Et cetera : AmeriCorps NCCC Class 20 Corps Member Spotlight: Jennifer Perez

By: Sarah Williams

Jennifer Perze, from East Newark, New Jersey is serving on team Oak 5 in AmeriCorps NCCC Class 20. She arrived in Vinton on February 11 to start her 10-month service term. Oak 5 is made up of nine people from across the country who will serve together around the Midwest.

Jennifer says ”I decided to do a year of service with AmeriCorps NCCC because I felt this would be a stepping stone for my future career. Also, I enjoy volunteering and being part of change within a community.”

Before Jennifer joined the NCCC program she was unemployed for almost a year, but she used her time to volunteer with the American Red Cross in Ridgewood, NJ. Eventually, she was hired to work part-time as a sales associate in Goodwill.

Oak 5’s second round project is at the Delaware County Historical Society, Hopkinton, Iowa.

Oak 5 will be assisting the Delaware County Historical Society with making improvements on the historical Lenox College Campus and the museum that now resides there. This will be done through painting, deep cleaning buildings, research and moving and repairing displays.

Some fun facts about Jennifer:

Q: What is your favorite TV show and why? Frasier. I find it assuming to see a psychiatrist analyze himself.

Q: What song best describes you? “I want to hold your hand” The Beatles

Q: What did you want to be when you grew up? Police Officer 

Q: If you could have a superpower what would it be? To heal people

Q: What is the most challenging and/or exciting thing you have done? The most exciting thing I've ever done was finishing the Family Reach Foundation 5k.

Q: If you could come back as animal which one would it be? Elephant

Q: What is your favorite book? “The Great Gatsby” F. Scott Fitzgerald