Pawtucket granted more than $1M for high schooler development

CELEBRATING THE MORE THAN $1 million in grants that the Pawtucket schools are receiving to help high school students connect to better post-graduation opportunities are, from left: Thuy-Mai Nguyen, College Advising Corps AmeriCorps member at Tolman High School; Patti DiCenso, Pawtucket Schools superintendent; Donald R. Grebien, Pawtucket mayor; Heather Hudson, policy adviser to Gov. Gina M. Raimondo; Sandy Scott, senior communications adviser of the Corporation for National and Community Service; Wendy Spencer, CEO of CNCS; Bernie Beaudreau, executive director of Serve Rhode Island; and Jessaca York, College Advising Corps AmeriCorps member at Shea High School. / COURTESY AMERICORPS
CELEBRATING THE MORE THAN $1 million in grants that the Pawtucket schools are receiving to help high school students connect to better post-graduation opportunities are, from left: Thuy-Mai Nguyen, College Advising Corps AmeriCorps member at Tolman High School; Patti DiCenso, Pawtucket Schools superintendent; Donald R. Grebien, Pawtucket mayor; Heather Hudson, policy adviser to Gov. Gina M. Raimondo; Sandy Scott, senior communications adviser of the Corporation for National and Community Service; Wendy Spencer, CEO of CNCS; Bernie Beaudreau, executive director of Serve Rhode Island; and Jessaca York, College Advising Corps AmeriCorps member at Shea High School. / COURTESY AMERICORPS

PAWTUCKET – The city of Pawtucket will receive more than $1 million in funding for 64 AmeriCorps members for the next two years to help improve graduation rates, according to the federal agency that made the award.

The Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal agency that administers AmeriCorps, said that $1.078 million will be used to connect more than 900 graduating Pawtucket seniors with one of five post-graduation opportunities: education at a two- or four-year college; employment; military service; national service, such as AmeriCorps; or a paid internship, registered apprenticeship, or job training programs.

That funding is expected to generate an additional $450,000 in local cash and in-kind matching contributions, making the total two-year investment total worth more than $1.5 million, said Samantha Jo Warfield, a corporation spokesperson.

“It’s making sure every high school senior has a pathway to opportunity when they’re finished with high school,” Warfield said.

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Programming funding is valued at $826,600, Warfield said, while AmeriCorps members who complete their service become eligible to earn a total of $252,120 in Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards to pay for higher education or pay back student loans.

“I salute the city of Pawtucket, the Pawtucket School Department, Serve Rhode Island, and the business and community partners for this visionary project that will have a transforming impact on the community and its young people,” said Wendy Spencer, CEO of the corporation. “Through Operation AmeriCorps, this city will come together to ensure more Pawtucket students graduate from high school and get connected to opportunities that help them reach their full potential in life.”

Gov. Gina M. Raimondo said in a statement that the programming will help address the skills gap in Rhode Island.

“I am thrilled to see these stakeholders collaborate in order to increase graduation rates for high school students in Pawtucket,” said Raimondo. “This is a great step toward building the skills needed for a 21st century economy.”

Mayor Donald R. Grebien said the funding will help foster volunteerism and community service for city youth and “aid in keeping the positive momentum that Pawtucket has going for it right now. By allowing our kids access to mentors who can help them reach their goals of going to college, we are making a significant investment in the workforce of tomorrow as well as the future of Pawtucket.”

Pawtucket is the third of 10 communities across the country to receive funding. The first was New York City, with a total of $5.8 million; the second was Tucson, Ariz., with a total of $2 million, and the others will be announced later this month and in May, Warfield said.

An earlier story had incomplete information about the program.

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