Meet Our AmeriCorps Member,
Elizabeth James

Please join us in welcoming Elizabeth to the Coalition for Kids family and our community. If you see her in the halls or out in the community say hi and make her feel welcome.

Read below to learn more about the AmeriCorps program

Elizabeth was born and raised in Grants Pass and graduated from North Valley High School in 2005. She attended University of Oregon where she majored in International Studies with a minor in African Studies, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in June 2009. Elizabeth studied in East Africa for four and a half months during the Spring of 2007 and is proficient in Swahili. Following graduation she relocated to Europe, and has just returned to Oregon in January. While her future career aspirations are not clear Elizabeth can imagine herself doing many different types of work. As she says, “I just want to be happy and make positive contributions.”

United Communities AmeriCorps Program

Elizabeth is a member of the United Communities AmeriCorps (UCA) program, a regionally-based, individual placement model AmeriCorps program. It is administered by and housed at United Community Action Network (UCAN).

This year, UCA will place 12 full time and 10 half time AmeriCorps members at non-profits, government agencies and schools across Douglas and Josephine counties. These non-profit, government agencies and schools have developed direct-service AmeriCorps positions for our members. Members serve the majority of their term at their placement sites. However, members do convene regularly for AmeriCorps/UCA trainings, meetings and other activities. Benefits of service include a monthly living stipend, AmeriCorps education award, basic healthcare coverage (for members serving full-time only), loan forbearance (on qualified, federally-backed student loans) and childcare assistance (for full-time members if total family income is eligible).

To learn more about AmeriCorps, visit www.AmeriCorps.gov.