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.