Tyler Martin

Background

About Tyler Martin

Following my completion of my associate's degree at community college, I joined AmeriCorps and was lucky enough to travel throughout the southwestern United States, serving with multiple nonprofits along the way. Perhaps the most influential part of my service year was when I worked alongside the volunteer coordinator with Habitat for Humanity San Antonio. This specific position was what motivated me to pursue a lifetime of working in nonprofits. After my first year of service, I was accepted to Northern Illinois University and took coursework in the major of Nonprofit and NGO Studies. While at NIU, I worked as a trip leader with our Outdoor Adventures organization through the Recreation Center. My job primarily consisted of taking students and community members on outdoor trips, such as backpacking, kayaking, snowboarding, and so much more. I also led team facilitation events for organizations including fraternities, sororities, and middle school class groups. I was at NIU for only one year before rejoining AmeriCorps, this time on Cape Cod as part of their FireCorps program with the Cape Cod National Seashore. With this program I learned how to prepare for, and lead a controlled burn. Additionally, we worked with volunteers on removing invasive vegetation and pile burning trees that we had previously sawed. After my second year of service, I returned to NIU to complete my degree. While the coursework was challenging, it was rewarding to learn how nonprofits operate and to even aid in creating programs and fundraising videos for local nonprofits. Once I graduated, I moved to Baton Rouge, LA and began working with local nonprofits in animal welfare, first with a dog rescue and later with Companion Animal Alliance; the largest open-intake animal shelter in East Baton Rouge Parish. I worked as a foster and rescue coordinator with CAA, training volunteers to foster animals as well as reaching out to rescue organizations to see if they would be able to take in other animals of ours. After moving to Washington D.C, I began working in the same role with another animal shelter, Humane Rescue Alliance. Currently, I am living in Ludlow, MA and working with NeighborWorks Blackstone River Valley in Woonsocket, RI, running their Accessing Home AmeriCorps program.