Creating portfolios to capture AmeriCorps experiences
Abstract
Each AmeriCorps member's year of service is unique. To help members tell their story clearly and succinctly, the Northeast Kingdom Initiative in Lyndonville, Vermont, has each member create a portfolio that reflects his/her year of service. The portfolios are used by the members for job and college interviews, the sites to share with their staff and community members, and new members to see what previous members accomplished.Issue
AmeriCorps member's stories are worth the telling. The Northeast Kingdom Initiative AmeriCorps program wanted a way for members to relate their stories in a way that was appealing to all audiences, and that they could use in portfolios or college entrance essays.Action
Each AmeriCorps member completes a portfolio that reflects his/her year of service. The portfolios answer the questions of What? So What? Now What? There is also a section for personal reflection, training experiences, and member growth.
Portfolios include needs assessments, goals, data collection information, newspaper articles, notes from community members, pictures, and other relevant materials.
Copies of the portfolio are left with the program director to share with other sites, community members, potential partners, congressional delegates, and state and local officials.
The portfolios are an intergal component of the evaluation process for the committee that oversees the Northeast Kingdom Initiative. The sites keep a copy of members' portfolios to share with their staff, community, future funding sources and the new AmeriCorps members coming on board. New members can see what the previous person did and pick up from there. The member also gets a copy of the portfolio to use in job and college entrance interviews.
Context
Northeast Kingdom Initiative AmeriCorps members are placed at 14 host agencies in Lyndonville, Vermont. Members improve children's life skills through after-school enrichment, mentoring, and recreational activities. Members also assist youth and adults through tutoring, job shadowing, technology training, and conflict resolution.Outcome
Beneficiaries had tangible results and easy-to-read information that could be reviewed, replicated, shared, and evaluated. Community partners used the information in the portfolios to access other funding sources, share data and programming impact with partners, community members, and local and state leaders.Evidence
An independent evaluation team indicated that the portfolios served as a clear, concise tool to document need, the progress toward goals, the impact on the clients/communities and the plan for sustainability and progress. Members report that it is a valuable tool when applying for a job or graduate school.Posted On
October 30, 2001For More Information
Resources
For an example of an AmeriCorps member's portfolio, click here
http://www.nationalserviceresources.org/filemanager/download/130/XIII.A.1.PDF.