Together We Prepare Members Stay Busy

Happy holidays! I hope you are staying safe, healthy, and warm during this busy month of projects, events, and recent winter blizzard. My name is Misty Youngson and I am a second-year AmeriCorps member with the Together We Prepare program. I serve with the American Red Cross of Northwest Michigan in Traverse City. The Together We Prepare AmeriCorps Program (TWPA) provides emergency assistance to victims and communities affected by disaster and increases preparedness in the areas of greatest need before disaster strikes. Participants in this program recruit, train, and support individuals who will provide community outreach and education through Red Cross service activities focusing on homeland security. Other duties may include serving at blood drives and assisting with Service to Armed Forces casework.

Our Together We Prepare Team has been active throughout the state and around the country providing services and getting things done. In October, three team members were able to assist with the flood relief efforts in Rochester, Minnesota. Samantha of Midland, Drew of Grand Rapids, and Ryan of Saginaw traveled to Minnesota to work as client caseworkers to provide emergency relief to families affected by floods. The American Red Cross can provide emergency food, clothing, and shelter during times of disasters. A caseworker will assess the needs of families and determine their emergency needs.

In November, several AmeriCorps team members from Grand Rapids assisted in the Tree to Table Initiative sponsored by Griffin Properties. The project began with a generous donation of over 300 apples from Leo Dietrich Farm. Ten volunteers worked for nine hours to bake 32 pies. They delivered the freshly baked apple pies to local food pantries and kitchens throughout the city. This was a project of the Heart Work is Hard Work service series. These team members also volunteered to clean up Sigsbee Park in Grand Rapids by painting, trimming bushes, and pulling weeds in October. A very active bunch indeed!

My local team mate, Kelly Teresko, and I have been involved with projects through out Traverse City. I have helped with elementary school music programs and Cub Scout events. Both of us recently assisted the local Planned Parenthood with a large mailing project. We also helped the Goodwill Industries fill the pantries with food stock before Thanksgiving weekend. In February the Together We Prepare Program is planning to attend the Special Olympics here in Traverse City. This will be an opportunity for us to serve and recruit new AmeriCorps members. We look forward to spreading the word about Michigan’s AmeriCorps.

Mrs. Yerkey Goes to Washington

Hello – I’m Rachel Yerkey and I serve with the Michigan AmeriCorps Partnership.

Interfaith Action, my service site at the Ginsberg Center for Community Service and Learning at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, is a program that brings together students for interfaith service work and dialogue. This past October, I had the opportunity to spend three days in Washington, D.C. with two of my students as part of the Interfaith Youth Core’s (IFYC’s) Interfaith Leadership Institute. This institute, co-sponsored by the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships (yes, President Obama had a hand in this institute!), was a kickoff for a series of year-long events for interfaith groups at college and university campuses around the nation.

During the course of the three days, 100 staff members and 200 students had a chance to connect, share ideas, get inspired, and learn about the IFYC’s “Better Together” campaign. As interfaith leaders, we gained valuable skills to help us build awareness for interfaith cooperation across campus, engage religious diversity on campus in a positive way, expand interfaith programs on campus, and support student leaders at the head of interfaith programming on campus.

The institute included a trip inside the White House (in the West Wing! We had passes!) for a conference with speakers Eboo Patel (founder and head of the IFYC, columnist for the Washington Post, and advisor to the President), Joshua DuBois (head of the Office of Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships), and John Kelly (Director for Strategic Partnerships with the Corporation for National and Community Service). We also came together as campus program directors and discussed what actually makes a campus safe and inclusive for all faith backgrounds, and not just tolerant. We talked about how our individual campuses – the offices of student affairs, residential life, the academic side of things, etc. – are (or, more frequently are NOT) helpful in working with us on issues around faith, spirituality, and religion.

From this institute, we came back with a very clear action plan for our student group here at U-M. Starting next semester, we are going to be running a “Better Together” campaign, centered on the idea that if people of all faiths work together on one issue area, we can all be better together. Our focus area is sexual assault and domestic violence – an issue often glossed over or ignored entirely within communities of faith. Partnering with our student group, faith communities on campus and in the community, and SAPAC and Safe House (sexual assault and domestic violence prevention programs in Washtenaw County), we hope to raise $40,000 (about $1 per student on U-M’s campus) to donate to Safe House, train religious leaders on how to start conversations within their communities on these issues, and have interfaith dialogues on sexual assault and domestic violence once conversations are started within individual religious communities.

So many times I get wrapped up in the “bubble” that is my service site, and I forget I am a part of something larger. Connecting with other people from around the country (and even a few international students and staff members!) was a great reminder of the larger cause. Just like my AmeriCorps network, there are people all across the country doing the same thing; struggling with the same issues, excited to hear about my successes, willing to be resources when I need help, and all working towards a better future.

Conducting Service in the Upper Peninsula

Hello everyone! My name is Melinda Seppanen and I am a second-year member serving with Superior AmeriCorps. During my first year, I served with the BHK Child Development Even Start program assisting parents in receiving their high school diploma or GED. This year, I have the honor of serving preschool students. Let me give you some basic information on our AmeriCorps program.

The Superior AmeriCorps program is funded to operate in Baraga, Dickinson, Gogebic, Houghton, Iron, Keweenaw, and Ontonagon counties in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The program focuses its efforts on a single priority area: education. Forty-six full-time members serve in schools, service agencies, and nonprofit organizations throughout the program area. School-based members tutor and mentor students who need support to achieve school success. They also initiate safe, enriching after-school and summer youth programs. Members in pre-school centers work with young children to nurture their development and enhance their school readiness.

I wanted to take this opportunity to discuss our Make A Difference Day service projects this past October. One of our new projects we were very proud of this year was based on community gardens. A group of members spent many hours tending to the community gardens designed to quell many of the problems inhibiting residents of the area; including allowing for an area for low-income people to grow their own food, creating an educational site to teach people about horticulture, teaching students about eating responsibly to fight adolescent obesity, and simply giving people a creative environment for sharing. They worked on five different gardens.

Some other projects included painting the railings at a local high school, conducting a blood drive, and cleaning nature trails. AmeriCorps members also held a clothing drive in two of the seven counties we serve. Various types of clothing were collected and donated to the Department of Human Services office in each county. More than 200 items were donated! Some members also participated in supporting our troops by collecting donated goods and stuffing them in Christmas stockings.

For Make A Difference Day, Superior AmeriCorps put on eight different services projects. Our members cover a wide area of the Upper Peninsula, which gives us the opportunity to assist many people! What service projects are you proud of?

Washtenaw Youth Mentoring Coalition

By: Brandon Seng, Michigan Nonprofit Association

For AmeriCorps member Anna Dusbiber, mentoring has always been a part of life. According to Dusbiber, there is no better mentoring match than an adult who has walked in the shoes of the youth they mentor. As a co-founder of the Youth Program at the Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living (AACIL), she works to provide unique mentoring opportunities to youth with disabilities. The depth of her commitment to the field goes unmatched, because for Dusbiber, mentoring is an experience that has come full circle.

“I was a mentee at the AACIL before there was an official mentoring program,” said Dusbiber. “My mentor inspired me to live independently, and made a huge impact on my life. I have since been providing real life advice and experience to others through mentoring.”

Anna is certified as a peer counselor through the AACIL, and previously served for two years mentoring first year students at Eastern Michigan University as an upperclass student, prior to her graduation. She currently serves as a mentor through the AACIL Youth Mentoring Program, guiding 14-21 year olds in their transition toward independent living.
The AACIL Youth Mentoring Program matches youth with disabilities with mentors who share a similar or the same disability, and has shown great success. With 16 youth currently matched, mentors have a deep understanding of the challenges their mentees face, and are able to provide first hand experience to support them.

Inspired by the success of their youth program, the AACIL is now leading an effort to advance the mentoring movement and provide all the youth in Washtenaw County with access to a mentor. Jen Chapin-Smith, Washtenaw’s Community Mentorship Coordinator, and Dusbiber have worked side by side to develop what is being called the Washtenaw Youth Mentoring Coalition. This coalition brings 24 youth serving organizations within Washtenaw County together to more effectively match youth in the area with mentors.

“By connecting all of the mentoring and youth serving organizations in Washtenaw County, we have developed one go-to place for those interested in finding or becoming a mentor,” said Jen Chapin-Smith. “We hope to soon grant every youth in Washtenaw, Livingston and Monroe Counties access to a mentor.”

This coalition can be considered the hub of mentoring for Washtenaw County. With a membership that together serves the whole community, the coalition is ensuring that all of Washtenaw’s youth are given an equal voice.

“We are lucky there is a countywide coalition to support mentoring,” said Dusbiber. “I would like to see other CIL’s in the state duplicate this effort, because it has been so successful.”

The Ann Arbor CIL is the fourth oldest CIL in the world. With more than 30 years of service, it is part of the early Disability Rights Movement that continues to campaign for full equality and inclusion for people with disabilities. To learn more about the AACIL visit www.aacil.org. For more on the Washtenaw Youth Mentoring Coalition, and to become a mentor yourself, visit www.washtenawmentoring.org.

*Reprinted with permission from Michigan Nonprofit Association. For more information, visit www.MNAonline.org. Text may not be reproduced without written permission from Michigan Nonprofit Association.

2010 AmeriCorps Spirit of Service Winner an Example to All

Written by: Elyse Walter, Michigan Community Service Commission

*Please Note* Postings this week are brand new to celebrate the 2010 Disability/Inclusion Week.

Dwight Owens has always been a happy person. And despite a life-altering accident that threatened to take his life – Dwight is still a happy person today.

Five years ago, Dwight was hit by a drunk driver in Collins, Mississippi. As a result, he is permanently paralyzed. Through diligent hard work and months of rehabilitation, he gained back basic functions and independence – and began serving others.

It started with extensive outreach campaign (Before You Drink, Think Like Owens) to express to individuals the dangers of drinking and driving, which catapulted into assisting others with disabilities. Dwight even developed a “Men with Disabilities” support group that encourages independence and leadership. Through his various volunteer efforts he was introduced to AmeriCorps, and instantly wanted to serve!

Dwight just finished a term of service with the LIFE of Mississippi Project LINC (Linking Individuals to Neighborhoods and Communities) in August. Project LINC aims to assist individuals with disabilities in their efforts to relocate from an institutional setting back into the community or to insure independence in the community is maintained – something Dwight has had first-hand experience with.

As part of his AmeriCorps service, Dwight provided peer support to more than 1,200 individuals with disabilities, completed 48 ADA site surveys to ensure accessibility for individuals with disabilities, and provided more than 300 life skills training sessions to increase independence for Mississippians with disabilities.

Dwight’s efforts made quite an impact – throughout the state of Mississippi and the country. In June he was honored with the 2010 National AmeriCorps Spirit of Service Award, an annual recognition that highlights those who have performed exemplary service in their communities. Dwight was chosen from 325 nominees and received his award at the Corporation for National and Community Service’s 2010 National Conference on Volunteering and Service.

“The thing [service] that I do…I don’t do it for the publicity,” explained Dwight. “But getting that award in front of thousands of people, it kindof validates what you’re doing. That you’re doing the right thing.”

According to the Corporation for National and Community Service, Dwight’s efforts allowed many Mississippians with disabilities the chance to be active, productive members of their communities. He believes the same can be said by serving with AmeriCorps.

“AmeriCorps is a great program for people with disabilities,” he said. “It connects you to the different resources that are out there, makes you feel good about yourself, and builds your character. Just because you have a disability doesn’t mean you can’t contribute!”

Dwight is an illustration of how an individual with a disability who joins national service can impact others and himself. Consider becoming an inclusive national service program. For more information, visit www.michigan.gov/mcsc.

Michigan’s AmeriCorps LeaderCorps Blog…On Vacation until December!

Written by: Michigan’s AmeriCorps Team

Happy Fall to all readers of the Michigan’s AmeriCorps LeaderCorps Blog! This week’s posting is to alert you of this blog’s upcoming hiatus. From now until December we will not be featuring any new postings as we prepare for the arrival of the 2010-2011 LeaderCorps representatives.

Starting in December, they will write brand-new postings every week! Please don’t forget about us and mark your calendars to rejoin our efforts towards the end of the year – we look forward to reconnecting with you then!

Join Us for Michigan's First-Ever Disability/Inclusion Week

Written by: Michigan’s AmeriCorps Team

The Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC) is committed to encouraging all Michigan residents to engage in service. Our vision is a state where all residents meet community needs and find personal fulfillment through service and volunteerism.

The first-ever Disability/Inclusion Week will be celebrated by the MCSC to help empower national service programs, volunteer organizations, mentoring programs, and others to make service a part of the lives of individuals with disabilities. Mark your calendars to participate October 4 through October 8!

This week-long effort will raise awareness about disability and inclusion while engaging programs and organizations in the various efforts of the MCSC and connecting them with valuable tools and resources to help serve and connect with those with disabilities.

Of Michigan's 10 million residents, about 1.9 million have a disability. That's one in every five residents - and an immense population to tap. We encourage members of the volunteer, national service, and mentoring communities to join us the week of October 4 in the following ways:

• Emails
  Watch your email inbox for emails from Michigan's AmeriCorps to see how you can get involved in the 2010 Disability/Inclusion Week. 
• Facebook
  Join us online, during the week of October 4, as we connect you with various disability/inclusion resources, links, and great stories.
  • Michigan Community Service Commission
  • Michigan's AmeriCorps
• Twitter
  Follow us on Twitter as we share with you various disability/inclusion resources, links, and thoughts. Check out our hashtag: #Inclusion 
  • @MCSConline
  • @miamericorps
• YouTube
  Check out the MCSC YouTube channel to view disability/inclusion-related videos.
• Webinars
  Join us during our webinar scheduled during the week of October 4 as we provide resources and information related to disability/inclusion efforts in general volunteer organizations and national service programs. Information and resources will hopefully help participants achieve the following goals:
  • Promote volunteerism and/or national service as an opportunity and a bridge to skill building, career development, and community inclusion.
  • Support full participation of people with disabilities in volunteer and national service program activities.
  • Develop ongoing state and local level partnerships between stakeholders in the disability and service communities that promote the involvement of people with disabilities in volunteer and national service programs.

Registration information for each webinar is provided below:

Michigan Community Service Commission Disability/Inclusion Week Webinar
Monday, October 4 at 10:00 a.m.
Register: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/490740410

National Service Disability/Inclusion Week Webinar
Tuesday, October 5 at 10:00 a.m.
Register: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/989677690

Want to help us promote the 2010 Disability/Inclusion Week? Download our promotional flyer and post in your office!

We look forward to engaging you during our first-ever Disability/Inclusion Week!

It’s an exciting year for Michigan’s AmeriCorps!

Written by: Michigan’s AmeriCorps Team

The year of 2010-2011 is sure to be a whirlwind of activities for Michigan’s AmeriCorps programs located all across the state. What an exciting time to be “Getting Things Done” in communities throughout Michigan!

Please allow us to share some of the most immediate activities, slated for this fall:

First up is the 2010 Team Up Michigan! Charting the Course for National Service cross-stream conference. This conference provides two full days of networking, training, and collaboration and is structured for national service program supervisors. It will be held in Detroit on October 12 and 13 and features Patrick Corvington (CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service) as one of the keynote speakers!
Do you know a Michigan national service program supervisor who should attend? Have them register online (http://www.michigan.gov/mcsc/0,1607,7-137--242245--,00.html) by Thursday, September 16.

Following the unique cross-stream conference will be the 2010 Michigan’s AmeriCorps Member Celebration – held November 18 in East Lansing. This annual event unites more than 500 Michigan's AmeriCorps*State, VISTA, and National Direct members for a day of training, teambuilding, networking, and festivities. 

The Celebration highlights the various streams of service within the national service family, including AmeriCorps*State and National, VISTA, Senior Corps, and Learn and Serve. It offers several workshops focused on leadership, professional development, service project planning, and other topics relevant to members' year of service. The day's events not only help members see the impact their AmeriCorps service has on communities throughout Michigan, but it also helps members understand they are part of a significant national movement.
The swearing-in ceremony concludes the Member Celebration by reaffirming members' commitment to AmeriCorps and national service. It is an exciting day that serves as a springboard for a successful program year. More information will be available about this exciting information for members soon.

November will also bring the kickoff of the 2010-2011 Michigan’s AmeriCorps LeaderCorps (formerly called Member Council). LeaderCorps 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, it consists of AmeriCorps members from each of the Michigan Community Service Commission’s Michigan’s AmeriCorps grantees, as well as representatives from AmeriCorps*VISTA and AmeriCorps*National Direct programs in the state.

One of the roles of the Michigan’s AmeriCorps LeaderCorps will be maintaining and authoring this blog. Until November, please enjoy postings by various guest authors and the Michigan’s AmeriCorps Team.

Help Us “Tackle Hunger” in honor of September 11

Written by: Michigan’s AmeriCorps Team

The Michigan Community Service Commission encourages AmeriCorps programs across the state to "Tackle Hunger" this fall in an effort to support the second-annual September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance. Programs can get involved by collecting food or monetary donations at a local event this fall or gathering a group of individuals to volunteer at a local Food Bank. September also happens to be Hunger Action Month.

How can programs get involved? Complete the following steps:

(1) Find the relevant instructions for your AmeriCorps program on our website. You may need to reference the Food Bank Council of Michigan's “Food Drive Guide”.

(2) Find your local Food Bank by searching through our contact sheet linked on our website.

(3) Download the relevant flyer available online, fill in the necessary details, and post in public locations.   

(4) Reach out to local media outlets by completing and sharing the linked press release highlighting your efforts.

To participate, please complete the Michigan Community Service Commission's Registration Form and return via fax or email to the Michigan Community Service Commission at (517) 241-3869 or harveyj1@michigan.gov .

According to Feeding America's national study, more than 1.1 million Michigan residents rely on assistance from food banks each year. In Michigan, nearly 200,000 different individuals receive emergency food assistance each week.

The September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance is the culmination of an effort originally launched in 2002 by 9/11 family members and support groups. It became officially recognized following the passage of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act of April 2009.

Please help recognize and remember the victims and heroes of 9/11 by serving your community and those in need. We hope you will "Tackle Hunger" with us this fall!

Note: Can't coordinate a food drive as part of September 11? Consider planning an opportunity at a later date or preparing a general service project to honor the National Day of Service and Remembrance.

Are you in the Lansing area? The Michigan Community Service Commission is hosting a food drive at our office, located at 1048 Pierpont, Suite 4. We’re requesting donations from Tuesday, September 7 to Friday, September 10. Perhaps you’d like to help us support the Mid-Michigan Food Bank?

Michigan’s AmeriCorps Family Consists of 25 Programs in 2010-2011

Written by: Michigan’s AmeriCorps Team

For the 2010-2011 program year, the Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC) is funding 25 organizations place 1,121 AmeriCorps members in communities to help “get things done” across the state of Michigan.

The 2010-2011 Michigan’s AmeriCorps grantees will engage members in various service opportunities, including those focused on human needs, education, environment, public safety, health, and disaster preparedness. Members serve for one year and receive a small living stipend, and, upon successful completion of their term of service, an education award.

Michigan’s AmeriCorps addresses some of our state’s biggest challenges. It creates a pathway to employment by providing individuals with opportunities to gain valuable job skills, retrain for new careers, and the ability to stay in their home community. Research has shown that after one year of AmeriCorps service, members are more likely to stay in the community they served, pursue careers in the nonprofit and public sector, and continue to be civically involved. AmeriCorps also helps make college and higher education more affordable. The 1,121 AmeriCorps members will earn more than $2 million in education awards to pay for college or repay student loans.

The following 25 Michigan’s AmeriCorps programs will receive funding for the coming year:

Michigan’s AmeriCorps Grantee	Amount of Funding	Number of Members	Area Served
American Red Cross of Greater Grand Rapids – Together We Prepare AmeriCorps	$449,822	34	Multiple Regions Across the State
BHK Child Development Board – Superior AmeriCorps	$586,500	46	Western Upper Peninsula
Camp Fire USA West Michigan Council – Camp Fire USA AmeriCorps	$121,398	23	City of Grand Rapids
Charlevoix-Emmet ISD – Char-Em ISD AmeriCorps	$120,470	10	Charlevoix & Emmet Counties
Child’s Hope at University of Michigan Dearborn – IMPACT AmeriCorps Program	$69,088	47	Wayne County
City Year, Inc. – City Year Detroit	$888,069	71	Wayne & Oakland Counties
Communities In Schools Detroit – readetroit corps	$327,600	26	Wayne County
Community Economic Development Association of Michigan – Foreclosure Prevention Corps	$266,767	20	Statewide
Good Samaritan Ministries – Faith in Youth Partnership	$147,975	17	Greater Holland & Zeeland Areas
Goodwill Industries of Greater Grand Rapids – Goodwill Grand Rapids AmeriCorps	$210,000	15	City of Grand Rapids; Kent, Montcalm, Isabella, & Mecosta Counties
The Guidance Center – Downriver CARES AmeriCorps	$351,262	38	Wayne & Oakland Counties
Habitat for Humanity of Michigan – Michigan Habitat’s AmeriCorps	$411,308	47	Statewide
Heart of West Michigan United Way – Schools of Hope AmeriCorps	$209,755	15	City of Grand Rapids
Huron Pines – Huron Pines AmeriCorps	$160,631	14	Northeast Lower Michigan
Ingham County Health Department – Power of We AmeriCorps	$145,123	14	Ingham County
Marquette Alger Regional Education Service Agency – MARESA Michigan’s AmeriCorps	$125,000	10	Alger & Marquette Counties
Michigan Campus Compact – Michigan Service Scholars	$48,000	400	Statewide
Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness – Michigan’s Campaign to End Homelessness AmeriCorps	$274,721	20	Statewide
Michigan Council on Crime & Delinquency – Inner City AmeriCorps Neighborhood Project	$322,244	66	Cities of Benton Harbor, Detroit, Grand Rapids, & Saginaw
Michigan Nonprofit Association – Mentor Michigan College Coaching Corps	$650,000	50	Statewide
Michigan Primary Care Association- MPCA Community HealthCorps	$233,992	18	Statewide
Regents of the University of Michigan – Michigan’s AmeriCorps Partners	$299,214	54	Wayne & Washtenaw Counties
United Way of Saginaw County – Saginaw Substance Abuse Prevention Partnership	$136,651	20	Saginaw County
WARM Training Center – Detroit Youth Energy Squad	$206,415	30	Wayne County
Wayne State University, Center for Urban Studies – AmeriCorps Urban Safety Program	$160,777	16	Wayne County
Total	$6,922,782	1,121

Of the 25 Michigan’s AmeriCorps grantees funded for 2010-2011, 19 are veteran programs, while six are brand new.

• The Goodwill Industries of Greater Grand Rapids AmeriCorps program will engage its members in assisting economically disadvantaged individuals with job placement services.
• The Michigan Council on Crime & Delinquency’s Inner City AmeriCorps Neighborhood Project will utilize members to build, develop, and facilitate pro-social activities for formerly incarcerated and/or court involved individuals.
• The Michigan Nonprofit Association’s Mentor Michigan College Coaching Corps will place members in mentoring organizations and institutions of higher education to enhance youth mentoring by adding a college access component.
• The United Way of Saginaw County’s Saginaw Substance Abuse Prevention Partnership will engage members in educating youth, parents, and community members on substance abuse prevention.
• WARM Training Center’s Detroit Youth Energy Squad will utilize members to run a service-learning program that trains youth to perform basic home energy retrofits.
• Wayne State University, Center for Urban Studies’ AmeriCorps Urban Safety Program will engage members to improve levels of neighborhood guardianship and reduce victim attractiveness and susceptibility.

For individuals interested in serving in a Michigan’s AmeriCorps program in 2010-2011, please visit www.americorps.gov.

In a recent report released by the MCSC, 2009-2010 Michigan’s AmeriCorps members:

• Will have completed more than 600,000 hours of service and training.
• Recruited more than 24,000 volunteers who contribute more than 144,000 hours of service.
• Earned more than $2.5 million in education awards for successfully completing their term of service.

For more information about AmeriCorps or to learn more about specific programs, visit www.michigan.gov/mcsc.

Michigan’s AmeriCorps Family Consists of 25 Programs in 2010-2011

Written by: Michigan’s AmeriCorps Team

For the 2010-2011 program year, the Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC) is funding 25 organizations place 1,121 AmeriCorps members in communities to help “get things done” across the state of Michigan.

The 2010-2011 Michigan’s AmeriCorps grantees will engage members in various service opportunities, including those focused on human needs, education, environment, public safety, health, and disaster preparedness. Members serve for one year and receive a small living stipend, and, upon successful completion of their term of service, an education award.

Michigan’s AmeriCorps addresses some of our state’s biggest challenges. It creates a pathway to employment by providing individuals with opportunities to gain valuable job skills, retrain for new careers, and the ability to stay in their home community. Research has shown that after one year of AmeriCorps service, members are more likely to stay in the community they served, pursue careers in the nonprofit and public sector, and continue to be civically involved. AmeriCorps also helps make college and higher education more affordable. The 1,121 AmeriCorps members will earn more than $2 million in education awards to pay for college or repay student loans.

The following 25 Michigan’s AmeriCorps programs will receive funding for the coming year:

Michigan’s AmeriCorps Grantee	Amount of Funding	Number of Members	Area Served
American Red Cross of Greater Grand Rapids – Together We Prepare AmeriCorps	$449,822	34	Multiple Regions Across the State
BHK Child Development Board – Superior AmeriCorps	$586,500	46	Western Upper Peninsula
Camp Fire USA West Michigan Council – Camp Fire USA AmeriCorps	$121,398	23	City of Grand Rapids
Charlevoix-Emmet ISD – Char-Em ISD AmeriCorps	$120,470	10	Charlevoix & Emmet Counties
Child’s Hope at University of Michigan Dearborn – IMPACT AmeriCorps Program	$69,088	47	Wayne County
City Year, Inc. – City Year Detroit	$888,069	71	Wayne & Oakland Counties
Communities In Schools Detroit – readetroit corps	$327,600	26	Wayne County
Community Economic Development Association of Michigan – Foreclosure Prevention Corps	$266,767	20	Statewide
Good Samaritan Ministries – Faith in Youth Partnership	$147,975	17	Greater Holland & Zeeland Areas
Goodwill Industries of Greater Grand Rapids – Goodwill Grand Rapids AmeriCorps	$210,000	15	City of Grand Rapids; Kent, Montcalm, Isabella, & Mecosta Counties
The Guidance Center – Downriver CARES AmeriCorps	$351,262	38	Wayne & Oakland Counties
Habitat for Humanity of Michigan – Michigan Habitat’s AmeriCorps	$411,308	47	Statewide
Heart of West Michigan United Way – Schools of Hope AmeriCorps	$209,755	15	City of Grand Rapids
Huron Pines – Huron Pines AmeriCorps	$160,631	14	Northeast Lower Michigan
Ingham County Health Department – Power of We AmeriCorps	$145,123	14	Ingham County
Marquette Alger Regional Education Service Agency – MARESA Michigan’s AmeriCorps	$125,000	10	Alger & Marquette Counties
Michigan Campus Compact – Michigan Service Scholars	$48,000	400	Statewide
Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness – Michigan’s Campaign to End Homelessness AmeriCorps	$274,721	20	Statewide
Michigan Council on Crime & Delinquency – Inner City AmeriCorps Neighborhood Project	$322,244	66	Cities of Benton Harbor, Detroit, Grand Rapids, & Saginaw
Michigan Nonprofit Association – Mentor Michigan College Coaching Corps	$650,000	50	Statewide
Michigan Primary Care Association- MPCA Community HealthCorps	$233,992	18	Statewide
Regents of the University of Michigan – Michigan’s AmeriCorps Partners	$299,214	54	Wayne & Washtenaw Counties
United Way of Saginaw County – Saginaw Substance Abuse Prevention Partnership	$136,651	20	Saginaw County
WARM Training Center – Detroit Youth Energy Squad	$206,415	30	Wayne County
Wayne State University, Center for Urban Studies – AmeriCorps Urban Safety Program	$160,777	16	Wayne County
Total	$6,922,782	1,121

Of the 25 Michigan’s AmeriCorps grantees funded for 2010-2011, 19 are veteran programs, while six are brand new.

• The Goodwill Industries of Greater Grand Rapids AmeriCorps program will engage its members in assisting economically disadvantaged individuals with job placement services.
• The Michigan Council on Crime & Delinquency’s Inner City AmeriCorps Neighborhood Project will utilize members to build, develop, and facilitate pro-social activities for formerly incarcerated and/or court involved individuals.
• The Michigan Nonprofit Association’s Mentor Michigan College Coaching Corps will place members in mentoring organizations and institutions of higher education to enhance youth mentoring by adding a college access component.
• The United Way of Saginaw County’s Saginaw Substance Abuse Prevention Partnership will engage members in educating youth, parents, and community members on substance abuse prevention.
• WARM Training Center’s Detroit Youth Energy Squad will utilize members to run a service-learning program that trains youth to perform basic home energy retrofits.
• Wayne State University, Center for Urban Studies’ AmeriCorps Urban Safety Program will engage members to improve levels of neighborhood guardianship and reduce victim attractiveness and susceptibility.

For individuals interested in serving in a Michigan’s AmeriCorps program in 2010-2011, please visit www.americorps.gov.

In a recent report released by the MCSC, 2009-2010 Michigan’s AmeriCorps members:

• Will have completed more than 600,000 hours of service and training.
• Recruited more than 24,000 volunteers who contribute more than 144,000 hours of service.
• Earned more than $2.5 million in education awards for successfully completing their term of service.

For more information about AmeriCorps or to learn more about specific programs, visit www.michigan.gov/mcsc.

Serving a Second Term

Hi! My name is Katy Timmer and I am serving as an AmeriCorps*VISTA with Mentor Michigan, an initiative of the Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC). Mentor Michigan is a statewide partnership of more than 250 youth mentoring organizations. Mentor Michigan works to ensure all youth have ongoing relationships with stable, caring individuals.

My role with Mentor Michigan seems to change by the week! I have developed training curriculum, improved the accuracy of the Mentor Michigan Directory through ongoing maintenance, engaged new programs in the Mentor Michigan Network through outreach, researched and developed resources, and helped volunteers connect with mentoring programs in their area, among other things.

Last month, I began my second term of service with Mentor Michigan. I am looking forward to the new projects and exiting things to come in the next year. Some of those new projects will include conducting research and developing toolkits around college access, engaging youth involved in formal mentoring relationships to help them find their voice and tell their stories, and support programs across the state that utilize MentorPRO; an online data tracking and analysis system designed for mentoring programs.

While looking forward to the year ahead, I am also thankful for the experience my VISTA position at the MCSC has already given me. I have learned a lot about national service, the nonprofit world, the youth mentoring field, and most importantly, myself. My path in life has been forever altered, in an unexpectedly positive way.

In the fall, I will be returning to Michigan State University as a student in the Youth Development Specialist Graduate Certificate program. Thanks to the updated education policy, VISTAs are now able to take classes while serving. Witnessing the remarkable work and impact youth mentoring programs across the state have on our youth has inspired me to explore the field of youth development as a career path. My work with Mentor Michigan, serving programs across the state, has fueled my passion in this field and given me the knowledge and skills to thrive in this graduate program.

While I am still struggling with the increasingly daunting question “what do I want to be when I grow up,” I have a new perspective, courtesy of AmeriCorps, Mentor Michigan, and the MCSC.

What Next?

Hi, name is Robyn! My father once told me there was never a point in his life that he could have guessed what he was doing a year from now. A year ago I was moving from Virginia back to my hometown in Lansing, Michigan. I had no idea what I was going to do or where I was going to live, I just had this crazy idea in my heart that I was going to move back to my hometown and make a difference.

I never planned on joining AmeriCorps after college. It just kind of happened. I found a service position as an AmeriCorps*VISTA that seemed like everything I wanted to do. The next thing I knew I was sitting in front of a computer at the Michigan Community Service Commission marveling at my stroke of luck. Without a plan, without a direction, I stumbled into one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had.

This past year I received amazing opportunities. I’ve been able to be an e-Reporter at the National Conference of Volunteering and Service; I organized Michigan’s signature 2010 Global Youth Service Day event; I wrote, got, and managed my first grant; I’ve gotten thought leaders across the country to write their first blog for Learn and Serve – Michigan; and I’ve been able to see the amazing teachers and students who make this state great.

It is incredible to step back at the end of your service and see everything you can do in a year. As a result I’ve become addicted to service. I’m addicted to seeing the impact your time and work can make. I’m addicted to seeing the value of the work I do in smiles, not in profit margins. I’m addicted to being surrounded by people who are committed to making a difference.

Just in the state of Michigan members have started drug prevention programs in Hamtramck, created dozens of community gardens in Lansing, recruited volunteers to serve homeless shelters all over the state, mentored children in Detroit, grown service-learning programs in Romulus, and so much more. To be part of that movement is inspiring.

In fact I have enjoyed my experience so much that I have decided to do another term of service. Next week I am packing my car and moving back to Virginia to help students recognize their service potential as an AmeriCorps*VISTA with North Carolina Campus Compact. My father is right, you can never predict what you will be doing a year from now.

Life is unpredictable like that. Sometimes you know where your next step will land, but sometimes you have to take a breath, close your eyes, and leap into the abyss. Your stomach drops, you might let out a scream, but when you hit solid ground you might discover that you’ve landed into a new world with opportunities beyond imagination. I didn’t intend to be sitting here today finishing up my last month of a wonderful service term, but I don’t think there is anywhere else I would rather be in the world.

Serving as the Inclusion AmeriCorps*VISTA

Hello! My name is Shana Holet and it is a privilege to be able to share a little bit about me and my interactions with this year’s Michigan’s AmeriCorps Member Council. I am the Inclusion AmeriCorps*VISTA serving at the Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC). My role as the Inclusion VISTA is to provide training, knowledge, and resources on disability and inclusion to Michigan’s AmeriCorps, Learn and Serve, and Senior Corps program staff and members.

I chose to become involved in national service because I have a passion for creating community environments where all individuals are valued for who they are and differences are embraced. At the beginning of my service I had no idea I would become part of a larger movement intertwined with so many unique individuals with varying characteristics.

Over the last 10 months, I have been able to support and assist programs with creating a welcoming environment that truly values each individual – including those with disabilities. One of the resources I have created to help programs do this is a bi-monthly newsletter entitled IN Touch. IN Touch provides useful information and resources; like how to make a service environment welcoming so individuals with disabilities feel comfortable disclosing, the importance of universal design, and recruiting individuals with disabilities.

In May, I had the opportunity to present information to the Member Council about how to do effective outreach to people with disabilities. One of the Member Council requirements is to complete two outreach presentations, one of which must be to the disability community. I was able to provide a list of disability organizations (which is also available on the MCSC website at www.michigan.gov/mcsc) and other helpful tips about how to present to groups and why it is important to have handouts in alternative formats.

The Council members clearly recognize the importance of connecting with the organizations that serve individuals with disabilities. They have also come up with some innovative ways to bring people with disabilities and Michigan’s AmeriCorps programs together in the coming year. The hope is that Council members will make use of the available MCSC inclusion mini-grants to coordinate inclusive service projects and “service shadow” opportunities to bring more people with disabilities into service. This is why I chose to serve!

All too often individuals with disabilities are excluded or discouraged from contributing in meaningful ways; but with programs like AmeriCorps, the opportunity to serve and make a difference can become a reality! It is this type of innovative thinking that will open new doors for people with disabilities. AmeriCorps and national service can become the first step to larger service opportunities or even employment for individuals who may have never considered that they, too, can make a difference. Service has brought me to a community of inclusion and I have brought knowledge, skills, and resources to build upon and sustain such inclusion efforts. I look forward to what lies ahead and continuing to make a difference! What are some of the accomplishments you’re most proud of in your year of service?

Michigan National Service Directory

Hello again! My name is Matthew Reaume and I am serving as an AmeriCorps*VISTA with the Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC). To date, my service has consisted of a number of different duties and responsibilities focused on enhancing Michigan’s national service efforts including resource development. Chief among these resources has been the Michigan National Service Directory, an interactive searchable database containing the locations and contact information for all national service programs currently operating in Michigan.

I am absolutely thrilled to announce that earlier this week; the MCSC officially launched the Michigan National Service Directory, which can be accessed by clicking on the button located in the right-hand toolbar of the MCSC homepage or by going directly to www.michigannationalservicedirectory.org.

The purpose behind the Michigan National Service Directory is to assist national service program staff and members to quickly identify the different groups and organizations in their area that have a similar programmatic focus for the purpose of establishing collaborative partnerships.

The Cross-Stream Advisory Team recently conducted a survey that polled more than 100 programs representing each stream of national service. Survey results have provided valuable information regarding current efforts and existing needs among national service programs in the areas of outreach, communications, collaboration, and training/technical assistance. Results specific to collaboration indicate the third highest barrier to collaboration remains the inability of programs to locate potential partners.

These results reaffirm the need for a tool that can aid programs in locating potential partners quickly. Among the several resources I have played a part in developing for the MCSC, I would have to say that I am most proud of the Michigan National Service Directory. Many thanks must go out to all those individuals who have played a big part in turning this idea into a reality.

As my term of service draws ever closer to an end, I cannot describe how rewarding it is to be able to see and promote a tangible product that will serve as a valuable tool to Michigan’s national service programs.

Only Six Weeks Left

My name is Dawn Gould and I serve with Downriver CARES, serving Western Wayne and Wayne County.

With only six more weeks left in my term of service with AmeriCorps you would think I would be slowing down, but that’s not likely! We (Downriver CARES) are now in our second week of a free, educational-based summer camp staffed almost entirely by AmeriCorps members from Downriver CARES. This is my second year serving at the summer camp at the River Rouge Community Resource Center. I am teaching second and third grades with another AmeriCorps member, an assistant camp counselor, and two junior counselors.

This year our summer camp has expanded from 75 students to 120 children being served. We are serving kindergarten through high school-age youth. It is an all day camp, running from 9:00a.m. – 3:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday. We offer free breakfast and lunch to all campers and also to neighborhood children who may drop by the Center.

Our camp offers weekly themed topics like botany, space, and weather – to name just a few. We also teach character education, anti drug/alcohol, computers, and group games. The day is packed with fun activities to keep the campers busy and wanting to return. In fact we have had many campers return for a second year. I have a few in my room still, and that really is a rewarding feeling. One little guy told me he was a “veteran” camper, I just loved how he put that!

This is a perfect way to finish my term of service with Downriver CARES AmeriCorps. I know, no matter what lies ahead, I have been trained well for my next adventure and have my supervisor, Joe Spain, to thank for that. He has always been supportive and encouraging to all of us in the program, knowing when to push us farther and when we are at our limits. I couldn’t have asked for a better program director. I will miss all of my fellow members, but I think I will miss my director and his enthusiasm for service more than anything.

AmeriCorps has given me more confidence to try more new things than I thought possible. Thank you so much for the experience and I will never forget our two years of laughter, excitement, some tears, a bit of complaining, and appreciation for what we have in life!!! It was a great ride that went by way to fast!!

When I Grow Up

Hello, again! My name is Karlee Kage, and I have about a month to go before finishing my year of service with Camp Fire USA: West Michigan Council in Grand Rapids. It’s hard to believe my first year of AmeriCorps is almost done! After college, I decided to devote a year to service in hopes of gaining some valuable experience, and admittedly, as a way to explore and attempt to answer the familiar question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Well, it’s a year later, and, honestly, I am still mystified! But while there is a lot I don’t know about my future, this year has helped me learn a few things for certain.

When I grow up….

I want to be as tireless and wholehearted as the children I have met this year. The children I have been privileged to know are so energetic and bright. Their enthusiasm for everything (new words! new games! new mulch on the playground!) is infectious. At different points this past year; I served at 12 different schools with different classes and grades. When I first walked in the door, the students may have been hesitant, but by the end of the day, they were telling me about their dog, newest video game, latest art project, six favorite colors, annoying little sister, and on and on. Their excitement for everything and the certainty (borderline impatience) with which they share their stories is something I admire.

When I grow up….

I want to be as welcoming and inclusive as the AmeriCorps team I have served with. All year long, I have been thinking that there is no way I would have met these fantastic individuals if not for AmeriCorps…and that would have been a shame! They have kept me laughing, and getting to know each other has been incredibly fun. We all come from very different places, but we have shared a truly unique experience, something we can all look back on. I will miss my “AmeriFriends” after this August!

When I grow up….

I want to allow those around me the freedom to explore and try new things. The staff and site coordinators I have worked with this past year have supported me and helped me grow, providing great ideas and help when I have needed it. Their creative ideas and commitment to their students is inspiring. I am thankful for their continued leadership and willingness to listen – it has increased my confidence in the classroom and lifted me up during the times when I had NO IDEA WHAT I WAS DOING.

When I grow up….

I want to be relentlessly passionate about serving others and engaged with the world around me. Through our statewide events, it has been amazing to see the knowledge and drive my fellow Michigan’s AmeriCorps members bring to their service. The stories from this blog and those shared at statewide and regional events are incredible. These AmeriCorps members, along with the fabulous Michigan’s AmeriCorps Member Council and dedicated Michigan Community Service Commission staff, help me believe without a doubt the smallest group of passionate, committed people working together really can do great things.

Service is full of surprises – I have been able to give back to my community in some small way this year, and yet somehow I am walking away with more than I feel I deserve – inspiring moments, too many laugh out loud stories to count, countless challenges overcome, and so much more left to process. I still don’t know exactly what I want to be when I eventually sort of grow up, but I am endlessly grateful for the possibilities.

Give a year and see what happens… Check out www.americorps.gov or www.campfireusawmc.org/americorps!

Serving with City Year

Hello readers! It’s Gopi Patel, AmeriCorps member for City Year Detroit. In case you don’t remember what City Year is, let me remind you. City Year is a nonprofit organization comprised of 17-24 year olds that commit 10 months and 1,700 hours of service to Detroit Public Schools. Our members tutor and mentor students from kindergarten to 12^th grade, as well as hold after-school programs for students. We also perform physical service on Fridays around the city of Detroit. At the moment, we have 19 sites throughout the United States and one overseas in Johannesburg, South Africa.

I am actually an alumnus now because I officially ended my year of service on June 17^th. It was an amazing year full of memories. I look back on my time and I think I wouldn’t change a thing about my time at City Year. I made great life-long friends and I made a powerful impact on the city of Detroit. I made such an impression on the children I worked with as well.

In my last months at City Year, we really shelled out some great projects I wanted to tell you about. First, the Animal Awareness Day at Brenda Scott Middle School which focused on educating students on caring and being compassionate for animals. We had two representatives from canine rescue societies come into the school with dogs to teach our students about the specific breed and the safety tips when it comes to strays. I found the students really enjoyed the presentations and gained valuable knowledge when it came to stray animals in their neighborhoods.

Our second big project was one led by my team leader, Luke. He organized a huge event with United Way, Greening of Detroit, and the Osborn Community to develop a community garden. Our volunteers worked hard and really made a difference on the community.

Lastly, I wanted to speak a little about 100 Hours of Power. The goal of this event was simple: to serve 100 hours of continuous service in a week. On June 7^th, the whole Corps kicked off the event at Blight Busters by tearing down houses and weeding in a nearby Brightmoor community. From then on, we had many different shifts the Corps members signed up for to do service. We had members working around the clock, providing some type of positive to the Detroit community. It was really amazing to see because it showed that even though it was the end of the service year, we still had that hope that we change our community for the better.

Now that most of AmeriCorps members’ years are done, we start to pass the torch onto the next Corps year. I hope they will surpass us in the difference they will make in Detroit. If you want to make a difference, then why don’t you start at www.cityyear.org? GIVE A YEAR. CHANGE THE WORLD. It’s been a pleasure!

10 Months Along…

Hello again! My name is Lindsay Pals, and now I am 10 months along. The joy and nerves and sadness are going to arrive together. Oh no, I’m not expecting a baby, I am almost done with my AmeriCorps term of service, lasting 10 and a half months here at the Red Cross of Greater Grand Rapids.

Being my second blog post, with my first one being way back in January, I have decided to do a bit more reflecting than explaining this time.  

I am now one year out of college, and my first ‘real world’ experience in a full-time “job” has been dynamic, interesting, and a time of self-discovery. This is an amazing organization, and I appreciate everything I’ve gained at the Red Cross as an AmeriCorps member. I want to leave a positive impact on this particular chapter, as well as tie up loose ends so when I pursue whatever is next; I leave no mysteries in my wake. But it is hard for me to focus on the here and now when I have future plans that need to be addressed. If anyone has figured out how to maintain focus on the future and on the here and now, please let me know – I will gladly give you my email address so we can chat. So in order to finish strong where I am and to stay loyal to my agenda, I think it would be a good idea for me to reflect on something I don’t devote much time to – the past. (Spot light, please.)

In this past year, what have I learned about myself? Well one, I’m a sucker for reflection and analysis. Pretty sure if someone were to ask me what I thought on a blank topic, or event, or idea, I would be up for some hearty discussion. If I can process something with just one other person, I feel more accomplished and more confident in whatever the decision or topic may be – which is great, because you get that in AmeriCorps! And I did not realize how much that is a part of the “AmeriCorps Way,” if you will, until I asked my other peers how their service environments unfolded.
And that brings me to something else I learned about myself: I NEED OTHER PEOPLE. Oh my goodness am I an extrovert. I learned I need community, collaboration, and teamwork in whatever exists in my future to give me energy, enthusiasm, and gumption for follow-through. At no other time was this clearer than when a large group of AmeriCorps member’s terms ended three months before mine did. The office wasn’t bustling, the energy was low, and everyone at our chapter felt the void. Unfortunately, that’s the nature of the beast. But feeling that void told me they had made an impact on my life, and I wouldn’t forget them. And that is what is so special about AmeriCorps too – it allows that room for brainstorming, creativity, teamwork, and morale building camaraderie and friendship among your fellow members. You don’t have to be an extrovert to serve with AmeriCorps, it does mean, though, you will not be an island at your site. You will not feel alone during your term. You will have accountability and people concerned for you, your service, and how you’re feeling about your time there. So great!

And the last thing isn’t really something I learned, but it’s more of something I just want to say about certain people – certain people that made this experience unforgettable. I won’t name names, but I think they’ll know who they are anyway.  

I mentioned the first group already – the AmeriCorps I served with, and still serve with. I never imagined I could have so much fun with a group of such different people. I love them all, and will never forget what amazing people they are – they are all going to do great things in their lives! (But please come back...?)

Secondly, my Site Supervisor/program director, my DAT administrator, and my Red Cross boss have set the bar very high for any of my future bosses, mentors, and supervisors. Their concern for my well-being and my overall experience has been more than I ever expected – I feel spoiled with this amount of awesomeness in my authorities, to be honest, and will have a hard time adjusting when my next life chapter begins. And last, but not least, the Michigan AmeriCorps Member’s Council. The ambition, the personalities, the leaders, the connections, the trainings, the retreats, the projects, the hilarious cross-country skiing that made me almost wet my pants, and the friendships. What an unforgettable group of people. You guys were a gift to me and my AmeriCorps term. I just want to say “hank you”and I will miss every one of you.

There are hundreds of individuals across the state of Michigan, and thousands across the country that are coming upon the end of their term as AmeriCorps members. It can be stressful, especially if one has not discovered their next life step! I encourage every one of you reading this to take a few moments and think about – or maybe even write down – what your favorite aspects were of your term. What you learned, the highs, the lows, the people you encountered, and the people you helped. Goodness knows each one of you will have something to think about.

Making a Garden Grow

Hello everyone, I’m Eric Shovein and this year I am serving with a brand new environmental program in Lansing called the Power of We Consortium. The program is rather unique in that it’s concerned with getting people in touch with nature, and restoring trails in order to do so, but also food security and nutritional education for people through the implementation of community gardens. Everyone says the green movement is “the thing to do,” but what I don’t think the naysayers realize is that although some of these things we are doing may be popular at this point, they are nonetheless positively impacting people on a regular basis.

My specific mission is to start community gardens on Ingham County Land Bank properties in order to turn urban blight, and government owned properties, into something more beautiful, and more productive. It’s actually one of only a few Land Banks with a gardening program in the state of Michigan. The program is also organically set up to bring food into food deserts (areas without any easy access to healthy food).

To somewhat digress, Land Banks acquire foreclosed properties when no one else purchases them and are put in charge of revitalizing them. The properties therefore usually end up being in lower income areas where the housing demand is even lower than other areas in this slumping economy. The gardens are therefore in areas where people need the supplemental healthy food in their homes.

Aside from the Power of We program and its ideals, this year of service has definitely been a challenging year. It’s challenging because I started with nothing other than an idea, but it’s also been very successful to this point because I’ve started the gardens I wanted to. I literally walked into my first day of service knowing nothing about gardening, and had no direction other than an concept for which I’ve strived to accomplish. From there I started to do the thing everyone loves, and networked for almost three months to find every community center and every gardening group in Lansing. It was definitely frustrating for a while, but as the network grew I knew the gardens would also grow.

Since the winter things have rapidly changed. I have currently started 18 gardens, all of which are growing fairly well. Each garden is feeding at least a few people, with some feeding upwards of 20 families, plus beyond just feeding, it’s getting people outside and providing outreach for the future as neighbors see and are intrigued by the new gardens.

Overall, I could not be happier with choosing to serve with AmeriCorps. It’s both a challenge mentally and financially, but the benefits for others and for you personally are amazing. Beyond helping the amount of people I have, I have been able to essentially run a business with a small budget backing me. Given very little supervision, I’ve been able to develop my own business plan; do outreach, fundraising, networking, volunteer, and worker management; and basically create my own blueprint for the future. Of course I think things can and will change in the future, but the leadership skills AmeriCorps helps develop within you are incredible. It’s an overall enriching experience that cannot be matched in most “real world” positions. Then again the real world is changing and programs like this are expanding annually.

A Reflection of Service

Hello, this is Beth Leonard again with the Michigan Primary Care Association, or MPCA. I am currently serving my second year as a Health Advocate at a homeless and domestic violence shelter. I am happy to be sharing my experience as an AmeriCorps member; however I must admit that witty, anecdotal story-telling produces anxiety in me.

Having the deadline for this blog posting written in my calendar weeks prior to now, I prepared in advance to obtain some inspiration; well, not exactly inspiration, as the families and children I work with daily gives me plenty of inspiration, but here I am referring to help with the writing, and stories of service from my MPCA members across the state! During our last program’s quarterly training (motivating networking opportunities held with fellow MPCA members from all over our great state), I asked if each member could send me a short bit of what meaningful service they are providing to individuals at their service sites.

Reading through the stories I received back from our members, it struck me as to how similar the healthcare needs are of individuals, families, and children all across our state. Even though no two life situations are ever the same, every person deserves the right to have decent, affordable health care in our country. And even with the increase in gaining access to services, there are those that may need a little extra help with all the required steps in actually obtaining those services.

It goes without saying that we are experiencing a very difficult time financially in Michigan right now. It seems everywhere I go I hear from someone who is without (or knows of someone without) medical insurance and is in need of assistance to be able to afford quality health care. Although the federal government did recently pass the Healthcare Reform Bill, there is still much to be done in our cities and towns across the country in increasing access to quality care and advocacy for our most vulnerable citizens.

Whether the need involves an 18-year-old whose parents have given up on her, a former restaurateur who recently depleted his life savings with two children needing health coverage, or fixed-income seniors needing help paying for expensive, life or death medications, it is only decent for all people to be treated with dignity concerning their health.

Here are some excerpts of what I received from my fellow MPCA AmeriCorps members:

I was able to direct the client to other resources, as she has the ambition to further her education, and assist her with healthcare benefits and food assistance.

Teresa Baker
Oakland Primary Health Services
Pontiac

I have helped hundreds of members of this community get their medications. It’s good to know I have given peace of mind to people who find themselves in a frightening place in their lives.

Ila Coltas
Family Medical Center of Michigan
Adrian

This family was ready to do whatever necessary to get the help they needed and I was willing to and able to guide them in that direction. About a week later I received the cutest thank you card, and I quote, “Thanks a lot for all you did for this family and for being so professional and nice to us.”

Mia Puryear
Detroit Wayne County Health Authority
Detroit

Other AmeriCorps members and I realized that the crying woman’s child in the lobby of our health center qualified for health coverage, and about 30 minutes later she left with insurance covering her child.

Sarah Abou-El-Seoud
The Wellness Plan Medical Center
Detroit

With the help of the insurance application processing office, we had the application expedited, and to the mother’s relief, her son was approved for coverage immediately, ensuring next week’s surgery would be taken care of.

Natsumi Asanuma
Michigan Primary Care Association
Lansing

Obviously through AmeriCorps, one is given the opportunity to impact life for the better in a community, but one may not know that being a member also creates an expansion of essential professional skills including but not limited to: meetings, conference calls, fund development, and creating and delivering presentations. Most significantly, AmeriCorps has also provided what I believe to be the greatest part of any life’s work: satisfaction in knowing you are making a difference – a proven, tangible, change for the better. I look forward to putting these real-life experiences to use in the future. And, to carry the commitment of service forward, I’ve convinced my mom to serve a year with AmeriCorps when she retires next year!

Thank you for allowing me this opportunity to share how wonderful my AmeriCorps experience has been!