AmeriCorps, College Corps, & Interns

Ma Vang AmeriCorps Page Turner for 916 Ink Read On, fell in love with literature at the age of 5. As a kid, she was inking paper with nonsense stories, ideas, creative writing, and knew that her dream was to become an author, a writer to her own life. Vang graduated from Sacramento State with a B.A. in English, Creative Writing in the spring of 2021 and soon after published her first poetry and prose book Labyrinth in July of that year. Being an author at her favorite number at age 23 still seems surreal even to this day. Nonetheless, 5-year-old Vang would be proud of how far they've come.

Currently at 24, she is working on a new novel that has been in the works for a couple of years now regarding romance and soulmates. When Vang is not writing or clocked into the womb of work, you can find her at the gym, listening to vinyl's, being with family, getting tattooed, zoning out to new story plots despite having unfinished stories, mourning over books when it comes to an end, and enjoying coffee.

Kyah Hurd serves as an AmeriCorps Page Turner for 916 Ink Read On! program. She recently graduated from Inderkum High School and is attending her first year at the American River College. Kyan plans to transfer and obtain her Bachelor’s in Business Administration. Kyah has been working since she was13 and has always had to work hard and learn to earn her way through this world. She also manages a Papa Murphy’s part- time and knows how to make the world’s best pizza (in case anyone was craving one.)

She is passionate about loving what you do in life, and not just living to survive, but striving for the purpose you want to bring into this world. She is happy to be a part of this 916 Ink community and has always used writing as a coping method and outlet to be grounded. Kyah wants to use her experiences and struggles she faced in school to help the kids who may be going through the same thing and be the guidance she didn’t always have.

Milan Knepprath is currently serving as an AmeriCorps Inspirator. He is originally from Sacramento. He was a big reader when he was a child and always going on adventures or learning when he was reading. So much so, his 2nd grade teacher nicknamed him, "Rapid Researcher." Also, he had the privilege to do poetry with a teacher who taught students at his school about what poetry is. He has a Bachelor's in Sociology and a minor in Anthropology from Northern Arizona University. He still is a glutton for knowledge and would love to hear more facts about anything. In his spare time, he likes to spend time learning random facts, playing video games, doing trivia, writing poetry or spending quality time with others.

Miles Norwood is an AmeriCorps Inspirator based in Sacramento, California. Since early childhood, he has always wanted to be a cartoonist, whether it was becoming an animator or an illustrator for comic books. He remembers watching cartoon short films submitted by college students and indie teams to be broadcasted by Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon. These broadcasted short films inspired him to become an animator instead and create his own animated series. At the end of 2014, he created his first digital animation (live action-animated) in Photoshop, using himself as an actor and interacting with a cartoon alien.  By the early start of 2015, he began building his animation portfolio by creating character turnarounds, study human anatomy, create multiple cartoon projects, and films. Today, he is utilizing those artistic skills to inspire our youth and environment to put them on a creative path to success within the educational system and later, the market world.

Marissa Britto is a Book Builder for 916 Ink’s Find Your Voice Program. She has had a love of literature and writing since childhood and can often be found with a book in hand or writing in her journal. From a young age she knew she wanted to be involved with all things writing and reading related. Marissa staffed her high school’s newspaper and yearbook, then went on to work as an editor for Sac City College’s literary magazine Susurrus. It was through these activities that she found a love for the writing process and helping others see their works come to fruition. Marissa is excited to be involved with 916 Ink and help young writers grow a deeper appreciation for the craft. When she’s not at work, you can find Marissa tending to her garden, crafting, or playing with her pets.

Percaeus Yang is a Page Turner. Graduated from CK McClatchy, she has been fond of reading and writing. She took AP Literature to keep moving forward in her love for writing and reading. Percaeus loves reading children’s books more than novels. She loves pictures and her eyes were captured by the talented work of Japanese Manga. Percaeus is very passionate about books and her favorite place to be besides her home is the Library. Percaeus is excited to work with 916ink as a Page Turner and can’t wait to help encourage and support children to read. When Percaeus is not busy she will be playing League of Legends or Pokémon Unite. And reading some children’s books on the side.

Ranell Benfield is a first year Americorps Page Turner for 916 Ink Read on! She recently served as a tutor for Kyah last semester at Caroline Wenzel, also working closely with Zuzu. She really enjoyed tutoring the kids and the time she spent on campus building bonds with them. After the semester ended she still wanted to continue tutoring and working with 916 Ink. Kyah recommended the position of Page Turner and voila! Here I am!

Outside of tutoring kids she has also worked in the field of A.B.A (applied behavioral analysis) in the classroom setting. She has been working with children in one form or another for the past two years. She currently attends Sacramento State University, majoring in Psychology working on her B.A. Outside of all of that… she is also a Full Time mom 😊!

Nae Hamilton serves as an AmeriCorps Volunteer Liaison. She will be continuing her education at WGU in hopes to become an Elementary Teacher.

Nae loves to cook, watch movies, and go on adventures. Nae received a Humanitarian Award her Senior year at Grant Union Highschool and has been serving and aiding her community ever since.

Nae hopes to become an even greater addition to the Greater Sacramento.

Sam Bloom is an Americorps Evaluation Associate with 916 Ink. He is a reformed silviculturist, responsible for planting over 500,000 tree saplings in British Columbia. He is the CEO and founder of the non-profit organization City of Trees Foundation which seeks to mitigate climate change through tree planting in underserved communities. He is an avid traveler, visiting and living in over 40 countries around the world. The book he always makes his way back to is Rayuela by Julio Cortazar.

Jessica “Jess” Seibold, College Corps Fellow and Read On! Tutor. Jess moved from Sonoma County, CA to Sacramento in 2022 to attend Sacramento State as a transfer student. She is currently in the last year of her Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Studies, and from there she plans to continue on to a Teaching Credential/Master’s Degree program so she can teach elementary school. She has had a dream of teaching since she was 7 years old, and she is thrilled to be working with 916 Ink to help students grow. Jess has loved reading her entire life, especially historical fiction and fantasy novels, and she’s excited to help unlock the joys of reading for other students. Her favorite childhood books were the Magic Treehouse series, the Percy Jackson series, and the Harry Potter series. She loves how each one sent her on new adventures with lovable characters. When Jess is not doing schoolwork, reading, or working with kids, she can be found hiking, baking, crocheting, and talking with friends. She loves to listen to music while she enjoys these activities, with playlists including pop, showtunes, oldies, and indie-pop music. Her favorite companions are her twin and her two labradoodles, Jax and Buck.

Llyary (Ya-ri) Alvarez is a proud first-generation Mexican student, in her fourth year attending Sacramento State University. Her major is Health Science, She plans to to pursue a career either as an occupational therapist or speech language therapist. She was born in Mexico but has lived here in Sacramento since she was three years old. Some of her favorite hobbies are shopping, working out, spending time with her loved ones, and eating!!

My name is Ariana Garcia. I am a fellow from College Corps for the 916 INK Read On! Program. I am originally from Ceres, CA. I currently go to UC Davis as a second year, where I am studying biological sciences. I hope to become a doctor working in pediatrics. I love to write and go on hikes/walks. I also enjoy being around my friends and family as much as I can be. I am passionate about spreading positivity and inspiring others to do their best. I love to help others and provide support.

Rosemarie Goodman is a a College Corps fellow. She is a first-year tutor and is very excited to tutor the students. She attends Sacramento City College. She loves helping her community and loves working with children. She has 5 of her own and so she knows the challenges they can go through and where she can use my passion to help. She can't wait to see the children and work with them.

Hannah is an AmeriCorps Inspirator, writer, cartoonist, and journalist. Born and raised in Sacramento, she developed her creative passions alongside her artistically inclined grandparents, all writers, knitters, or painters. She attended UC Santa Cruz where she studied history, wrote for the newspaper, and served as an editor and cartoonist for the campus alternative humor paper. She loves poetry, Eastern European and North African history, brutalist architecture, comedy and satire, French films, sending postcards, and travel by train. When she is not writing, you can find her on her bike, backcountry skiing in Tahoe, or knitting ill-fitting hats. She is very excited to be supporting creativity in the classroom and helping to build a living literary scene in the Sacramento region.