When Emma Martin joined AmeriCorps in the fall of 2020, she had no idea the impact it would have on her life.
Her first year of service was with the AmeriCorps NCCC program. Emma and her team traveled to Tulsa, Oklahoma to help repair homes damaged by the 2019 floods and then to Houston, Texas in response to Hurricane Harvey. Before the year was over, she traveled to Missouri where she helped distribute COVID-19 vaccines and then to Colorado to help serve with Habitat for Humanity.
It was a whirlwind of service, no doubt, but when her time with AmeriCorps ended in July 2021, Emma wanted to continue serving. She decided to postpone grad school and join the AmeriCorps VISTA program. She packed up her things and moved to Rhode Island, where she served with the Rhode Island for Community and Justice organization.
“It was quite the change of pace,” Emma said. “Transitioning from disaster recovery and vaccine distribution to supporting Rhode Island youth diversion from the criminal justice system using a community-based model.”
But Emma found the work incredibly fulfilling. After her service with the VISTA program ended, she stayed with RICJ for another year working as a remote, part-time employee.
In January 2024, Emma decided to join a third AmeriCorps program, AmeriCorps State and National, and moved to rural Monte Vista, Colorado where she served with the Alpine Achievers Initiative as a student engagement specialist at an elementary school, primarily working with students in the special education program and providing in-class support.
When the school year ended, Emma spent the summer helping a local nonprofit, the Lucky Shoe Riding Club, and supported beginner horse riding lessons while coordinating volunteer hours for scholarship students.
When her final term with AmeriCorps ended in July 2024, Emma entered grad school to pursue a Master of Social Work degree. Her experiences and skills strengthened her confidence in herself, her purpose, and her mission more than ever before.
“AmeriCorps has provided me with so many incredible opportunities,” Emma said. “I’ve developed professionally and personally, explored potential career paths, met some of the most incredible people and experienced countless unique adventures, and I learned so much about the communities I’ve served. I know the memories and moments from these three terms will impact me for the rest of my life.”