Next100’s AmeriCorps Alumni Board

AmeriCorps is a national service program that enrolls over 250,000 individuals every year to serve organizations in communities across the United States. The program is administered by the AmeriCorps federal agency that works in partnership with state commissions and local nonprofits to address community needs that range from administering COVID-19 vaccines, clearing brush to prevent forest fires, to tutoring special needs students in public schools.

The AmeriCorps Alumni Board is composed of 8 AmeriCorps alumni from across the country who have come together to support Next100’s work of building a more equitable AmeriCorps, by making it more accessible to all who want to serve. At Next100, we believe changing who makes policy and how policies are prioritized, developed, and implemented will lead to more effective government and a more inclusive, democratic, and just America. The Alumni Board underscores our organization’s belief that the individuals who are most impacted by policy should be at the center of the policy discussion. 

The Board provides AmeriCorps alumni with a much needed and unique platform to push for change in national service. The Alumni Board has already provided important feedback on a report, “How Embracing Workforce Development Can Set Up AmeriCorps Members for Post-Service Success,” and critical thought partnership on a number of proposals and projects. Next100 will continue to partner and engage the Alumni Board for feedback and guidance on how to improve national service programs.

Learn more about the Alumni Board members below.

Board Member Bios

Mariah Adamson (She/Her) Brooklyn, New York
Mariah Adamson is a proud alumna of the AmeriCorps program Green City Force and Franklin Energy Services. She is currently a Teacher’s Assistant with Green Tech L.E.A.Ders. She is a member of the instructor team for the Clean Energy Academy (CEA), which is a collective of 5 racial minority and women-owned business enterprise companies that have joined together to develop a talent pipeline and workforce development program tailored to meet industry needs. Mariah strives to instill sustainable values in future generations, including that of her soon-to-be-born son and her husband, who also works in the Clean Energy Sector.

Brittany Chavarria (She/Her) Isleta Pueblo, New Mexico
Brittany Chavarria is a proud alumna of the AmeriCorps program based out of Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge. She served last year while receiving an Associate Degree in Anthropology and returned this year to continue her service. Brittany helped establish the Isleta Pueblo Summer Youth Hiking Club, which gave her the opportunity to build relationships and mentor youth from her community.

Kyle Kline (He/Him) Minneapolis, Minnesota
Kyle Kline is a proud two-term AmeriCorps alumnus, he served with AmeriCorps NCCC at the Vicksburg, Mississippi campus and with Student Conservation Corps (SCA) as a Green Cities Sustainability Fellow in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is the Director of Operational Management at Minnesota Alliance With Youth. When Kyle is not being a total “AmeriCorps nerd” he enjoys listening and producing podcasts, exploring the Twin Cities on bike, and completing the NYT crossword puzzle.

Eean Logan (He/Him) Baltimore, Maryland
Eean Logan is a proud alumnus of the AmeriCorps program Reading Partners. He is the Assistant Director of Education at the Choice Program at The University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Eean is an experienced program director, with an emphasis on youth civic education and engagement and has worked with Baltimore youth for over 6 years in various capacities including mentoring, training, and teaching.

Mamar Marshall (He/Him) Las Vegas, Nevada
Mamar Marshall is a proud alumnus of YouthBuild AmeriCorps where he served in 2020. He is the Office Assistant at YouthBuild Las Vegas, a part of Chicanos Por La Causa, Inc. (CPLC). Mamar works with students everyday helping them gain the skills necessary to be successful in different work environments.

Nova Morales (She/Her) Houston, Texas
Nova Morales is a proud AmeriCorps alumna who has served on conservation crews in the Pacific Northwest and in her home state of Texas. She works as a Native Landscaper at the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center, an urban nature sanctuary west of downtown Houston. Nova believes in the power AmeriCorps conservation corps crews have to engage young adults in environmental field work and is an advocate for change to create a more equitable environment for workers.

Lemi Tilahun (He/Him) Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Lemi Tilahun is a proud alumnus of the AmeriCorps program RISE, where he served in 2018. During the service year, Lemi, worked on refugee resettlement, leading and organizing various initiatives that supported newcomers with integration and resource navigation. He is a program supervisor at RISE AmeriCorps where he leads various youth leadership and advocacy programs in collaboration with multi-sector community partners. Lemi works to achieve a safer, more equitable and thriving community through his work with AmeriCorps.

Rachel Wheeler (She/Her) Johnson City, Tennessee
Rachel Wheeler is a proud AmeriCorps VISTA alumna who served with the Appalachian Resource Conservation & Development Council (ARCD) from 2017-2019. After completing her service terms, she stepped into a staff role with the ARCD, an organization that focuses on supporting equitable local food systems through education programs, and community informed initiatives. Rachel is currently directing Appalachian Farmacy, a program focused on connecting health with local food access and food sovereignty in Southern Appalachia, and has championed an initiative to make locally grown produce more accessible to communities across the region.

Cover Photo: AmeriCorps Photo.