Welcome AmeriCorps Members!

This week, nine AmeriCorps Program Members arrive in Los Angeles to start a four-month service project with Golden State Opportunity (GSO), Eastmont Community Center, and Koreatown Youth + Community Center (KYCC).

The AmeriCorps Program Members will be dividing their time between the three organizations to help community members with free tax preparation services.

“I’m very excited for our Program Members to start and really dive into the work taking place at the community level,” said Taylor Crotty, GSO’s Volunteer Manager. “I think connecting community members with programs that put money back in the pockets of working individuals will be an exciting opportunity for many of them.”

During their first weeks, Eastmont Community Center will conduct a series of trainings to ensure the Program Members are VITA-certified. VITA stands for Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, a federal tax preparation training program.

The Americorps members will then begin assisting community members with their annual tax preparations. This will include checking to see if they qualify for the California Earned Income Tax Credit, the Young Child Tax Credit or other public benefit programs. AmeriCorps Program Members will also engage in outreach and education and volunteer recruitment on behalf of GSO throughout Los Angeles and will also participate in some beautification projects planned by Koreatown Youth + Community Center.

If you’re interested in learning more about the work of the AmeriCorps Program Members or if you would like to volunteer with Golden State Opportunity, please contact taylor@goldenstateopportunity.org