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In R.I., public service becomes a prized job option during recessionPROVIDENCE, Aug 21, 2009 (The Providence Journal - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Sara Kudra spent five years studying at Rhode Island School of Design to become an architect. In May, with her degree in hand, she started searching for work. She said a job at an architectural firm is crucial to her career. Besides an income, she needs three years of experience before she can apply for an architect's license. "It's a typical route ... I think I sent out 20 [resumes]. I got the picture pretty easily," Kudra said. "I heard from people who were interested, but they were [all] saying they have absolutely no positions." Kudra, 22, who lives in Providence, didn't want to wait idly until the frozen job market thaws. She decided to take a different path, opting for a job in public service. Many people have made a similar decision. As the state's unemployment rate continues to reflect a weakened job market, more and more out-of-work people are turning to public service during the recession. Organizers at Serve Rhode Island, which administers nine community-service organizations under the federally funded AmeriCorps program, said the demand for public-service jobs this year has been so competitive they had to turn away applicants, said executive director Bernard Beaudreau. Besides an annual allotment of $500,000, Serve Rhode Island received a $1.25-million boost in federal stimulus dollars, so its agencies could expand the number of people they hire. All told, the ranks of AmeriCorps members in Rhode Island have grown from 285 last year to 400, a 40 percent increase. More jobs will be filled in September, when the one-year in-service program typically begins. There will be 26 more positions available at an additional three community service organizations, Beaudreau said. "Usually, we have to recruit aggressively. Last year, it would have really been hard to fill these [additional] openings. This year AmeriCorps and national service is much more attractive, especially when [people] don't have employment as an option, or are in between jobs," Beaudreau said. "This time, there was hardly any effort at all, except for the screening of applications, so we chose people that would be best for the programs." The AmeriCorps program provides an $11,000 stipend, health benefits, food stamps and an educational award of up to $4,750. The money can be used to repay student loans or future tuition. In exchange, members work a regular work week, giving a year of public service. While the bulk of the applicants are people passionate about doing community service, many people are simply having a difficult time finding meaningful work. Kudra, who said she didn't want to be stuck waiting tables, took a position in AmeriCorps' VISTA program, which stands for Volunteers in Service to America. She now works at her alma mater, RISD, guiding others into public-service positions. "I've been finding recently that community service and activism is an integral part of what I hope to become as an architect," Kudra said, adding that she has a growing interest in affordable housing. Cristina Meister, 23, is an environmental educator now doing public service at Roger Williams Park Zoo under the Ocean State Environmental Education Collaborative. Still pursuing her degree in environmental education, Meister, who lives in Providence, moved north from Pennsylvania two years ago in search of a job. She also needs financial help to pay for school. She said many of the other nonprofit organizations where she looked for work didn't have the funds to hire her. A public-service job was is a good fit with her educational goals and she'll be able to use the financial award for education to help pay future tuition. "I have been having a hard time finding a job. I have been doing odd waitress jobs, pretty much whatever I could do to get by," Meister said. "This is a stepping stone. At least I have a job. When you don't have money, you don't have health care, you don't have a way to go back to school, you feel stuck. I think that is why so many people are flocking to this." [email protected] To see more of The Providence Journal or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.projo.com. Copyright (c) 2009, The Providence Journal, R.I. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. |