Olympia residents join AmeriCorps’ NCCC program

Two Olympia residents have begun a 10-month term with the National Civilian Community Corps, an AmeriCorps program.

Dianne Kleiss-Marvin is working with the Marin County Office of Education’sWalker Creek Ranch in Northern California at an outdoor education program for children. Her team is improving trails and clearing invasive species.

Lukas Malone is finishing his last week of training at the AmeriCorps NCCC Denver campus and will be assigned to a project in the Southwest, according to spokesman Jesse Pluim.

AmeriCorps NCCC is a residential national service program that supports disaster relief, the environment, conservation and development. About 75,000 people serve in AmeriCorps programs each year, about 1,200 of them with AmeriCorps NCCC.

Kleiss-Marvin and Malone will complete a series of 6- to 8-week projects as part of a 10- to 12-person team. After the program, they will receive $5,730 to help pay for college.

Malone, the child of Cinta Wanders, attended Olympia High School and South Puget Sound Community College.

“I believe service will provide a stepping stone for me to develop a greater sense of civic and social responsibility and become more aware of community needs,” Malone said in a press release.

Kleiss-Marvin, the daughter of Katherine Ataman, attended New Market Skills Center.

“I chose national service to get more experience, and to help others in need,” she said in a press release.

This story was originally published November 13, 2015 at 4:17 PM with the headline "Olympia residents join AmeriCorps’ NCCC program."