Andrea Ritter (InspiringMinds) was born and raised in upstate NY but fled the area the 
second she graduated high school. She graduated from Roger Williams University with a BA in Communications-PR. She has been living on the island for 6 years now and will receive a certificate in community development this winter. Andrea is doing her year of service as an AmeriCorps VISTA at Inspiring Minds, formerly known as VIPS where she spends the majority of her time overseeing and supporting the growth of an organizational social network, marketing, and recruitment campaign, and producing and disseminating high quality, multimedia collateral. She believes in educating our youth and she holds a passion for planning, a desire to create, and a drive to execute. She is an adrenaline seeker and loves the outdoors.
Ryan Queenan (Providence Children’s Museum) is a Rhode Island native. He grew up in East Providence and graduated from Rhode Island College in 2010 with a BA in Liberal Arts English. He relocated to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and joined the Minnesota Reading Corps. As an Elementary Literacy Tutor he developed a great passion for teaching and helping children. He also worked with the YWCA Beacons program and helped create and coach a middle school girls volleyball team. He felt Rhode Islands’ need for volunteers and motivated educators, and so joined the MuseumCorps at Providence Children’s Museum for a second year of AmeriCorps service, where he facilitates an after school program at Boys and Girls Club of Providence – Southside Clubhouse. The program includes homework help and the Museum Club that consists of hands-on, interactive, fun math based curriculum activities. Ryan likes to spend his time outside of the museum at local coffee shops where he is able to do many of his favorite things – read, listen to music, people watch and hang out with friends.
Claire Staines (Ocean State Environmental Education Collaborative) has been a 6 year resident of Rhode Island, graduating in 2010 from The University of Rhode Island with a B.S. in Environmental Science and Management. As an AmeriCorps member stationed at the Audubon Society, Claire looks forward to sharing her love and knowledge of nature with Rhode Islanders of all ages through afterschool outreach programs as well as hosting field trips and nature walks at the Audubon’s Environmental Education Center in Bristol, RI. Claire enjoys hiking, Ultimate Frisbee, strong coffee, live music, and cooking extravagant meals for friends.
Clara Vargas (Ready to Learn Providence) is from the Dominican Republic, only moving to the United States eight years ago. She practiced law in the Dominican Republic, as well as collaborated with a non-profit organization. This is her second year serving the Ready to Learn AmeriCorps program. During her first year, she was placed at the YMCA child care center in Pawtucket. She enjoyed the experience, but was ready for a change. So, this year she is placed in the office at Ready to Learn. Clara is one of Ready to Learn’s most bilingual members and the staff is definitely putting these skills to use. She spends her time calling providers, translating documents, and supporting the other AmeriCorps members. She is also responsible for entering member logs into a database, which document each member’s daily activities. During her time off, Clara spends time with her family and friends, including her three children and husband. She also likes to read, dance, and cook.
Caitlin Magner (2011-2012) My name is Caitlin Magner and I am an artist, teacher, and et
ernal student. I am an EDTAP teaching artist at Roger Williams Middle School and at CityArts! in Providence, RI. My goal as an arts integration teacher is to bring expanded learning possabilities through art into many if not all subjects at school. I believe that working through the problem solving used in creating interesting and dynamic works of art can be directly applied to problem solving in any discipline. I look forward to helping students discover their own strengths and guiding them toward success artistically and academically.
You can visit my personal web page, which includes my own artwork at caitlinmagner.com and see my work as an EDTAP on my CityArts Digication web site here.
Kristin Richards (Ready to Learn Providence) grew up in North Carolina and recently graduated from UNC Chapel Hill with degrees in History and Psychology. She relocated to Rhode Island for a change in scenery, as well as to take part in the Ready to Learn AmeriCorps program. Ready to Learn is a non-profit dedicated to seeing that all children have a high quality education and a healthy start. Kristin’s placement is in the office of Ready to Learn, where she works alongside the Ready to Learn staff, providing support on various tasks. She is also responsible for transcribing AmeriCorps member logs into a database, which records each member’s daily activities. With a team of thirty five, this keeps her pretty busy. She is also a member of the Environmental Justice League’s Healthy Corner Store initiative, which aims to make healthy food more accessible in low income neighborhoods. In her free time, Kristin spends time with her fiance and their two cats, Finn and Dylan. She also enjoys reading, live music, and being outdoors.
Chris Anderson (AmeriCorps*VISTA Leader)grew up in New YorkState and graduated from University at Buffalo in
Media Study. He spent the last year at MEDIA ARTS Center San Diego as part of the Digital Arts Service Corps . This year he is at AS220 as VISTA Leader for twelve AmeriCorps members at eight different project sites throughout the region. His priority is to ensure an excellent service experience for VISTAs. Chris engages in capacity-building projects such as in-service training workshops and new project management systems. Chris Anderson is a heavy user of coffee, technology, and violins (usually in the same moment).
Elena Vasquez (College Guide) was born and raised in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. She graduated from Brown University in 2011 in Commerce, Organization, and Entrepreneurship. She is working with the College Guide Program at Woonsocket High School. A first year guide with almost 400 seniors, she is kept busy registering students for the SATs, editing essays, creating resumes, helping with the Common Application, and being awesome. A native Spanish speaker, Elena frequently helps the school communicate with Spanish-speaking parents and students and is enthusiastic about being at Woonsocket High for the academic year!
Michelle Un (College Guide) was born and raised in Pennsylvania but moved up to Rhode Island to attend Brown University. A 2011 graduate, she is now a first-year guide at Mount Pleasant High School. One of the largest public schools in Providence, Michelle is helping to build capacity within the guidance department. She meets with students one-on-one to discuss their post-graduation plans, including not only college but also careers and technical schools. In addition, she organizes workshops on SAT registration, completing the Common Application, and writing essays. She is happy to be working at Mount Pleasant, especially with the addition of Nkoli Onye, the Providence Director of High School, as the principal for the year.
Emeline Allen (City Year Rhode Island) was born and raised in Providence and is in her second year at City Year Rhode Island. During 2010-2011, Emeline served as a corps member at Roger Williams Middle School, providing academic and behavioral support in two 6th grade English classrooms, improving student attendance through dynamic early morning programming, and leadi
ng students in various after school activities. This year, Emeline is serving as the Training & Events Project Leader, coordinating the corps’ professional development and organizing community engagement events. Emeline enjoys gardening, reading, needlepoint, drawing, and cooking. She lives with a rabbit and two cats, and her favorite artist is Sulamith Wulfing.
Sam Woolford (Ocean State Environmental Education Collaborative) is serving for a second year at Save The Bay, teaching marine-based environmental education to kids and adults from all over the state and region. When not teaching or being a camp counselor, Sam loves to hike, read, play and coach soccer, and be on, in, or by the water as much as possible. His favorite Bay creature is a Purple Sea Urchin.
Hannah Pfeiffer (East Bay Community Action Program) 
Hannah grew up in Newport, Rhode Island and attended college in Vermont. She is serving EBCAP at the Newport Family and Child Opportunity Zone. Hannah is working with students in the After School programs in Newport’s four public elementary schools. She is also coordinating other school-related initiatives like the Backpack Nutrition Program, which provides children with supplemental food from the Rhode Island Food Bank over weekends. Hannah is grateful for the opportunity to serve the Newport community and is looking forward to working with students and developing her own After School program for upcoming terms. Hannah has a dog named Turk and enjoys 19th century British literature and tea.
John McGarry (Charter Corps) is serving his second year at the Highlander Charter School. As an AmeriCorps member, he serves as a teaching assistant during the day in a fifth-grade classroom and as an afterschool provider in the afternoon. Each day, he helps with literacy instruction for both of the fifth grade classrooms, through both one-on-one problem guidance and whole or small group instruction. During the first half of the afterschool program, he runs an expanded learning time homeroom in the same class, providing homework help and fun academic extension projects. He facilitates different activity courses for students from kindergarten to eighth grade during the second hour of afterschool, from geography and robotics to comic books and radio theater. John’s work is motivated by the empowerment of youth through varied and creative educational opportunities. When not at school, John is probably either on his bike or doing work for community radio station BSR.
ICC Members 2010-11
Matthew Jose (Mt. Hope Learning Center) is serving as a volunteer at the Mt. Hope Learning Center for this upcoming year. He will be working with the students of Martin Luther King Elementary in an after-school program designed to continue the learning process after the school day ends. Convinced that national service can effectively transform communities and build social capital, Matthew seeks to strengthen his community at home before working at a national level. As an ex-college athlete, he yearns for the “glory days” and has been often labeled as the most competitive man on earth.
Annie Lagace (Mt. Hope Learning Center) was born and raised in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and is the third grade instructor of the after-school program at MLK Elementary. She wants to teach her students the effectiveness of story telling and the wonderful arts of theater and music. A talented violist and violinist, Annie uses her love of music and eagerness to teach to inspire kids in a way that is equally unconventional and brilliant. As she gains more knowledge of the community she serves, she wonders why more people do not spend their afternoons with younger kids.
Kerrie Hoban (Providence Children’s Museum) is currently in her second year of the AmeriCorps program at the Providence Children’s Museum. Currently she spends her time with the children and families of Pawtucket, RI. PCOZ a 21-century learning center provides Kerrie and her four teammates with the opportunity to teach ESL during the day and plan and lead their own science-based club at elementary schools during the afterschool time. Kerrie brings with her a commitment to the creative practice, which she proactively encourages and enables in the youths and families she teaches.
Joseph Maurer (National College Advising Corps at Brown University) is a first-year College Guide at William B. Cooley Health & Science Technology Academy on the South Side of Providence. He guides his 400 9th-12th graders through the college process, from early awareness and college visits to SAT prep, résumé and college essay lesson plans, one-on-one application assistance, and financial aid workshops. He believes that every child should receive a high-quality education and have the knowledge and preparation necessary to pursue a college degree. His favorite color is purple.
Anna Myers (Providence !CityArts! EDTAP) is a mixed media artist with a passion for creating and exploring art with youth. While working with !CityArts! (an arts center in the heart of South Providence dedicated to providing free after school art classes to children in the community) to expand youth exposure to the arts, Anna is currently serving as a resident teaching artist at Roger Williams Middle School. Both during and after school, the she strives to strengthen student learning of core curriculum through arts integration workshops in the art room and beyond.
Kris Lee (Providence !CityArts! EDTAP) is currently serving as a resident teaching artist at Nathan Bishop Middle School, working to expand student learning through music. During the school day, she works in the music classroom, sharing a passion for percussion and musical performance. Kris works to expand the spectrum of music education by integrating lessons into other classrooms throughout the day and during after school programs.
Case Santos (East Bay Community Action Program) who is native of Providence is serving 7 Head Starts in the East Bay area from East Providence to Newport. She spends most of her time helping to coordinate reading events with children 1-3 in early Head Start to 3-5 in Head Start. She also works to involve more parents in the learning process with events like fun family activities which allow parents to take an imaginative approach to learning and teaching their children at home. Case loves the work that she is doing most importantly she loves reading books to the children and trying to make the characters come to life. After the end of this years service in her own community. Case hopes to continue working through volunteering on a more global level. Her favorite animal is the Dolphin, and she love cranberries; dried, sauce, you name it. : )
Abby Burkland (Ready to Learn Providence) is currently serving at Ready to Learn Providence, a non-profit dedicated to early literacy. She works alongside R2LP staff members and is responsible for transcribing literacy logs into a database for the AmeriCorps program. Literacy logs are forms which document every literacy activity performed by members serving at child care sites and libraries. As part of a 35-member team, Abby stays busy translating literacy logs and maintaining the database (members must turn in a minimum of 10 logs per week!) She is also a member of the Environmental Justice League’s leadership team for the Healthy Corner Store Initiative, a project which aims to make healthy food more accessible in low-income neighborhoods. On the weekends, she volunteers at the Providence Animal Rescue League, where she recently adopted a 7-year old cat named Callie. Abby and Callie are enjoying Providence and hope to spread their compassion throughout the city (and beyond!).
Americorp Team at the Institute for the Study and Practice of Nonviolence
Kianna Nelson (AmeriCorp Community Team)
- The Institute was founded by members of St. Michael’s Church team ministry in 2001 as a long-term solution to violence.
Originally a training organization, the Institute hired its first Executive Director, Teny Gross, in 2001 and he introduced the Streetworkers program in 2003. Since then, a constellation of programs has grown to better serve the community’s most vulnerable youth and families whose lives have been affected by violence. Our mission is to teach, by word and example, the principles and practices of nonviolence, and to foster a community that addresses potentially violent situations with nonviolent solutions. We work to build Dr. King’s ideal of the nonviolent Beloved Community.Basic Function: AmeriCorps Team Members will be assigned to one of three teams training different audiences and locations. Each team will serve the Institute’s nonviolence mission by training nonviolence principles and practices in schools, in communities, and in the Institute’s headquarters in Providence, RI. Through advocacy for clients and students, programs for high-risk youth, and community organizing in neighborhoods affected by violence, AmeriCorps members will ensure that many stakeholders are engaged in the study and practice of nonviolence. Members will gain experience working in the violence reduction, community development and youth development fields and through these experiences, will help to further the Institute’s mission and serve more constituents than ever before. AmeriCorps Members will:
- Represent the Institute in accordance to the Institute’s policies and code of ethics, as well as all required AmeriCorps national program policies
- AmeriCorps Members will be assigned to one of the three AmeriCorps teams at the Institute: School Team, Community Team and Youth Opportunities Team. (Assignment to teams will occur after enrollment and pre-service training, based on members’ individual skills and interests, and the team dynamics.)
- Perform all duties associated with the assigned team, mainly focusing on various types of training, and documenting progress of the team’s particular projects
- Each member will create and complete one community service project during the year and will assist fellow members with completing their community service projects
- Attend and assist with required Institute events and AmeriCorps events
- Attend and participate in all AmeriCorps Team meetings, supervisory meetings, and weekly trainings; also participate in selected professional development trainings for Institute staff
- Complete other tasks as assigned by supervisors.
To learn and internalize Dr. Martin Luther King’s theory of nonviolence
- To provide practical tools to implement nonviolence in educational settings across Rhode Island
- To foster effective interactions among school community members and create a safe and supportive educational environment for all
- To create a statewide professional network of nonviolence educators and school personnel
- To reaffirm and reinforce our individual passion and motivation for working with students
