Meet Maachiah: An Americorps Member Working with Habitat
At Habitat Lake-Sumter, it takes a dedicated team to make an impact, and AmeriCorps Member Maachiah has become an integral part of that team in just a few short months.
Maachiah came to Habitat Lake-Sumter last September as part of the Habitat AmeriCorps program. Serving as Habitat Lake-Sumter’s Outreach Coordinator, Maachiah has become the heart of our community outreach efforts, connecting with volunteers and homeowners and organizing events like the Spruce Up the Block Party.
With a background that spans from payroll apprenticeships to economic development internships—and now, working toward a degree in Material Sciences and Engineering—her path is one of growth, service, and purpose.
We sat down with Maachiah to talk about why she joined AmeriCorps, her favorite Habitat moments, and what’s next for her after her Habitat experience.
(Conversation has been edited for length, grammar, and clarity).
Q: What inspired you to join AmeriCorps and work with Habitat for Humanity Lake-Sumter?
A: Simply put, I was looking for a change and a new start, and the opportunity presented itself. I was a Shift Leader at Culvers in Lakeland, and I was tired of the work environment, and I felt unfulfilled. The job position was sent to all the students at my college. I knew I was ready to move away from Lakeland and wanted to take in-person classes, so this opportunity was perfect.
Q. Can you share a little about your background and what led you to this role?
A: I have only been a part of the workforce for 4 and half years, but I’ve had some notable jobs or internships that have led me to this role. I was a payroll apprentice for Lockheed Martin; I was training to take the American Payroll Association exam while helping with general payroll tasks and I worked remotely after school every day from 1-5. I was also the assistant to the COO of the Central Florida Development Council for a summer. I assisted her with designated tasks and met with companies who were seeking to develop in Central Florida. I worked here, Lockheed and at Culvers at the same time the summer before my senior year.
Q: What’s one thing people might not know about you?
A: I say I am from Lakeland, but I was born and raised in Blytheville, Arkansas. I moved to Florida 9 years ago in 2016 with my family.
Q: You’ve taken on some amazing projects—what has been your favorite so far and why?
A: My favorite project so far has been organizing Habitat Lake-Sumter’s activity for the Amazing Race for Charity, which is coming up on March 29th. Lacie, our Director of Development, first introduced the idea to me back in November. I was tasked with creating a challenge for it, and the entire process has been a rollercoaster. From uncertainties to changing aspects of the game, it has been worth it. I cannot wait to see all the pieces fall together.
Q: How do you hope your work with Habitat will make a lasting impact on the community?
A: I hope that the work I do will reach those who need it the most. That is the lasting impact I’d want to make as the Community Outreach Coordinator.
Q: What are your future career aspirations, and how has this experience shaped them?
A: My future career aspirations are to become a Product Development Engineer or a Material Process Engineer. This experience has shaped my aspirations by swaying me toward a more community-centered job. Originally, I wanted to work for Lockheed Martin as an engineer this time, or work for a fashion house and design products for them. Now, I’m exploring other avenues; for example, as a Material Science engineer, I would work closely with environmentalists and prevent further environmental damage while producing products, helping make our environment safer and healthier for everyone.
Q: If you could describe your Habitat experience in three words, what would it be?
A: Challenging, Welcoming, Informative.
Q: What’s the best advice you’ve received since starting this role?
A: The best advice I received since starting this role is to make at least 2-3 connections to follow up with at all events and meetings I attend. Having this goal in mind when I’m out in the community helps me make lasting, meaningful connections with the people in our community.
We’re so proud to have Maachiah as part of our team, and we can’t wait to see how her journey with Habitat continues to shape her future and our community!