Ruth Hansen
2855 Annandale Road
Falls Church, VA 22042 [map]
Phone: 703-237-0866
Fax: 703-237-2863
Email: ruthhansen2004@hotmail.com
Web: http://www.lcnv.org
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Mountain Empire Community College - MECC AmeriCorps
Mountain Empire Community College (MECC) AmeriCorps Program focuses on the literacy tutoring of children in grades K through three. Members serve as tutors in public schools in the counties of Wise, Lee, Scott, Dickenson, and the City of Norton. The number of children who benefit from the efforts of members increases each year. A recent analysis of data found that 89 percent of children tutored by MECC AmeriCorps members improved their scores on reading assessment tests. Each year MECC members conduct various community service projects and collaborate on joint projects with local volunteer agencies. Examples of service projects include: the American Red Cross's Masters of Disaster program for school-age children, the Imagination Library Project of the Dollywood Foundation, which provides books for very young children, environmental projects with the local State Park rangers, and food and book drives.

Director: Sue Graham
3441 Mountain Empire Road
Big Stone Gap, VA 24219 [map]
Phone: 276-523-2400 ext:365
Fax: 276-523-8297
Email: sgraham@me.vccs.edu
Web: http://www.me.vccs.edu/programs/americorps/index.html
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Ms. Wheelchair Virginia - Serving Virginians with Disabilities
Ms. Wheelchair Virginia, in partnership with the Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center Foundation, has developed a program to educate and advocate for individuals with physical and cognitive disabilities throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia to influence attitudinal, architectural, and social change toward people with disabilities.

Director: Ben Helmandollar, Ph. D.
Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center
Box W-2, P. O. Box 1500
Fishersville, VA 22939 [map]
Phone: 540-580-6336
Fax: 540-332-7132
Email: chelmandollar@rcs.k12.va.us
Web: http://www.mswheelchairva.com/
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Pathways-Va, Inc. - Pathways AmeriCorps
Pathways’ mission is to advance community restoration, spiritual health and economic growth in Petersburg, Virginia, through partnerships. Our program addresses the local 80% school drop-out rate by providing a year-round training program for 40-45 youth per year that includes GED instruction, life-skills, leadership development, support services, health education, job readiness, civic engagement, job training in construction, and various opportunities to obtain job related certifications that are recognized locally, statewide, and nationally. Our program strives to develop a service learning ethic among our members that will counteract the lack of community attachment, provide decent affordable housing to first time home buyers, address the compelling need within the target community of career development of low-income young adults who did not finish high school, increase ability of participants to resolve conflicts without violence, provide appropriate personal interaction, and exhibit good daily living skills.

Director: Juanita Epps
1200 W. Washington Street
Petersburg, VA 23803 [map]
Phone: 804-862-1104
Email: jepps@pathways-va.org
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SynerGeo, Inc. - SynerGeo
SynerGeo is a faith-based non-profit organization that provides volunteer opportunities for students and adults. AmeriCorps members provide afterschool art and music programs, elder adult visitation, and intentional community living/serving (a one year commitment). SynerGeo partners with various community organizations to provide services in the Oregon Hill neighborhood of Richmond.

Director: Bonnie Hofmeyer
349 South Laurel Street
Richmond, VA 23220 [map]
Phone: 804-648-2287
Fax: 804-648-2287
Email: bonniehofmeyer@synergeo.org
Web: http://www.synergeo.org
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The Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia - College Guide Program
The College Guide Program at the University of Virginia places recent graduates in public high schools throughout the Commonwealth to assist students with college admission, financial aid, and scholarship applications. Given their idealism and fresh perspective on the college experience, recent University graduates serve as perfect advocates for higher education. During the year, Guides spend forty hours a week mentoring students and creating much-needed educational programming to the high school students and their families in underserved areas.

Director: Keith Roots
P.O. Box 400889
230 Rugby Road, Room B021
Charlottesville, VA 22904 [map]
Phone: 434-924-7612
Fax: 434-924-7560
Email: kroots@virginia.edu
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Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) - AmeriCorps and America Reads
Established in 1995, the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) AmeriCorps Program is the foundation of a comprehensive effort in the City of Richmond designed to ensure that every child in the region reads well and independently by the end of the third grade. Locally, this initiative is called America Reads in Richmond and Henrico (ARCH). It is a partnership between Virginia Commonwealth University and other local colleges and universities, community based organizations, and the local business sector, who have committed themselves to helping improve the literacy skills of local children and families in Richmond area communities characterized by high unemployment and low school achievement and graduation rates. The Program sponsors 57 AmeriCorps members who serve with local schools and community service agencies assisting children in a range of education and related parent development projects which serve nearly 1000 children in 15 elementary schools.

Director: Elizabeth Dodson and Erin Burke
1103 West Marshall Street
Box 843034
Richmond, VA 23284 [map]
Phone: 804-828-8850 ext:827-1918
Fax: 804-827-1920
Email: eapdodson@vcu.edu or burkeem@vcu.edu
Web: http://www.vcu.edu/ocp/programs/americorps/
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Virginia Department of Social Services - Virginia Community Corps
Virginia Community Corps (VCC) is an AmeriCorps program managed by staff at the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS). Entering its sixth operating year in October 2008, Virginia Community Corps/AmeriCorps members serve in multiple sites across the Commonwealth. Members are placed in local departments of social services and community action agencies, to contribute to the social services system strategic vision to promote self-sufficiency for low-income families, increase and improve access to high quality services and support, and mobilize other volunteers in the community. Host sites provide a cash match to secure a member and are responsible for supervision, performance measurement and member development. VCC collaborates with Citizen Corps Councils and Medical Reserve Corps throughout the state to secure training in emergency planning and disaster preparedness in the event that VCC members must be activated for disaster relief. For more information, contact VCC Acting Director, Margaret Friedenberg at info@vcc.vaservice.org.

Director: Margaret Friedenberg, Acting Director
7 North 8th Street, 5th Floor
Richmond, VA 23219 [map]
Phone: 804-726-7371
Fax: 804-726-7947
Email: info@vcc.vaservice.org
Web: http://www.vcc.vaservice.org
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Warren County Council on Domestic Violence - Community Volunteer Program
The Warren County Council on Domestic Violence (WCCDV) believes that all people have the right to live without violence or the fear of violence. To protect that right, WCCDV strives to prevent violence from occurring by educating the community on the effects of violence and how community members can assist in ending violence. To assist victims of violence, WCCDV provides services to men, women, and children that will help them to heal and that will assist them in living independent and healthy lives.

The WCCDV AmeriCorps member serves as a Volunteer Coordinator to assist in recruiting, training, and scheduling volunteers who work alongside WCCDV staff to answer the hotline, co-facilitate support groups, teach life skills, provide clerical support, and assist with childcare.

Director: Rita Biggs
PO Box 1831
Front Royal, VA 22630 [map]
Phone: 540-635-9194 ext:22
Email: edwccdv@shentel.net
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