Right Choices for Youth

Greetings! Michigan AmeriCorps members! My name is Charisse Welborn and I am currently serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA for the Michigan Workforce Development Agency. I am the Youth Development & Volunteer Coordinator for the MI GEAR UP program at Ferris State University. 

GEAR UP stands for Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs. GEAR UP increases the number of low-income, minority, and first-generation students who are prepared to enter and succeed in post-secondary education. The program includes interventions such as tutoring, mentoring, rigorous academic preparation, financial education and college scholarships to improve access to higher education for students and their families.

GEAR UP works with K-12 students. Students must start the program by the 7th grade, and can continue the program in high school and college. GEAR UP is an effective solu­tion for creating systemic change and influencing academic achievement, as well as improving high school graduation and college enrollment rates among low-income students.

Overall the program serves more than 580,000 low- income, minority and disadvantaged students in 42 states, the District of Columbia, and three U.S. territories. GEAR UP has been instrumental in preparing students for high school graduation and success in post-secondary education.

In our state, the Michigan GEAR UP (MI GEAR UP) Program is a collaboration between the Michigan Workforce Development Agency and the U.S. Department of Education. Together they partnerswith15 public post-secondary institutions, the Michigan Department of Treasury and Partnership for Learning. Their purpose is to provide services to 38 public secondary school districts and 77 school buildings throughout Michigan as they strive to achieve their goal of improving entry into post-secondary education of students from the targeted areas.

As I reflect on my terms of serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA, I have been blessed with many opportunities. I was able to serve as a Michigan AmeriCorps LeaderCorps member for 2012-2013.  LeaderCorps gave me the opportunity to gain valuable professional experience. I participated on the Outreach and Communications Team with six other AmeriCorps members. On this team I was able to have a hand in creating the Michigan AmeriCorps newsletter and creating the video showcasing the 2012-2013 LeaderCorps members and their respective programs. 

As an AmeriCorps member I'm sure you know how overwhelming it can be at times, but knowing I was a part of a significant and impactful team where I was able to build other networks and relationships with other Michigan AmeriCorps members assured me the service I was doing wasn't going unnoticed and that I was a part of helping make the world a better place.

Through this opportunity I inherited a powerful network. The individuals I served alongside were doing valuable things in their communities - changing lives every single day in so many ways. LeaderCorps definitely taught me that even small changes can make big differences.

AmeriCorps VISTA and LeaderCorps have been life changing for me. I would never forget this experience and everything that it has taught me. Through the opportunities I have been afforded, I have truly learned what it means to serve.