By Jake Karr
AmeriCorps VISTA Youth Program Development Assistant
So my fellow AmeriCorps member, Jacob, and I have been working with the Arab-American Family Support Center for more than a month now, and we still haven’t introduced ourselves.
Over the next year, I will be working with AAFSC’s talented Development Team to fundraise for the organization’s expansion into Queens and to build the capacity of its Youth Program, which currently serves 100 students through various activities such as after-school tutoring, weekend field trips, SAT prep and a six-week summer camp.
I’m from NYC originally, and I recently received my BA in Comparative Literature. During my time as an undergrad, I studied at the University of Bethlehem, interned in the United Arab Emirates, and on campus I co-founded an organization that promoted fair-minded dialogue about the Arab world and encouraged an appreciation for the cultures of the Middle East.
My time here so far has been educational and engaging, and I look forward to continuing my work with AAFSC’s staff and clients in order to strengthen the community.