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October 3, 2003/Tishri 7 5764, Vol. 56, No.2
Valley woman volunteers throughout country
JESSICA BARBER
Staff Writer
Amy Levine of Scottsdale, far right, camps out while fighting The Burnt Ridge Sheep Complex wildfire in southwestern Montana during her time as a volunteer with AmeriCorps.
Photo courtesy of Amy Levine
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Less than one month after graduation from the University of Arizona last December, Amy Levine of Scottsdale found herself on a plane bound for Maryland - the starting point in a 10-month long adventure to provide disaster relief throughout the country.
The 23-year-old recent college grad is participating in the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps Northeast Region, a 10-month program in which volunteers ages 18-24 complete 1,700 hours of service in exchange for a stipend to be used for education or repayment of student loans.
"This program just kind of fit what I wanted," says Levine. "The adventure, helping people and traveling was what I was looking for."
Upon her arrival in Perry Point, Md., in January, Levine met with about 185 other volunteers from around the country for training in conflict resolution, disaster relief, firefighting and education. The volunteers were then broken up into groups of 12 and sent to various sites around the country.
"Some volunteers are right out of high school, some out of college, and some are in the middle of school," she says. "It's a really good time to travel and find out what you want to do. It also expands job opportunities because you are doing things you certainly wouldn't do otherwise."
Since 1994, the AmeriCorps program has trained more than 250,000 men and women to provide needed assistance to Americans, according to the organization's Web site. Each year, more than 50,000 Americans benefit from the program's services.
In August, Levine was assigned to the Burnt Ridge Sheep Complex wildfire in southwestern Montana - exactly the kind of adventure she craved. After several days of training and physical tests, Levine and eight other volunteers from AmeriCorps became an "initial attack crew," working closely with the Maryland Fire Department.
"At times it was scary," remembers Levine. "But they go over all the safety procedures and you are working with helicopters and professionals, so I didn't really feel like I was in danger."
After long, strenuous days, Levine and her fellow volunteers slept under the stars, with only a fly tent offering protection from the elements.
"We were there for two weeks, and it was an interesting living experience," she says. "It was very eye-opening."
Levine's firefighting adventure was only one stop in her 10-month excursion. She also spent two months living in a housing project in Coney Island, New York City, where she tutored inner-city youths.
"AmeriCorps usually volunteers in the schools in New York City that score the lowest on standardized testing," Levine explains. "I taught a third-grader what a penny was. I spent a lot of time working with the children individually, doing lesson plans and teaching."
Although Levine was initially apprehensive about living in the projects, she soon realized that the community was very supportive of the volunteers' efforts.
"You had drug dealers giving you high fives for tutoring their kids," says Levine. "The community acknowledges you and appreciates what you are doing. Normally people would go there and think it was unsafe, but the community really pulls together."
Levine and her volunteer group also traveled to New Hampshire to work with Plus Time NH, a nonprofit organization offering funding to after-school programs and summer camps. Part of the group's work was to travel around the state to help build and upkeep houses and other facilities for needy people.
Most recently, Levine worked with the Department of Natural Resources in Maryland.
"We worked for the Forestry and Park Service doing outdoor education and trail maintenance," says Levine.
During her time in Maryland, members of her group were being deployed to fight fires raging in other areas of the country.
Levine will be heading home to Scottsdale in November; but first she will travel to Albany, N. Y., to work with Habitat for Humanity.
"You are learning about what you can change about yourself and how to interact with people," she says. "It's a great transition period, and an amazing opportunity."
Levine also believes that the organization will help her make difficult career decisions.
"Twenty-three is the median age in my group," she says. "We are all on a path to find out what we want to do with our lives. It's been good knowing that you're not the only person trying to find your passion."
AmeriCorps volunteers must be age 17 or older and be able to work at least part time over a 10 to 12-month period. Full-time volunteers receive education awards of $4,725 to pay for college, graduate school or to repay student loans. Members also receive a modest living allowance and health insurance.
Call (800) 942-2677 or visit www.americorps.org/joining.
Contact the writer at jessica_barber@jewishaz.com.
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