About the Program
San Carlos Apache College is developing a new AmeriCorps service program that will bring together SCAC students, community members, local schools, and community partners to support Apache youth through mentoring, educational engagement, cultural connection, and community service.
The program grew from a year-long planning process in which SCAC listened to students, educators, College staff, and community members about the strengths of San Carlos youth, the challenges they experience, and the kinds of relationships and opportunities that can help them thrive. Across those conversations, one message was especially clear: young people benefit from trusted adults and near-peers who show up consistently, listen, encourage them, help them recognize their strengths, and help make future educational and career possibilities feel attainable.
SCAC’s emerging AmeriCorps model is therefore about more than traditional tutoring or one-to-one mentoring. The College is building a relationship-centered and culturally grounded mentoring and service model rooted in community care, reciprocity, cultural connection, and intergenerational responsibility. AmeriCorps members may support youth through individual and small-group mentoring, educational and career exploration, leadership and enrichment activities, cultural and community-based learning, and other opportunities developed in partnership with youth, families, schools, and the broader San Carlos Apache community.
Just as importantly, SCAC is designing the program to be meaningful for the AmeriCorps members who serve. Members will receive training, supervision, opportunities for reflection and professional growth, and support in developing skills they can carry into their education, careers, and continued service to their community.
San Carlos Apache College received its AmeriCorps Operations Grant in August 2026 following a year of planning and community engagement. Over the coming months, the College will continue working with prospective members, youth, families, schools, and community partners to finalize the program in preparation for its first cohort of AmeriCorps members in 2027.
What We Hope to Accomplish
Through the SCAC AmeriCorps Program, the College seeks to:
- Strengthen supportive relationships for Apache youth by connecting young people with consistent, caring mentors and near-peer role models.
- Support educational engagement and future pathways by helping youth connect their interests and strengths with educational, college, career, leadership, and other future opportunities.
- Create culturally grounded opportunities for connection and belonging that recognize Apache community strengths, relationships, knowledge, and intergenerational responsibility.
- Expand meaningful opportunities for service by creating structured pathways for SCAC students and community members to give back to youth and the San Carlos Apache community.
- Develop AmeriCorps members as leaders through training, hands-on service, reflection, professional development, and opportunities to build practical skills.
- Build stronger connections among existing community resources by working alongside schools, families, College programs, and community partners.
- Learn and adapt with the community by continuing to use feedback from youth, AmeriCorps members, families, schools, and partners to shape the program as it develops.
What Will AmeriCorps Service Look Like?
SCAC AmeriCorps members will serve alongside youth, schools, the College, and community partners. The emerging model may include mentoring, educational encouragement, college and career exploration, leadership and enrichment activities, cultural and community-based learning, and other opportunities developed with the community.
Specific service opportunities, schedules, and sites are currently being developed and will be posted here as they are finalized.
Help Us Build the Program
SCAC’s AmeriCorps program is being built with the community, not simply for the community. Input from prospective members, youth, families, educators, and community partners continues to shape how mentoring, training, service opportunities, and community programming will work.