News 2016: Leduc Center for Civic Engagement welcomes AmeriCorps member

News 2016: Leduc Center for Civic Engagement welcomes AmeriCorps member
Leduc Center for Civic Engagement welcomes AmeriCorps member

Medora LaPlante began her service at 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance High School Civic Leadership Institute

Medora LaPlante

The at UMass Dartmouth Leduc Center for Civic Engagement today announced that Fall River native Medora LaPlante has joined the Center as a Social Capital Inc. AmeriCorps member. A recent graduate of Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Medora will be serving with the Center’s SouthCoast Serves project to increase youth engagement in the local community. Medora began her service today at the Leduc Center’s 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance High School Civic Leadership Institute.

Earlier this month, the Corporation for National and Community Service issued a national competitive AmeriCorps grant-award to Massachusetts based Social Capital Inc. (SCI), along with hundreds of other organizations across the United States. The grant enables SCI to place 25 full-time AmeriCorps members with local nonprofits.

The UMass Dartmouth Leduc Center for Civic Engagement, United Neighbors of Fall River, Boys & Girls Club of Fall River, the Community Economic Development Center, and The Marion Institute are local host sites for the SCI AmeriCorps program.

The national AmeriCorps grant awards are made through a highly competitive application process. SCI is one of five programs in Massachusetts picked to receive a competitive AmeriCorps grant for the first time through this recent grant process. AmeriCorps programs in the state are overseen by the Massachusetts Service Alliance.

"The Leduc Center is very pleased to once again host an Americorp member.  Medora will be critical to our efforts to tie the university’s faculty and student efforts to the community."  said Assistant Vice Chancellor for Civic Engagement Matthew Roy.

Serving with SCI AmeriCorps is an opportunity to gain valuable experience, make lifelong connections, and help build community.  Members implement volunteer outreach and capacity building activities that increase volunteer participation, and provide leadership training and community service opportunities for youth. Members receive a stipend and post-service educational award for their service.