Demonstrating the goals of AmeriCorps service

Planning

Materials:

• Blank paper for participants to jot down their thoughts
• A flip chart, overhead, or white board to display the activity and consolidate participant contributions
• Writing implements for participants and facilitator

The display method (e.g., flip chart) should contain five pre-drawn circles, four of which contain the goals of AmeriCorps:

1. Getting Things Done
2. Strengthening Communities
3. Encouraging Responsibility
4. Expanding Opportunity

The empty fifth circle is where the facilitator will include their own organization's goals. (For a visual example, see slide 7 of the LISC Get Geared Up for Service presentation.)

Implementation

The entire activity should take about 10-15 minutes. The facilitator:

• Leads the initial discussion by introducing the four goals of AmeriCorps. (For content examples, see slide 6 of the LISC Get Geared Up for Service presentation and this AmeriCorps mission statement.)
• Shows the illustration of the five interlocking circles, four of which contain the AmeriCorps goals.
• Places the name of the organization (e.g., LISC) in the fifth circle and discusses their specific goals, demonstrating where these goals fall within the circles.
• Points out the similarities and differences between the organization's and AmeriCorps' goals.
• Has each participant place the name of their placement site in the appropriate circle along with several words that describe their program's mission. (The idea is to have these descriptions overlap into one or more of the circles that contain elements of the AmeriCorps goals and/or the goals of the sponsoring organization.)
• Asks the participants to describe their personal goals and to examine the relationship between their own aspirations and the overarching goals of AmeriCorps service.