About Us

AmeriCorps Central Texas (ACT) is a collaboration of local nonprofit organizations offering you a wide range of opportunities to create a better future for yourself and Central Texas through paid AmeriCorps service. As with serving in the military or Peace Corps, AmeriCorps lets you serve your local community, making it stronger and healthier.

History

AmeriCorps Central Texas (formerly known as ServeAustin Collaborative) was formed in 2015 by several state AmeriCorps organizations that provide direct service to youth and adults living in low-income communities in Central Texas: Literacy First, Breakthrough Central Texas, American YouthWorks, Communities In Schools of Central Texas, College Possible Texas, 4-H CAPITAL, Imagine Art, and Austin Achieve Public Schools.

While our collaboration initially began with working together to recruit and support AmeriCorps members, in 2017 we launched a strategic planning process through which we made a shared commitment to building a more diverse, more local Central Texas service corps; building a pipeline from national service to employment in our region; and becoming more diverse, equitable and inclusive organizations. Through the work our organizations do individually and together to improve local conditions in education, housing, career advancement, and community resources, we aim to increase racial and socioeconomic equity in Central Texas.

Each of our organizations has expanded services and impact through AmeriCorps, a federally funded national service program. The sustained service of 500+ AmeriCorps members who work with us each year is mission-critical for our organizations and impacts the lives of more than 20,000 people in Central Texas annually. While each of our organizations has a different model for engaging AmeriCorps members, all of us rely on them to tackle the persistent challenges at the heart of our work.

Vision & Mission

Vision: Building racial and socioeconomic equity in Central Texas.

Mission: Mobilizing local residents through a season of service that meaningfully solves community problems and builds racial and economic equity.

Purpose: We believe that a season of service builds the skills people need to address social inequities in their own lives and in the communities they impact.

Service is a fundamental part of Central Texas’ culture. With over 500 AmeriCorps members serving in the metro area every year across ten state programs, National Service participants in Central Texas tackle tough issues like poverty, illiteracy, housing insecurity, and environmental stewardship. AmeriCorps Central Texas members work together to provide resources and relief to more than 22,000 individuals annually.

Because we believe that completing a service year can be a life-changing experience that builds skills, expands networks, and creates pathways to higher education and employment, we are working to dramatically increase access to these opportunities for Central Texans. Because we believe that people with lived experience of social and racial inequity bring with them knowledge and expertise that can’t be provided through training and thus are uniquely positioned to deepen our impact in Central Texas, we are committed to sharing this opportunity with local residents of color, opportunity youth, and others who represent the diversity of our community. We know that engaging a more diverse group of Central Texans in service will be transformative for our members, our organizations, and our community as a whole.

Alumni Quotes

“I serve because I believe that bridging the achievement gap is vital in the school systems. Growing up as a first-generation Mexican American whose parents were migrant workers, made me realize first-hand the need for positive role models who advocate and support you through your academic journey. Through serving two years as an AmeriCorps Member, I solidified my passion for working with students through advocacy, empowerment, empathy and compassion. I served because I want students to feel and believe that they can accomplish any form of success.”

— Javier Sanchez Jr., Communities In Schools alum and current program manager

“While serving in AmeriCorps as a tutor and refugee mentor, I developed strong relationships with many children and families, and I am eager to see them grow and succeed. I hope to empower and give back to the community in same way they have empowered me.”

— Annika Olson, Literacy First alum

“My service years allowed me to see the impact our organization has in the community… [my time in AmeriCorps] showed me that the work we are doing isn’t being done by the systems in place. I have the opportunity to make an impact.”

— David Porter IV, Breakthrough AmeriCorps Alum and 2018 National Service Make A
Difference Award recipient