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The ��ɫ��Ƶ Alumni Leadership Awards, presented by Truist, are ��ɫ��Ƶ’s highest alumni recognition. The awards recognize outstanding alums who have continued their commitment to service and demonstrated extraordinary achievement, contribution or commitment to advancing social justice and strengthening communities. Since 1995, 134 alumni have been honored with these awards. You can read about the 2023 award ceremony held in Boston on Feb. 8.

��ɫ��Ƶ Staff Alumni Impact Award Macey Amissah-McKinney, ��ɫ��Ƶ Sacramento ‘13, ‘14 ��

The 2023 ��ɫ��Ƶ Alumni Leadership Awards were presented recently at ��ɫ��Ƶ National Headquarters in Boston. Macey Amissah-McKinney, ��ɫ��Ƶ Sacramento ‘13, ‘14, received the Staff Alumni Impact Award, which honors an alum who currently works at ��ɫ��Ƶ Headquarters or one of our 29 U.S. sites, for her collaborative leadership style and passion for serving her community.

A natural strategist and AmeriCorps champion

Macey Amissah-McKinney currently serves as executive director of ��ɫ��Ƶ Sacramento, where she also served as a founding corps member a decade ago. A natural strategist, Macey has led the site’s efforts to build a positive experience for students, AmeriCorps members, partner teacher and staff that has led to increased engagement, impact and retention of corps members.

This year, about 36 AmeriCorps members, who serve as student success coaches, are working with students in six Sacramento schools, providing mentoring and tutoring and building positive relationships with students and school staff.

Amissah-McKinney also supports other nonprofits that are interested in becoming AmeriCorps programs, which has led to more AmeriCorps members being deployed throughout the Greater Sacramento area.

Dedicated to improving lives and careers

Presenting the award via video was iMentor senior director of mentor engagement and fellow ��ɫ��Ƶ alum Eric Barbour, ��ɫ��Ƶ Sacramento ‘13, ‘14. Barbour shared stories and recollections about Amissah-McKinney’s collaborative leadership style from their close-knit teammates.

Here are a few of their comments:

“She embodies excellence in every aspect of who she is.”

“Macey doesn’t live for what’s easy. She has a vision and big ideas and knows what it takes to achieve her goals. She leads with confidence, integrity, and a deep devotion to her team.”

“Her unwavering dedication and commitment to people has allowed countless students, AmeriCorps members and staff to improve their lives and careers, live their values, dedicate themselves to service, and emulate the excellence that Macey shows through her work.”

“We are so proud of the impact she continues to have in our community. Her passion and commitment to duties inspires every individual to serve at their best.”

Building a community of belonging

Amissah-McKinney thanked her former teammates and her current team and family as she accepted her award via video.

“This award is not just the recognition of my work but speaks to the collective work of the many individuals who have worked to make ��ɫ��Ƶ Sacramento what it is today and supported me in becoming the leader I am today,” she said.

“Without their collaboration and commitment, none of this would have been possible.”

She recalled her “why I serve statement that all AmeriCorps members are asked to create. “I serve because there are people who dared to make a difference in my life and it is a privilege to do the same for those who come next.”

Amissah-McKinney said that she and her team are focused on creating a strong and supportive community in Sacramento, “a community where folks can be their authentic selves, feel seen, valued, and supported. A place where folks can learn and grow and feel safe to make mistakes and take risks because they know that they have a team that has their back.”

“This is what I hope to give because it is the gift that I received in joining ��ɫ��Ƶ,” she said. “A community where I felt like I belonged, where I was valued, where I can make a difference.”