Notre Dame AmeriCorps: A Life-Changing Experience

“I came to Hope CommUnity Center in September 2017 completely lost. I had just graduated with my bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Florida, and all I knew was that I really wanted to do something different rather than going straight to graduate school.

I learned about AmeriCorps from my mother, who works at one of the AmeriCorps sites, Farmworker Association of Florida, and I decided it would be a great way to give back to the community that made me the person that I am.

My first year of service was honestly the best experience of my life. I worked with unaccompanied youth from Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Mexico and helped them develop their English language and life skills. I look forward to continuing to develop the curriculum for my students and helping them feel welcomed and comfortable in this country.

For anyone looking for a life-changing experience, I can guarantee that they will receive that through a year of service with AmeriCorps. It was the best decision that I’ve made.”

-Reflection from Marisela Zamora, second-year AmeriCorps member

Contact Laura Firtel (407) 880-4673 ext. 231 or [email protected] for more information or apply by visiting here.

Marisela is now in her second year of AmeriCorps and continues to serve unaccompanied youth. During the summer she spoke with WFTV Channel 9 about the program she coordinates: