Allen just finished first Americorps term recently with Habitat for Humanity Seattle – King County and is coming back again in September. We couldn’t be more thrilled to have him out on the build-sites again! Allen has a long history with Habitat for Humanity. His mother was on the Habitat board of directors in Minnesota and North Carolina, and his brother did an internship with Habitat for Humanity in NC. Allen did some work on a build site in North Carolina in high school, and later worked at a re-store when he was in college.
Before graduating from college, Allen worked as an intern at an architectural firm for about a year. He had taken the position because he wanted to go into construction, but after being there for a while he realized that sitting at a desk did nothing for his spirit. Later when two cousins signed up for Habitat AmeriCorps and told him how great the program was, Allen decided to make a change in his life and sign-up.
I asked Allen why he joined Americorps and he had several reasons for joining. He tells me he wants to be an architect, and so the construction knowledge is good to have. Allen also believes in service and helping other people. Habitat is an organization that his values align with, and he believes in their mission.
“With habitat even on the worst days when its 40 degrees and raining you go home knowing you made a real difference. You go home knowing what you are doing is important. This is easily the best job I’ve had in my life.”