A Second Year of Service

Hello Again! This is Beth with the Michigan Primary Care Association. In October 2009, I started my second year of service with Michigan’s AmeriCorps and its Member Council. I didn’t think twice about making the decision to do a second year of service; the experiences I’ve had since joining AmeriCorps have been exceptional!

Serving at a homeless and domestic violence shelter as a health advocate, the holiday season is an especially busy one. Many activities are planned for the children residents of the shelter, and it is so gratifying to spend this holiday time with them making crafts, visiting Santa Claus, sharing a meal, and giving gifts.

Families who have “adopted” a family in the shelter come by our office and drop off gifts they have purchased. One day, a mother and her three young children made two trips from their car up the stairs and into our office to drop off the wrapped presents. I believe this future crop of AmeriCorps members are being fostered in service already! We are very grateful for this outpouring of goodwill, and it’s nice to know our shelter families will have an exciting Christmas morning with gifts under the tree.

Our shelter counts on support from the community all year long, but the amount of goodwill definitely seems to increase around this time of the year. A local faith-based organization and high school group threw a holiday party last week. The high-schoolers have a “giving” tree, and they collected presents for each shelter child to be given a gift at the party. They also provided lots of entertainment: decorating sugar cookies, carnival-type games (with prizes and all!), and arts and crafts. The area churches have a group that also collects presents the children can pick out for their parents.

Again, I am so excited about my second year of service. At the end of the annual Michigan’s AmeriCorps Member Celebration – held this past November – First Gentleman Daniel Mulhern swore us in and asked us to take the AmeriCorps pledge.

I remember feeling so inspired when I left Member Celebration in 2008, and took the pledge very seriously. I experienced the same thing this year. It feels great to be a part of the larger national service movement, and it is hard to not be inspired by others around you are as passionate about national service as you are.

From connecting, interacting, and even collaborating with community leaders on service projects, presenting about AmeriCorps to civic groups, high school and college students, to doing a healthy nutrition craft with children of the shelter, all of these experiences have helped keep me motivated, inspired, and guided for the future. I have always been a big believer in that you can learn something from everyone and from every experience!

Having hope and faith in fellow citizens to volunteer and make a difference creates the great country we live in! We can make the world a better place if we all give a little bit of effort! Look for volunteer opportunities near you at www.mivolunteers.org or by calling 1-800-VOLUNTEER.

Cross-Stream: Invaluable to National Service

Welcome back! My name is Matt Reaume and I am currently serving as an AmeriCorps*VISTA with the Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC). This year, my service will primarily focus on expanding cross-stream collaboration between national service programs throughout the state of Michigan.

For those of you who may not be familiar with the jargon, “cross-stream” is simply a terms that refers to the different ways in which national service programs in Michigan can work together to pool information and resources to more effectively carry out their program’s mission.

As the new Cross-Stream*VISTA, I will work closely with an advisory team comprised of representatives from the MCSC, Corporation for National and Community Service, Michigan Office of Services to the Aging, and all Michigan national service programs including Senior Corps, Learn & Serve America, and AmeriCorps* State, National Direct, and National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) programs.

This cross-stream initiative is the result of a general statewide trend where community service organizations have become strained in the face of steadily increasing needs for service coupled with a consistent decline in funding and resources. These general trends have forced national service programs in Michigan to come together through collaboration and partnership opportunities to make the most effective use of time and money.

The position will challenge me. It will be difficult at times to see the results of my efforts. Often times in my years of working in the trades before beginning my service, I became used to seeing a “finished product” once my labors were complete. This gave me the luxury of standing back and admiring/critiquing my work.

While the cross-stream initiative may not provide tangible results instantly, I will be able to derive a world of satisfaction out of knowing that the infrastructure I am currently working to leave behind will continue to make cross-stream collaboration a sustainable trend in Michigan.

How could you collaborate – or form a “cross-stream” relationship – at your service site?

2010 Michigan Mentoring Month

My name is Betsy Knoll and I represent the 4-H Mentor Michigan Initiative. This initiative focuses on the expansion and strengthening of mentoring programs in targeted Michigan communities.  This year the project has enlisted 80 full-time AmeriCorps members statewide to serve with Michigan State University Extension (MSUE) 4-H staff and the other community-based youth mentoring programs to recruit 2,000 potential volunteers to serve as mentors. Members assist in training and matching 825 volunteers statewide to build the capacity of each community to establish one-to-one or small group mentoring programs.  As a result of these efforts nearly 1,650 low-income, at-risk, or underserved youth, age 5 to 19 years old, will participate in on-going mentoring relationships.

The host site where I am serving at is Journey 4-H Youth Mentoring of Ottawa County MSUE. The Journey 4-H Youth Mentoring program pairs youth in Ottawa County with positive adult role models in an effort to reduce the frequency and severity of delinquent behavior. The success of the program is in large part due to the strong partnership between Michigan State University Extension and 20th Circuit Court Family Division Juvenile Services. I am in my second year of service, and I have the privilege of serving with two other AmeriCorps members at MSUE, Barb Brow and Jeff Walker.

Currently, both in Ottawa County and statewide, mentoring programs are preparing for the 2010 Michigan Mentoring Month coming up in January. Michigan Mentoring Month is an opportunity for mentoring programs to raise awareness of the need for mentors. This is done in a variety of ways, such as service projects and recruitment presentations both on a local and state level. Some examples are Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service on January 18^th, where mentoring programs are encouraged to plan a project for their mentors and mentees or encourage them to volunteer in their community. Also, Thank Your Mentor Day on January 21^st is an opportunity to encourage mentees to show their mentors how much they’ve impacted their lives.

Michigan Mentoring Month also is a great opportunity for recognition of mentors and mentoring supporters. In Ottawa County, we are in the planning stages for our 4^th Annual Magic of Mentoring Celebration. This activity is our way to say a big “thank you” to those people who make mentoring in Ottawa County possible. We have some great entertainment lined up for this year, as well as many mentors, mentees, and community partners that we are looking forward to honoring that evening.

Is your New Year’s resolution to volunteer? Maybe it could be! Find a mentoring program near you by visiting www.mentormichigan.org and clicking on “Become a Mentor.”

A new year of Michigan’s AmeriCorps!

Welcome back to the Michigan’s AmeriCorps Member Council Blog – my name is Cathy and I represent the Cherry Street Health Services Community HealthCorps team. Cherry Street Health Services (CSHS) is a group of 13 federally qualified community heath centers. The HealthCorps team is a national AmeriCorps program that is health focused and where each member has direct patient contact. There are members of my team at each of the 13 CSHS sites and some members serve with partnering programs. My host site is Project Access, a partnering program which recruits physicians (general practice and specialists) to donate services to qualifying low-income and uninsured people in need.

During the inaugural meeting of the Michigan’s AmeriCorps Member Council in late November, new people and fresh ideas were met with a warm reception. What a fabulous year this will be. There was amazing energy throughout the rather gray day we spent in Lansing, MI. It was a fun experience for me. I always enjoy meeting new people who are from different backgrounds.

This is what I discovered from the first member council meeting for the 2009-2010 Michigan’s AmeriCorps year: There’s a certain kind of power that can only be derived when you connect with others who share your ambitions. With all of us working in different programs across Michigan, we came together with different ideas of what impacting our community means. However, we all see that it takes leadership and planning to make a successful and long lasting impact. United by a common cause, we unfold a power to accomplish great things. What great things do you hope to accomplish during your term of service?

2010 AmeriCorps Week Announced!

Guest posted by the Michigan’s AmeriCorps Team

The dates for the fourth annual AmeriCorps Week have been announced – and it’s scheduled for May 8 – 15, 2010!  AmeriCorps Week is a recruitment and recognition initiative to bring more Americans into service, salute AmeriCorps members and alums for their powerful impact, and thank the community partners who make AmeriCorps possible.

Regardless if you’re an AmeriCorps member, program, alumni, sponsor, or friend, you can help shine a spotlight on the great work being done by AmeriCorps members across the country.  There are a variety of ways you can get involved during AmeriCorps Week, including the following:

• Planning an open house, service project, or special event.
• Making a presentation to a school or community group.
• Entering the national AmeriCorps Video and/or Photo Contests.
• Blogging about your AmeriCorps experience (we’d love to hear your story – submit to verberkmoese@michigan.gov).
• Thanking your AmeriCorps members and community supporters.
• Reconnecting with AmeriCorps Alums.

We know what you might be thinking…. Isn’t it a little early to be thinking about the 2010 AmeriCorps Week?  No!  Now is the time to start planning your efforts for next year and there are many resources that can help you get started today.

Michigan State University Extension will be conducting a webinar on AmeriCorps Week and the art of planning a service project this coming April.  The webinar will highlight tools and resources to help you plan a successful project and will include information on choosing, publicizing, and executing your efforts.  You can register for this free opportunity by clicking here.

The Corporation for National and Community Service already has tips, tools, and inspiration for the 2010 AmeriCorps Week available at www.AmeriCorpsWeek.gov.

The Michigan Community Service Commission and Michigan’s AmeriCorps is excited about next year’s AmeriCorps Week – stay tuned for more information in the future about this opportunity to support national service.

AmeriCorps News You Can Use!

Guest posted by the Michigan’s AmeriCorps Team

Much has been going on in recent weeks that will impact the greater AmeriCorps community. The Michigan’s AmeriCorps Member Council blog would like to share that news with you as we embark on the 2009-2010 year of service.

CNCS CEO nominated by President Obama
Earlier this month President Barack Obama announced his intention to nominate Patrick Corvington to be the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS).

Patrick Corvington currently serves at the Annie E. Casey Foundation as a Senior Associate responsible for guiding the foundation’s grantees on issues related to leadership development, next generation leadership, and capacity building. In addition to that, he also serves as Senior Advisor to the Foundation’s Executive Vice President, Ralph Smith. Prior to his current position, Corvington was the Executive Director of Innovation Network from 2003 to 2005. Innovation Network is a nonprofit agency whose mission is to build the evaluation capacity of the nonprofit sector.

He has a strong connection to service, volunteerism, and advocacy and has devoted his life to serving and empowering communities.

Would you like to be a peer grant reviewer? CNCS could use your help!
Are you looking for an opportunity for professional development and service? The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) is seeking peer reviewers to assist in the review of its competitive grant applications.

A diverse group of people with expertise in a variety of areas who can assess the quality of grant applications are needed. Reviewers should be comfortable reading a large volume of material in a short period of time and be capable of providing in-depth individual analysis and participating in small group discussions. Reviewers could include members of the national service community, educators, researchers, volunteers, and others.

Reviewers are needed on an on-going basis; feel free to visit http://www.nationalservice.gov/egrants/peer_review.asp for more information and to submit your name.

- Information courtesy of the Corporation for National and Community Service

What an exciting year for Michigan’s AmeriCorps!

Guest posting by the Michigan’s AmeriCorps Team

The 2009-2010 program year looks to be an exciting time for Michigan’s AmeriCorps! We are welcoming back 17 veteran programs that are “Getting Things Done” in our communities and two brand-new programs that are looking to kick things off.

During this coming year there will be more than 1,100 Michigan’s AmeriCorps members across the state to address our communities toughest challenges, including education, environment, public safety, and disaster preparedness. Twenty of those members will be serving with Michigan’s AmeriCorps’ newest grantees: the Power of We Consortium AmeriCorps Project and the Schools of Hope AmeriCorps Program.

The Ingham County Health Department’s Power of We Consortium AmeriCorps Project will enroll 10 full-time members to focus on two key project goals: creating, expanding, and/or maintaining trails, greenways, parks, and non-motorized transportation options; and creating, expanding, and/or maintaining community gardens, sustainable food systems, and access to healthy foods. Members will provide direct service to their host sites and the community in three focus areas: recruitment and mobilization of community volunteers; community education; and training, supporting, and modeling direct service work for community volunteers.

The Literacy Center of West Michigan’s Schools of Hope AmeriCorps Program will enroll 10 full-time members in service at Grand Rapids-area elementary schools to improve the reading ability of children, increase the capacity of parents to support their children, and increase the capacity of parents to compete more effectively in the workplace. Students will be paired with an adult to receive weekly tutoring in reading skills in order to increase their grades and MEAP scores. Michigan’s AmeriCorps members will also provide weekly literacy enrichment activities for parents in order to help them better assist their children and reach their own educational and/or employment goals.

These program’s service sites will be confirmed soon with members beginning service in early November. The Michigan Community Service Commission’s AmeriCorps team is also looking forward to the next year.

“We’re always excited to welcome new initiatives into the Michigan’s AmeriCorps network of programs,” said Michigan’s AmeriCorps Program Officer Marcy Bishop Kates. “Each of these new programs will address critical needs in their respective communities.”

For more information on AmeriCorps in Michigan, visit www.michigan.gov/mcsc.

Michigan’s AmeriCorps – Kicking Off a New Year of Service!

By: Guest Blogger Megan Sargent, Training & Inclusion Coordinator at the Michigan Community Service Commission

The 2008-2009 program year for Michigan’s AmeriCorps has drawn to a close – although we won’t soon forget the successes of this past year. More than 1,000 individuals served Michigan’s communities as AmeriCorps members last year assisting with human needs, education, environment, disaster preparedness, and much more! Now we look forward to the 2009-2010 program year and the countless ways national service will impact communities across the state.

During this next year the Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC), through funds from the Corporation for National and Community Service, is granting money to 19 Michigan’s AmeriCorps programs. These grantees will place more than 1,100 Michigan’s AmeriCorps members in communities across the state to “Get Things Done for America!”

In the immediate future there will be a variety of professional development opportunities for our new and returning Michigan’s AmeriCorps members. Each fall the MCSC hosts the Michigan’s AmeriCorps Member Celebration. This event provides a chance for all members to come together for a day of training, motivation, teambuilding, and festivities. Every year a keynote speaker is also welcomed – for 2009 the MCSC has invited Tony Campbell, Vice President of Focused Impact at the Heart of West Michigan United Way, MCSC Commissioner, and chair of the Mentor Michigan Task Force. This year’s Celebration will occur on Thursday, November 19 at the Kellogg Center in East Lansing. Click here for a complete agenda of this year’s Celebration. If you are a current Michigan’s AmeriCorps member, mark that date on your calendar!

November will also bring the kickoff of the 2009-2010 Michigan’s AmeriCorps Member Council. The Member Council aims to strengthen the national service movement and the awareness of AmeriCorps in Michigan through effective outreach, community-wide service projects, and civic engagement. Annually, the Member Council consists of AmeriCorps members from each of the MCSC’s Michigan’s AmeriCorps grantees, as well as representatives from AmeriCorps*VISTA and AmeriCorps*National Direct programs in Michigan.

One of the roles of the Michigan’s AmeriCorps Member Council is the maintaining and authoring of this blog. For the time being you will find guest posters contributing their thoughts here with new member postings coming later this fall!

The Michigan Community Service Commission is looking forward to a productive year with Michigan’s AmeriCorps members. We believe in changing lives by engaging people in service.

Michigan’s AmeriCorps Member Council – Guest Blogger Ben Gulker

Hello everyone, this is Ben Gulker and I’m happy to be this week’s guest blogger. It has been my privilege to spend the last 10 months serving as an AmeriCorps*VISTA member with Mentor Michigan at the Michigan Community Service Commission. At Mentor Michigan, we strive to support and expand mentoring around the state, because we believe mentoring relationships can unleash the potential of our state’s youth.

Earlier this month, Christine reflected on The Road Not Taken, and observed that Robert Frost’s classic poem describes her two years of service perfectly. The same could be said for me. I, too, am in reflective mode as my term of service reaches its final months, and I’ve given a lot of thought to the road I chose to take, how that choice has affected me, and the implications of that choice for the future.

When I chose to join AmeriCorps as a VISTA member, I knew very little about National Service, and frankly, I was a bit unsure what to expect even after joining – but it didn’t take long for AmeriCorps to make a believer out of me. Service has allowed me to give something back to the people and communities that have invested in me. Service has allowed me to contribute to solutions for our state’s challenges. Service has connected me to a wonderful network of people and programs throughout the state who are striving to do the same.

The road we have all chosen to travel is not without its challenges, to be sure, and at times, the alternatives may appear more attractive. But I, for one, am glad to have walked this road – because it is my firm conviction the challenges we face are greatly outweighed by the contributions service allows and empowers us to make.

As my term of services nears its end, there are many unknowns – but there is one thing I know for certain: my journey on this road is not over. My term will end in December, but my service will not. The journey that allows and empowers me to serve others is the journey I choose to take for a lifetime, and as Frost says so eloquently, that has made all the difference.

Michigan’s AmeriCorps Member Council – Posting #38

Hello everyone! This is Beth again with the Michigan Primary Care Association Community Health Corps serving as an AmeriCorps health advocate for SIREN/Eaton Shelter in Charlotte. Sometimes in my position at the shelter, it is difficult to help people when circumstances prevent them from qualifying for Medicaid and/or Medicare. Other than the health department, two local hospitals, and an urgent care facility – all places that will treat people regardless of their ability to pay – Eaton County lacks a FQHC, or federally-qualified health center. Currently there are over 10,000 county residents that do not have any health insurance. Being able to refer adults and children for primary medical care at a local clinic would greatly increase the availability of health care for many residents in Eaton County; therefore I always try to keep up on any opportunities I have to learn about additional services in the county that will in turn benefit those whom I advocate for at the shelter.

In April, I read in the local paper about a health summit to be held to increase health care access to the residents of Eaton County. I called our local health department and left a message, requesting an invitation to attend the summit. I waited a week and didn’t hear anything, so I proceeded to call back and leave another message. The day before the summit I received a call that said I could attend. I didn’t think much about who would be attending, and found it quite intimidating the next morning when arriving to find my assigned table. I suddenly found myself sitting with the director of the Department of Human Services for Eaton County, the director of our local health department, the CEO of our local hospital, an Eaton County Commissioner, and a probate judge. Others around the room included U.S. Congressman Mark Schauer and representatives from U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow’s office.

It was, to say the least, very overwhelming on that first day and I can say I felt somewhat out of place to be among all the community leaders; however, representing the county’s only homeless and domestic violence shelter and Michigan’s AmeriCorps, I did feel a sense of pride, but I certainly did quite a lot of listening, and not much talking!

After hearing perspectives of community leaders on what values they held related to community health and access to care, the room broke into small work groups to identify strategies with the most potential to improve and expand access to healthcare in Eaton County. Toward the end of the morning, it was realized that everyone in the room wanted to work on creating a culture of health and wellness in the county, as well as continue to identify solutions to increase access for our most vulnerable citizens.

The goal of the day was to create two workgroups to focus on the two initiatives set forth from the summit. I now am a part of the workgroup that is focusing on increasing access and we meet monthly. Currently we are working on developing the grant to apply for an FQHC status from the federal government for a new health center. Already in existence is the Barry Eaton Health Plan, which has two health plans covering approximately 1,400 members of the community. These plans are not medical insurance, but assistance programs to provide access to basic medical care for low-income, uninsured adults at the Health Connections Clinic inside of the Eaton County Health Department. The goal of our workgroup is to turn the clinic into an FQHC, which will be able to provide care for many others who currently do not receive any primary medical care.

I am very happy to have made those first two phone calls, as being involved in the process has opened many doors for me. On July 1, I participated in a health care forum with healthcare professionals from the area hosted by Congressman Mark Schauer. Sitting on the panel, I was able to share my perspective on the needs and solutions to our country’s health care crisis. It was amazing to realize how far I had come from that first meeting in April. Because of other outreach events I attended, speaking in front of others became much easier for me, and I owe this all to my experience with AmeriCorps! I am also learning invaluable professional skills I know will contribute to my success in future endeavors.

It is at times very difficult to put yourself out there and take risks, such as I did attending that first health care summit; however, I have realized no matter how uncomfortable it may be, the benefits of the experience will come back to you tenfold!

Michigan’s AmeriCorps Member Council Posting #37

Hello and welcome back to the Michigan’s AmeriCorps Member Council blog. This is Christine Sisung with the 4-H Mentor Michigan Initiative. It is hard to believe I am wrapping up my second year of service which has really brought me into reflection mode of my time spent in AmeriCorps service.

Robert Frost’s poem, The Road Not Taken, summed up from beginning to end the path I chose to travel during my two years of service. The road you take may not always be the one most traveled – or the easiest – but it is your choice. When all of my college friends where expecting full-time jobs offers with decent salaries, benefit packages, and 401ks; I took the road less traveled and became a Michigan’s AmeriCorps member.

Instead of taking a teaching job in another state I signed up to make a difference in my community. This road wasn’t traveled by my friends. But now I have friends considering giving part of their time to service! They have seen the impact it has made in my life and the excitement I have from AmeriCorps.

While this less traveled road may feel challenging at times it also can be extremely rewarding and successful. The time on the less traveled road can bring you to a new destination that has a more rewarding future. My time has brought direction to my future career choice, opportunities to grow personally and professional, and a dedication to find the time to continue to give back.

Choosing the traveled road would have been the easy choice, but not the best. Instead of feeling fulfilled I would have been in a job I didn’t love and not completely knowing what I wanted to be. At times I wanted to turn around and take the easier road. If I had, I wouldn’t be where I am toady. Service brings you down the less traveled road but it will leave a lasting impact on your life.

Through my two years of service on the less traveled road I have had an experience I will never forget. I am nearing the end of my service with AmeriCorps. That won’t change the fact that the less traveled road has increased my commitment to continue to find ways to improve the lives of others within my community.

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear,
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I marked the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

- Robert Frost

Michigan’s AmeriCorps Member Council – Posting #36

Hello, Colette again with readetroit. This is my third and final blog post as a Michigan's AmeriCorps Member Council Representative. As I near the end of my service, I’ve begun to reflect heavily upon my year of service. I know I have made a difference in my community, state, and the world. Whether I was tutoring children at the former Heilmann Park Elementary School (now Fisher Magnet Academy Lower), or digging and planting trees at Memorial Park in Flint, or packing food boxes for deserving families at Capuchin in Detroit, it was all done for the greater good of all mankind.

I’ve always been community oriented and involved in activities and issues that are important to me. So when I was placed at a school to assist with tutoring it made perfect sense! I served more than 30 children in a day and each and every one of them brought a unique perspective to our tutoring sessions. They taught me how to laugh at myself and helped me be more patient and understanding. I’m sure they learned a lot from me, but I learned so much more from them in the end. I’ve gained some rewarding relationships, especially with the parents in the community and for that I will be forever thankful.

AmeriCorps has been an amazing and life-changing experience I will never forget. I have enjoyed being a part of the Michigan’s AmeriCorps Member Council, which has helped me to develop my leadership and public speaking skills. I have gained a greater understanding of team building capacity and that I have to do what is best for the team because we all want to reach the same common goal. I’ve gained a greater understanding of the non-profit sector and I am truly appreciative of the opportunity I have been given to serve my community. I wish everyone much success in their future endeavors. Let us remember to continue to get things done!

Michigan’s AmeriCorps Member Council – Posting #35

Hello and welcome back to the Michigan's AmeriCorps Member Council Blog. This is Matthew Reaume again with Huron Pines AmeriCorps and I am writing to you for my final blog post of the 2008-2009 service year. I am currently wrapping up my duties and responsibilities at the Michigan Association of Conservation Districts in Lansing before I begin to look ahead to my next year of service as Cross Stream VISTA for the Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC).

In looking back at my first year of service, I find I have come away from this experience having learned many valuable lessons about National Service in the nonprofit sector. Among these lessons, perhaps the most valuable to me in preparing for my next position has been the crucial understanding that with a continued decline in resources and an increasing need for services, organizations must be willing to cooperate and partner with each other to pool resources and technical expertise if our missions and goals are to be fully realized.

After completing a lengthy project to determine the training needs of Conservation District Directors throughout northeast Michigan, it has become abundantly clear that strong and healthy partnerships remain a key ingredient to sustaining District efforts at providing sound conservation management services at the local level. It is my intention as the future MCSC Cross Stream VISTA to take this idea and expand upon it to deliver key capacity building techniques to sustain and grow Michigan’s National Service efforts.

While I will surely miss being part of the work currently being done as part of Michigan's environmental conservation efforts, I am excited and pleased to be part of the growing movement to expand the impact of the National Service movement in Michigan. I look forward to communicating all of the new developments in this effort in the coming year and wish all of my colleagues and peers the best of luck in their future endeavors. Thank you ALL for giving me the opportunity to serve my community, state, and country – it has truly been a unique pleasure I will never forget.

Michigan’s AmeriCorps Member Council – Posting #34

Hello! I’m Kathleen from Downriver CARES AmeriCorps. In a previous blog post, I wrote about a Community Resource Center (CRC) that was cleaned up after a flood. This summer has been an exciting one at the CRC where the Guidance Center, with the help of our AmeriCorps team, put on a free summer camp for the local children and teenagers.

Studies show children from low-income families lose more information during summer breaks, beginning a cycle that increasingly holds them back year after year. Our goal with a summer camp was to encourage critical thinking by providing fun, science-based activities all summer long. We studied topics like outer space, ecosystems, botany, and herpetology. The campers were able to explore these topics with hands-on activities.

We had a great time learning this summer, but I think the relationships we built with the children were just as important as the topics taught. Summer camp is such a unique setting – it allows for a relaxed atmosphere that fuels a mentor friendship between camp counselors and campers. This relationship is not always achieved in a classroom, teacher-student setting. Besides the educational stuff, the camp counselors were able to teach and discuss life issues. They regularly talked about pro-social character traits with the campers, like respect, trustworthiness, citizenship, and responsibility.

Through this summer camp, it is my hope the students grow in a well-rounded way, in both the mind and the heart. I have had a wonderful summer hanging out with these kids. I consider it a privilege to have been a part of their lives.

Michigan’s AmeriCorps Member Council – Posting #33

Rosie here from the Faith In Youth Partnership. As my first year of service comes to an end, I have taken time to reflect on my year both personally, and within the Michigan’s AmeriCorps program. Why is service so important to me and why should it be to others as well? These thoughts are quickly bound by one word: Ubuntu.

"A person with Ubuntu is open and available to others, affirming of others, does not feel threatened that others are able and good, for he or she has a proper self-assurance that comes from knowing that he or she belongs in a greater whole and is diminished when others are humiliated or diminished, when others are tortured or oppressed."
- Desmond Tutu

This message is the root of service in my life. Service is about becoming a whole person because you have made your neighbors whole.

"I am because you are, because we are."
- Desmond Tutu

These words are particularly pleasing at the moment because there is a call for people of this nation to SERVE. President Obama has called on us to help aid our nation's recovery by serving in our communities. One particular way to get involved in this national summer service movement is through the website www.serve.gov!

Whether you have Community Centers that could use volunteers or you are thinking of starting an organization of your own, www.serve.gov has something for everyone!

Michigan’s AmeriCorps Member Council – Posting #32

 Hi, this is Christy Fieber again from Volunteer Muskegon's AmeriCorps.  

I was recently serving in a local high school’s after-school program.  Since the school year ended, I am now serving in the agency through which the program was facilitated.  Since being here, I have created a workshop for youth focused on bullying and gender differences.  The workshop discusses how, at as early as age two, children are able to recognize “gender specific toys.”  For girls, they are over-sexualized dolls that teach young girls how they should look in order to be accepted.  For boys, it is “action figures” that teach masculinity, power, and anger.  We discuss how these types of toys teach children they should fit a very specific role, and if they do not fit it, they don’t belong.  This may seem trivial or irrelevant to youth, but in fact, studies have shown that we hold onto those images into adulthood.  

While administering the workshop, a 13-year-old boy said if he found his friend playing with a Barbie Doll, then “he would catch the gay.”  I was absolutely mystified by the comment!  The rest of the group followed with many concurring comments.  They shouted how they would make fun of that boy, they would call him a “sissy,” a “pansy,” “gay,” and many more that are perhaps just as offensive to women as they are to young boys.  

Throughout the five-week workshop, we also discussed how much influence the media has on these stereotypes.  They reinforce the role of women as sex objects, being nurturing, and having the burden in these times of not only taking care of the house and kids, but now a modern woman is also responsible for holding down a nine to five job.  The students discussed how if their fathers were the ones to grocery shop or vacuum, then they would no longer see him as a “man.”  These types of notions may seem archaic, but indeed they still exist.  They are the main force behind bullying and harassment among our youth.  

It is the goal of this workshop to address the problem in hopes a solution will follow - or at the least, we will begin to modify our behavior in recognition of its cause.  After facilitating this workshop many times, I now realize this is a goal of life for youth and adults alike.  

Michigan’s AmeriCorps Member Council – Posting #31

Welcome back, this is Christine Sisung from the 4-H Mentor Michigan Initiative. I just had the opportunity to spend this past weekend at the 4-H Mentoring Weekend in Tustin, Michigan. While all my body wanted to do was fall asleep in my bed for at least the next 12 hours, my mind had a very different idea. It was still abuzz with all the fun and excitement I witnessed different mentoring matches and AmeriCorps members from the 4-H Mentor Michigan Initiative have over the past three days. Highlights included watching everyone throwing red and green Jell-O at each other during the Jell-O wars, mentees and mentors showing off various talents during the talent show, and witnessing matches complete the Amazing Mentoring Challenge. The words amazing, great, fun, unforgettable, and thanks for the memories keep popping into my head. One of my personal highlights from the weekend was seeing different mentees really open up to everyone over the weekend.

The same thing can be said about an AmeriCorps term of service. We each come into the year inside our shell, not really knowing what to expect and then coming out of our year or two with a wide-open shell. For example, when I started my service in January 2008, AmeriCorps service was something that sounded like a good way to find more job experience and give back to the community I grew up in. Now, as I am rounding out my second year, I have a new perspective on life and new ideas of where I want to go. Through spending nearly two years serving my community, I have come to realize that while I want to work with children, being a classroom teacher is not for me. Instead, I want to do something that is going to support youth outside of school and help them realize their potential. This past weekend I witnessed exactly how two mentees involved in my program have started to realize their potential.

When both of the mentees got involved in the program it was like pulling teeth to get them to try a new activity with their mentor. This past weekend was all about trying new things for them. For example, one of the mentees kept saying she didn’t want to try the Jell-O war when we got to the field to start. So she and I made a deal that she would try it for five minutes and if she wasn’t having fun she could come stand by me on the sidelines. She never joined me on the sidelines and the Jell-O war ended up being her favorite session.

Just as my mind is filled with excitement from the weekend, everyone else who attended is also thinking about the amazing, fun, unforgettable things that occurred. The same thing can be said for my year of service. It has been an unforgettable year and a half so far and I can’t wait to see the things the AmeriCorps members who follow me will do. The foundation is set and now the sky is the limit for them, just as it was for me when I started in 2008. As each member packs up to leave our year we may be physically tired, just as matches were leaving mentoring weekend, but our mind is full from the excitement we experienced and the things we helped accomplish.

Michigan’s AmeriCorps Member Council – Posting #30

Greetings and salutations! Yasmine here and I am a Superior AmeriCorps member living in Houghton, Michigan – also known as the Gateway to the Keweenaw, or two miles past the End of the Earth (as a favorite postcard once noted). This is my first blog entry, but as I have signed up for a second year of AmeriCorps, I hope it will not be my last.  I cannot believe it has almost been a year of service, but with reminders on completing my exit package, reality about what has been accomplished has begun to set in.  

Education is Superior AmeriCorps’ primary focus and encompasses seven counties in the Upper Peninsula. We have 35 full-time members that aim to meet the motto of the program: "Serving to strengthen communities through youth education, volunteer recruitment, and the promotion of community service.” Superior AmeriCorps members’ positive outreach and influence permeates throughout our local centers – from the toddlers in the preschools we serve, to the at-risk youth in alternative education programs, and the elderly helped by nonprofit agencies like Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly.

My site is B.R.I.D.G.E. High school which stands for Becoming Responsible Individuals Dedicated to the Goals of Education. It is an alternative high school with an average of 50 students throughout the year. Telling people I volunteer with the B.R.I.D.G.E kids is sometimes met with raised eyebrows and preconceived notions about what being an “alternative” student means. I challenge myself to leave the person with the consideration that “alternative” does not necessarily mean “problem child” and to instead associate “alternative” with words like “creative” or “thinking outside the box.” 

At the beginning of the year I started an after-school community service program to encourage B.R.I.D.G.E. students to give back to their community. The Copper Country Humane Society, Michigan Department of Transportation’s Adopt-A-Highway Program, Hancock’s Downtown Business Association, and various nursing homes in the Houghton County area are just a few of the community members that have benefited from students’ time. Now, with the school year coming to an end, B.R.I.D.G.E. students have given a  combined total of over 600 hours of their time.

Graduation was last month and I am not ashamed to admit I shed a couple of tears as I saw our graduates walking down the aisle to “Pomp and Circumstance.” For me, an entire year of service culminated in one moment – when one of the graduates approached me, handed me a single rose, and said she wouldn’t have graduated if it wasn’t for all the time I had spent helping her with her courses.  

As we are all coming to the end of our terms of service, I wonder, what moment stands out for you? 

Michigan’s AmeriCorps Member Council – Posting #29

Hello! My name is LaShauna Horton and I serve with the Community Health Corps, which is a National Direct AmeriCorps program in Grand Rapids. A couple months ago, another member and I had the opportunity to help with Ferris State University’s Eye-DOC Camp. The primary intention of the camp was to encourage minority students to become interested in college and, specifically, their School of Optometry.

Ferris State called on the AmeriCorps team to help design the program, facilitate team building games with the group, and chaperon the students while on campus. This was the first year of the Eye-DOC camp so they started out with just 15 students. Ferris State bused the high schools students to the college where they were able to stay in the dorms on campus.

While the students were there, they not only learned about optometry, but about life after high school as well. There were speakers talking about topics such as “Realizing Your Potential in Life,” “Focus on Your Future,” “Applying to College and Affording It,” “Why Optometry?”, and “Being an AmeriCorps Member.” The students also engaged in hands-on projects focused on the eye. They got to rebuild a model eye, discover how contacts work, and even dissect a cow’s eye. In between speakers and eye labs the students did the team building activities the AmeriCorps team planned. These activities required strong communication skills that helped them bond and play off people's strengths and not their weaknesses.

When we first started this camp we didn’t know how interested the kids would be in optometry; but by the end, the kids still wanted to know more! They were asking questions like, “Will there be another camp next year? If so, can we come again?” There was one student who initially didn’t know if he would be attending college after high school. But when he left the camp he was pumped up about his one more year of high school and then attending college. He didn’t know what he wanted to major in or what school he wanted to attend, but just the idea of him wanting to go to college made this camp worthwhile.

The end of my second and final year of AmeriCorps service is approaching very quickly. For the past two years I have helped my community grow. I have done things like increase access to health insurance, educate youth about tobacco, help patients afford their medication, and give out free books to read. I have also become a better person in so many ways. I have developed leadership, communication, and computer skills and health care training. This has been a very long journey, which I’m sad to see is drawing to a close…but I am glad I had the opportunity to serve. The AmeriCorps Pledge features words I will live by forever.

The AmeriCorps Pledge

I will get things done for America - to make our people safer, smarter, and healthier.

I will bring Americans together to strengthen our communities.

Faced with apathy, I will take action.

Faced with conflict, I will seek common ground.

Faced with adversity, I will persevere.

I will carry this commitment with me this year and beyond.

I am an AmeriCorps member, and I will get things done.

Michigan’s AmeriCorps Member Council – Posting #28

Bridget Ferrigan here again, representing Michigan Campus Compact’s AmeriCorps*VISTAs. This will be my third and last post as part of the Michigan’s AmeriCorps Member Council. For most of us in the program, our year of service concludes at the end of July, which has prompted many of us to ask ourselves “What next?”

Some of us are continuing our service; I will be moving to North Carolina to serve with their Campus Compact for a second year as a VISTA. Some are continuing their education, going for Masters Degrees in public policy, business, and higher educational administration. Whatever our future choices for after our VISTA and AmeriCorps service, we all will remain committed to getting things done for America and transforming our communities however we can.

After AmeriCorps, I will still do service in my community. I am already signed up on the AmeriCorps Alums website, and will try to stay active in my new community as much as possible, whether it’s helping at the local humane society, doing a Habitat for Humanity build, or participating in MLK Day of Service. While I will be moving around in the next few years, I will try and make some kind of impact wherever I go.

I also plan on being an advocate for national service, among other things. As a VISTA, one of the things we are not allowed to do is influence legislation. This has been especially hard for me, coming from a political science background with many friends interested in politics and policy. It’s so cliché to keep saying that this is a time of change, but I truly feel it is. I look forward, after my second year of AmeriCorps, to raising my voice for the issues I believe in and asking my legislators to fulfill their promise of representing me to the nation. However, many of you reading this blog can already do that. Stand up for what you believe in—don’t hesitate to try and change what is in place because of the possibility of failure or because it is comfortable.

I also look forward to seeing what great things the people I have met over the last year will go on to do. I have faith the students I have met here at Olivet College will keep serving their community and continue to make a difference in the lives of people all over the country. I know they will step up and take charge when things need to be done. One of the seniors who went on our alternative winter break trip to New Orleans to continue Hurricane Katrina relief work has moved down there and has become a site leader for the United Church of Christ’s Hurricane Disaster Relief ministry. Two freshman who came up with service activities for MLK Day of Service in January have become very involved in the college community: they are members of the Black Student Union and the local chapter of the NAACP, one is active with the women’s group on campus, and the other is on the executive board of Student Government. I am also excited to see what amazing things my fellow VISTAs and Member Council representatives, as well as the college friends I have involved in AmeriCorps (shout out to City Year Detroit and the Michigan Campaign to End Homelessness!) will do following their service.

As we carry our commitment from this year to beyond, let us not forget our pledge to get things done for America, however we are best able to do that.

Michigan's AmeriCorps Member Council Posting #27

"There is no greater calling than to serve your fellow men. There is no greater contribution than to help the weak. There is no greater satisfaction than to have done it well." -Walter Reuther

Greetings, this is Rachel, from Camp Fire USA. This is my third and most likely final blog posting here, and it’s caused me to ruminate upon my time of service. As my term draws quickly to a close, it has been amazing to think about how incredibly fast the last 24 months of my life have gone. I started my first term of service fresh out of college, unsure of what I would have to offer a place of employment, and with aspirations to do something more than just punching the clock.

The option to serve in AmeriCorps came unexpectedly, as a way for me finally express my desires for social justice into concrete actions. During the course of that year I got the chance to make an impact on the lives of the 45 children located at the after-school site where I was serving, and an even greater impression on the 15 first and second graders that I led through daily activities. To be honest though, I think I might have learned more from them, than they from me. Their constant honesty and daily strength and courage in the light of their less than perfect lives were a daily reminder of how blessed I am. I've learned greater patience, and understanding as I interacted with the families and schools in the community. I gave them my time and effort, and in return was given rewarding relationships.

As I entered my second term, AmeriCorps continued to offer me opportunities to learn more about who I am and what my strengths and capabilities are. As a naturally shy person, I've been presented with situations that have taught me to trust in my leadership skills, and to become comfortable in my own skin. The Michigan’s AmeriCorps Member Council gave me a chance to learn more about capacity building and a taste of non-profit management. This in turn has gradually led me on a path to continue on in the non-profit world, to pick a career path that will continue to make tangible differences in my community.

Like many other AmeriCorps members that are getting ready to graduate from their term, and attempt to find employment in a troubled economy, I worry about what my next step will be. Jobs are unfortunately scarce, but I know I will leave my two years of AmeriCorps a stronger, more capable person, with skills and strengths that will be unique and useful. My hope for you all is that you also find (or have found) your niche in the world to make a difference. May you all continue to serve your fellow man, and get things done for America.

Michigan's AmeriCorps Member Council - Posting #26

Hello everyone, it’s Colette again with readetroit! I had a great time in Flint serving at the 2009 Russ Mawby Signature Service Project. Our team was wonderful and we got things done at Memorial Park. Jim (aka “The Master Gardener”) was our volunteer site leader and was fantastic as he lead us through a horticultural experience of rotor tilling and planting trees, flowers, and shrubs. I even gained tips on how to be become a better gardener. It was nice the community came out to help as well, cheering us on for our efforts. It was truly an experience I will never forget. I am constantly learning there is value in everything and everyone!

It is hard to believe I have been an AmeriCorps member for almost eight months and I am nearing the end of my service. I would like to reflect on my experience at Heilmann Park Elementary School in Detroit. I have enjoyed serving under the direction of a great administration and a special thanks goes to Ms. Yvette Little for welcoming the Communities In Schools tutors into Heilmann Park Elementary. I have had the pleasure of serving the students in a tutor/mentor capacity, as well as implementing the Book Club: You Read 2 Me, I’ll Read 2 You, which could not have been a success without the help of my fellow AmeriCorps members Gwendolyn Howard, Ericka Jones, and Regina Thompson.

In this blog posting I would like to focus on one of my students, Alexis, whom I have had the pleasure of tutoring. I started helping her in the early part of January 2009. Alexis came to me as a shy girl, as I could barely hear her talking and she read in a low, unconfident voice. I made a practice of asking the children how they were feeling each day. If they were returning to school from the weekend, I would always ask how their weekend was or if they did anything exciting. I could never really get much of an answer from Alexis, except a few one liners and a nice smile.

Alexis was struggling with spelling and reading. Her teacher, Mrs. Blair, allowed me to administer her pre-spelling test and the actual spelling test on Fridays. Alexis went from 10 words to 20 words in no time. Each week I could see her confidence growing, and she also began to ask and answer questions.

I also asked the children to stand and walk as they were reading. I believe this gives them the confidence, as well as developing their reading and public speaking skills, by having them stand and read in front of their peers. Alexis did not feel comfortable at all doing this. But it was also my way of making the children read loud and with clarity.

I watched Alexis bloom like a flower does in the springtime. It has been truly wonderful watching her transform into an excited and confident learner. Alexis’s teacher asked me how the tutoring sessions were going. I informed her there were several students I was proud of and I noticed a change in their attitudes towards learning. Alexis was one of those students. When her teacher informed me she had reached Super Star status, I was thrilled! I couldn’t think of anyone that deserved to be a Super Star more than Alexis. The requirements to achieve Super Star status at Heilmann Park Elementary School are as follows: academic achievement, perfect attendance, and outstanding citizenship.

Congratulations, Alexis! I am honored to have been your tutor for a short time. I’m sure you will continue to get things done as you continue on to Middle School!

Michigan's AmeriCorps Member Council - Posting #25

Greetings, this is Josh from the Together We Prepare AmeriCorps program.

As many of you know from my first post, I am a little awkward, maybe a tad long-winded, and at this point I wouldn't put it past you to think I am a little strange (after all who opens a blog post by taking self deprecating shots at themselves?). But alas, we're both in this together; I have to write this and, much to your chagrin, you're still reading.

Never you fret, I am not going to go into a long august bombastic narrative about A Safe Community Begins with You, which would just be rude. I am however, going to take the time to give you a long robust description of our newest program, Basic Aid Training for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities.

A fellow AmeriCorps member and I have had the distinct privilege of creating and implementing another program that, when coupled with A Safe Community Begins with You, aims to provide the necessary skills requisite for independent living. This program mirrors the pedagogical concepts of A Safe Community Begins with You in that it is fundamentally interactive. Participants go through eight different stations; CPR, abdominal thrusts, slings, splints, minor cuts and wounds, kitchen safety, check/call/care, and finally first aid kit reviews. You may be wondering what “abdominal thrusts” are (as did I when I first heard this artless amalgamation of words)? Abdominal thrusts are the new Heimlich maneuver - much like periwinkle is the new salmon.

Onto the narrative portion – the great heartfelt touching story you have come to this blog to hear. Two weeks ago we ran our first class with our original focus group. We have grown very close with this group of students because we have interacted with them quite a bit through our first class as well as follow up lunches. Needless to say, both parties involved were quite excited about this class. As instructors we could not wait to see if all our efforts would pay off while the students were looking forward to a day outside of class with the added bonus of seeing us. For anonymities sake I am going to call one of the students “Jed.” As the class proceeded Jed became more and more interested in the material so much that during the splint exercise he was able help other students create a splint without any extra help. Jed is well above the chronological age of eighteen; however, he functions at the cogitative level of a second or third grader varying on the task at hand.

It was amazing to see him master a skill so readily to the point that he was able to not only reproduce the skill on command, but also instruct others how to master the skill.

Michigan's AmeriCorps Member Council - Posting #24

Hi – this is Rachel with Jumpstart! It’s hard to believe the end of our program year is already here! It has been a very eventful and exciting eight months. As the Site Manager of Jumpstart- U of M Dearborn & HFCC, I have had the privilege of working with 25 AmeriCorps members who have each dedicated 300 hours of time to this program over the course of two semesters. I have watched the team grow, struggle, laugh, and above all learn from not only each other, but their preschool partner child as well. We have seen tremendous growth in our young partner children, and have loved being a part of their lives.


The AmeriCorps members not only served hours in the classroom this year, but in the community as well. As part of their 300 hour commitment to the program, each member is required to serve 25 hours within the community. We completed projects that included painting the gym of one of our program partner schools, teaming up with United Way and Panera to pack food boxes, and also lending a hand at the Scholastic Book Fair. One of our greatest accomplishments as a team, however, was pairing up with many other AmeriCorps programs in Michigan on May 11th to dedicate a day of service in honor of AmeriCorps Week. After many months of planning, we were able to set up service events in Detroit, working with over 150 other AmeriCorps members and Gleaners Food Bank to serve America. As a team, we sorted boxes of food donations, checking the expiration date on each and every item! The members also bagged thousands of potatoes and worked on restoring a house near by. This was an amazing day of service, and a true testimony to the amount of work that can be accomplished with a dedicated group of members - especially AmeriCorps members!


The AmeriCorps members also tirelessly provided service in the classroom, completing over 6,700 hours this program year! As a language and literacy program we strive to prepare “at-risk” preschoolers for kindergarten, giving them valuable one-on-one time they may not receive at home. The AmeriCorps members prepared materials for session, making sure to incorporate new vocabulary words and concepts each week. They worked hard to make each session exciting for the preschoolers, ensuring a nurturing and strong learning environment for each child in our program. I am proud to have worked with such a devoted and enthusiastic group of individuals. I know for certain our preschool partner children have been impacted in a positive way, and I am certain the AmeriCorps members who served in this program will never forget the difference they made in the lives of those around them.

Michigan's AmeriCorps Member Council - Posting #23

Hey Everyone…it’s AmeriCorps Week and we are getting things done! I hope you all are having a successful week and are getting ready to heat things up this weekend in Flint.

At Char-Em ISD AmeriCorps we started our week with a BANG! Saturday May 9th we began to celebrate AmeriCorps Week with our first “Spring Into Action” event. The weather report was against us and challenges were abound but with some quick, on the fly adjustments we were ready to go. Thankfully the rain held off and many events were able to stay outside in the wonderful, but cold, Northern Michigan air.

Altogether 187 students from Charlevoix, Emmet, and Northern Antrim counties were given the opportunity to participate in a free day of physical activity and nutritional education. Those in attendance participated in three of the various 13 workshops that included football, golf, hockey, lacrosse, Martial Arts, Pilates, running, soccer, softball, swimming, volleyball, yoga, and zumba. The enthusiasm was high and students were elated to learn new sports.

One of the most inspiring parts of the event is that we received a vast amount of assistance from many area business owners who attended the event as volunteers. These highly qualified individuals led workshops and taught our students the wonderful skills and opportunities their individual expertise could offer. The feedback from our leaders was wonderful; they loved the opportunity to share their skills and abilities while giving back to the community. Many commented they could not wait to participate again next year and asked many questions about AmeriCorps and our accomplishments.

We created many great relationships with community organizations and businesses through this project, bringing together AmeriCorps Alums, Charlevoix Public School Learn and Serve Students, MSU Extension, United Way, The First Tee of Boyne Highlands, 4-H, and the Rotary Club of Charlevoix, along with numerous area businesses. The relationships built through this community event have proven to be highly educational and beneficial to us all. By reaching out and joining hands we were able to accomplish something great, something enormous, and touch hundreds of children’s lives in the process.

Here are two of the day’s outcomes…

Student Success
Carter Johnson, a 4th grade student in the Char-Em School District attended a lacrosse workshop and was given a business card from the high school lacrosse coach. Carter is too young to participate on any of the teams, but this coach recruited him regardless of age requirements and was enthusiastic about fostering this student’s talent. When Carter’s father came to pick him up he was so excited to tell him the wonderful news and share the business card with him.

This was just the beginning!

Monday morning Carter walked in the doors to the school with a huge smile on his face and two lacrosse sticks in his hand. After some conversation he told me how excited he was to practice on the playground and that he and his parents were calling the coach that night.

Community Collaboration
Megan Johnson, a swimming instructor for the Charlevoix Community Pool led our swimming workshop. At the end of the day she and one of our AmeriCorps members were discussing how the rate of drowning in our area reached a record high the previous year. With further conversation they decided we should get her in the schools to teach water safety. On Monday, Char-Em ISD AmeriCorps members went back to their school sites where they shared this wonderful opportunity and agreed to coordinate visits. By the end of the day, 14 schoolteachers had already agreed to have Megan present to their students in an effort to keep our students safe at the beaches and pools over the summer.


This half day event touched not only students, but also volunteers and the community as a whole. Carter and Megan are only two examples of how the event motivated individuals to get up, get moving, and make a difference.

Our community organizations and volunteers came together to create a wonderful opportunity for the children, but what they did not realize is that they were creating a wonderful opportunity for themselves to grow, to learn, and to share their knowledge with the future leaders of America. The future volunteers who will continue to make this a strong nation full of pride, care, and compassion. We lead the future, we teach the values, we share our skill, but most of all we learn from everyone, both young and old!

Michigan's AmeriCorps Member Council - Posting #22

“We are not in the charity business; we are in the human development business.” – Bill Strickland

Hello, Rachel Cush again, welcome back to the blog. This past week, the Member Council was asked to attend the Michigan Nonprofit SuperConference to represent and promote the work of Michigan’s AmeriCorps. The theme of this year’s conference was “Fueling Efficient Nonprofits,” with the intent of giving information and tools to Michigan nonprofits to operate more effectively in a time of economic uncertainty.

There were workshops ranging in topics from Volunteer Management, Marketing, Public Policy, and more. Each workshop was led by highly effective and knowledgeable speakers. Each session I went to provided me with valuable information I believe will help to greatly enhance my service. I especially appreciated the session on how important humor is in non-profit work. In an area of work where service can be draining and at times seemingly hopeless, it was helpful to be reminded to stop taking ourselves so “seriously,” and to remember to find the joy in our work.

During the breaks, the Member Council sponsored a service project where fleece blankets were made to be given to children being put into foster care through the Wayne County Department of Human Services. With the help of many of the conference attendees and a few friendly blanket making contests we were able to reach our goal of 50. While our project made an impression on the people at the conference, the most memorable and thought-provoking moments of the conference came from our opening keynote speaker, Mr. Bill Strickland.

Mr. Strickland is the founder of Manchester Craftsman Guild, a nonprofit agency located within the heart of Pittsburgh, which strives to provide opportunities for education, life skills, and jobs to the impoverished through the arts and technology. His is a story of hope and passion for social justice. His message is even more powerful. He calls for making the impossible, possible; for radical change, and for not just wishing but actively participating in creating a better and brighter future.

With humorous vignettes and self deprecation, Mr. Strickland talked about his theory that all people are assets, not liabilities, and that every person has the potential to accomplish the impossible. His answer to solving many of the problems facing society and nonprofits today was not simply more money and more programming, but instead he said, “I'm talking about respect, about common sense and decency, about the dictate that our best hopes must always be acted upon, that all people everywhere possess an innate hunger for, and right to, what is sustaining, good, and beautiful.”

His message was an inspiring one for all of us in Member Council, and was one that I thought all people involved in volunteerism could appreciate. Our service can be overwhelming at times, and it is helpful to be reminded that every day we are making a difference one small step at a time, and in our own unique, and individual ways. So today, remember to dream big, enjoy each moment, and get things done for America.

AmeriCorps - Getting Things Done

By: Paula Kaiser Van Dam
Executive Director, Michigan Community Service Commission

This posting was borrowed from the Michigan Nonprofit Association Blog.

It is an exciting time for AmeriCorps. Saturday, May 9 kicked off the third annual National AmeriCorps Week – a recruitment and recognition initiative to bring more Americans into service, salute AmeriCorps members and alums for their powerful impact, and thank the community partners who make AmeriCorps possible. It also provides an opportunity to shine a spotlight on the work done by members in communities across the country and to motivate more Americans to join AmeriCorps or volunteer in their communities.

Governor Jennifer M. Granholm officially declared the week s Michigan’s AmeriCorps Week. Michigan’s AmeriCorps members will celebrate with large- and small-scale service projects aimed at “Getting Things Done” in their communities. The week will conclude with a statewide service project in Flint on May 15 and 16, officially titled the Michigan’s AmeriCorps Russ Mawby Signature Service Project. More than 250 members will come together to assist with building and landscaping projects and help construct a new play structure in Memorial Park. This opportunity will also serve as the official closing event for National AmeriCorps Week.

And, Michigan’s AmeriCorps recently took its efforts to the 2009 MNA SuperConference by conducting an on-site service project engaging conference attendees, exhibitors, and AmeriCorps members. Fifty fleece blankets were created and donated to the Department of Human Services Wayne County Central Operations. The blankets will be given to area youth being placed in foster care.

But beyond these events shining a spotlight on the good work of AmeriCorps, the recent signing of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act by President Obama further propels the efforts of AmeriCorps and national service beyond today. With the passage of this landmark legislation AmeriCorps will be expanded and strengthened in several ways:

• Growing the annual number of AmeriCorps positions from 75,000 to 250,000 by 2017 focusing their service on education, health, clean energy, veterans, and economic opportunities.

• Tying the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award to the maximum Pell Grant level (now at $5,350 but set to increase over time).

• Allowing older Americans serving to transfer their education award to a child or grandchild.

AmeriCorps will play a critical role in our state’s economic recovery. In 2009, more than 1,200 members will serve through 367 nonprofits. The demand for nonprofit service is at an all-time high. AmeriCorps will help expand their capacity to serve more clients, to provide more services, and to improve the quality of service provided. At a time when the media would have us believe there is little to celebrate AmeriCorps provides hope.

As the week progresses, I encourage you to discover AmeriCorps for yourself…whether that is visiting www.americorpsweek.gov to discover a local service project to participate in, logging on to www.michigan.gov/mcsc to learn about AmeriCorps programs in Michigan, or browsing www.nationalservice.org to discover how you can become a member.