CEDAM blog

In October of 2010, I found myself recently graduated from college, working a minimum wage, horribly dull job. My major was in anthropology and I was stuck reading residential water meters. It was a decent enough job for the summers between school semesters, but not what I had in mind after earning my degree. I knew that I wanted to work for a non-profit organization and help people, but wasn’t sure what kind. I had considered the Peace Corps, which I would have loved because of my background in anthropology, but I spent a lot of time helping my mom take care my grandparents and so did not want to leave the state, let alone the country. I began applying for jobs at various non-profits, but didn’t receive any calls for interviews. I almost gave up until I saw a newspaper ad for an AmeriCorps opportunity which was located not far from my home. I was discouraged, but the thought of working outside, reading water meters during winter in Michigan really motivated me to apply.

Now, I am in my second year in the Michigan Foreclosure Prevention Corps, serving at the MSU Extension in Macomb County. I help our wonderful, overworked, yet dedicated foreclosure counselors in addition to providing intake and triage for new clients. I maintain our agency’s client referrals in the Step Forward portal and am responsible for making that first contact to homeowners who may have been declined from the Hardest Hit program. I am also proud this year to represent my AmeriCorps program in Michigan’s LeaderCorps, a statewide effort to promote AmeriCorps and service in general.

Of course things often turn stressful given the uncertainties many homeowners face, but at the same time this has allowed me to greatly improve my people skills. I am now more comfortable in difficult situations and have gained some much-needed confidence in my abilities. Whether it’s helping a homeowner who has a sheriff’s sale scheduled next week, or just guiding a caller in the right direction, I actually feel like I know what I’m doing. Unlike past jobs, I feel that my service is both helpful and valuable. It has been a very constructive and satisfying experience, personally as well as professionally. At a time in my life when it seemed like nothing was going my way, I was truly fortunate to have received this opportunity.

Natalie Ciampichini is an AmeriCorps member at the MSU Extension in Macomb County.

This post is part of a blog series highlighting the viewpoints of Michigan AmeriCorps Foreclosure Prevention Corps members serving at different foreclosure host sites around Michigan. View information about the program or see more stories in this series.

As I have done for the past two years, I went into this fall planning to volunteer for the Goodfellows in the City of Taylor. I do not belong to the Goodfellows, I just believe in what they are doing. As a member of the board of the Little League, I am friends with the president, who just so happens to be the member of the Goodfellows responsible for the “No Child Without a Christmas” program. They stand on the corner or in front of local businesses every year gathering donations to help with their cause and I have been blessed to have been asked to help.

This year, after becoming an AmeriCorps member, I realized my opportunity to participate may be in danger. I have been unemployed for the past two years, but all that has changed. When I brought up volunteering with Goodfellows to my site supervisor Carol Meyers, she was very supportive and said, “we will work it out.” Armed with this vote of confidence, I then turned to my friend in the organization and asked if I could put my flyers for the Foreclosure Prevention Program and classes in each of the boxes that we hand out this year. He thought for a minute and said he would have to see if it was ok. I then said, “If these are people who cannot afford presents and food during the holidays, surely they are in need of help with their mortgage also.” After thinking for a brief moment he said ” You print the flyers, we will put them in; but I do need help.” “Of course,” I said. “We can help each other.”

So, on December 15-17, I will be hauling boxes of food to cars for people in need (which was 12 hour days and snow storms last year). I will get to shake the hands and hug the appreciative recipients (400 registered), and personally talk to each one. It is a lot of work, but it will be worth it all around. Incidentally, I have now also applied to Southgate Goodfellows with the same offer as they are open on different days; we await their answer.

[This post is part of a blog series highlighting the viewpoints of AmeriCorps Michigan Foreclosure Prevention Corps members serving at different foreclosure host sites around Michigan. Click here for information about the program.]

Being involved in AmeriCorps and the foreclosure prevention effort has taught me many valuable lessons that I hope to carry with me in the future. Through my AmeriCorps service, I have come to realize that I have a great passion for poverty reduction and awareness. Much of the poverty in our area comes from average middle class people. Many of these people are builders, construction workers, landscapers, and small business owners. Because of the bad economy in an area that is already based mostly on seasonal income, these people have no work. Some might tell people to “just go out and get a job,” but many tradespersons have no other skills, and other jobs are scarce.

On Wednesday, February 2^nd, the United Way in Charlevoix/Emmet counties held its annual “Project Connect” resource fair. This event provided many free services such as haircuts, tax preparation, help with applying for assistance and benefits, and job search assistance. There was also free clothing, bags of groceries, personal care items and diapers and toys available. Many of the attendees are now homeless or living in conditions that they would have not even imagined 2 years ago. Fifteen percent of last year’s 679 attendees were homeless, 62% were unemployed, and 58% of the attendees were there for the first time. This event is paid for by donations of cash, time, products, and services by local businesses, charities, and residents.

I feel that our communities are seeing the effect of the economy and realizing that our residents who are poor, homeless, or struggling are no different from anyone else. There is less judgment out there today, and the community is coming together to help our residents in need. I am so proud that I am part of this community and am able to share resources and ideas to assist people in times of need.

The Foreclosure Corps team. Thank you for reading the blog series!