Really, Elon? AmeriCorps?

 

Young people, nonprofit organizations, and communities are reeling from the latest DOGE attack and gutting of the AmeriCorps program, which offers volunteers a small stipend to do Peace Corps-type work across the U.S. 

An environmental center will not be able to sell the native and perennial plants it has grown all winter in a greenhouse. What will happen to the plants now that there are too few people to care for them? 

History Colorado has 17 AmeriCorps volunteers at its handful of locations across the state. Now that their roles are at risk, it won't be able to provide history classes to children in the San Luis Valley and other rural locations. The school district is only able to hold classes four days a week, so History Colorado has been filling in on the fifth day. How will the students and parents cope without their programming? 

So, how much money will be saved by killing AmeriCorps? Not that much. For every dollar the feds invest in the program, an estimated $17 in benefits accrues to localities where the volunteers work.  About 6,600 AmeriCorps people, most ages 18-25, work in 700 locations in Colorado alone. These are people who need work experience. They only earn a modest stipend for their work, plus some credits on their educational debt. But, it seems, oligarchs take precedence.

For more information check out "Abrupt Closure of AmeriCorps" by CPR News (which is also on the chopping block). Stay tuned for developments and add your experiences in the comments.

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