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PeoriaCorps Soldiers On Amid COVID-19

City of Peoria/PeoriaCorps

PeoriaCorps is adapting its upcoming class in the age of COVID-19. The 900-hour professional development program provides maintenance to the city of Peoria’s green infrastructure built to offset stormwater runoff.

PeoriaCorps program Manager Jamila Wilson said there are ten openings for the session, also known as a cohort, beginning in June. Wilson said COVID-19 won’t change the program’s goals but it will require new operational procedures. 

“The way we are looking at serving our members during COVID is to break them up into teams of five and then from those teams of five, assign them to one of our sites,” said Wilson. “Previously we would take members out as an entire cohort. One of the things we’re going to sort of have to adjust is to break that down to teams of two per site. And, then when we have our professional development series then breaking them up into teams of five so we are maintaining the parameters that have been set by the governor.”

Wilson said members will also receive necessary proper personal protective equipment. 

PeoriaCorps’ maintenance work includes an area on SW Adams Street in the warehouse district, the Public Works Department’s rain garden, and the prairie and native plantings at the police department and city hall. Cohorts have also planted more than 80 trees in the past two years.

Wilson said learning how to maintain urban landscape is only part of the 900-hour program’s goal.
“During that 900 hours they have an opportunity to…practice job readiness skills through our professional development series,” said Wilson. “We focus on self-efficacy – building confidence and then identifying essential skills that are desire and needed to be successful in the current job market.”

PeoriaCorps has graduated 29 since 2017. The program is open to anyone, but Wilson said the city of Peoria makes sure underprivileged parts of the community are aware of the opportunity. 

“One of the things that’s been very rewarding about having an AmeriCorp program in Peoria is that Peoria is a very altruist city,” said Wilson, a former AmeriCorps member herself. “Everyone is willing to serve and give and help their communities. PeoriaCorps allows all people to do so, but we definitely hone in and target and recruit individuals from our underserved communities.”  

Wilson said PeoriaCorps members receive a roughly $6,500.00 living allowance. They also receive a roughly $3,000.00 stipend toward future education upon completion of 900 service hours. Individuals with a successful score on a final test also earn credentials from the National Green Infrastructure Certification Program. 

PeoriaCorps is funded by the city of Peoria’s stormwater fund and AmeriCorps, the domestic version of the Peace Corps. Application information is available on the city of Peoria’s website. The deadline to apply is May 26. 

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Kristin McHugh is an experienced radio journalist and nonprofit manager. Most recently, she served as executive director of the Peoria Area World Affairs Council.