Serving with AmeriCorps is a great opportunity no matter your age or background. Our members include high school & university students, mid-career professionals, people pivoting into or exploring different industries, retired seniors, and more. Whether you want to learn new skills, gain valuable experience, or improve your community and connections, there’s something here for you.
AmeriCorps’ mission is to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering. Individuals serve alongside one another for the betterment of every community throughout the nation. The AmeriCorps network strengthens communities by bringing together people from all backgrounds to solve problems at the local level, encourages responsibility through service and civic education, and expands opportunity by helping to make education more affordable.
Benefits of Service
- Living Allowance
- Healthcare & Food Assistance
- Childcare Assistance
- Segal Education Award Up to $7,395
- Student Loan Deferment
- Student Loan Interest Forbearance
- Support & Training
- Professional Development
- Community Impact
- Employers of National Service
- Schools of National Service
Eligibility
Programs must not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, disability, sex, political affiliation, or religion.
- Must be 17 years of age or older
- Must have or be working on a high school diploma or GED
- Must be a U.S. citizen, National, or legal permanent resident alien
- Must never have been convicted of murder or registered as a sex offender
- Must complete required background checks, including:
- State Criminal History Check
- National Sex Offender Registry
- FBI Fingerprint Check
Streams & Areas of Service
There are many ways to get involved with AmeriCorps through various streams of service in Arkansas. AmeriCorps streams of service include AmeriCorps National and State, AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America), AmeriCorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps), and AmeriCorps Seniors.
AmeriCorps connects individuals and organizations to help communities tackle their toughest challenges. The key focus areas include: education, economic opportunity, disaster services, environmental stewardship, healthy futures, and veterans & military families.
Explore the various streams of service listed, and learn more about the Engage Arkansas state-funded programs below.
AmeriCorps State & National
AmeriCorps State and National supports a broad range of local service programs that engage thousands of Americans in intensive direct service at nonprofit and community-based organizations to meet critical community needs. National AmeriCorps programs operate in more than one state.
National programs with an Arkansas presence include:
- American Connection Corps
- City Year
- Conservation Legacy Stewards
- FoodCorps
- Lead for America
- The Corps Network (US Forest Service)
- Teach For America
- Share Our Strength
Arkansas State AmeriCorps programs are known collectively as Engage Arkansas.
- Check out the EngageAR Arkansas AmeriCorps Program Map
- Learn more about AmeriCorps State and National
- View the list of Arkansas State AmeriCorps Programs
AmeriCorps NCCC
The AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) is a full-time residential program for men and women ages 18-26. NCCC strengthens communities while developing leaders through direct, team-based national and community service. AmeriCorps NCCC teams from the Southwest Region campus (in Colorado) often serve at project sites located in Arkansas.
NCCC teams serve at four projects in different states and cities with multiple sponsor organizations to meet a variety of community needs of energy conservation, infrastructure improvement, natural and other disaster services, and urban and rural development. NCCC terms last ten months for Members and 11 months for Team Leaders. There is no age limit for Team Leaders, the only requirement being that they are over 18. Learn more about AmeriCorps NCCC.
AmeriCorps Seniors
AmeriCorps Seniors is open to individuals 55+. When you join AmeriCorps Seniors, you choose how you want to give back. Help a struggling child to learn to read. Deliver groceries to an elderly neighbor. Support a family impacted by natural disasters. These are just a few opportunities available to you through AmeriCorps Seniors.
AmeriCorps Seniors includes the Foster Grandparent Program, placing Seniors as mentors and guides for students in the classroom; the RSVP Program, allowing Seniors to use existing skills and talents in the community; and the Senior Companion Program, connecting with others needing companionship. While the above are Senior-specific options, Arkansas Seniors can also apply for VISTA and State and National positions.
AmeriCorps VISTA
AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) provides full-time members to community organizations and public agencies to create and expand programs that build capacity and ultimately bring low-income individuals and communities out of poverty.
As an AmeriCorps member in the VISTA program, you will support an organization to make sustainable change through activities such as fundraising, grant writing, research, and volunteer recruitment. This opportunity prepares you for a life of service in the public, private, or nonprofit sector. There are AmeriCorps VISTA positions at organizations across the state of Arkansas. Learn more about AmeriCorps VISTA.
Ready to serve?
If you see something interesting, fill in the AmeriCorps Inquiry Form or search for available positions below. Although some programs may not have listings, they might still be looking for members. You can reach out to the appropriate Program Directors directly to inquire further. Finally, to get a sense of site locations, you can use our program map to identify AmeriCorps service sites nearest you.
Engage Arkansas 