Date of Conferral

2021

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Policy and Administration

Advisor

Gary A. Kelsey

Abstract

AmeriCorps, a voluntary public service program founded in 1993, has largely consisted of a nonminority middle-class group, generally 20 to 29 years old, who had the financial assistance of family while serving. African American participants may be experiencing AmeriCorps-based programs differently, in areas such as financial solvency, job readiness skills, and the ability to begin or return to college. This qualitative study was designed to reveal the perceptions and experiences of African American participants who have completed AmeriCorps service in a Midwest metropolis. Using the lens of critical race theory, which explored African American Corps members through a historical position of disadvantage. This study was conducted using group characteristics sampling of nine participants. In-depth interviews were transcribed, and data were coded and assessed for trends related to Corps-member experiences. The data revealed that AmeriCorps-based programs have been designed for a nonminority middle class that can sustain the financial hardships of serving in communities of need, which was revealed in part by most participants receiving public assistance and the underutilization of the participant’s Education Award. The results of this study may provide a better understanding of the effectiveness of AmeriCorps-based programs for African American participants. Although limited in scope, the results of the study support positive social change through the need for AmeriCorps leadership to recognize that African American AmeriCorps members may need to be supported differently from their nonminority Corps members in service.

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