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AmeriCorps Cape Cod Prepares for Year 23 Graduation

Published on: July 13, 2022

Join us and celebrate Year 23 Corps members who made a positive impact on Cape Cod

July 13, 2022 (Barnstable, MA) â€“ On July 28, the AmeriCorps Cape Cod program will be graduating 24 members, signifying the completion of each member’s eleven months and at least 1,700 hours of public service on Cape Cod supporting projects in natural resource management, disaster preparedness, and response, environmental education, and volunteer engagement.

The public is invited to celebrate Year 23 members’ contribution to our Cape Cod community and attend the graduation ceremony on Thursday, July 28 at 10:00 AM at the Barnstable High School-Knights Auditorium, 744 West Main Street, Hyannis. The celebration will feature speeches from county officials and program staff. Light refreshments will be offered.

“For the last 23 years, AmeriCorps Cape Cod has provided instrumental service to all 15 towns of Barnstable County. This graduating cohort arrived on the Cape last September eager to serve. Their commitment to the tasks presented to them has strengthened our communities and reinforced our environmental resiliency. We are excited to celebrate them on July 28 with all our partners!” said Kat Garofoli, AmeriCorps Cape Cod Program Manager. 

Since 1999, the AmeriCorps Cape Corps program, supported by Barnstable County, Cape Cod’s Regional Government, and the AmeriCorps federal agency, have made a quantifiable, positive impact in the region, having served a total of 972,699 hours, and has saved Cape Cod an estimated $32,311,825.  

In Year 23 alone, members served a combined 40,020 hours and saved the region an estimated $1,198,592.

Since September 2021, members have performed critical work helping the following partners:

  1. Barnstable Clean Water Coalition
  2. Barnstable Land Trust, Inc.
  3. Barnstable County: Cape Cod Cooperative Extension
  4. Barnstable County Dept. of Health & Environment: Massachusetts Alternative Septic System Testing Center
  5. Brewster Conservation Trust
  6. Cape Cod Climate Change Collaborative
  7. CARE for the Cape & Islands
  8. Cape Cod National Seashore: Fire Management Office
  9. Cape Cod National Seashore: Park Planning Department
  10. Center for Coastal Studies
  11. Chatham Conservation Foundation
  12. Dennis Conservation Land Trust
  13. Friends of Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge
  14. Harwich Conservation Trust
  15. International Fund for Animal Welfare
  16. Massachusetts DCR: Forest Fire Control District 1
  17. Orleans Conservation Trust
  18. Sipson Island Trust
  19. Town of Bourne: Natural Resources Department
  20. Town of Chatham: Natural Resources Department
  21. Town of Dennis: Natural Resources Department
  22. Town of Falmouth: Conservation Commission
  23. Town of Falmouth: Biological Services & Shellfish Division
  24. Town of Harwich: Cemetery Department
  25. Town of Harwich: Conservation Department
  26. Town of Sandwich: Natural Resource Department
  27. Town of Wellfleet: Health/Conservation Department
  28. Town of Wellfleet: Shellfish Department
  29. Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

This year the Corps celebrates graduation on the heels of the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation announcement on June 6 that AmeriCorps Cape Cod will receive $499,999 as part of $59,973,651 state and national funding supporting 6,110 AmeriCorps members and 23 programs nationwide.  These vital grants to the local Corps will help underwrite and expand funding, improve housing for AmeriCorps Cape Cod and allow for an increase in wages. 

Currently, members receive a $9,900 stipend for one year of service. Barnstable County provides members with housing. The term of service with AmeriCorps Cape Cod includes extensive training with professional certifications in areas of land management, shellfish propagation, incident command systems, and more. The program continues to be a foundational starting point for young people to gain experience and become leaders for the environment and disaster response.

ABOUT AMERICORPS CAPE COD: Barnstable County’s AmeriCorps Cape Cod is a national service program that recruits 24 members to serve on Cape Cod each year. The program focuses on meeting Cape Cod’s critical and pressing environmental and disaster response needs through a dedication to community service and local collaboration.

ABOUT BARNSTABLE COUNTY REGIONAL GOVERNMENT OF CAPE COD: Barnstable County provides exemplary government functions and services to keep our community healthy and safe, promote sustainable growth, and offer a proactive, open government that enhances the quality of life for the citizens of Barnstable County. Learn more at www.capecod.gov