National AmeriCorps Week is March 9-17 and this year the North Urban Human Services Alliance (NUHSA) will celebrate with two new AmeriCorps VISTA members, Trey Baughman and Jamie Schecter. AmeriCorps, also known as the domestic Peace Corps, has over 4,400 members serving in Washington to invigorate communities throughout the state.

These two VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) members work to foster volunteerism and build-up human service non-profits and agencies in the North King County region. Baughman and Schecter joined NUHSA in February and are serving the communities of Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Kenmore, Bothell and Woodinville as Volunteer Outreach Coordinators.

They work with NUHSA to build the capacity of human service agencies to recruit, engage, and utilize volunteers to better serve people in need here in North King County. Using the slogan of Volunteer Local, Baughman and Schecter work to rally the residents of these cities to invest in their community by giving their time and talents to organizations that are active in these cities.

Partnering with United Way of King County, NUHSA is working to increase the capacity of human services agencies providing vital services to residents in the community. From Hopelink and meals programs to shelter to after school mentors, the two AmeriCorps members will connect local volunteers with local needs.

AmeriCorps VISTA members serve a year with an organization to help build capacity of local organizations. Some branches of AmeriCorps perform direct service by providing disaster relief or helping in schools, but VISTAs focus on building long term and sustainable programs and projects for non-profits. VISTA’s have had a hand in developing the credit union, creating food cooperatives, and mentoring youth across the country.

To learn more about NUHSA visit nuhsa.org or to get involved with the Volunteer Local campaign, contact jschecter@uwkc.org or tbaughman@uwkc.org.