Serve Virginia and the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research’s (IALR) Dan River Year AmeriCorps program kicked off AmeriCorps Week on Monday, March 9, with a daylong celebration that highlighted service, leadership and the program’s impact across Southern Virginia.
The event brought together AmeriCorps members, alumni, nonprofit partners and local leaders from Danville, Martinsville, Pittsylvania County and Henry County for panel discussions, networking and a hands-on service project benefiting the Martinsville-Henry County Warming Center.
The first panel featured several AmeriCorps alumni, including three former Dan River Year AmeriCorps members, who shared how their service experiences shaped their personal and professional journeys. Panelists discussed gaining confidence, developing leadership skills and discovering career paths through hands-on work in education, health and community-based settings.
One of those alumni was Trina Holiness-Morris, who served with the Dan River Year AmeriCorps program in 2019 and 2020 and now works at IALR as an Admissions Advisor for the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program.
“AmeriCorps has had a profound impact on the career I’ve built since completing my service. It opened the door to a completely new and fulfilling path in higher education—specifically in admissions and recruitment. Through AmeriCorps, I was able to reenter the workforce with purpose, rebuild my professional confidence, and gain meaningful, hands on experience that translated directly into my role today,” said Holiness-Morris.
A nonprofit and local leaders panel followed, focusing on collaboration, workforce development and the lasting impact AmeriCorps members have on organizations throughout the region.
One of the panelists was Adam Goebel, Executive Director of the Danville Science Center. He shared how AmeriCorps members have helped design and lead various STEM-focused activities for people of all ages since the program’s inception 11 years ago. Five members who served at the Danville Science Center went on to accept positions directly with the organization.
“They help to add depth, quality and quantity to the amount of public STEM programming that we can provide. The purpose of the program is to give these members real-world experiences in serving the public,” Goebel said. “Once they’re in the door, we help them figure out what they want to accomplish and how they hope to grow during their service term,” Goebel said.
The program also included a service challenge and AmeriCorps pledge, reinforcing the commitment members make to service and civic engagement and encouraging continued volunteerism beyond AmeriCorps Week.
“AmeriCorps Week is a time to recognize and celebrate the incredible impact of AmeriCorps both for the community and for the individuals who choose to serve., said Alex Vanek, program development officer, Serve Virginia.
The afternoon concluded with a hands-on service activity, where participants continued a t-shirt donation drive by creating no sew blankets for the Martinsville-Henry County Warming Center. The activity allowed attendees to work side by side while directly supporting neighbors in need.
“I’m incredibly proud of the work AmeriCorps alumni continue to do — as members, as neighbors and as leaders. Deep gratitude to the partners who support our region and share our commitment to getting things done,” Dana Silicki, director, STEM, Service and Lifelong Learning, IALR, said.
