If this past year has taught me anything, it is the importance of connecting with those around you even if it happens remotely. Through the Colorado Covid-19 Containment Response Corps (CCRC) I had the opportunity to work with individuals from age 18 through 55+. Having three different streams of service (NCCC, State and National, and AmeriCorps Senior) all on one project at the same time, I saw this as an opportunity to connect everyone from near and far, thus the "League of AmeriFriends" was born! Having a program with three different streams of service is quite rare, so passing up on the opportunity to connect everyone was not an option. The League of AmeriFriends began with the idea that we all need support in these trying times and connection is ever so valuable with remote work, so why not create connections that are long lasting and intergenerational! After realizing what a great opportunity we had those of us on the AmeriCorps Senior side of the project proposed an idea to the NCCC and AmeriCorps State & National teams. If the members/volunteers weren't already connecting with each other, why don't we make it fun for them and create a "league" to encourage participation!
Organized with the hope that it would eventually sustain itself we created two kickoff events for the voluntary league and received great response with over 80 members/volunteers joining the team! Splitting members up into diverse "pods" with a mixture of each stream it has been largely up to each pod to maintain their connection with one another, but we have provided some topics/ideas for groups to discussion monthly to assist in the initial steps of the League. We have already heard a productive mixture of social and service/professional connections being made. Groups have noticed each other’s skillsets and provided each other with on-the-job help and tips – purely as a result of having this social web. It is truly empowering to see what small connections such as these can do for the larger community. I hope to hear stories from the League of AmeriFriends as members/volunteers continue their service and move on to other endeavors.