Pros
I love working with Reading Partners as an Americorps member because I am able to spend time with each different department learning about how a nonprofit works. Reading Partners has a great name in the community and I am learning a lot about how to cultivate those kinds of relationships. I feel confident that my position at Reading Partners is preparing me for a successful career in the nonprofit world. I am gaining management skills, as well as having great experiences daily working with a program that has a great mission. There are many opportunities for employees both regionally and nationally with the organization and I plan to stay with Reading Partners after my Americorps term is over.
Cons
Since Reading Partners is a relatively new organization, we are often testing out new systems and strategies to improve our impact in the community. Sometimes these result in confusion or problems in the Reading Center, but in the end we are always encouraged to give constructive feedback to continue to improve our organization and streamline our processes.