On Tuesday, Apr. 29, High Rocks Educational Corporation received orders to end AmeriCorps programming immediately. This impacts High Rocks, which has home offices in Pocahontas, Greenbrier, and Nicolas Counties, and our work all across the state, including 22 AmeriCorps partner sites that serve in all 55 counties of West Virginia. High Rocks places nearly 70 members across the state. This cut will not only end the AmeriCorps program, but puts the entire High Rocks organization and all High Rocks programs in real and sudden jeopardy.
This decision deeply compromises the invaluable support these organizations provide to the people of West Virginia, including the High Rocks’ Workforce Development initiative.
The sudden end of AmeriCorps programs, for which we had approved competitive contracts and signed grant agreements, will irrevocably impact our organization. The High Rocks AmeriCorps members deliver essential community services daily and respond to emergencies and needs of the community. AmeriCorps, as a whole, has been a beacon of hope for the Mountain State, providing reliable, sustained public service in times of dire need.
AmeriCorps has also been a strategic investment for the state. It has provided critical personal and professional development pathways for many community members who have been able to stay, thrive, raise families, and look out for their neighbors right here at home. Our AmeriCorps members are gaining valuable workforce development while serving their communities.
At High Rocks, AmeriCorps has been integral to our mission, educating, empowering, and inspiring young people in West Virginia since 1999. We have mobilized 8,930 volunteers and served 38,192 young people, equipping them with work experience, valuable training, and the spirit of community service.
The potential loss of this program for High Rocks and other nonprofits is a cause for significant concern. Losing a pipeline of motivated young people who invest their time and energy and form a lifelong commitment to West Virginia’s communities, is not just a setback, but a significant long-term loss for our state.
The loss of AmeriCorps for our program will mark the end of a 26-year-long journey that has seen members growing within our organization and learning new workforce skills within our network of 22 partner organizations. High Rocks is a leader in transforming the lives of the young people we serve, and AmeriCorps is a pivotal part of that work. We are reaching out today for your support and advocacy, as your voice can make a significant difference.
“Our program is strong, efficient, and lean. For the 2023/2024 program year, our AmeriCorps enrollment rate was 98.4%, and our retention rate was 95.2%. We delivered over 92,000 hours of high-impact programming to 9,354 participants and engaged 1,122 volunteers serving over 67,000 hours,” High Rocks Executive Director Sarah Riley said.
“Our program has a real impact on workforce development. Out of our 60 AmeriCorps members for the 2022 and 2023 program year, 11 were returning members, and 49 entered the program because of unemployment. 100% of our AmeriCorps members went on to jobs or continuing education and training. Most of our members come from West Virginia and stay here.”
To get involved and advocate on behalf of High Rocks and all that we do for the community please contact WV Cabinet Secretary Chelsea Ruby at 304-558-2200, Chelsea.a.ruby@WV.gov, WV Governor Patrick Morrisey at 304-558-2000, Senator Jim Justice at 202-224-3954 or 304-342-5855, or Senator Shelley Moore Capito at 202-224-6472 or 304-347-5372.
You can also contact Representatives Carol Miller at 202-225-3452 or Riley Moore at 202-225-3452.
