NLADA Celebrates AmeriCorps Week
Recognizing Members and Alumni for Their Service
The National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA) is joining thousands of Americans across the country to celebrate the valuable contributions of the AmeriCorps members who pledge to “get things done” for our nation as part of the annual AmeriCorps Week.
In the past three years, NLADA VISTA members have spent more than 53,000 hours serving across 20 communities, representing a $1.7 million investment in holistic public defense.
This investment will only continue to increase as the network of talented alumni continues to grow. The VISTA program represents a new opportunity to develop a diverse pipeline of future holistic defense practitioners. For example, Shannon, a VISTA member from the 2018-19 NLADA program year, discovered a passion for making a difference through holistic defense and forensic social work. She is now pursuing a Master’s in Social Work and interning at the Maryland Office of the Public Defender, her former host site. As her career continues, her VISTA year will continue to inform her practice.
NLADA VISTA members create long term, sustainable value for host sites. Yamilex, a VISTA member who served in Lubbock, Texas in 2018-19, created the organization’s first branding guide and developed key community partnerships with local schools and non-profits. Her host site saw the unique skills and value she brought to the office and created a new staff position for her to continue this valuable community outreach. VISTA allows organizations to innovate and experiment to understand the needs and wants of their community and office.
The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the federal agency responsible for AmeriCorps, marked the 25th anniversary of the program in Fall 2019, saluting the more than 1.1 million Americans who have pledged to “get things done” since the program’s inception. Together these AmeriCorps members have provided more than 1.6 billion hours of service and earned $4 billion in education scholarships to pay for education or pay back student loans.
NLADA is proud to be part of this national movement to empower communities to alleviate poverty by addressing the link between our criminal justice system and cycles of generational poverty.
During AmeriCorps Week, we celebrate the contributions of all of our partners, host sites, communities and National Service programs. To our host sites who provide expertise, to our host communities who welcome and collaborate with VISTA members, and to our donors who make National Service through NLADA possible, we thank you.
To join the celebration, follow AmeriCorps Twitter, and Instagram, and join the conversation by sharing your pictures and stories on Twitter, using #MadeinAmeriCorps and #AmeriCorpsWorks. Sites interested in hosting NLADA VISTAs can apply at www.nlada.org/VISTA. Those interested in joining AmeriCorps can learn more at AmeriCorps.gov/join.
NLADA
NLADA is America’s oldest and largest nonprofit association devoted to excellence in the delivery of legal services to those who cannot afford counsel. Because the quality of justice in America should not depend on how much money a person has, NLADA leads a broad network of advocates on the frontlines to advance justice and expand opportunity for all by promoting excellence in the delivery of legal services for people who cannot afford counsel. Effective local advocacy requires a strong national advocate. We provide advocacy, guidance, information, training and technical assistance for members of the equal justice community, especially those working in public defense and civil legal aid. For more than a century, we have connected and supported people across the country committed to justice for all.
AmeriCorps
AmeriCorps is administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), a federal agency that engages millions of Americans in service through its AmeriCorps and Senior Corps programs and leads the nation's volunteering and service efforts. For more information, visit NationalService.gov.