Alex Bryan has been all over the country, and parts of the world, exploring personal and professional opportunities that interest him. These opportunities have included studying environmental science and outdoor education in New Zealand, working as a construction manager in Turkey, farming in Colorado, working in the food industry in New Hampshire, and finally settling back in his home state of Michigan.
It was this final move, made in an effort to invest in the local economy and the community he was raised in, that has set Alex on a path for his future.
"I strongly believe we should invest in the communities we come from," he explains. "It's a luxury that we can choose to leave - but it's not always the best option."
Upon his return to Mid-Michigan, Alex began serving as an AmeriCorps member with the Power of We Consortium Project. Power of We members are placed at different host sites in the Greater Lansing area to focus on two key project goals: 1) creating, expanding, and/or maintaining trails, greenways, parks, and non-motorized transportation options; or 2) creating, expanding, and/or maintaining community gardens, sustainable food systems, and access to healthy foods. Alex was placed at the Greater Lansing Food Bank where he served as the volunteer and outreach coordinator.
"Serving with a food bank fit the passion I have for food. I used to think it was all just about growing food - but now food justice is really my passion."
As part of Alex's service with the Greater Lansing Food Bank, he strived to develop a formal volunteer program for the organization that would allow for consistent tracking of the efforts of those who serve. His efforts were so helpful that as his AmeriCorps service was winding down the Food Bank sought a way to incorporate Alex into their full-time staff. The result? He now wears multiple hats at an organization he's proud to be a part of.
In his full-time capacity Alex still helps with volunteer coordination and outreach, as well as providing IT support and graphic design and assisting in planning conferences and events for the Food Bank. He believes he owes his new-found career to the experience AmeriCorps afforded him.
"It's hard to say if I would have been given this opportunity without AmeriCorps as my background," he says. "AmeriCorps provides organizations an opportunity to work on capacity building that can lead to more permanent jobs."
Alex is just one example of the many opportunities AmeriCorps provides the citizens of Michigan - both in recommitting them to the communities of our state and helping them develop marketable skills that can lead to gainful employment.
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