Member Spotlight: How AmeriCorps Helped Caitlyn Lewis Find Her Place at Habitat
When Caitlyn Lewis first joined Habitat for Humanity of Council Bluffs as an AmeriCorps volunteer, she wasn't just looking for her next opportunity. She was looking for purpose.
After working as a newspaper reporter, Caitlyn knew she wanted a career that connected her more directly to the people and communities around her. She wanted to see the impact of her work firsthand and be part of creating positive changes. That desire led her to a term of service with the Habitat for Humanity of Iowa AmeriCorps Program serving at Habitat for Humanity of Council Bluffs.
What started as a commitment to serve quickly became something more. Through her AmeriCorps experience, Caitlyn built relationships, gained a deeper understanding of the community, and discovered a passion for Habitat's mission. After completing her service term, she continues that work as a full-time employee with Habitat for Humanity of Council Bluffs.
In her own words, Caitlyn reflects on why she chose service, what she learned along the way, and how AmeriCorps helped shape the path she's on today.
Why did you choose service versus joining a typical job?
“Throughout college and the beginning of my professional career, I knew I wanted to do something that had an impact on the community. For two years, I worked as a political reporter for The North Platte Telegraph in west-central Nebraska, and while I loved every day working for the newspaper, I felt like I wasn’t really making a difference in people’s lives.
After moving back to the Omaha metro area to be closer to my now-husband and family, I saw the AmeriCorps listing for a nine-month service position at Habitat for Humanity of Council Bluffs. Having reported on the amazing work of Habitat for Humanity of North Platte, I saw this as an opportunity to really serve a community in a way that matters.
Serving with Habitat for Humanity of Council Bluffs has put me in the community, seeing what the needs of the people are and gaining knowledge of both the needs being met by service organizations, nonprofits, and government entities, and the needs that still remain unmet.
Taking a service position versus a regular job has given me a broader worldview. It has challenged my beliefs, expanded my understanding of the people who make up a community, and proven to me just how necessary service-minded individuals are and the difference they can make when they work together for the greater good.
Habitat for Humanity of Council Bluffs isn’t just building houses. It is building homes where families will raise their children, creating communities those families can rely on, and helping people support one another while leaving the world better than they found it.”
From Service to Career
For Caitlyn, AmeriCorps was more than a service term. It was an opportunity to immerse herself in a community, learn from the people around her, and discover how she could make a lasting impact.
Her journey from AmeriCorps volunteer to full-time Habitat staff member reflects the power of national service. The experiences, skills, and relationships she built during her term didn't end when her service year was complete. Instead, they laid the foundation for a career dedicated to helping families build strength, stability, and self-reliance through affordable homeownership.
We're grateful that Caitlyn chose to continue her journey with Habitat for Humanity of Council Bluffs, and we're proud to see her carrying forward the same commitment to service that first brought her to AmeriCorps.
Interested in where an AmeriCorps term could lead you? Learn more about serving with Habitat for Humanity of Iowa AmeriCorps Program and discover how AmeriCorps service can make a difference in your community and in your own future.
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