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AmeriCorps: Getting Things Done!

 

 

 The Albany Police AmeriCorps program began its dedication to service in 2008. The Albany Police AmeriCorps is a vibrant working partnership with the Albany Police Department devoted to bridging the gap between the police and the community. The mission of the program is to deliver a strong spirit of service by enhancing public safety, reducing the fear of crime through police and AmeriCorps presence and to increase civic responsibility at the neighborhood level. The Albany Police AmeriCorps cadets provide meaningful service by establishing and maintaining a visible presence in their nine low income and/or high crime target areas within the City of Albany, Georgia and undertaking activities designed to solve crime producing problems. The cadets challenge the police and residents to become partners in their neighborhoods to make it a safer place to live, work, and play by empowering residents to prevent crime and strengthen their community. The Albany Police AmeriCorps was honored to represent Georgia AmeriCorps in the “Transforming Communities through Service: A Collection of 52 of the Most Innovative AmeriCorps Programs in the United States” publication.

The Albany Police AmeriCorps cadet’s service includes activities such as youth outreach, senior citizen outreach, neighborhood environmental projects, volunteer generation, building community partnerships, community interaction and strengthening development, and crime prevention strategies. The cadets strive to develop new strategies to reach out to the youth at risk of becoming involved in gang and/or criminal activity, reminding the senior citizens they are an important part of our community, and inspiring the police officers to be more than just the law enforcers. The cadets sponsor activities to promote physical and health wellness, positive mentoring, and community policing education with service projects of after school programs, summer camps, neighborhood watch programs, Senior Citizen Bingo Games, recreational activities, educational campaigns of safety tips fliers, and community liter pick ups. The Albany Police AmeriCorps extend an arm of partnership to such organizations as local colleges, the Albany Housing Authority, local businesses, faith based organizations, and are proud to be an active member of the “Stop the Violence” Movement in our community.

The Albany Police AmeriCorps program also strives to focus on member development. The ten Albany Police AmeriCorps cadets are a great asset to the City of Albany. The cadets training concentrates on motivating the cadets to understanding the importance of their AmeriCorps service, being positive role models, improving communication skills, team building, responsibility, developing leadership proficiency, CPR/First Aid Training, understanding the importance of life after AmeriCorps, and developing the cadet’s abilities to serve as First Responders. The cadets have the unique opportunity to learn from the police officers the magnitude of handling emergency situations and training to serve as emergency responders in critical situations from an AmeriCorps/ Police Ride- A- Long Program. Additionally, the program encourages its members that have completed service to continue to a functional part of AmeriCorps service by returning for service projects and sharing their
experience(s) with newer members.

Watch a short video of AmeriCorps at work in the community!

Delivering meaningful service:

 

  • Youth Outreach: The Albany Police AmeriCorps cadets strive to reach out to the youth in our target areas. The cadets believe no young person should be left behind or left out. The cadet program sponsors after school programs that focus on physical and health wellness activities, mentoring, recreational activities, and educational seminars on topics such as gun safety, avoiding gangs, drug awareness, and neighborhood safety. Although there may be other mentoring style programs, none compare to the efforts the Albany Police AmeriCorps cadets. The cadets hit the neighborhoods streets and build relationships with the youth to provide a constructive outlet for the youth. The cadets concentrate on getting the youth off of the streets and involved in positive activities.
  • Senior Citizen Outreach: The Albany Police AmeriCorps cadets enjoy their service with the senior citizens within their target areas. The cadets develop programs aimed at keeping the Senior Community safe and informed on local crime trends and prevention techniques. The cadets perform wellness checks on the elderly residents to let them know someone cares about them and is concerned for their well being. The cadets host activities to get the seniors involved in their communities such as Bingo Games, Movie Days, dances, and holiday projects. The cadets sing Holiday Carols/ Songs to the seniors and couple it with Holiday Safety Tips to provide an interactive experience for the audience. The Senior Citizens embrace the cadets and make for an enjoyable service experience for the cadets.
  • Neighborhood Clean Ups: The Albany Police AmeriCorps is an awarding winning program with their environmental endeavors. Keep Albany/ Dougherty Beautiful awarded the Albany Police AmeriCorps with their 2009 Organization Award for their diligent service towards community litter pick ups and volunteer generation for these events. The cadets make every effort to encourage residents to take pride in their communities and assist with community litter pick ups. Through the cadets labors, they are able to provide safer play ground areas for the neighborhoods, beautification of the target areas, and a sense of pride from their service.
  • Community Interaction and Strengthening: The Albany Police AmeriCorps encourages partnerships with their program. The program reaches out to community businesses, local colleges and schools, City and County Government, faith based organizations, social groups, and community residents to build bonds to help strengthen our community. The AmeriCorps encourages participation from local police officers to bridge the gap between the police and the community residents. The cadets push the community policing philosophy to endeavor crime reduction methods such as developing Newsletters to target areas addressing Crime Safety Tips, Neighborhood Watch Programs, and Community Walk and Talk opportunities to interact with residents. The AmeriCorps cadets have also joined the “Stop the Violence” movement, T.A.K.I.N.G. A.U.T.H.O.R.I.T.Y. (Teamwork And Kindness Including Next Generation Albanians United Together Helping Our Region Inspire Today’s Youth) which is a City wide effort of over 50 organizations, churches, and other entities to reach out and inspire the youth in our community.


    Find us on Facebook: Albany Police AmeriCorps
    To volunteer, call us at (229) 430-5304 or email kabarnes@dougherty.ga.us