The MFJS Reporter — Winter 2020 T-R

These programs helped Wittebort to see community engagement for more than just the service side or a once in a while commitment. She realized that youth development was something she found imperative, so she wanted to gain a national lens to broaden her perspective.

Wittebort knows that youth are required to be in schools, programs that reach individuals this way more students and make a greater impact. AmeriCorps programs like CityYear work to achieve just that.

CityYear is typically a nine to ten month assignment where members are stationed to support students in a specific school each day. The program focuses on Math, English, attendance, and behavioral support to prevent students from dropping out during their most vulnerable educational years.

“In CityYear you’re a full-time tutor and mentor working with a team of near peers, you can be from ages 18 to 25, creating a diverse cohort. But it is important to consider that not everyone can afford to do a year of service, limiting who is able to help to an extent. That being said, there were all kinds of reasons for individuals to be there,” said Wittebort.

There is an intensive training for about a month before you even go into schools, members are then placed into schools as mentors and supporters. The program takes the time getting to know each member and their expertise to form a team that is made up of skill and identity diversity as opposed to pre-assigning members.

Wittebort was accepted to a CityYear AmeriCorps Program in Baton Rouge after her college graduation. She notes that CityYear works hard to make teams that are representative of the students and that in entering a community, individuals must “check their privilege” to effect change in a sustainable and mindful manner.

After CityYear, Wittebort began to work in the Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic. She explains that the Peace Corps frames the work members do as what the community wants. 

Wittebort said, “They’ll give guidelines but it really is do what your community wants, which is difficult for some people because, as individuals from the US, we are used to efficiency, effectiveness, movement, schedules, time, bureaucracy, authority—this is different in every culture. It takes a lot of flexibility and adaptability to not get stuck in the very narrow mindset which I think is a little bit of where the white savior complex comes in—when you come in with a specific agenda.”

Being in the Peace Corps is a two-year commitment. There are different types of positions based on an individual’s area of expertise. Applicants apply to countries and specific sectors—education, health, environment, etc. They can also serve where the support is “most needed.”

According to the Peace Corps website, “The Peace Corps is a leader in international development and we are looking for the very best to represent our brand. Last year, the Peace Corps received more than 17,000 applications for fewer than 4,000 positions.”

Before working in the global community, members receive training in the country, learn about the culture, family structures, language, how are you going to be received, among many other things. After this training members are placed at their specific site by program coordinators.

“CityYear and the Peace Corps have a lot of bureaucracy, they are both connected to government money—folks who do not like the extra regulations struggle in this realm,” said Wittebort.

Wittebort joined these organizations to find her role in the world and contribute to something greater by working with others, making connections with them and with the youth, working in teams, being in different environments and communities. These are things she feels she was meant to do.

Wittebort is now studying higher education at the University of Denver for her graduate degree. She plans to use this degree to connect the resources of colleges to communities and their needs as well as help students figure out what their role in the world.

“Students are the next generation of leaders—I truly believe we need to have a community mindset, instead of our current, very individualistic society,” said Wittebort. She is working to enable this change.