Apopka, Florida

(Orlando Area)

Site Director: Laura Firtel
Site Director: Ann Kendrick, SND
Phone: 407-880-4673
E-mail: apopka@ndmva.org
Website: http://www.hcc-offm.org/

Are you interested in living and working in the shadow of Cinderella’s Castle…not at Disney World, but in the Real World? Come to Apopka, Florida…10 miles NW of Orlando; home to an economically poor, culturally rich, community of families. Teach, learn and be on the forefront of a social justice movement, making a difference in the lives of this largely immigrant, farm worker and working poor community! If that alone doesn’t sound intriguing enough, imagine eating some of the best Mexican food ever and learning to dance salsa and meringue! All this and much more in Apopka!

Each member in Apopka is assigned a primary work site plus they receive the opportunity and encouragement to reach out to do other service during the year. For example, members who serve in an Orange County Public School during the day might teach English or citizenship classes to adults in the evening. There are an amazing number of opportunities to become connected to the community through service in Apopka!

Orange County Public Schools

Orange County Public Schools serve a highly diverse population of students in and around Apopka. NDA members serve at an elementary, middle or high school with individuals or small groups of students in classrooms or “Student Success Centers”, where students come for extra academic help. Additionally, members have the opportunity to do get involved in existing and even create extra-curricular programs within the schools.

For more information, visit: www.ocps.net

Kids in Motion

Apopka Family Learning Center hosts Kids in Motion, an academically rigorous after-school program for elementary and middle school students where NDA members serve as teachers. Additionally, members who serve at the AFLC have the opportunity to create enrichment activities for the students, staff their summer camp program and get involved in other programs AFLC provides to the families they serve.

For more information, visit: www.apopkafamilylearningcenter.com

Domestic Violence Services
Help Now and Harbor House

NDA members serve with domestic violence organizations in either Osceola or Orange County. Members may serve inside the DV shelters themselves, at Courthouses assisting survivors in securing restraining orders or providing outreach services to the community.

For more information, visit: www.helpnowshelter.org or www.harborhousefl.com

Farmworker Association of Florida (FWAF)

The FWAF is a grassroots community organization founded to provide services to farm worker communities throughout Florida, including Apopka. The NDA member serves as a liaison between the FWAF and local/non-local colleges/universities, service organizations and other groups wanting service-learning opportunities. Additionally, the member helps create ways for participants to reflect on the experience to gain insights into the local and more global realities of immigrants, farm workers and other marginalized communities, and writes articles and blogs for the FWAF.

For more information, visit: www.floridafarmworkers.org

Hope CommUnity Center

Hope CommUnity is the host of the entire Apopka Notre Dame Americorps team. It is a family of programs working with Hispanic, Haitian, African-American immigrants, farm workers, and other low-income families. NDA members at HCC serve in these capacities:

Organizing and implementing parenting classes (that involve the entire family)
Working in the College and Career Access Program primarily for students who are first generation in their family to graduate high school
Organizing after-school academic and enrichment programs for middle and high school students.
Providing outreach and education to the immigrant community

For more information, visit: www.hcc-offm.org