��ɫ��Ƶ

Middle school was challenging for Eric Santos.

But fortunately, he had the support of caring adults in his school community, including ��ɫ��Ƶ AmeriCorps member Chen Zhang (Providence ‘12, ‘13). Chen took time to connect with Eric, offering him encouragement, kindness and a dose of humor at just the right moment.

��ɫ��Ƶ AmeriCorps members can relate to students

While Chen didn’t work with Eric directly in his classroom, they often interacted through the afterschool program that Chen’s ��ɫ��Ƶ team helped to run. That time spent together had an immeasurable, lifelong impact on both of them.

In fact, Chen inspired Eric to join ��ɫ��Ƶ and serve in his hometown a decade after the two met. Now, both are ��ɫ��Ƶ AmeriCorps alums.

��ɫ��Ƶ service offers an opportunity to give back to your community

“I chose to serve with ��ɫ��Ƶ because I wanted to give something bigger than myself to my community,” says Eric, who just completed a year serving with ��ɫ��Ƶ Providence as a student success coach.

“I knew I could be a mentor because that’s exactly what I had, growing up in middle school. It helped me a lot, so I knew I could give that same energy back.”

��ɫ��Ƶ AmeriCorps members inspire their students for years to come

Chen surprised Eric this spring just before ��ɫ��Ƶ Providence’s annual Red Jacket Gala, when he entered a room where Eric was being interviewed for an emotional reunion. They had a chance to express how their connection and experience with ��ɫ��Ƶ a decade ago had helped to shape both of their lives.

“��ɫ��Ƶ has been the most impactful experience of my personal and professional life,” Chen said.

“I don’t think I could have ever imagined this moment—seeing you wear the same red jacket I wore more than ten years ago,” Chen told Eric. “It’s just an incredible feeling.”

To learn more about Eric and Chen’s story, you can watch their reunion here.

Want to make a lasting impact on the lives of others? Apply now!

Apply now