Giving Back to the Veteran Community
National service through LaVet Corps allows educator Angela to support her veteran community while empowering her to continue her education.
New Orleans is an epicenter of service and volunteering. Angela, a proud military spouse and a New Orleans native, has answered both calls to serve. Locally, she serves her community in Louisiana in many ways. After Hurricane Katrina in 2005 devastated her hometown, she wanted to give back and decided to become a math teacher to help fill the teacher shortage.
After 16 years of teaching, Angela always thought she would retire in the classroom. While her passion did not change, she felt a different call to serve. Angela wanted to reach more students and share her talents with other educators to support high-quality education for students of all ages, so she returned to school to obtain her doctorate in educational leadership at Xavier University. There she discovered LaVet Corps, a campus program designed to support veteran students and their families as they transition from military to civilian student life. After speaking with a former navigator for LaVet Corps, she applied and was accepted into the program. As a navigator, she provides peer mentoring for veteran students and fosters community on campus for veterans.
Angela, AmeriCorps member with LaVet Corps
“LaVet Corps has provided me with the opportunity to continue serving my community while also continuing my education,” said Angela. “As a military spouse, I understand the need to be patient, flexible, and understanding.”
Dedicated to promoting a military-friendly atmosphere, Angela works to connect the campus and surrounding community in veteran student activities. She uses her experience as a military spouse to recognize the needs of those she serves. In the future, Angela hopes that her service makes a greater impact on future generations.
National service provides Americans, and especially military family members, an opportunity to find their own path, develop new skills and meet other like-minded, civically focused individuals. Programs like LaVet Corps provide assistance to nearly 500,000 veterans and military families by connecting them to education opportunities, jobs, and benefits. Many veterans and their families choose to continue their service through AmeriCorps to face and solve local challenges in their own communities. Find opportunities to give back to your local veteran community.