Mississippi AmeriCorps Members Speak Up!
As DOGE continues to gut AmeriCorps, Mississippi's AmeriCorps Members share how service changed them—and their communities—for the better.
If DOGE gets its way, this week Mississippi will lose more than $2.6 M, and more than 200 currently serving AmeriCorps members in Mississippi will be forced to immediately stop serving their communities. AmeriCorps State programs are designed and implemented by local organizations to meet local needs, and are allocated by Governor-appointed State Service Commissions—these are formula-based federal funds, matched by non-federal investments from the community. Mississippi’s AmeriCorps programs are uniquely, intentionally, and carefully designed by and for Mississippians—programs that rightfully belong to the state.
Many of these AmeriCorps members, overwhelmingly Mississippians who have taken an oath to serve their communities full-time, stand to lose their primary source of income, and their Education Awards, which would likely go directly to Mississippi institutions of higher learning. For some, they are at high risk of becoming homeless, losing their health insurance coverage, and not being able to meet work and income cap requirements for public assistance programs like SNAP and TANF. In addition, Mississippians—kids who need reading and math tutors, disaster survivors who need assistance rebuilding, underemployed young adults who want to build skills and move into good jobs here in Mississippi—will also lose that support immediately.
AmeriCorps is not only an avenue for citizens to serve their communities; here in Mississippi it is a rare opportunity for members to truly build a lasting bond with the state. Mississippi was one of only three states in the nation to lose population between the 2010 and 2020 Censuses. AmeriCorps is a homegrown remedy for the “brain drain” we have fretted over for years. This program is so critical to our state, and is a force multiplier for so many other programs that put Mississippians to work. Today, we’re sharing the stories of AmeriCorps Mississippi staff and alumni who have seen firsthand the impact of their service, and continue to love and serve Mississippians because of their service. Take action now. Tell your member of Congress to protect AmeriCorps!
With deep gratitude,
Caitlin Brooking, Executive Director of the Refill Jackson Initiative, the host organization for the Refill Jackson Green Corps AmeriCorps program
Suzanne Scales Rutherford | Jackson, MS | AmeriCorps VISTA | Director of Volunteer Mississippi
They said that Hurricane Katrina wiped Mississippi and Louisiana off the map. But they were very much still there—just with a markedly different appearance. The landscape looked different, sure, but the spirit of our people remained the same. It was entrenched there amid the humidity and mosquitoes and the persistent drone of generators. And it was with that spirit (and seemingly never-ending energy) that AmeriCorps Members rebuilt and restored the Mississippi Gulf Coast. They were the first ones in and the last ones out. Always with that very distinctive Times New Roman “A” on the sleeves and the hard hats and the tools. And the crazy thing is they did these Very Difficult Things for months on end, with an endless supply of smiles and laughter and joy. It was never a burden to them to serve in and with these communities; in fact, it was pretty clear that it was an honor and an outright privilege.
These members are why I chose to join AmeriCorps. I was in graduate school when She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named roared ashore twenty years ago. And those members showed me something I had never seen before (not firsthand anyway): a pure ethic of service and a genuine motivation to do better for and with others. I didn’t know why at the time, but I knew what they were doing was important and that I needed to be a part of it. So, I joined AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) and was sited with the MS Disaster Preparedness & Response Project. During my two terms of service, I met folks from all over the country whose perspectives and abilities certainly differed from mine. To be fair, their understanding of the human condition far surpassed my experiences. I was thrilled just to be in the proverbial room and learn from them. Our collective desire to make a better America brought us together and kept us moving forward.
Serving in AmeriCorps taught me many, many things – especially the values of gratitude and persistence. Moreover, it taught me that it’s not enough to simply complain about the state of the world. One must be part of the solution. Service is and can be a solution to so many of our challenges. We just have to be able and willing to answer the call.
Brooke Floyd | Jackson, MS | AmeriCorps State & National, 1999-2001
I began my service with AmeriCorps in 1999 in the Stewpot Community Services Teen’s Program in Jackson, MS. My two years of service included tutoring children and teens, being a camp counselor, mentoring, and helping the community on National Service Days (including community clean-ups, builds, feeding those in need, assisting MS residents during natural disasters, and showing up to serve when asked). Later, after college, I was blessed to continue my service with AmeriCorps, working in the Mississippi State Regional Office in the northeast part of the state. Our members supported children and teens in reading education, and provided the community everything from tutoring, to community clean-ups, to disaster preparedness education and response. Through all of my years associated with AmeriCorps, as a member, staff, and site supervisor, one thing remained constan: my deep and lasting love for the people of this state. AmeriCorps strengthened my commitment to service. It challenged me to use the love I have for the people and turn it into action. I am always asking: “How can I help? How can I be of service? How can I make this situation better, this city, this state, or people’s lives?” For that AmeriCorps, I am eternally grateful. I pray that more young people in this state and the country are able to experience what I did, and make their city, their state, their communities better by being able to serve with AmeriCorps.
Caitlin Brooking | Biloxi, MS | AmeriCorps State & National (staff), 2007-2025
AmeriCorps gave me a home—Mississippi. I came to Biloxi, Mississippi, from Massachusetts in 2007 after watching the massive devastation of the Mississippi Gulf Coast from Hurricane Katrina, and the herculean, multi-year effort it took to begin to rebuild people’s homes, communities, and lives. I arrived expecting to sweat, cry, help people, and leave on to the next phase of my life in another state. But AmeriCorps has kept me captivated by Mississippi and Mississippians. Over eighteen years of running, developing, and managing grants for AmeriCorps State programs designed by Mississippians to meet their own needs, I have traveled to every corner of the state, from tornado response in Fulton to grant writing coaching in Laurel, training local volunteers to muck and gut in Mayersville and rescuing and adopting my newly-born feral cat Bootsy Collins from East Biloxi. I have been honored and humbled to serve alongside Mississippians of all ages and backgrounds in the best times and the worst, and AmeriCorps has been the glue that held all of these acts of service together. I am a proud Mississippian because of AmeriCorps, the vehicle that drew me into the arms of so many strong, caring, brilliant and resilient communities. I came and stayed here because of this program that costs so little but bridges so much.
Ronjanett Taylor | Jackson, MS | AmeriCorps State & National (staff), 2000-2022
It was my great honor to graduate AmeriCorps members across Mississippi each year and watch them go into classrooms, administrative positions, social services roles, or start their own child/youth focused endeavors as highly qualified individuals. For some, AmeriCorps was their starting point. For some, AmeriCorps was their second chance. For some, AmeriCorps was their next career. But for all, AmeriCorps gave them the space to be servants and then devote their lives to service and community life regardless of the career path they to in life after AmeriCorps. I still talk regularly to many former members and program staff because we cultivated relationships. We did great things, hard things, to build our citizens and strengthen communities through AmeriCorps. It is worth fighting for. It is worth the investment.
Mariel Parman | Jackson, MS | AmeriCorps State & National, 2007-2008, 2010, 2012-2014
From eighteen to twenty-three, I spent three Americorps service terms in various states across then country, but after my last service term in eastern Washington state, I was ready to return to my home town, Jackson, to serve in FoodCorps. My time serving in Jackson Public Schools teaching children about food education, gardening, and working to increase access to health foods brought to light the deep inequities the people in my hometown face. Having grown up in the largely white suburbs of Jackson, it was eye opening to see how different children’s experiences were only ten miles from where I had lived. My FoodCorps experience solidified my desire to stay in the Deep South to work in public health to address health inequities that Southerners face. I’m forever grateful to FoodCorps and AmeriCorps for giving me the opportunity to learn from people of so many different backgrounds.
Chris Caldwell | Oxford, MS | AmeriCorps VISTA, 2016-2017
Serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA member with the North Mississippi VISTA Project was the foundation for the work I do today. Those experiences taught me the power of community-centered service and the importance of listening to the people most affected by systemic issues, especially those in the black and brown communities I serve currently. Now, as the Community Engagement Coordinator for the Shelby County District Attorney General’s Office, I use those lessons daily—building relationships, fostering trust, and creating space for honest conversations between the justice system and the communities it serves. My time with AmeriCorps VISTA helped me see that real change starts with connection.
Brianna McCollum | Oxford, MS | AmeriCorps VISTA, 2022-2023
My AmeriCorps VISTA term with the North Mississippi VISTA Project was deeply fulfilling and pivotal in shaping my career path. It inspired me to pursue a degree in public health, as I observed firsthand how social determinants—such as poverty, educational access, transportation access, and access to nutritious food—profoundly affect quality of life. Through my service, I developed a strong passion for nonprofit work and a commitment to promoting healthy outcomes. As a result of my VISTA experience, I am now earning a Master of Public Health with a concentration in Epidemiology from Jackson State University.
My service with AmeriCorps VISTA was very enlightening and connected me more deeply to the Mississippi community at large. By helping to organize and execute programs like a weekly food rescue, produce distributions, and a farmers market, I saw how grassroots community initiatives could address large-scale issues. This work deepened my relationship with the community and also strengthened my passion for promoting healthy outcomes. Being able to build connections with community members and get to know their stories also further extended my empathy and perspective about my home state. The connections I formed with residents, nonprofit leaders, vendors, and volunteers alike prompted community building to become a significant focus in my life and influenced the way I wish to impact others in the future. These connections also shaped the way I see my role in community work. I met residents who showed incredible resilience, volunteers who gave their time week after week, and nonprofit leaders who inspired me with their dedication. Through my AmeriCorps VISTA service, I learned about the structural challenges many Mississippians face and gained a nuanced understanding of the important role that nonprofit organizations play in creating change. With my degree, I hope to continue to address health disparities for fellow Mississippians. AmeriCorps VISTA has given me invaluable insight into the unique challenges of Mississippi’s communities, and I am deeply committed to contributing to long-term solutions that support the health of all residents.
Rev. Dr. R.J. Wilson | Holly Springs, MS | AmeriCorps VISTA 2019-2023
It is said opportunity only knocks once. However, I have been given an opportunity to serve my country for the second time. I served four years in the United States Navy, and it was a life changing experience for me. Now, many years later, I have had the privilege of being associated with the North Mississippi VISTA Project, to serve again, not only the community in which I live, but my country as well. I care deeply and am very concerned about the many health, poverty and financial issues plaguing our society daily.
The years I spent in service with the North Mississippi VISTA Project were very informative, enlightening, as well as fun. The knowledge I gained proved useful in so many ways, especially as I continue to work with the high school’s Dress for Success Project, which I began as an AmeriCorps VISTA. The skills I obtained as an AmeriCorps VISTA have been beneficial in my volunteering with other community organizations for the betterment and beautification of Marshall County.
Shamberi Smith | Jackson, MS | AmeriCorps State & National, Member: 2008-2010
Shamberi received tutoring at Stewpot Community Services from AmeriCorps members as a middle school student then served at Stewpot as an AmeriCorps member from 2008-2010. She used her Education Award to complete her degree and was hired at Stewpot as Director of Children’s Programs where she later became an America Reads Mississippi site supervisor for AmeriCorps members 2014-2017. She is now Director of Development for Cicero Family Service in Chicago, IL.
Shamberi says, “Serving with AmeriCorps, first as a tutor and later as a site supervisor, was a transformative experience. Through our after-school and in-school tutoring programs, we helped improve reading proficiency in over 60% of the students we worked with, directly changing the trajectory of their academic futures. But the impact didn’t stop there. AmeriCorps shaped who I am today. It instilled in me a deep, lasting commitment to service.”
Christina Spann | Jackson, MS | AmeriCorps State & National, 2012-2016
I first got involved with AmeriCorps in 2014. At the time, I was working for a nonprofit tutoring and mentoring middle and high school students. I had never even heard of AmeriCorps before—honestly, when I first read about it, I thought it was a scam.
I had just graduated from Mississippi College with a degree in social work and was beginning to pivot toward public policy. I was exploring graduate schools when I realized that Jackson State University offered a Public Policy program—and thanks to the AmeriCorps education award, I could attend nearly tuition-free.
That decision created a threefold impact in my life.
First, I was giving back to the very communities I lived in and cared deeply about—communities that looked like mine.
Second, I was learning how policies are written, implemented, and measured—while actively serving in a program like AmeriCorps that is policy in action.
Third, I was receiving a living stipend and an education award, making it financially feasible to pursue a path that aligned with my values.
Shaun McDonough | Leland, MS | AmeriCorps State & National, 2017-2018
Serving with FoodCorps was a turning point for me—it’s what helped me realize I wanted to become a teacher here in Mississippi. Through my service, I saw firsthand the challenges so many communities face, especially around food insecurity, but I also saw how incredibly resilient and resourceful Mississippians are. Those experiences inspired me to stay engaged in both education and food justice—first as a classroom teacher for several years, and now as a site supervisor for a FoodCorps site. It’s had a lasting impact on my life and career, and it helped turn Mississippi into not just the place I work, but the place I call home.
Stephen Bennett | New Albany, MS | AmeriCorps VISTA, 2019-2023
My years with the North Mississippi VISTA Project came at just the right time. I was transitioning into a new phase of my life and did not know what my future would bring. Serving as the AmeriCorps VISTA for the Union County Heritage Museum brought me in contact with many people I knew and many more that I would come to know. We serve children and adults through our programming and events at the museum. My service has truthfully changed my life forever.
After serving four years with AmeriCorps VISTA, I was hired full-time by the museum. I would not be where I am today (at 64 years of age), with a full-time position in a wonderful environment if I had not first served as a VISTA. The training and encouragement I received through the North Mississippi VISTA Project and its wonderful staff, helped me to see a whole new world of opportunities. We have over 5,000 people who come through our doors each year at the museum, and we are impacting lives through reading comprehension workshops, art projects, training and managing volunteers from high school to senior adults. We have been able to start an after-school program one day per week, summer art program, and nature programs.
Having been in music my whole life, I would not have known that this whole world of service existed if not for AmeriCorps VISTA. When or if I retire, I still see myself serving in some capacity in my community. The North Mississippi VISTA Project is priceless to our region, and it is impacting our world in so many wonderful ways. It has impacted me, and I trust our museum has impacted our little world!
Lauren Rhoades | Jackson, MS | AmeriCorps State & National, 2013-2016
Without AmeriCorps, I never would have made it to Mississippi, the place I've called home for nearly twelve years now. As a FoodCorps service member in Jackson, I spent my days connecting students with healthy foods through school garden activities, lunchroom taste tests, and afterschool programming. (If you've seen Abbott Elementary, picture Gregory's Garden Goofballs, but with 100% humidity and a dash more chaos.) It's one thing to learn about food deserts, poverty, and disinvestment in public schools; it's quite another to see the real ways these structural inequities impact children, teachers, and families. As my AmeriCorps service years drew to a close, I struggled with the disconnect between how much I had gleaned from my FoodCorps experience—professional skills, leadership, understanding and compassion, a sense of meaning and purpose—and the actual positive impact I had made. After all, did making beet-berry smoothies and harvesting cherry tomatoes really improve the life of a third grader experiencing food insecurity at home? But now, looking back I see that I should have been considering my impact as part of a vast network, a collective of service members changing lives and communities, from harvesting cherry tomatoes, to packing up books for prisoners, to cleaning up hurricane- and tornado-ravaged communities. (I also should have considered that my own life has been changed by a good homegrown tomato.) Being part of that collective was a privilege that changed my life for the better. By cutting AmeriCorps, we are depriving Americans the opportunity to serve their fellow citizens. Our country needs this spirit of service now more than ever.
Nyterica Jenkins | Oxford, MS | AmeriCorps VISTA, 2018-2019
Serving with the North Mississippi VISTA Project was a pivotal moment in my personal and professional journey. As a first-generation college student, the program gave me the opportunity to enhance outreach efforts to the Mississippi Delta by creating pathways to higher education for students who may not have previously considered it as an option. That experience opened my eyes to the transformative power of education and community engagement. Because of my time with AmeriCorps VISTA, I was inspired to pursue a master’s degree in Higher Education. Today, I serve as a Senior Academic Advisor in the School of Engineering at the University of Mississippi, where I support STEM students in achieving their academic goals and overcoming barriers to success. I am also currently pursuing my Doctoral degree in Higher Education, with a focus on student retention and access. The values and experiences I gained through AmeriCorps VISTA continue to influence my work every day. I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of such a meaningful initiative.
Meghan Gallagher | Oxford, MS | AmeriCorps VISTA, 2014-2016
The North Mississippi VISTA Project has had a lasting impact on my career and my life. I was able to transition back to work after having kids. AmeriCorps VISTA gave me a chance to work when a lot of doors were closed to me due to the competitive job market in Oxford. Since then, I've assisted the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council by helping artists and non-artists alike with building their small businesses through a free workshop series and networking events. My work has brought in over $500K in funding for small business development in North Mississippi. Every day is unique, and it's a joy to be able to work where I live!
Sanford Johnson | Clarksdale, MS | AmeriCorps State & National, 2003-2005
My AmeriCorps experience came from my time as a Teach For America Corps Member in the Mississippi Delta. I moved to Clarksdale to teach high school social studies right after college. It was the most impactful experience of my life in multiple ways. Not only did I meet my wife in my Corps, but I also turned my two-year commitment into a career in education that has spanned over twenty-two years (and counting…). I also have the pleasure of keeping in touch with my former students who have become teachers, medical professionals, and business owners in my community.
 | A guest post by
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AmeriCorps, HeadStart, Meals on Wheels, the list goes on and on (I mustn't forget USAID!). This is all so painful. I forwarded this powerful, inspiring email to the offices of my Senators and Congressman, with a plea for them to save AmeriCorps. Thank you all, both for your service and for taking the time to write down your memories!
How MS is a red state will puzzle me until eternity. The damage caused by the Republican party - both pre Trump and now - is horrendous.