City of Winston-Salem honors WFU AmeriCorp programs

March 14, 2023

Office of Civic and Community Engagement staff: (L to R) Amanda Alston, Charmaine Carrillo-Angino, Marianne Magjuka and Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines (Photo courtesy of the City of Winston-Salem)

Wake Forest University AmeriCorps programs were honored on Tuesday, March 14, as part of national AmeriCorps week. 

Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines signed a city proclamation that recognizes the University and other AmeriCorps members for their contributions and service. Wake Forest Office of Civic and Community Engagement staff attended the signing event held in City Hall. 

AmeriCorps is the federal agency for national community service and volunteerism. This year, more than 50 Wake Forest students and alumni will serve in AmeriCorps programs.

Wake Forest hosts two AmeriCorps projects: AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to AmeriCorps) and Public Health AmeriCorps. 

VISTA is a poverty alleviation program that builds capacity in nonprofits to address housing, food security, education, financial literacy and other impact areas. Wake Foresters can serve as Members or Summer Associates at nonprofits in the Winston-Salem community through the Winston-Salem Community Action Coalition. Members serve for one year. Summer Associates assist with 10-week projects. Wake Forest has hosted the VISTA project since 2015.

Public Health AmeriCorps is a first-of-its-kind national program that is designed to help meet pressing public health issues that communities face.

In spring 2022, Wake Forest University was selected by AmeriCorps and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a host site for Public Health AmeriCorps.

The program, supported by a five-year $400 million investment from the American Rescue Plan Act, will help meet public health needs of local communities by providing surge capacity and support while also creating pathways to public health-related careers for students. AmeriCorps members serve communities by providing health education, supporting health-related research, assisting with testing and vaccination efforts and more.