Jasmin's AmeriCorps Experience

Meet Jasmin, an AmeriCorps Member serving with Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity as the Programs and Services Associate (pictured above on the right). She started this role in September of 2022 along with the other full-year members of her cohort. Prior to that, she served with the Math Corps and conducted research concerning the need for affordable housing, which ultimately led her to Twin Cities Habitat. 

While she was finishing up her undergraduate degree at St. Catherine University, Jasmin was looking for a part-time role that would coincide with her school schedule. She said that the flexibility and reduced time commitment of AmeriCorps made the program a great fit. 

Reflecting on her near-year of service, Jasmin said her favorite part of being an AmeriCorps member has been the conversations she's had with Habitat's clients and homeowners. Because she works in the Programs and Services department, she has been able to interact with potential homebuyers applying to Habitat's programs, people who are making their way through our Homeownership and Financial Coaching Programs, and those who are Habitat homeowners in need of support. Helping this variety of people has also helped Jasmin gain a greater understanding of all the different responsibilities that come with owning a home. 

Theresa (left) and Jasmin (right) have fun laying concrete.

Outside the scope of her daily office responsibilities, Jasmin is quick to endorse the teambuilding and professional development opportunities provided by AmeriCorps. Activities like the Spring and Fall AmeriCorps Retreats, as well as the Winter Wednesdays, provided time and space for the entire AmeriCorps cohort to travel and serve together. She really enjoyed working with the cohort and developing an AmeriCorps community.

Jasmin has learned many new skills during her service, and one of the most important has been learning to reach out and ask for help rather than trying to get everything done on her own. That lesson has had a profound impact on her ability to communicate with and support her coworkers. She's also ingratiated herself among those sacred few that understand Salesforce - a skill that will certainly come in handy later on down the line. 

Because serving with AmeriCorps offers so many different learning opportunities, Jasmin's advice to future members is this: "Be open to new experiences, take on any experiences offered to you." 

After her term of service is finished later this summer, Jasmin will attend Columbia University and begin working towards a Master's Degree in Social Work. 

You or someone you know could be the perfect fit for Twin Cities Habitat's AmeriCorps program! Learn more.