ServCon Coming to Wheeling! February 23, 2016

Over 5,000 positions available

WHEELING, W.VA. – Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, and more are packing their bags and heading to Wheeling. Over twenty service-year programs will be recruiting at the first ever West Virginia ServeCon event at Wheeling Jesuit University on February 23^rd. Participants can apply to over 5,000 available positions.

“Programs like City Year, AmeriCorps, and the Jesuit Volunteer Corps can help you build your résumé with valuable experience whether you are just graduating from high school or college, starting your career, or looking for a way to give back at any point in your life,” said Beth Collins, Franklin Project Ambassador and Director of the Appalachian Institute at Wheeling Jesuit University. “Many programs offer scholarships, living stipends, and provide a gateway to permanent employment.”

Service is a creative solution to keep young talent in West Virginia. According to the West Virginia University Bureau of Business and Economic Research, West Virginia faces an uphill battle in keeping people in the state. The state is expected to lose about 20 thousand people through the year 2030. Many of those leaving are educated young adults. The report states that by 2030, nearly 1 in 4 West Virginians will be over 65 years old.

Programs like AmeriCorps and VISTA are an opportunity to get real world work experience and make lasting connections in the Mountain State. According to Volunteer West Virginia, nearly half of West Virginia’s AmeriCorps members go on to service related careers or higher education.

“I began my career as an AmeriCorps VISTA at Wheeling Jesuit University through WV Campus Compact. Learning and working on Appalachian issues helped me develop a deep passion for my home region,” said Collins. “That experience helped me grow roots and empowered me to build a career in West Virginia.”

Positions are available for community members of all ages and skill levels. Positions include full year and summer opportunities. Program participants tutor and mentor children; address the issues of homelessness and poverty; provide children with nutritious meals through summer months; develop heritage sites and preserve historic towns; recruit and manage volunteers, and much more.

ServeCon will take place on February 23^rd at Wheeling Jesuit University from 2-6pm in the McDonough Hall Gym. The event is open to the public, area colleges, and high schools. Over twenty programs will be present, including: The Christian Appalachian Project, Girl Scouts of Black Diamond, Horseshoe Leadership Center, Catholic Charities Neighborhood Center, Faith in Action Caregivers, Inc., City Year, Habitat for Humanity, Nazareth Farm, LifeBridge AmeriCorps, Corporation for National and Community Service, Volunteer West Virginia, AmeriCorps on the Frontline, STEM Network Schools Program, Preservation Alliance of WV, Peace Corps, VISTA Collaborative, WV Promise, and Energy Express.

The free event is sponsored by Wheeling Jesuit University, The Franklin Project, Campus Compact West Virginia, and Volunteer West Virginia. For more information visit www.volunteerwv.org or contact Dana Myslinsky, 304-558-0111 or dana.a.myslinsky@wv.gov.

About Volunteer West Virginia

Volunteer West Virginia is the state’s Commission for National and Community Service. The agency challenges West Virginians to strengthen their communities through service and volunteerism by identifying and mobilizing resources, promoting an ethic of service, and empowering communities to solve problems and improve the quality of life for individuals and families.

Contact:

Dana Myslynsky
304-558-0111
dana.a.myslinsky@wv.gov