Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity

In 1999, Habitat’s AmeriCorps program gave me my first job out of college. I had volunteered with developmentally disabled adults while in school, and learned that our country is full of people with a great deal of potential, many of whom need just a little help to realize that potential. Studying abroad taught me about the transformative social power of government programs like the Peace Corps, how a very dedicated group of citizens can use a very small amount of money to improve a great many lives. I knew that there are also many Americans who need just a little help, and I wanted to live these lessons out as a professional, here at home.

Work with Twin Cities Habitat was difficult and rewarding. Difficult because we made very little money while working long, physically draining hours in Minnesota’s cold winters and hot summers. Rewarding because every day I had the opportunity to help fellow Americans live their dreams and help our country. Families who build and own their own homes value and maintain them. Because they value their homes, they value their neighborhoods, and have a stake in their communities. This makes America stronger.

As an AmeriCorps member with TCHFH, I came to believe strongly in sacrifice and hard work toward a just end. This belief has propelled me into a career in public service. After AmeriCorps, I taught in an elementary school and worked for several public interest organizations. I am now an analyst working on national security issues for the US Congress. At every stage in my career, I have had the choice to shrink the number of people I help and increase the amount of money I make. Thankfully, AmeriCorps taught me to prioritize helping other Americans and making our country a better place.

Contributed by Chris Turner