Getting to the Core of Emergency Preparedness: The American Red Cross, Santa Barbara County Chapter Welcomes Four New AmeriCorps Volunteers

Santa Barbara, CA, August 8, 2008 — As part of a nationwide program, the American Red Cross, Santa Barbara County Chapter is pleased to welcome four new AmeriCorps Members to the Santa Barbara Chapter this year: Ally LeClair, Laura Parrott, Jeffrey Scott and Ashley Spoto.

AmeriCorps is a network of local, state and national service programs that connects more than 70,000 Americans each year for 10 months of intensive service to meet our country’s critical needs in education, public safety, health and the environment. The AmeriCorps Members serving with the American Red Cross, Santa Barbara County Chapter are part of the National Preparedness and Response Corps. Funded by special grants, the mission of this particular AmeriCorps program is to provide vital emergency assistance to communities affected by disasters, and increase preparedness in the areas of greatest need before disasters strike.

AmeriCorps Member duties include educating the community by teaching classes in disaster preparedness, disaster mitigation, and health and safety. They also respond to national and local disaster assignments, engage in disaster preparedness activities, recruit and retain volunteers and help coordinate youth activities.

Prior to her work as an AmeriCorps Member with the American Red Cross, Santa Barbara County Chapter, Laura Parrott recently finished a year in Fresno, California as an AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service To America) where she worked in the Community Development Department at the Economic Development Corporation serving Fresno County. She graduated from Miami University in 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Media Communications and a minor in Anthropology. While in High School, Parrott volunteered for her local American Red Cross.

AmeriCorps Member Jeffrey Lewis worked as a Lead Ramp Serviceman with United Airlines, Inc. for 13 years at Los Angeles International Airport. He has attended Regis College, University of Arizona and California State University Long Beach. Lewis volunteers with the Gryphon Society to help clients find work, meet goals and better their lives as they go through a 12-step program.

Before joining the American Red Cross, Santa Barbara County Chapter team, AmeriCorps Member Ashley Spoto worked for the Florida Department of Children and Families as a Child Protective Investigator. She graduated from University of Central Florida with a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology. Spoto is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in International Relations and Conflict Resolution at American Military University.

AmeriCorps Member Ally LeClair previously worked as a Resident Advisor at George Mason University. She graduated in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts in Government and International Politics from George Mason University and is currently enrolled at American Public University, pursuing a Master’s Degree in Emergency and Disaster Management. LeClair has worked in a Mother Theresa Home in India, helped expand a school’s physical facilities in the Philippines, assisted with the building of a house in Mexico, worked on a plumbing system in Australia and she helped rebuild houses in New Orleans.

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