AmeriCorps VIP- Volunteer Infrastructure Program
AmeriCorps VIP trains and places Americorps members to increase the number of volunteers providing needed services to children, youth and families who face economic hardship in the community.
AmeriCorps Members are placed at fellow non-profits and serve as part of a community team, working to coordinate programs and support volunteers.
2011-12 Partnering Agencies
2011-2012 AmeriCorps VIP Members
Deanna Adams has been volunteering since she was a child, working with nursing homes, elementary schools, food banks and organizations such as California Lawyers for the Arts and Create Now. After graduating from Whittier College and Hofstra University School of Law, she choose to spend a year away from her legal practice to help recruit volunteers for Santa Cruz County Friday Night Live Partnerships to help combat alcohol consumption and drug usage by teenagers.
Jena Altstatt is currently serving as the Volunteer Coordinator at Santa Cruz Community Ventures. She received her B.A. in Global Studies and German from UC Santa Barbara in 2010. During her term at Santa Barbara, she also studied Political Science abroad at Freie University in Berlin, Germany. Jena served a year in AmeriCorps NCCC from Fall 2010-Summer 2011, where she worked for various non-profits around the country providing volunteer management support, infrastructure improvement, tutored disadvantaged students and worked with the Joplin Tornado Recovery Taskforce in the area of volunteer coordination. Contact: jena.altstatt@scccu.org
Megan Aufdermaur is a mom to a wonderful three year old son. Recently she graduated from San Jose State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology. San Jose’s emphasis on applied anthropology encouraged engaging with the community to achieve change, and allowed for participation in ethnographic research including looking into the disparities in San Jose for low-income residents in regards to public transportation and health, and documenting changemakers (people who go out and do stuff!). This research has demonstrated in a tangible way the need for community building through involvement. Currently, Megan is serving as the Volunteer Coordinator with the Santa Cruz Public Libraries. Contact: aufdermaurm@santacruzpl.org
Laura Benjamin is currently serving as the AmeriCorps VIP Leader at the Santa Cruz Volunteer Center. This is Laura’s 2nd year in AmeriCorps, last year serving as the volunteer and event coordinator at Mountain Community Resources. There she organized and spearheaded many projects and special events to encourage community involvement and help raise funds for agency programs. Laura received her B.A. in Legal Studies and Feminist Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Contact: americorps@scvolunteercenter.org
Cecille Bitanga recently graduated from San Jose State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Health Science and a minor in Nutrition and Food Science. During her undergraduate studies, she had several opportunities to work closely with a couple of small communities located in San Jose, CA as well as in Oaxaca, Mexico. She quickly developed a passion for community-based work, and truly believes that small changes in a community have the potential to transform into greater actions. This year, Cecille is serving as the Volunteer Coordinator at Community Connection. Contact: cbitanga@ccsantacruz.org
Amber Bunnell is originally from Palmdale, CA. She received a B.A. in American Studies at the University of California, Santa Cruz in 2010. Wanting to focus her time on community service including the pressing social and educational issues communities face, Amber served a year in the AmeriCorps program City Year. Though this experience she learned the value of putting words into action not just saying things need to change. Amber is currently serving at the Volunteer Coordinator at Girls for A Change. Contact: amber@girlsforachange.org
Katarina Combs is originally from Austin, TX, and has been living in southern California for five years. After spending several years in healthcare on everything from post-surgical tech to EMT to hospice companion, she wanted to work to better people’s lives not just on a one-to-one basis, but on a larger scale. After stepping out of the patient care aspect, and studied public health, marketing, and PR while looking for a new path to travel so she could reach my goal of making a positive change in the world. Katarina is excited to be at Jacob’s Heart and to get started on providing a great service to a need in the community! Contact: katarina@jacobsheart.org
Daniel Fried has been a part of a number of different organizations where he provided service to the community such as Boy Scouts of America and Key Club. In 2011 he graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz with an emphasis in Sociology. His desire to connect and help people has led him to offer his services as the Volunteer Coordinator for Meals On Wheels under the AmeriCorps Volunteer Infrastructure Program (VIP). Contact: danielf@cbridges.org
Rachel Glynn is originally from Boston, MA. She earned a B.A. degree in Business with a concentration in Marketing and an A.A. degree in Paralegal Studies. She has been living in Santa Cruz for 3 years now. Rachel is currently serving as the Volunteer Coordinator at the Watsonville Volunteer Center/Mariposa Wellness Center. Contact: rglynn@ccsantacruz.org
Jennifer Harman is a 2nd term AmeriCorps member, having served with AFACTR AmeriCorps in Humboldt County for the 2010-2011 term. She graduated from CSU Monterey Bay in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and is the proud mother of two daughters. Jennifer hopes to eventually work with under-served populations around the world through outreach ministry. Jennifer will be serving as the Volunteer Coordinator at Santa Cruz Community Counseling Center (SCCCC).
Kelly Mercer is originally from New Hampshire and has gained experience through her research around the world studying the effects of globalization. Her work with Equality California in San Francisco and her involvement with numerous political campaigns solidified her passions for community service, and led her to Santa Cruz. Kelly is currently serving a 2nd year as the Volunteer Coordinator at Homeless Garden Project where she has already recruited hundreds of new volunteers to work at the Natural Bridges Farm and the Homeless Garden Project retail store. Contact: kellym@homelessgardenproject.org
Jacob Wynne is the AmeriCorps Youth Serve Volunteer Coordinator for 2011 – 2012. Born and raised in Grand Forks, North Dakota, he comes to the Volunteer Center after completing a degree in biology at Cornell University. His experience with youth of all ages as a supervisor, teaching assistant and tutor, supports his belief that volunteering should be fun, engaging and accessible. He hopes to foster a passion for service that will last a lifetime by providing meaningful service opportunities for all youth who contact Youth Serve. Contact: ys@scvolunteercenter.org
2011-2012 Americorps VIP Members at the Wonder Valley State Conference
Partner Agency and Member Resources | Supervisor Login | Member Login
