Imagine dedicating a year of your life performing community
service in…New Jersey! Meet Ashley
Griffiths and Martin Cozzola, two AmeriCorps members at Burlington County Habitat for
Humanity.
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| Ashley and Martin |
Introducing Ashley
"The most rewarding thing about being an AmeriCorps member with Habitat is going to a home dedication and knowing that you've helped a family get into that home and sharing their joy," said Ashley when we spoke.
Ashley Griffiths (the "s" in her last name is silent just like it is in AmeriCorps) is from Levittown, Pennsylvania. She graduated college in 2010 and she wanted to be a teacher, but as you might suspect it wasn't the best time to get a teaching job. Still wanting to make a difference in the world, she became an AmeriCorps National member. Her assignment is for 1700 hours of service.
As the Family Services Coordinator for Habitat, Ashley guides families through the application process. Once they are approved, she helps them meet the requirements of the Sweat Equity component of the Affordable Homeownership Program. Partner families must take homeowner preparation classes and volunteer their time to "give back" to Habitat. She is their advocate and point of contact.
Here's what she had to say about her role at Habitat:
Introducing Martin
"I recently went to my first home dedication. Seeing the family's excitement about things that I've always taken for granted such as a washer and dryer was really gratifying," said Martin.
Martin Cozzola, is from a suburb outside of Chicago. He graduated from college last April. He's always been interested in community service, dating back to his days of being an Eagle Scout. Martin is an AmeriCorps VISTA member. VISTA members work behind the scenes to eliminate poverty. He eventually wants to go to law school and use his education to continue to fight poverty. His service is for 12 months.
Martin's role is to act in an advisory capacity to determine how to increase revenue per square foot in the Habitat ReStore. He is also working on a business plan for a second store. Martin makes recommendations on the best way to utilize the space in the store. As a VISTA member, one of his requirements is that anything he implements should be sustainable after he leaves.
One of the biggest challenges for Martin is that the VISTA program prohibits him from providing direct service. Therefore, he is not allowed to help customers in the ReStore. He finds it very difficult to tell people that he cannot help them.
Here's what Martin had to say about his experience with AmeriCorps and Habitat:
AmeriCorps Training
This past fall, Ashley and Martin attended a conference in Taladega, Alabama for AmeriCorps members who work for Habitat. It was a great way to meet other AmeriCorps members. Ashley attended a program on family service while Martin attended one on the Restore.
In May they will be going to Milwaukee for an intensive week of home building with others from AmeriCorps. While the National program allows Ashley to build, it's the only time during Martin's service that he actually gets to build a house.
Kudos
Thanks to Ashley and Martin who only receive a very small stipend during their service with AmeriCorps. They are helping to make dreams come true in Burlington County!
The AmeriCorps Pledge
I will get things done for America -
to
make our people safer,
smarter, and healthier.
I will bring Americans together
to strengthen our communities.
Faced with apathy,
I will take action.
Faced
with conflict,
I will seek common ground.
Faced with adversity,
I will
persevere.
I will carry this commitment
with me this year and beyond.
I am
an AmeriCorps member,
and I will get things done.
Ashley and Martin recently received the following award:
