Stories
CDFI Serving African Immigrants in the Twin Cities Increases Capacity With Help From LISC
Dr. Gene Gelgelu founded African Economic Development Solutions (AEDS) in St. Paul, MN to help fellow African immigrants build wealth through entrepreneurship and homeownership. LISC has been by his side, offering guidance and support, since the organization’s inception. Our latest contribution: nine LISC AmeriCorps - Economic Mobility Corps members who enhance the capacity of AEDS while getting a taste of what it’s like to work in community development.
Exploring the Transformative Power of Service: Reflections from LISC AmeriCorps' Annual Conference
In March, LISC AmeriCorps members and staff gathered for their yearly convening in Indianapolis to learn, reflect, and celebrate their dedication and career accomplishments through service. In a blog, Saba Aregai, LISC Communications Officer - Social Media, discusses the gathering as a first-time attendee and shares her insights into why service is a gateway to stronger communities and successful careers for many.
Heeding MLK’s Call to Serve—365 Days a Year
On Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday every year—a national day of service—we celebrate not only his legacy but also LISC's AmeriCorps members, who are answering his call to action and dedicating themselves to serve the under-resourced communities we work with, every day of the year. Since the program's inception, LISC AmeriCorps has placed more than 3,400 full- and part-time members in over 102 communities across the country. Meet some of them here, and learn about new and creative ways they are fueling equity and impact through their service.
The Transformative Power of an Expungement Clinic in the Mississippi Delta
One in three Americans has a criminal record, many of which reflect dropped charges or fines their holders simply couldn't afford to pay. In Greenville, MS, where far too many people, especially Black residents, can't pursue their goals because of barriers created by their records, LISC and a coalition of partners launched an expungement program to help job- and education-seekers get those charges and fines dismissed. It's part of a movement to upend the criminalization of poverty and help people advance on the path to wellbeing and financial stability, in Greenville and beyond.
With $4 Million Grant, LISC AmeriCorps Will Power More Service + Economic Mobility
A new $4 million federal grant will help LISC AmeriCorps level up its commitment to strengthening local organizations in the communities we work with—especially through the new Economic Mobility Corps program, which places AmeriCorps members in local CDFIs to promote innovative strategies for narrowing racial and economic wealth and equity gaps.
This AmeriCorps Week, Celebrating Service as a Springboard to Success
This week, March 13-19, is AmeriCorps Week 2022, and in recognition of members' service throughout the year, Sarah Sturtevant, deputy director of LISC's AmeriCorps program, turns a spotlight on the extraordinary contributions of members in the communities LISC works with. We're proud to partner with a number of members who won AmeriCorps Equity and Innovation Grant awards this past year. Read on for more about their work.