COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP
The ICC is composed of current AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps VISTA members who serve in two capacities: ambassadors or members. Greater Minnesota service members have the opportunity to serve as an ambassador, while Twin Cities service members have the opportunity to serve with one of the five committees.
To learn more about how members are selected and why you should be on the council, click on Join ICC.
In addition to service members, ICC includes advisors who represent ServeMinnesota, the state's Commission on National and Community Service.
COUNCIL HANDBOOK
InterCorps Council of Minnesota Policies and Procedures Handbook
2024-2025 Facilitator Team
The Facilitator Team guides and supports the Council in its work to enact its vision. Each year the Council elects a Council Facilitator, Community Engagement Facilitator, and an Impact and Sustainability Facilitator to lead the Council in its work.
JOY GERDES | Community Engagement Facilitator
Joy Gerdes is a former science teacher serving her second year with Public Health Corps, this time with the Local Public Health Association (LPHA) and Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC) as the Public Health Project Coordinator. In her free time she enjoys serving as a board member and Equity Committee Chair on her local community council, a Team Lead for a local Stream Health Evaluation Program, and going to lots of K-pop concerts. She joined the ICC because she is passionate about building community, organization sustainability, helping members connect and learn from each other, and making measurable impact in the community.
ANNIKA FRAZER | Impact & Sustainability Facilitator
Annika Frazer is serving at Ecolibrium3 in Duluth, MN as the Community Engagement and Strategic Partnerships VISTA. In her role, she coordinates volunteers, creates systems that promote efficiency and track success, and manages the signature EarthWeek event. Having served as a VISTA prior, Annika is excited to grow her skills and build connections across the state with the ICC. Annika is passionate about the environment, community connection, and resource distribution. In her free time, Annika volunteers as a coordinator for Keep Duluth Clean, organizes as a nonpartisan liaison in Minnesota's 8th Congressional District with CCL, and hosts trivia at a local cidery.
Health & Community Project Team
ABI GARLOCK | Council Member
Abi moved from Iowa to Minnesota in 2024 after graduating from Iowa State University and is currently serving with Recovery Corps. In her Recovery Corps position, she works with NARR - National Alliance for Recovery Residences - on state-wide initiatives that educate and uplift their affiliates and recovery residence operators. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, baking, and hosting get-togethers with friends. She joined the ICC due to her interest in event planning and community building, as well as her passion for supporting others through her work.
AARON NAMIE | Council Member
Aaron returned to Minnesota after teaching English in South Korea for several years and is now serving as a Program Coordinator with MN Public Health Corps on behalf of St. Louis County Public Health and Human Services; Disease Prevention and Control Unit, officed in Virginia, MN. Prior to PHC he served as a Housing Stability Coordinator with Heading Home Corps (Summer Impact) on behalf of nonprofit North St. Louis County Habitat for Humanity, Virginia, MN. Other interests lately center on gardening, canoeing, camping, photography and reading. Serving on the ICC is a way to access systemic overview of resource allocation as well as gain organizational and planning competencies.
ALISA HUGHES | Council Member
Alisa is currently serving as a Reading Impact Tutor in Winona, MN. Despite being in her first official year of service, Alisa is passionate about connecting with students and being a part of their learning experience. Over the summer Alisa was a part of the Summer Impact Program serving out of Ridgeway, MN. Alisa joined the ICC to be more engaged with other Americorps members and help establish a deeper sense of community to those serving. In her free time, Alisa enjoys reading, writing short stories, and having doggy cuddle sessions with her chihuahua/pug mix McLuvin.
LESLIE-ANN BORGEN | Council Member
Currently serving her second year with the Early Learning Corps as a Lead Tutor in Warroad, MN, Leslie spends her days supporting our youngest students in their early literacy skills. In her free time, Leslie enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and photography. She is also a nationally certified Child Passenger Safety Technician and is actively involved with her local school and community. Leslie joined the ICC to not only for the opportunity to network with like-minded, passionate individuals, but to be a voice for her isolated teammates to the north.
CYNTHIA PIERRE | Council Member
Cynthia was born and raised in NYC. After visiting the Twin Cities during her first year of college she knew where she wanted to spend the rest of days after graduation. She is a CTEP member in St. Paul. Her objective is to teach adult English language learners computer skills. Outside of school, Cynthia loves to read and watch anything related to history and taking public transportation. She joined the ICC to not only get to know her new home better but also be an effective member in the community.
Social Justice Project Team
GENESIS MARAVILLA FERNANDEZ | Council Member
Genesis is a Minnesota native from Bloomington. A recent graduate from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, this is her first year with AmeriCorps. She serves with College Possible as a College Access Coach to 11th & 12th graders at Bloomington Kennedy High School. Genesis was a part of the College Possible program in high school and undergrad. The immense support and resources she received from College Possible led her to serve. The organization's mission to provide college admission and success to students from underinvested communities is a mission Genesis is passionate about. She joined ICC because she enjoys working in the community and wants to meet the other AmeriCorps members serving throughout Minnesota.
MICHELE TYBURG | Council Member
Michele Tyburg is serving her second term in AmeriCorps with Climate Impact Corps on Forestry at the City of Lakeville; her first term was with GreenCorps emphasizing the value and importance of Reuse and Recycling. She recently completed her bachelor's degree with Metro State focused on Environmental Communications and Community Justice. With certifications as a Pollinator and Water Steward Michele shares her passions for the natural environment in and around her community. When not tending to her rain garden or native plantings, she ensures the bird feeders are full so that her three indoor cats are sufficiently entertained. Now that school is done, reading for joy is on the docket and more time to return to volunteering at the Minnesota Zoo.
PHOEBE JOY | Council Member
Phoebe Joy is serving with Reading Corps as a Scholar Coach in St. Paul. A recent graduate of St. Olaf College, Phoebe appreciates the strong impact reading has had on her life and hopes to help support a new generation of readers through the Total Learning Classroom program. In her free time, Phoebe enjoys playing oboe, trying new recipes, and whittling away at her "to-read" book list.
LUCY SHAPIRO | Council Member
Lucy Shapiro (she/her) is serving her second term as a Minnesota GreenCorps member at the City of Minneapolis Health Department working on the City's Community Air Monitoring Project. Lucy is passionate about environmental justice and health equity. Prior to serving as an AmeriCorps member, Lucy graduated from Carleton College where she studied chemistry. In her free time, Lucy enjoys cooking, reading, and hiking.
Professional Development Project Team
Bopha Sar | Council Member
Bopha is currently serving as the VISTA Leader for Literacy Minnesota, marking her second term with AmeriCorps. In this leadership role, she supports and mentors other VISTA members, helping them navigate their service and providing the resources they need to succeed in their positions. Bopha ensures that VISTA members are equipped to make a meaningful impact in the community while fostering a collaborative and supportive service environment. Previously, she served as a Literacy Leader at East Central Regional Library. Outside of her service work, Bopha enjoys spending time at her sewing machine or relaxing with a good book and a cup of tea.
ARIELLE NEWFIELD | Council Member
Arielle Newfield (she/they) graduated from Hamline University with a BFA in Creative Writing and a BA in Psychology. She works for College Possible as a College Access Coach helping students from low-income backgrounds find, apply to, and enroll in higher education. On the ICC, Arielle is the Project Team Connector for the Social Events subcommittee and is a member of the Professional Development subcommittee. She joined the ICC to help AmeriCorps members connect with each other. In her free time, Arielle enjoys reading fanfiction and watching psychologically-enriched stories. She is passionate about accessibility, organization sustainability, generativity, education, psychology and creative writing.
MEMBER(S) NOT PICTURED:
Geroldine Anderson|Recovery Corps
Marta Rowe|Promise Fellows
Social Events Project Team
BROOKE MORGAN-KAMNETZ | Council Member
Brooke is currently serving her second year as a Reading Corps tutor in Isanti, MN. In this role, she supports students in grades 1-3 to improve their reading fluency. Brooke is passionate about equity in education and helping students achieve their goals. In her free time, Brooke enjoys working on art, growing her small business and spending time with friends and family. Brooke joined the ICC to connect with other Corps members serving in Minnesota and to help plan meaningful events.
REBECCA MERICA | Council Member
Rebecca is currently serving as a College Possible coach at Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis. She works with a cohort of junior and senior students to help them apply, attend and pay for college. Last year, she was a 4th-8th grade math tutor with MathCorps in Ely, MN. Rebecca’s hobbies are numerous and dynamic. She spends her free time renovating a 100 year old house, brewing kombucha, growing mushrooms, and fussing over her blind 16 year old Chihuahua named “Poppy”. As a long time educator, Rebecca is passionate about helping young people advance their skills and knowledge especially when it comes to math, science, and the environment.
PRISCILLA CABALLERO | Council Member
Priscilla Caballero is currently serving as a Housing Resource Navigator through Heading Home Corp. She is a passionate advocate and professional dedicated to empowering individuals and families through housing stabilization, financial education, and domestic survivor support.
NATALIE BELLAMY | Council Member
Natalie is serving her second term with AmeriCorps as the Student Leadership Fellow through FCCLA, after taking one year off to focus on health. Prior to that, she worked in retail and marketing, as well as an Office Administrator in a Middle School in Saint Paul. When she’s not serving her community and through AmeriCorps, you can find her crocheting, watching movies or playing the Sims 4. Her two geckos, Draco and Echo are the best thing to come home to. Serving on the ICC is a way to gain a different perspective from different areas of the community and within AmeriCorps.
Join ICC
WHY JOIN?
The ICC is a unique opportunity that allows AmeriCorps members across programs to network and collaborate with one another. As part of the ICC, members enhance their service year, grow their professional development and leadership skills, and connect to the AmeriCorps community as a whole.
HOW ARE MEMBERS SELECTED?
Each AmeriCorps program across the state of Minnesota elects service members to be their representative(s) on the ICC. The election of these members differs from across programs.
If you are interested in being your program's ICC representative, please contact your program manager/supervisor to learn about the election process.
COUNCIL HANDBOOK
InterCorps Council of Minnesota Policies and Procedures Handbook