Introducing SCI's Newest AmeriCorps Members!

This fall, five new SCI AmeriCorps Members started at different non-profit organizations in Woburn.  Although we all are from different places originally, for this year we are all proud to call Woburn our home.  Each AmeriCorps Member is either a Youth Leadership Coordinator or an Outreach & Technology Coordinator. 
 

At the Boys & Girls Club of Woburn there are three Youth Leadership Coordinators: Ashley Napear, Brittney Fitzgerald, and Sarah Mack.  The three women are all recent college graduates with degrees from universities and colleges in New York and Massachusetts. Ashley grew up in Burke, VA, outside Washington, D.C., and attended SUNY Plattsburgh; Brittney hails from Vestal, NY, and graduated from Elmira College, also in NY.  Sarah also is originally from NY but spent her college years in Cambridge obtaining a degree in Art Therapy.  She just completed an AmeriCorps term in Minnesota, making this her second AmeriCorps experience. 
 
The AmeriCorps Members at the Boys & Girls Club have high hopes and goals for this year both in terms of site development and also professional growth.   As Sarah said, “I want to successfully get Woburn's youth involved with their community. I've seen how a strong-knit community can have a positive impact on their environment and I want to help establish that in Woburn.”  Brittney adds, “This year I hope to make a noticeable difference in the kids I see everyday at the site and to improve on the youth council program and help the members of the youth council develop leadership skills and get excited about community service.”  When speaking specifically about her role as a Youth Leadership Coordinator, Ashley said, “I hope to build my skills and abilities so that I can continue to help youth in building their skills and abilities. I would like to have the youth want to do things like become leaders and do community service and give back to their communities instead of having to do these things [myself].”
 
There are two new Outreach & Technology Coordinators: Ilana Rubin and Rebekah Scaduto.  Ilana Rubin, at NuPath, grew up in Plattsburgh, NY, and also went to university in New York State.  She knew that AmeriCorps was something that she might be interested in because she is so passionate about helping others.  When asked about her goals at NuPath for this year Ilana states: “I hope to build thriving and self-sustaining volunteerism, both by community members volunteering at NuPath and by individuals at NuPath volunteering in the community. I also aim to build up a supportive community around NuPath's Westford location and further strengthen the community supporting our Woburn location. In addition, I hope to greatly increase NuPath's social media presence.”
 
As the last new AmeriCorps Member, Rebekah Scaduto, I am sharing my time between the SCI office in Woburn and the North Suburban YMCA.  Being new to the area, having most recently come from Maine, I am excited to get to know more about the City of Woburn.  This year I hope to make connections between community members looking for volunteer opportunities and organizations looking for volunteers.  I look forward to settling into my roles at the SCI office and the YMCA and using the position to assist each organization to grow within the community.
 
One of the empowering AmeriCorps slogans is Your World. Your Chance To Make It Better.  It is clear that we five have taken that to heart and are working together to get things done.