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AmeriCorps Week 2025: Story of Service

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 12:30:00 GMT

I'm Emily and this is my Story of Service.

My name is Emily Schofield and I am an American Connection Corps (ACC) member serving at The Service Collaborative.

My role as the Impact Community Coordinator is to promote collaboration between Service Year programs and AmeriCorps members in the WNY area. I’ve been building an AmeriCorps member network to connect those who are also serving an AmeriCorps term learning about their unique experiences and needs.

A main part of this network is to hold a monthly member meet-up where members can connect, share their experiences, and discuss their service. These are low-cost casual ways for members to meet, explore and discover more about the city we serve, and meet other members dedicated to making meaningful changes in the community.

AmeriCorps members are in a unique position to be able to both learn a ton but also really be the change that they want to see. A strong network is essential for support and collaboration since we all have a collective goal. By connecting with fellow members, we can share insights, resources, and strategies that enhance our service year as well as our impact. It is my goal that this network will foster a sense of community and belonging, providing professional support that helps members stay motivated and resilient.

I serve to help address community needs more effectively and am working to create lasting positive change!

Going Back to School TSC Style

Thu, 03 Oct 2024 15:43:21 GMT

What's it like to go back to school as a member of or student in one of TSC'S programs?

It's an old feeling: September signaling that it's time to go back to school. This looks a little bit different than walking into a traditional school building and sitting down in front of a Smartboard for The Service Collaborative's programs. For YouthBuild Buffalo students, going back to school can look like working on a construction site in the morning and going to gen ed classes in the afternoon. This schedule allows students to gain workforce certifications while simultaneously earing their high school equivalency.

What's it like going back to school as an ABLE member?

This project is supported by the Employment and Training Administration of the US Department of Labor as part of an award totaling $1.875 million with 25% financed by non-governmental sources.

Buffalo Futures: The First Year

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 18:43:27 GMT

Looking Forward, Looking Back

What does it mean to plan for the future of young people in Buffalo? That's the precise question that the Buffalo Futures program aims to answer, and has begun to answer, as the program turns 1 year old. Buffalo Futures does this by helping aspiring young professionals identify, explore, and pursue local, high-demand career pathways. Aspiring young professionals who choose to participate in the program sign up online through the Buffalo Futures platform, where they fill out a profile expanding on their personal and professional goals and can explore various careers using the career path exploration tool . After filling out a profile, aspiring professionals meet with a Success Coach and Peer Mentors either virtually or in person at the Buffalo Futures HUB, which acts as an advising and gathering space, providing guidance and community. Buffalo Futures has helped to connect over 490 aspiring professionals with resources, educational opportunities, and new career pathway, partnering with organizations including Best Self's Black Mental Health Response Team, RPM- Real Power Movement, TechBuffalo, SayYes, and Open Buffalo.

CELEBRATING A SUCCESSFUL FIRST YEAR OF BUFFALO FUTURES

Community members and Buffalo Futures Youth Council members gathered in the HUB last week for a celebration of the program's first year of accomplishments and to offer in person tours of the space. Check out a video recap below!

LOOKING AHEAD: THE FUTURE OF BUFFALO FUTURES

Supporting Buffalo's young people requires much more than simply connecting aspiring professionals to career opportunities; Buffalo Futures also aims to provide the wraparound supports and resources that young people need to successfully transition into their new career. To further bolster these efforts, Buffalo Futures launched their new Resources tab on their platform during their one year anniversary celebration, highlighting the new ways that aspiring professionals can seek supports as the program moves forward. Here's to the future!

Hi, We're The Service Collaborative of WNY!

Tue, 09 Jul 2024 15:49:59 GMT

We're excited to share our story with you.

We're excited to begin sharing monthly blog posts with you that will tell stories of service. To start, we figured that we would share more about who The Service Collaborative of WNY is, what we do, and some of the history behind our programs and service experiences. We're excited that you're along for the ride!

The Service Collaborative of WNY partners with other nonprofits to create service opportunities for dedicated individuals. These opportunities focus on education, environmental conservation, or youth workforce development. All of our programs strive to move Buffalo and Western New York towards an equitable future while engaging members of our community in impactful service. We've been doing this work for over 20 years- take a look at the timeline below to see how we got to where we are today!