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Leave Your Mark: A FEMA Corps Member Spotlight
How did you first learn about
AmeriCorps NCCC FEMA
Corps?
Initially, I was researching the
Peace Corps when I stumbled
upon AmeriCorps NCCC FEMA
Corps. FEMA Corps caught my
eye due to the disaster-specific,
domestic
work
associated
with the
program.
Why did
you
choose to
apply? As a
recent
college graduate, I decided I had
spent plenty of time working on
my mind—it was time to work on
my heart. FEMA Corps acts as the
perfect portal to combine my
schooling in Psychology and
Sociology, my professionalism,
and my benevolence into one
commitment.
What has been one of your
favorite memories thus far?
Receiving the FEMA specialized
training in Anniston, Alabama was
very motivating for me; listening to
the FEMA officials speak of their
real-life interactions with disaster
survivors, all the while learning
about the way FEMA operates as
an organization was extremely
interesting.
Tell us about something that
you’ve done for the first time
since starting. Coming from a rural community in
Indiana, I have never gone through
a natural disaster before. Pictures
and stories can only
do so much to
explain the
hardships these
survivors endure in
their day-to-day
lives. Working
directly with
disaster survivors is
truly an inspiring
opportunity;
survivors who have
lost their own belongings and
bearings are still out assisting their
families, friends, and neighbors.
What has been the most
challenging part of your term of
service thus far? How have you
worked to overcome that
challenge?
At times it is difficult to see the
effect that such minute things such
as checking one simple box can
have—the right boxes checked
can be one of the determining
factors that lead up to a disaster
survivor obtaining a place to live.
I keep that notion in mind and
keep reminding myself that even
the smallest things can lead to
making a lasting impact.
Your term of service just started
a few months ago. What are
some of your goals as you
progress through the year?
I plan to build upon the knowledge
I have learned thus far, carrying
my skills with me from disaster to
disaster. I also hope to put my
abilities to use in the community—
volunteering more of my free time
to other organizations and
agencies in the area.
And lastly, please share any
advice that you might have for
prospective Corps Members
who are interested in FEMA
Corps. Anyone who is interested in FEMA
Corps should definitely be willing
to live a life that is very different
than the norm—from living in ships
to working 80 hours a week—
every day brings something new
and challenging. You must be
“FEMA flexible”!
This month’s FEMA Corps Member
spotlight comes from Kelsey
Stephens, currently serving at the
Southern Region campus (Vicksburg,
MS). A graduate of Ball State
University, Kelsey studied
Psychology, Sociology and
Interpersonal Relations. Kelsey is a
proud member of Bayou 6 and her
team’s FEMA specialty role is
Individual Assistance (IA). I spoke
with Kelsey about her FEMA Corps
experience and the great work that
she and other members are providing
to those in the NJ/NY area.
Kelsey (L) pictured with CNCS Director
Wendy Spencer and FEMA Deputy
Leave Your Mark: A FEMA Corps Member Spotlight
Diana Cook, a FEMA Corps member from
the Southern Region (Vicksburg, MS) is the
subject of this FEMA Corps Member
spotlight. A former NCCC member at the
North Central Region campus (Vinton, IA),
Diana is from Sunnyvale, CA. She currently
serves on Bayou 3 and her team’s FEMA
specialty role is Logistics.
How did you first learn about AmeriCorps NCCC FEMA
Corps?
I was looking online for volunteer opportunities in my area
and came across information about FEMA Corps.
Why did you choose to apply?
I was looking for a full-time opportunity to serve my
community while taking a break from school.
What has been one of your favorite memories thus far?
Spending time together with my team in our Habitat for
Humanity housing in Baton Rouge.
Tell us about something that you’ve done for the first
time since starting.
I’ve handled thousands of dollars worth of accountable
property.
What has been the most challenging part of your
term of service thus far? How have you worked to
overcome that challenge?
The hardest thing to deal with is not knowing what we
would be doing from day to day and the way that I
overcame that was by focusing on the people I was
helping and serving alongside every day.
Your term of service just started a few months ago.
What are some of your goals as you progress through
the year?
To develop a leadership style that inspires people to
push their comfort zones and that they are more capable in
uncertain situations.
And lastly, please share any advice that you might have
for prospective Corps Members who are interested in
FEMA Corps.
FEMA Corps will push your limits in ways you would not
expect because, as opposed to traditional NCCC, you will
be helping people in a more indirect manner, but you will
be able to impact thousands.
Leave Your Mark: A FEMA Corps Member Spotlight
Lizzie McSherry is a FEMA Corps
Member serving at the Southern
Region campus. Lizzie studied at
Daemen College before joining
FEMA Corps. Lizzie is a proud
member of Bayou 5 and her
team’s FEMA Specialty role is
Community Relations.
How did you first learn about
AmeriCorps NCCC FEMA Corps?
After initially applying for traditional
AmeriCorps NCCC, I received an
email about the potential of a
collaborative project between CNCS
and FEMA. A few weeks later, another
email came confirming the
development of the program with an
invitation to apply.
Why did you choose to apply?
Having a general idea of FEMA’s role
in a disaster and knowing the
reputation of CNCS’s service, I figured
that this would provide some great
insight into a large scale relief effort
along with being an incredible
opportunity to help those in need.
What has been one of your favorite
memories thus far?
One weekend during our Spike in
Baton Rouge, my team had completed
an ISP in New Orleans and decided we
needed to experience a night in this
new city together. A few hours into
roaming around the Bourbon Street
area, we ran into about 20 other Corps
Members whom we hadn’t seen since
our initial trainings; the crazy, excited
energy when we all saw each other
was completely overwhelming and
made for an amazing evening with
“old friends.”
Tell us about something you’ve
done for the first time since starting.
Even though I live so close to New
York City, I’ve never actually come
through and spent any time seeing the
sights. Since we’ve been here for our
current spike, I’ve visited Central Park
and Times Square, seen Grand Central
Station, eaten real New York style
pizza, visited the Museum of Natural
History, and so much more I figured I
would never end up doing!
What has been the most challenging
part of your term of service thus far?
How have you worked to overcome
that challenge?
Because situations in times of disaster
are both constantly and quickly
evolving, our individual roles and
projects working with FEMA do so as
well. The biggest difficulty, as a result
of this, has been in being reassigned
to new tasks or jobs after becoming so
mentally and emotionally invested
with those we were already working
with. Changing directions so often was
difficult at first, but having now taken
the time to observe how events unfold
in these circumstances, I’ve learned
that this seemingly chaotic period is an
inevitable aspect of disaster response
and has made understanding the
situation as a whole much easier.
Your term of service just started a
few months ago. What are some of
your goals as you progress through
the year?
When I started this term of service,
one of my primary goals was to
become fluent in Spanish; while I
wanted to study, I didn’t realize the
immediate importance it could have.
Since arriving in NYC, I’ve witnessed
fellow Corps Members who are multi-
lingual work and, after seeing how
much it helps them spreading
information to so many more people
than I’m able to, I plan to pursue
learning a new language more
seriously.
And lastly, please share any advice
that you might have for prospective
Corps Members who are interested
in FEMA Corps.
Leave your expectations at the door.
This program is a great experience if
you are able to let it be, but with
something as unpredictable as what
FEMA works with, it’s so important to
remain open-minded and be ready
for anything!
Leave Your Mark:
A FEMA Corps Team Leader Spotlight
Dan Faris is the FEMA
Corps Team Leader for
Summit 7, from the
Southern Region. A New
Jersey native, Dan has
attended Rutgers
University. His team’s
FEMA Specialty role is
Public Assistance.
How did you first learn about
AmeriCorps NCCC FEMA
Corps?
When I applied to NCCC, I was
contacted about FEMA Corps by
campus staff.
Why did you choose to apply?
I wanted to go help people who
had just been through a disaster.
What has been one of your
favorite memories thus far? Taking trips with the other team
leaders has been a favorite
memory. Helping my team come
together as a cohesive unit has
been a good experience.
Tell us about something that
you’ve done for the first time
since starting. I have walked through a disaster-
stricken area right after the
disaster hit. Seeing parts of Staten
Island that were badly damaged
really stuck out in my mind and is
very different than witnessing it on
TV or the internet.
What has been the most
challenging part of your
term of service thus far?
How have you worked to
overcome that challenge? In this deployment, it is
tough doing FEMA work
versus hands on work. Even
though we are still helping
people, you like to see who
you are helping and see the
results of your work. We
have tried to do more hands
on things like working with
Disaster Recovery Centers
and hand out supplies.
Your term of service
just started a few
months ago. What are
some of your goals as
you progress through
the year?
I would like to continue
to strengthen my team
and make sure that they
get the best experience
possible.
And lastly, please share any
advice that you might have for
prospective Corps Members
who are interested in FEMA
Corps.
Make sure you are interested in
the management aspect of disaster
relief. It would help you to be able
to see the big picture of helping
people and not focus on helping
individuals.