Episcopal Service Corps (ESC) invites men and women in their 20s to engage in meaningful work at paid internships while living in Christian community.
Trinity Volunteer Corps, the ESC program in Washington, DC, offers young adults an experience of living in intentional community while volunteering full-time in social service agencies that serve the poor. TVC provides the chance to call the nation's capitol home, learn about poverty while assisting and advocating for poor people, increase multi-cultural experience and understanding, and grow in spiritual practice. The program includes living in a separate home on church property, weekly meetings for reflection and formation, 3-5 retreats per year, and engagement of the congregation. The program is sponsored by Trinity Episcopal Church, a congregation of professionals predominantly of African American, African, Caribbean and Caribbean American heritage.
TVC participants has his or her own service site. Placements include an Episcopal elementary school for African American boys from socio-economically underprivileged families; the greater Washington area food bank; an educational center for emotionally and cognitively challenged children; a program that serves senior citizens and their housing needs; and a program that provides challenged youth and young adults with educational and career training. The eleven month program, late August through July, currently takes five service workers per year. Participants have the opportunity to earn an AmeriCorps Education Award if they so choose.
This video offers a good overview of what the experience is like: www.trinitywallstreet.org/webcasts/videos/profiles/anglican-communion-stories/capital-project-serving-others
Stipends are provided in addition to other benefits including housing, transportation, health insurance, and groceries. These positions are for young adults interested in community service, social justice, intentional community, spiritual and theological reflection, and vocational discernment.
Applications for the 2013-2014 year of service are now open. Trinity Volunteer Corps requires a college degree and invites young adults of diverse backgrounds ages 20-29 to apply.
ESC is a national network of programs with volunteers living out their faith while serving the deepest needs of communities across the United States including:
- Atlanta, GA
- Baltimore, MD
- Boston, MA
- Camarillo, CA
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Chicago, IL
- Cleveland, OH
- Davis, CA
- Fayetteville, AR
- Harrisburg, PA
- Los Angeles, CA
- Louisville, KY
- New Haven, CT
- New Orleans, LA
- New York, NY
- Newark, NJ
- Oahu, HI
- Omaha, NE
- San Francisco, CA
- Seattle, WA
- St. Louis, MO
- Syracuse, NY
- Washington, DC
- Winston-Salem, NC
