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AmeriCorps Members Speak Out
Jo Byrum
AmeriCorps Member Spends Second Year
with Peninsula Habitat
Jo Byrum was visiting his sister in Seattle when an idea came to him. His sister worked as an AmeriCorps Member with the local Housing Authority, and after seeing the positive impact her work had on the community, Jo decided to join the program too.
"Joining AmeriCorps was a great opportunity for me to do something different," Byrum said. "It seemed like a worthwhile use of my time, and it was a chance for me to move somewhere new and experience new things."
Jo applied for 10 AmeriCorps positions at Habitat for Humanity affiliates in California and Florida, including Peninsula Habitat for Humanity. He was familiar with Habitat's work, and hoped to find a position in which he could utilize his previous construction experience and have the opportunity to surf on his off time. After careful consideration, Jo chose to work with Peninsula Habitat. The organization not only offered him the opportunity to grow his skills by working as a volunteer coordinator in the office, but was located close enough to the ocean that he could surf during his free time.
"I received offers for several construction positions and one office position," Jo said. "I accepted the office position because the work was different than what I'd done in the past, and I could always do more construction work later. It turned out to be a good experience."
In the summer of 2005, Byrum became Peninsula Habitat's newest AmeriCorps Volunteer Coordinator. He spent the next year working with Don Varney, Peninsula Habitat's Faith and Volunteer Services Manager, to recruit volunteers, coordinate and maintain the volunteer schedule, and greet volunteers at the construction site.
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