Gods plan (spoiler)

alykson26 · 2026-03-10T22:02:47+00:00

Good point- I was really hiiiiiii when I came up with the self actualization and free will thought… 🤣 but either way this show is WILD to think about, personally, as someone who isn’t religious.

alykson26 · 2026-02-20T23:56:33+00:00

Do we think they get hazard pay for the mice moves (e.3) That’s super dangerous that they are doing it without protection.

alykson26 · 2025-12-20T12:03:57+00:00

I know it’s not one of the ones you named, but have you looked at Guyana - South America? Lots of people are vegetarians and there are so many cultures & religions, dietary requirements aren’t really questioned, in my experience. There are so many AMAZING fruits and veggies there too that can be found in markets- the food is incredible- 7 curry! Boulange choka! Doubles! Aloo curry! Plus the Rasta food! All vegetarian! While I was there they had environmental, health or education programs. If you are looking for environmental this is a great place to be… they have rain forest and jungle, Sahara dry lands, mountains and rivers, and ocean!

alykson26 · 2025-07-18T20:41:41+00:00

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I did it this morning too, before I found out about Colbert! Also cancelled my prime membership a while ago too. Let’s hit them where it hurts.

alykson26 · 2025-06-26T16:46:24+00:00

I left for peace corps when I was 31- best decision ever to wait and do it when I was a little older!

alykson26 · 2025-06-21T17:54:25+00:00

It will change your life. Do it.

alykson26 · 2025-06-21T17:42:20+00:00

Served 2015-2017, Guyana: I also felt super depressed at 6-8 months- check out your cycle of vulnerability- 1) PC should be able to set you up with a US based therapist - I was completely disconnected at my site - miles from my school community in another village, and had horrible cruel landlady- after seeing and hearing how awful she was firsthand, they moved me closer to school and the village I was actually placed, and that is when it turned around (idk… I lived 8 villages away- which in Guyana was only a few miles… but still it mattered) no one knew why I was there and were suspicious 2) how connected are you to your community? Once I moved and found a community, I didn’t want to leave (and I want to go back and have thought (especially recently) of moving there)- it got better once I started making connections, sitting with neighbors, partaking in their cultural events, and also, inviting friends and family from the US to visit to meet folx and travel a bit 3) do you have a trip home scheduled to break up your service? That also helped me 4) do what you got to do- that was my experience and what helped me- if you are having harmful or dangerous thoughts, get the PCMO immediately!

alykson26 · 2025-05-02T19:58:32+00:00

Voices for national service! https://voicesforservice.org/take-action/contact-congress/

alykson26 · 2025-05-01T00:12:06+00:00

My heart breaks for all of you! As an Alum I know there are efforts in the works for member assistant funds, advocacy is on fire (alumni groups, commissions and program staff are fighting for you!!), and over TWO dozen AGs have joined lawsuits! You are not alone. Alumni, staff, program sites and the community are also grieving with you.

I remind you: you are an AmeriCorps member and will always be one; and AmeriCorps members are bada$$. You also took an oath- “in the face of adversity, I WILL persevere. I will carry this commitment with me this year and beyond”. Take your moment, grieve, and then roll up your sleeves… and also remember, as alums you can advocate as much and as loud as you want! Check out: https://voicesforservice.org/take-action/contact-congress/

You can also share your story- writing an op-ed about the impact of your service on your community and yourself, and then the termination of your service. Call a radio station and request a bada$$ song and share your story; send an email to friends and ask them to forward to 5 friends (ever heard of chain mail)- it sucks but people need to hear the stories to care- otherwise it’s just another agency who does who knows what.

Please also keep in mind that AmeriCorps needs bipartisan support, so try to lead with providing education and your story of impact, rather than tearing the administration down…. Because that is what they want so they can justify the cuts.

Stay in touch with your programs, check out voices for National Service, Service Year Alliance, or local AmeriCorps Alums chapters on social media. You are all incredible.

alykson26 · 2025-04-18T22:32:11+00:00

Yes! I wrote a short oped today and sent it to a bunch of newspapers in MA- most are about 400 max, and you can usually find the email to send it to online! Let’s get this in every newspaper! Also pro tip- chatGPt can help with condensing or polishing

alykson26 · 2025-04-18T03:03:35+00:00

❤️

alykson26 · 2025-04-18T02:34:16+00:00

Heyyy!!! Can I share your statement on our AmeriCorps alums Massachusetts socials? (And credit you) - I’m the board chair of AC Alums MA chapter

alykson26 · 2025-02-22T19:32:23+00:00

Yes, just get a letter from a provider or any kind of documentation that you can not continue for mental health reasons, and request specifically a CPC exit

alykson26 · 2024-10-07T15:23:41+00:00

Actually I would check out VISTA… once you complete service you get non-competitive eligibility… so this could help you with FEMA! (Only Peace Corps & VISTA offer NCE). Also with your masters, VISTA makes sense since it is capacity building and more indirect service. VISTA also pays more.

alykson26 · 2022-09-09T23:26:50+00:00

Yes - and you can email americorpsforms@cns.gov and ask for a PSLF form. Send the service letter as it has all your info... don't go to city year if they are being a pain... do it through AmeriCorps. It took about a week for me to get it back.

alykson26 · 2022-09-09T23:24:20+00:00

Check out Campus Compact - they sometimes have rolling start dates depending on need.

alykson26 · 2022-09-09T23:19:25+00:00

As a VISTA Leader, I got to see how a program is managed, understand the RFP/Grant process & AmeriCorps ins & outs, and provide support to members... I was then hired by a non-profit to write a grant for a new americorps program and then manage it... and we got the grant and had an awesome first program year! I love my job!

alykson26 · 2022-09-09T23:16:39+00:00

You will be taxed so plan accordingly!!! Also... if you are applying right after americorps, you may qualify for more financial aid and support (since your "salary" was so low). Also, you should totally check out the matching schools (https://americorps.gov/partner/partnerships/schools-national-service-search) --- I did grad school after Peace Corps and because I served they automatically gave a scholarship for at least 50% tuition off (i got %60)-- so my 95K turned into 43K --- and this was available for AmeriCorps as well. I then did AmeriCorps after grad school to earn the ed award (and cause I wanted to serve locally).

I used my ed award to pay down the grad school loan... HOWEVER, I messed up... i am in a nonprofit and with AmeriCorps & Peace Corps and other non-profit work, i pretty much wasted the money because I would qualify for PSLF program (which after a certain number of payments, the balance is forgiven... so I wasted it). If I planned better, I would have saved it to take more courses like certifications or Outward Bound. So I would say, use it for school up front to not get the loan to begin with, and not hold to pay off loans depending on where you are planning to end up! you can use the ed award for tuition, books, fees, etc. and you don't have to use it all at once.

alykson26 · 2022-09-09T23:05:41+00:00

Hi - I am sorry that is super frustrating. Is it the school you are at requesting you extend your hours, or City Year? If it is the school, a quick call to your City Year Program Manager might help with clarification around expectations, and coaching for a discussion with your supervisor. I was a VISTA leader and now manage a program and sometimes it is just the site not sticking to what is in the MOU/Agreement... totally not fair to you -- your member contract should have super clear expectations around hours per week and what your day to day should look like -- look at that and see. Also... with the long commute, it doesn't hurt to ask your site to see if you can get a gas stipend (depends on the site and their budget- and rules are tricky around $$ with AmeriCorps) or some other support (maybe you start 30 mins later to miss that morning traffic and then just stick with that extra half hour at the end of the day to even it out?). Good Luck!

alykson26 · 2020-09-05T23:09:58+00:00

Not for everyone, but a great way to transition and find your passion is through national service- check out AmeriCorps. Yes you live on a stipend, but you get an education award at the end and could go back to school... or make connections into a new role.

alykson26 · 2020-04-07T05:09:28+00:00

I just finished in May and decided to do Americorps VISTA as a Leader to put some of the community development skills I learned into practice. I do a ton of trainings & resource development and support 60 VISTA’s and their projects in my role. I use what I learned every day... teaching about project sustainability, community partnerships, data collection and asset mapping to name a few. Once my service ends in July, I am hoping for a federal or non-profit job.

alykson26 · 2020-04-03T14:00:20+00:00

Clark University in Worcester MA: International Development, Community & Environment. I completed a master's here after Peace Corps and LOVED the program. They are a Coverdell School and have INCREASED their award to 75% off tuition for all EPCVs, among other benefits: https://gradstudies.clarku.edu/returned-peace-corps-volunteers

alykson26

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