March 15, 2023
National service agency dedicates March 12-18 to recognize AmeriCorps members, alumni, and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers for uniting in service every year
ServeOhio, Ohio’s Commission on Service and Volunteerism, is celebrating the valuable contributions of AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers who pledged to “get things done” for our nation as part of the annual AmeriCorps Week. The weeklong celebration also honors the contributions and support of thousands of local organizations that make AmeriCorps programs possible.
In Portsmouth, the SSU Center for Public History hosts AmeriCorps member, Wesley VanderWeg, who serves as a support to the organization and other local history groups in the region. Wesley is a member of the Ohio History Service Corps (OHSC), an AmeriCorps program dedicated to providing members the resources to support growth and development at local history organizations across Ohio.
Since 2010, OHSC members have served to promote and preserve Ohio’s strong history through organizational capacity building, creating educational experiences for community members, and promoting economic development through preservation activities. The program also works to train emerging museum professionals.
At the Center for Public History, Wesley assists the CPH Director Dr. Drew Feight with inventory, database management, event planning, digitization, collections management and a host of other activities associated with preserving and sharing Portsmouth and Ohio’s rich histories at the Center. Wesley explains, “The Center has given me opportunities to gain experience and help preserve pieces of Ohio’s history that I might not have had otherwise.”
Wesley states, “AmeriCorps has been a great experience so far for me personally, I have met people and participated in projects that are making a real difference in the community. AmeriCorps has given me the opportunity to learn critical on the job skills and build experience working on projects that build platforms to ensure that everyone will be able to enjoy learning about American History for a long time to come.”
To join the celebration, follow @AmeriCorps on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. To join the conversation, share pictures and stories on Twitter, using #AmeriCorpsWeek. Learn more about AmeriCorps opportunities at AmeriCorps.gov/join.
Learn about OHSC at ohiohistory.org/americorps or email AmeriCorps@OhioHistory.org. Follow OHSC on Facebook and Instagram @OhioHistoryServiceCorps