Minnesota nonprofits take a blow as Trump administration places AmeriCorps staff members on leave
Jill Rudolph has worked closely with AmeriCorps members in Pine County, Minnesota, through her nonprofit since 2011, and says early last week, members told her they got a call saying, "Go home."
"They told me they had gotten a call that they are no longer employees of the government, they're no longer part of NCCC, that they were being shipped home the next morning," Rudolph said.
The National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) is one of the several programs within AmeriCorps' national service agency.
A group of over 2,000 young adults volunteer to help with projects related to education, housing and even disaster relief. They're paid and provided housing, and, upon completion, receive help with future education expenses.
"Ten of them were there that week when they had to be sent home. They just packed up their van and left," Rudolph said. "We had to do all the clean-up, all the finishing tasks."
Rudolph works for Osprey Wilds Environmental Learning Center, which is a nonprofit teaching environmental ethics and responsibility. Due to low staffing and budget, the organization relies on NCCC members for various tasks.
"This team that just got let go was helping with our maple syrup season," Rudolph said.
A memo sent to those volunteers just over a week ago informed them their service projects had ended, as part of the Trump administration's federal cost-cutting efforts. For the last fiscal year, NCCC's budget was nearly $38 million.
"Minnesota's full of nonprofits and we all utilize volunteers. AmeriCorps is definitely one of those pieces," Rudolph said.
It leaves the nonprofit wondering what's next.
"We really can't move forward with some of those smaller, but very meaningful projects that we can't staff at this point," Rudolph said.
WCCO tried to speak with volunteers impacted, but they say they're not allowed until after the end of the month.
AmeriCorps has not replied to WCCO's request for comment.
