In the spirit of crapping all over things that matter a lot to people (and making lists), let me take this time to express my feelings about AmeriCorps NCCC.
First some propaganda.
(she had a promotional vid here)
Now that you feel warm and fuzzy about the youth of America, let me shed some reality on the situation with the top ten reasons why this program should be zeroed out of the federal budget.
Reason #10: The Youth of America are worthless. I worked with 9 individuals for 9 months that I would not trust to feed my hamsters if I went out of town for the weekend. And I hate hamsters. Almost everyone who signs up for this program is avoiding something, be it college, getting a job, or another year of shuffling their feet nervously when their parents ask them what the hell their life plan is. But no matter what we were ignoring at home, we were united in not completing any meaningful work for America.
She states in the second sentence that she worked with nine people. Let me begin by asking -is it fair to judge an entire generation of millions of people on nine people? I also worked with nine people for nine months. Not only would I trust them to take care of my hamster, I would trust them with my life, and I did a few times. I also have chosen to teach long term and to do service work with kids for almost my entire 'young adult-adult life." The Youth of America have problems; they are lost; they are unsupported; they are pigeonholed, pushed around and neglected. The Youth of America are constantly underestimated.How can anyone cast the 'worthless' label on anyone, but especially an entire army of persons based on nine whom she personally had qualms?
She is right, there are a lot of people who join NCCC to avoid college, a job, or because of a lacking life plan; however, does the motivation behind the service affect the service work to done? Not most of the time. What was her reason for joining the program? Did her reason affect her service work? Maybe, but after a year in the program and having spoken with dozens of people about their reasons for being here, I've learned one thing - they are all different AND LEGITIMATE. Despite the variance in reasons, most of these people were all hardworking and devoted.
Last week we read an article on civic engagement (I actually spoke about this in my last post) and personal purposes for service. The question is not why they are here, but what they are doing when they are here. The author the original blog post also seems to question that later.
Reason #9: There is very little work to be done. This statement isn’t true. I’m sure there is lots to be done for America. But they don’t send N-trips to do it. I spent six weeks playing scrabble and kickball for America. I spent another two months sitting in a tool shed for America. We annoyed more people than we ever helped, but we always got a real nice pat on the back on our way out.
Personally, my favorite part of NCCC is the variation of projects and experiences. The writer says she spent an entire round (6-8 week project) playing scrabble and kickball for America. I didn't play kickball all year, nor did I work in a school or after-school program. I spent my first two projects in New Orleans. My first project was with a small non-profit, focusing on energy efficiency. In the affordable-housing and even living crisis New Orleans is in, I was surprised by how excited something as simple as changing incandescent light bulbs to CFL light bulbs could make people. Calculations and projections also say that over several years it makes quite a bit of difference. While we teased each other about saving American one light bulb at a time, the feeling of doing something well, and for the benefit of others resonated throughout all the welcomed NOLA arms. Second project I rebuilt homes. I think rebuilding homes for people who, five years later, are still NOT moved back in to their own residences IS getting something done for America, and they DID send N-trips to do it. Third round I camped and did Mountain restoration. My impact may not be immediate but in the climate and environmental situation Los Angeles has created, I was getting things down. It seemed futile some days but we were the first team to work there. We boosted labor from two guys and one old lady to two guys, one old lady and NINE hard working, passionate and fun adults. After years of hosting NCCC teams, I bet my kids will be able to see the work I started, and hopefully LA will also start to feel the benefits. Fourth round is the round I struggled with the most. I often questioned why I was there, why were were building a poultry palace and just playing with children all morning. We were supposed to be teaching them about Asian gardening and their culture but there's no way we could do that and then one day I remembered something, that I wish the writer here would have remembered. The relationships are what matter. She played kickball and scrabble. I played with worms, and I played hide and seek. Yet I and (I'm fairly safe to assume), she built relationships with the kids on the other side of the scrabble board, running into home plate, or hiding behind a raspberry bush. As mentioned in #10, kids and youth need help. They need positive role models. They need someone to talk to. And I value that as getting something done for America. Who knows what a single game of scrabble can do for potential life choices. Who knows where a child may go because of something the writer deemed as unworthy.
I also mildly ran into the experience of annoying an office full of people with our presence but when it boiled down to it their annoyance was directed at two things. We through a wrench of ideas and energy into their neatly pressed, unchanging ways.
Reason #8: Government vans. For the love of fossil fuels, we probably put 50,000 miles on a 15 passenger van in 9 months. I would drive around to escape my retarded roommates. Could we go for a walk? Heck no. We are Americans, and I’m sure our fellow Americans would like to pay for us to travel the American way… in a van that gets 3.8 miles to the gallon.
I don't feel like this is an actual argument as much as a tirade on Americans. My team walked. In fact, we went for walks almost every night. One of my team members walked 5 miles every Saturday just to get to the post office. I know lots of "Americans" that walk. Another example of an individuals experience generalized into the whole program and country.
I agree however. GSA spends a lot of money on gas and the vans NCCC uses. I also agree in the environmental effects of the fossil fuel consumption and exhaust directly conflict with one of NCCC's five service areas. That being said, I also agree that the van plays a vital role to the "team" of NCCC as well as the work of NCCC. This program is team based. This program is travel. Can you think of a better way to fit twelve or fifteen people together to trek across regions? Would a fleet of cars be cheaper? Also, this group of 12-15 people need the room for their luggage (they LITERALLY MOVE at least every eight weeks) and tools. I'm sure if there was a better idea it could be presented and at least heard.
Reason #7: Cargo pants. As I am sure you saw in the video, the uniforms we wear are heinous. If we are going to waste tax payers dollars, can we not do it in better outfits? We are an ugly and misshapen bunch. Maybe burqas would be better? At least for the ladies on my team.
To me, cutting an entire program based on qualms with a pair of pants is silly. Yes, I understand the synecdoche: however, I'm still baffled at the implied validity of this complaint. While I personally have disagreements with uniforms, and it does get annoying to wear the same unflattering outfit every single day, I definitely feel there are benefits. NCCC attracts a variety of people. Some of these people can afford nice things, nice clothes (pre-corps of course) and others cannot. Often, people are judged based on their appearance and anything "off-color." People inadvertently become obsessed with how good they look in comparison to others. During the first few weeks of my corps year, I stumbled sleepily across a very important realization. I had gotten up at 530 AM for Physical Training (PT) my roommate, now at 7 AM two suite mates, and I were fighting over our one shower and also trying to balance getting ready and breakfast. I was feeling fat, my hair wasn't cooperating, and I really thought the bags under my eyes were beginning to hang lower than my jawline. Of course, like any 21 year old girl I was annoyed and flustered. Clearly, everyone would notice how crappy I looked, my focus for the next 8 hours of training was already in jeopardy of slipping into nervous assessment of potential judgement. At 755 I then met up with my friends, and their friends and in one giant awkward and unattractive mass of gray and khaki proceeded onto training. How could I feel so self-conscious when every single person on campus, honestly, looked just as weird in their uniform as me? While I don't believe uniforms fix 100% of the problems I feel the conformity and comfort encourage members to let go of their vanity and implement a further action plan for service.
The cargo pants are specifically called out here. I agree. They are hideous. the shorts hang below my knees, there is a butt-patch for extra sturdiness: the pants are too long even at regulars, they are baggy everywhere but the waist where I (against all rules) always leave the top button undone, they are a boring beige, they have nine-million pockets, and again...did I mention UGLY? I would much rather be wearing my cute snug fitting jeans to pull weeds for eight hours in hot Los Angeles sun, they would absorb the water I spilled while trying to carry buckets to newly planted trees, it would make more sense for me to wipe my hands here. I would much rather where a grungy pair of sweat pants to talk to my boss and represent a taxpayer funded program. Wouldn't you? WRONG! Give me an ugly pair of pants with enough pockets to fit my gloves, my safety glasses, my phone, my chapstick, a pen, snacks, sunscreen/bug spray, medication in some cases, and tools. Give me a pair of ugly pants to let 4 year olds and team members paint on. Give me a boring gray baggy t-shirt to let latex based mold suppressant kilze drip all over.
Also, I love when I walk down the street in my 'A (anything with the americorps symbol)' and receive honks, fist pumps, encouragement and words of thanks.
Reason #6: Team Leaders. Bless their hearts. Some of them rock. But a lot of them are fresh off a sociology major at Mediocre State U. Think of the worst boss you ever had. Now picture living with them and having to see them watch MMA videos while pounding whey in the basement of a YMCA. This was my miserable life. You should never live with your boss. Ever.
Remember back at point #10, when I explained that this writers opinion was formed from her single team and generalized to all teams across the country. The same is accurate here. She claims here that the program should be slashed due to her 1 in 35 team leader experience. She's right, to the best of her knowledge her team leader was NOT the greatest team leader for her, or several other people on the team. Did that mean he wasn't a good team leader? No, it means he wasn't a good fit with his team. Do people advocate for closing schools because one teacher doesn't connect with one of his classes. No.
I had a fabulous team leader (TL). My TL cared about me as a person, as a corps member, as a future team leader, as a future teacher and as an equal, intelligent member of our team. He cared about my entire team this way and there were MANY corps members (from just the Sacramento campus) who also felt this way about their Tls. My TL wanted to make me a better person by challenging me to be more assertive, to not be as easy to manipulate. My TL encouraged me to be me in the kitchen, in the car, and on the job site. He accepted all of us and even when we let him down he forgave us and moved on. He was a confidant, an ally and a leader and after 10 months I would call him a friend.
I also have a problem with the pretentious references to sociology majors and mediocre state university's. Education is a problem in the united states. Education equalization is leading the forefront of reasons people and students are failing. However, does one school make you better fitted to serve your country and lead a team. No. Maybe a private school, or ivy league was not affordable. Maybe there were family problems that caused them to stay near home. Maybe there are learning disabilities which prevented them from getting the grades to get into these elitest schools. Maybe they really had not good reason for picking this state university over other colleges but again how does this affect a persons worth? A person's ability to lead? It doesn't. I am a team leader this year. I went to a mediocre private university. I majored in education and English (some call that worthless too). Does this mean I am not a good role model, servant, leader or person? No. Does this impair my judgement? No.
Reason #5: Teammates. Remember those special people who are not allowed to watch my hypothetical hamsters? I had to live and work with them for almost a year. Are people who are obsessed with Cici’s Pizza and Vampires and disgusting body hair worth living? I guess so. But I’d rather not be aware of their existence. NCCC took that away from me.
Again, I'm completely baffled by the insensitivity rendered towards people with passions, diverse backgrounds and interests and I guess life in general. The writers "guesses" that people are worth living based on their interests? The writer also is making this a claim to cut the program. Honestly, this one angers me (although this whole thing does). The writer would rather not be aware of these people? Would the writer also like to be unaware of homeless youth, drug abusers, individuals with mental health problems? Or does the writer insist that these things are more legitimate than, in theory, a normal 18-24 year old with personal opinions and taste? Cici's Pizza? For people coming from low economic backgrounds, or making minimum wage in college and a meager NCCC living stipend, cici's sounds legitimate. Obviously, the one thing NCCC did fail to do in the writer's case is give her understanding/sympathy/compassion and a general attitude of kindness. NCCC took away her blindness to different cultures, opinions and ways of life. That is NOT a reason to cut the program, that's a reason to keep the program.
Reason #4: Unskilled labor. What skills does an 18-24 year old bring to the table? Hmmm… Working through a hangover? Or talking about how this relates to an urban studies class they took one time? How about almost remembering the difference between a phillips head and what was the other one called again? We have no skills. So “Hi, non-profit. We know nothing about what you need us to do. And we’re only here for two months. So train us. We’ll break stuff for two months and then be on our way! You’re welcome for our service!”
NCCC sponsors request this group of 18-24 year olds and their "unskilled" hands. Sponsors, especially consistent sponsors know exactly what they are getting into when they hire a group of kids who have limited to no experience in their particular field. NCCC has hundreds of sponsors who request and support teams at least once a year, if not multiple times throughout the year. Some of these organizations actually RELY on NCCC's "unskilled" hands. We do break tools, we do need training, sometimes people do need reminded on which screwdriver is which, but we are 18-24 extra hands, and lots of youthful energy. All five of the organizations that my team worked for this year were returning sponsors. Obviously, we were doing enough work and working well enough to keep them asking for a new team. The sponsor feels the impact and benefit of the team way more than the team every will.
Reason #3: We’re volunteers, kinda. We walk the strange line between I get paid several dollars a day to do this job and I’m volunteering. So if I want to sit under a tree a drink CapriSun all day, I’m going to do it! If this elementary school really wanted a playground built, they would hire someone to do it.
The writer is correct. We're kind of volunteers. It's a hard concept to grasp - we're volunteering but we're receiving living allowances. I like to think of it this way. I volunteered a year of my life. I gave up living near my family, my friends, a job, a steady income, comfort and security to have just the opposite. I volunteered to work 40-70 hours a week, to live in a small apartment with 12 people and to work hard.
Many sponsors request NCCC teams because they can't afford to hire someone. Especially schools! The school+money crisis is prevalent and getting worse. How can a school who can barely afford to keep teachers on staff hire contract, blue collar labor ($$$) to build a playground which may have been donated, or fund raised for? Also sometimes, if the sponsor has scrounged up enough money to buy materials they are lacking the money hire someone to do something else with it.
Reason #2: Government employees. The fine bureaucrats in charge at NCCC really love their job security. Don’t we all. With that comes a hesitance to listen to the sad little voices of many members who think the program is not living up to the standards it portrays. Corps members complain a project is a waste of time, and staff thoughtfully sticks their fingers in their ears and retorts i’m not listening, i’m not listening. They’re always up for meaningful dialogue, as in dialogue about how meaningful their jobs are.
There are a couple people in staff positions whom I could live without. There are a TON of people in staff position whom I could NOT live without. I couldn't have a successful year without many of their caring, energetic and passionate personalities. Rarely have I ever felt my "voice" was being ignored by anyone but other corps members.
Early on in this post, the writer spends three reasons (5, 6, 10) telling YOU, the reader, how worthless, thoughtless and unintelligent the people on the projects are, but now the writer wants you to believe that they are able of deciding weather a project will benefit the community now, tomorrow, a month down the road or years down the road. Also, the assertion is there that nothing is done in the future about these complaints. A member of NCCC is only around for 10-11 months, unless they re-up for another 10-11 months. Nothing, especially not a million dollar, thousand member program can change that quickly.
I had one project where my team felt it wasn't worth being there. We were frustrated, left feeling empty and concerned about if this was the best place our services could be rendered. Down the road, while I still have some of these problems, I also know I have no idea what impact it will have. I barely even understand the impact it will have on me.
Reason #1: $308,000. That is how much it takes for an average team to have a fun year of volunteering across the US. I can say there is no way my team, or most teams, were worth the expense to the American taxpayer. I saw some awesome stuff, met a few cool people, and learned a few new skills. That could have also happened if I worked at the GAP.
Based on the tone and the opinion of this the writer, I too agree that this individual could have gotten the same experience at GAP. I however could not have. Is this really a question of worth again? How do you put a number on not only serving others but building better citizens. I am not naive, I do understand that this is NOT the case for every person in the program, but I do feel like it is the case for many people. People get here, they come across people, situations, talents, gifts, weaknesses, strengths, tasks, skills, diversity and about a hundred more things that they could not have found anywhere else. Many members have an increased drive to do service work or a new one to begin with.
Prisoners (of which there over 2 million) are costing taxpayers somewhere between $30,000 and $100,000 a year. Not including court costs, appeal costs, damage costs, etc. Also most of them have cable TV, Internet, libraries etc. The NCCC member (of which there are less than 2000) cost the $308,000 mentioned above. The NCCC member has no TV, no Internet, sometimes libraries, and sleep on cots. When look at these numbers, please consider the tasks of each individual during the day. I'm not talking about the legitimacy of either, and definitely not saying NCCC is worse or even anywhere near prison conditions but rather the cost and/or luxury of some items.
How much an NCCC member costs was presented to members in an effort to maximize their potential. We were asked if we thought we were working hard enough to cost that much. If my exhaustion, soreness or work ethic are reflective of that, then yes. Last year was worth MORE than $308,000
So here’s my thing… Pull the damn plug, Congress. I am a sentimental sap who believes in goodness and helping people and sunhine, but even I cannot pretend this program is anything but a bunch of nonsense.
My biggest concern with this blog is that most of these reasons are NOT reflective of five campus and under 2000 people. They were reflective of one individual on a team of nine other people. I know there are other people who have similar feelings but it is not as common as people who appreciate the program (either immediately after or later in life). I also am unsure on how many of these reasons could possibly actually be used as a case. Would congress, honesty cut a billion dollar program because of something as frivolous as pants? I sure hope not. I appreciate any opinion that is constructive in its criticism with suggestions for the betterment of the critiqued. Here, I am overwhelmed by negativity revolving around not only the program but the way the writer views anyone outside utopia.
The writer had a bad year. The writer joined a program and hoped for a great experience of service, friends and...fun? Well, I can't speak for her but I definitely joined for those reasons. The program has flaws. The program has annoyances. Some days I loathe the program. BUT, the program has many benefits to communities and members. The program strives to develop leaders and strengthen communities. If corps members try, commit and succeed, the program meets its goals.
It should also be known that the program is shifting to involve more "at risk" members. The program wants to be a step out of a bad situation, a bad place or a bad time. A persons preferences or past are not always indicative of their future and NCCC does a great job of balancing that for both members and sponsors.
The program gives limitations and rules but results in endless possibilities.
