Meet our Newest AmeriCorps!

We are thrilled to introduce our newest AmeriCorps members. If you’ve been on our construction site or in our offices, you know how vital AmeriCorps service members are and how they are some of the most important faces of Habitat to know! So, to get to know some of our AmeriCorps starting this September, we asked them a few questions about the journey that brought them to serve at Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley.

Meet Laura – Crew Leader

What made you decide to serve as an AmeriCorps with Habitat East Bay/Silicon Valley?

I moved up to the Bay Area four years ago for school and was surprised to see so many of my fellow Berkeley residents living on the streets. Over time, I've gotten to know some of my neighbors who are experiencing homelessness and have learned about California's affordable housing shortage in my classes. I've been looking for a way to help out, so I'm really excited for this position with Habitat.

What are you hoping to get out of your service year?

I'm hoping to learn new skills that are out of my comfort zone and to meet cool people. 

If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would it be?

Hike in a green, mountainy place with family and friends.

At Habitat, our vision is to create a world where everyone has a decent and safe place to live. What does home mean to you?

Home is a place where your basic needs are met and where you are safe from emotional and physical harm. Home is where you are surrounded by loved ones who support you.

Meet Miranda – Volunteer Coordinator

.What made you decide to serve as an AmeriCorps with Habitat East Bay/Silicon Valley?

I wanted to serve with Habitat to have the opportunity to directly contribute to the communities I’ve grown up in and that shaped me as a person. I was especially excited to work on the housing crisis which I grew up alongside. I’ve seen firsthand how it has drastically changed my home over the years

What are you hoping to get out of your service year?

During my service year, I’m hoping to learn more about how housing gets built in a highly impacted region and how to help manage a large volunteer population involving many different stakeholders. I’m also excited to get the chance to participate in my first ever Habitat build!

If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would it be?

I would be in a Cirque Du Soleil performance. (I really like the feeling of flying.)

At Habitat, our vision is to create a world where everyone has a decent and safe place to live. What does home mean to you?

Home means stability and peace. A place to find contentment and solitude after time spent in the outside world. Not only is it a physical place to rest your head but also a feeling of certainty and comfort.

Meet David – Crew Leader

What made you decide to serve as an AmeriCorps with Habitat East Bay/Silicon Valley?

At this point in my life, I’m a little unsure of where I want to go and what I want to do, so I figured that doing a little good in the world and learning an interesting trade is about as good an option as any. 

What are you hoping to get out of your service year?

New connections and new skills!

If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would it be?

I would spend a day as an Orca, they are pretty awesome. 

At Habitat, our vision is to create a world where everyone has a decent and safe place to live. What does home mean to you?

It’s a place where anyone who walks in or out of the door can be considered family. Where Bill Wither’s 1972 hit ‘Lean On Me’ is taken to heart. A home is more than the walls, windows, and doors that define it - the people within and around it are what really make a home a home. 

Welcome to the team!

We’re beyond grateful for the commitment these individuals have made. By serving a year to give back to their community despite this uncertain and unprecedented time, Laura, Miranda, and David show how committed AmeriCorps members are to bettering the world around them. Thank you for your dedication and enthusiasm to #BuildMore.