Blog

“It is not just one family who is experiencing this—there are more stories like that here. Now that a lot of people are losing their jobs, the uncertainty is growing. I hope that all of us AmeriCorps members become a beam of light in these trying and desperate times.” Sara Shams AmeriCorps Community Health Advocate Legacy Community Health When COVID-19 emerged in the Houston and Beaumont area, Legacy Community Health was at the forefront of the local public health response and was one of the first organizations in the city to provide widely availabl...

“I personally never thought I was considered an essential employee until this all unfolded, and I was told my service was needed now more than ever.” Sarah Flores Parents as Teachers AmeriCorps member United Way of El Paso County Parenting can be a challenge even in the best of times. To support struggling families, United Way of El Paso County (UWEPC) offers Parents as Teachers, a home visitation program that fosters positive interactions between parents and their young children, with an ultimate goal of promoting kindergarten readiness and long-term edu...

In response to the coronavirus, OneStar has compiled a living list of brainstormed alternative service and training activity ideas for AmeriCorps Texas members who have experienced disruptions in their normal service activities due to service site closures. The following list is intended to serve as an idea generator of allowable service and training activities to enable members to continue to accrue hours and provide service. We plan to continue to add ideas to this repository in the coming days and weeks. AmeriCorps members should check with their supervisors or p...

Last updated May 21, 2020 OneStar is closely monitoring the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and the potential risk factors and implications on AmeriCorps Texas programming. To support our grantees, we have compiled the following guidance and resources, which also contains useful reference material for all Texas nonprofits. We recommend that AmeriCorps Texas programs take the following steps to prepare and protect their members and the communities they serve. Guidance for AmeriCorps Texas Programs Review COVID-19 FAQs issued by C...

The nonprofit sector in Texas is a unique and powerful force that is integral to improving the quality of life for all Texans and making our state a vibrant place to live and work. However, since much of the work of Texas' incredibly diverse nonprofits happens behind the scenes, the value of the sector is often underestimated and misunderstood—when, in fact, nonprofits are an essential asset to our state’s economy as well as the very fabric of our communities. Last year, OneStar partnered with with United Ways of Texas to produce an eye-opening analysi...