With a decade and a half under the CalSERVES belt, we’ve gone through a handful of name changes, have seen programs grow, change, and develop, and have watched our dedicated AmeriCorps and staff alumni move on to be game-changers in the social, public, and education sectors.
As we as a staff look back on our history, we’re filled with a deep sense of all that we have to celebrate. Jacqueline Rocha, a former AmeriCorps team member recently shared a heart-warming story story with us that demonstrates the many aspects of our program that we’re celebrating this year. Take a look:
“I began as a part-time mentor at Taylor Mountain in 2010. I was assigned the fourth grade cool school class and a partner named Kim. My first year I made amazing friends and got to know some incredible kids. I fell in love with those fourth graders. They were so hard to handle but absolutely worth it. Kim and I became friends too. We shared our frustrations and our successes. I followed my students into fifth grade the following year and got to work one-on-one with many of them as a tutor. It never got easy, but the rewards keep on coming. I still visit Taylor Mountain as often as I can. My students still get excited to see me, tell me about the books they are reading and ask if I am coming back for good. I will be volunteering with those once-fourth-graders at their sixth grade camp in just a few weeks. Next month I will attending Kim's wedding with many other past mentors. I could not have predicted how rich my experience with CalSERVES would be and I am so grateful for it.”
We’re proud of the impact and connections we make in our programs. Thank you, Jacqueline, for sharing your great story – we’re excited to celebrate the achievements of program alumni like you Arlene Francis Center next Friday!
If you haven’t yet purchased tickets to our event, it’s not too late! We have just a couple of tickets left. You can register online at www.calserves.org.
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