Amass for AmeriCorps – Field Update 8

One person CAN make a difference…

AmeriCorps Alum Zenaida Solano did it by breaking language barriers!

Zenaida Solano served as Nye County community’s AmeriCorps Hispanic Advocate, taking on large tasks to help the Hispanic community of Pahrump, Nevada receive the aid and services they deserve. She provided over 700 translations and/or interpretations for the Spanish-speaking community. Her primary role was working with the Nye County School District to help parents deal with the school system in areas of truancy, suspension, special education planning, parent-teacher conferences, behavior intervention, and registration. She helped parents get immunizations for their children starting kindergarten, helped secure medical appointments, and helped complete tax forms all through breaking the language barrier and being their translator. Throughout all of her efforts, she served as a resource for her own workplace to ensure cultural sensitivity when collaborating with the Hispanic Community by improving the knowledge and skills of fellow staff members.

(Zenaida featured above – center – Spirit of Service Award awardee)

Her service was so influential that Zenaida was nominated and selected as one of four AmeriCorps members from across the country to be honored with the Spirit of Service Award presented by the Corporation for National and Community Service in 2009. “Out of 75,000 AmeriCorps members nationwide, Nevada produced the AmeriCorps Spirit of Service awardee,” said Shawn Lecker-Pomaville, CEO of Nevada Volunteers. “This is an incredible testament to the quality of AmeriCorps programs in Nevada, as well as a shining example for volunteerism nationwide.”

Let’s give Nevada the possibility of producing the next AmeriCorps Spirit of Service Award awardee — contribute to “Amass for AmeriCorps”!