Service for All!

Hello again! I’m Kathleen Egan and I just began my 2^nd year of service as the AmeriCorps Inclusion VISTA for the Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC). Since I last wrote, my term of service has provided some amazing experiences and allowed me to meet some truly inspiring and awesome people.

As the Inclusion VISTA, my goal is to support and encourage people with disabilities to see volunteerism and national service as a way to build job skills and interpersonal relationships. Part of my service involves assisting the MCSC’s Statewide Inclusion Team. This team is comprised of representatives from a wide range of state agencies, independent businesses, and advocates for the advancement of a more diverse service population. I, along with six representatives from the MCSC Inclusion Team, recently traveled to Washington, D.C. to attend the 2011 Symposium on Service and Inclusion: Improving the Member Experience Through Intentional Strategies. This conference was hosted by the National Service Inclusion Project (NSIP), which is an agency that provides training and technical assistance related to the needs of individuals with disabilities in national service programs.

Over the course of three days, I attended a variety of workshops, learned how other states are promoting inclusion in their national service programs, met fellow Inclusion VISTAs from other states, and heard from some truly inspiring AmeriCorps alumni. The AmeriCorps members and alums who spoke at the conference served in a variety of areas, and came from vastly different backgrounds, but all had the same message; during their year of service, they all gained skills they would never have never gained elsewhere and made lasting friendships and connections to their communities.

One of the most interesting speakers was Scott Carter. Scott served two years as a VISTA with a statewide program that helped youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities transition out of the school system and into the workforce and independent living through Person First self-advocacy centers. Out of the 13 VISTAs in his program, six are individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities. He and his program director, Mary Bryant, also hosted a workshop talking about the ways their program has successfully helped Nevada youth with intellectual or developmental disabilities become successful and independent members of their community. They also spoke about the leadership opportunities and success that having a blended VISTA cohort provides.

The Symposium was an amazing place to learn more about what is happening on a national level. There are so many projects and initiatives in place, and it was very exciting to hear stories from throughout the country (and territories!), as well as to hear people talk about the impact national service has had on programs and individuals. The Symposium also helped me learn more about what some of my fellow Inclusion Team members do on a daily basis and what inspired them to get involved with Inclusion. The timing of the conference was also very fitting, as December is a great time to reflect on the past year and to give back to the community around you. Being in Virginia with hundreds of fellow national service participants was a great reminder of what service can accomplish! Happy Holidays and all the best in the New Year!

Member Celebration...And Beyond!

Hello! My name is Rachael Wilber, and I am a second-year AmeriCorps member serving with the Superior AmeriCorps program in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. I am originally from Ontonagon, Mich. and currently live in Calumet, Mich. Superior AmeriCorps currently has 46 full-time members, the majority of whom serve in school districts throughout Houghton and Baraga counties. We have a handful of members in other counties serving through nonprofit agencies as well.

I am one of the members that have been placed in a nonprofit. I serve as a program coordinator for the High Five program at Big Brothers Big Sisters. I match volunteer high school mentors with elementary school children who have been referred to me by their teachers. We meet once a week for one hour. The students work as mentoring matches by working on homework, playing games, making crafts, and/or just hanging out! This provides additional one-on-one time to the elementary students while providing a sense of responsibility for the mentors. I train the mentors for four weeks (one hour per week) prior to introducing the matches, which meet for the entire school year. Last year I saw some amazing transformations and I look forward to seeing even more this year!

On November 17^th, I had the opportunity to attend the Michigan’s AmeriCorps Member Celebration along with seven other members from my program. We left Wednesday morning and arrived in Lansing that evening. On Thursday morning, we checked in at the Member Celebration and had a one-of-a-kind experience. After the morning kick-off, we went to our choice of several workshops. They all seemed wonderful! I chose a workshop called “Zombie to Zen,” which discussed methods for calming your mind when feeling overwhelmed. After the workshop, we had a very moving keynote speaker, Craig Bowman, who is the president of Common Ground Consulting. He was absolutely phenomenal! After Craig’s talk and lunch, we went to another set of workshops. I went to a workshop about teambuilding that was led by three members, including a fellow LeaderCorps member, Kathleen Egan. It was very informative and maybe even a little fun… ok, it was a blast!!! The day ended with the swearing-in ceremony led by Acting CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service, Robert Velasco.

As a LeaderCorps member, I stayed after the Member Celebration for the LeaderCorps meeting, which took place Thursday evening and all day Friday.

I think LeaderCorps is going to be my favorite part of my AmeriCorps experience. We have only met once (or at least MOST of us have only met once), but the chemistry was surreal. Not only were we very proactive and motivated in our discussions about projects and goals for the year, but we were also cracking jokes and laughing within minutes of meeting each other. This is a very lighthearted group that is looking forward to “getting things done!”

I truly love being an AmeriCorps member. I have the wonderful opportunity to serve in not only one, but three school districts. This has allowed me to experience different subsets of the local students and get to know different administrators. I am currently working on my Masters in Elementary Education so I have also been able to make connections for observing classrooms and student teaching. AmeriCorps has opened so many doors for me and I hope our program continues for MANY years! There are so many people that would benefit from it as much as I have (not to mention the folks out there we actually serve!). Oh, and did I mention AmeriCorps is where I have met my best friends? I’m amazed by the connections that are made when you get together with a group of people that want to make a difference in their communities!

Engaging in a Lifetime of Service

My name is Ben Duda and I am the Executive Director of AmeriCorps Alums, the national network of over 700,000 alumni of National Service. First off – THANK YOU for your service. You are in the midst of an incredibly challenging and important time in your life that will define and influence future actions and passions in life – whether you go on to start your own nonprofit organization or become an accountant. As you continue your term of service, I want you to consider joining our organization, specifically created for former AmeriCorps members looking to be leaders and advocates for the advancement of national service.

I am an AmeriCorps alum, having served three terms of service. My national service story starts in the late ‘90’s, when I first learned about the program from Senator Harris Wofford, one of the original founders, during my junior year at Cornell University. I was inspired by the opportunity to make a real impact; excited to engage and serve in different parts of the country. Upon graduation, I spent two years serving in the NCCC - first as a Corps Member at the Capital Region campus in Washington, DC, and then as a Team Leader in Class VII at the Western Region campus in San Diego, CA. MY 3rd, non-Ed Award year was part of a two year Fellowship with Citizen Schools in Boston. I can honestly say that my experiences with AmeriCorps have been the most important thing I have ever done; providing me with impactful experiences and immeasurable personal growth that propelled me on a leadership trajectory to my current role at AmeriCorps Alums.

My favorite memory during NCCC would be the three months my team spent in Cincinnati with ReSTOC, a community-based nonprofit that provides affordable quality housing for low income residents in what was then a slowly gentrifying neighborhood. When my team first arrived in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood of Cincinnati, I remember the team feeling very intimidated and unsure about the difference we could make. During our three-month stay, my team provided outreach service to those in the community, including mentoring local children and job readiness training for adults. Every day, we wore our uniforms proudly and were easily identified by the neighborhood residents as outsiders, but were embraced for our contributions and service. By the end of the project, we could see the difference we made in the housing rehabs we had completed, the relationships built with individuals, and the trust that had been built with our local neighbors. We all have stories and experiences from our years of service and I am interested in hearing yours!

AmeriCorps Alums is a great organization for past national service members to share their experiences with service-oriented peers, while also helping their transition into lifelong volunteerism. This includes helping new alums get connected with a local chapter, providing opportunities for leadership and professional development, and elevating the national brand of service to garner more recognition and funding. I welcome anyone who has completed a year of service to join AmeriCorps Alums, as they will immediately have the connection to our national network of alums, and will be able to connect to peers who understand the importance of service and can be advocates for current service members. You can find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

The conversations around funding for AmeriCorps have been a hot topic in recent times, so it has never been more important for alums to rally together in an effort to Save Service and continue supporting present and future AmeriCorps members. Join AmeriCorps Alums as we continue to be the leading voices in the service movement!

Leaving Your Mark Through NCCC

My name is Kaitlyn Sargent, and I have been an AmeriCorps NCCC member for just about a month. NCCC stands for National Civilian Community Corps and members are between the ages of 18 and 24. I am from Grand Rapids, Michigan and graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education. I heard about AmeriCorps NCCC through my oldest sister, Megan, who works at the Michigan Community Service Commission. I graduated in December of 2010, which is not the ideal time to look for a teaching job. Also, I always knew I wanted to take a personal year to myself to do something adventurous before settling down and getting a permanent teaching job. When I heard I had been accepted into NCCC, I thought this would be the perfect opportunity for me to have my adventure and give back at the same time!

AmeriCorps NCCC is divided into five regions throughout the country; I am serving in the Southwest Region stationed in Denver, CO. Members spend 10 months serving in teams to help communities prepare for and respond to disasters, as well as help our region’s communities as needed. Each member serves a total of 1,700 hours by the end of the 10 months, 80 of which are ISP (individual service project) hours that need to be completed on our own time. For example, I have completed about a quarter of my 80 hours so far by serving at the Denver Rescue Mission, volunteering at a local 5K, working at a couple of Habitat for Humanity ReStores, and volunteering at a nursing home.

I have been in Denver since October 12th and have been doing CTI (training) the majority of the first month. Here are a few specific examples of the kind of training we’ve gone through: First Aid/CPR, diversity, disaster, and tool safety. We also got to do a few fun things here and there throughout training, like take a trip to Rocky Mountain National Park, have a Halloween Dance, and there is a Corps talent show tonight. This week is the last week before teams take off for their first projects. Leading up to this time, members were placed on temporary teams with various team leaders so they could form permanent teams.

On my permanent team, there are four boys and eight girls (including our team leader, Aly) and our first project is in Kirby, Arkansas. We will be driving 975 miles starting Saturday, November 12th and will be camping and working for the month at Daisy State Park. This week is spike prep (“spike” is a term used for when teams leave Denver for a project) and I will get a more in-depth understanding of what we will be doing there, but our team leader mentioned trail building, park repair, and teaching kayak lessons as likely possibilities.

I am slightly apprehensive about the idea of living in a tent for a month, but at the same time I am looking forward to this new adventure. We will be staying in Arkansas until mid-December, then we will drive back to Denver for one day of meetings with the whole Corps before our holiday break. We will be back in Denver the week of January 2 for a transition week before leaving for Round 2 projects. Round 2-4 are two month long projects.

From a more personal standpoint, this experience has been great so far and it hasn’t even really started yet. I have met some great friends that I already know will be life-long friends. Of course there are times when I miss my family back home like crazy, but I know this is going to be a life-changing experience that will help me grow in so many ways. I’m truly looking forward to making a difference, challenging myself, and making memories along the way!

High Expectations

“To the best AmeriCorps VISTA the Ann Arbor CIL has ever had.” That was the expectation-filled salutation pinned to a large bouquet of flowers set on the desk that would be mine as I began my term of service almost two years ago at the Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living (AACIL). I read those words with an equal helping of hope and dread. On one hand, I had hope that I would make a difference; on the other hand, the dread that I would not live up to the aforementioned best VISTA ever. With one bouquet of flowers, I found myself stuck between the two extremes that I would ping-pong between during my time as a VISTA.

My personal game of psychological table tennis had little to do with the fact that I have a disability. I was born with a rare genetic illness called Friedreich’s Ataxia (and it seems it’s not enough to have a life-threatening illness – it also takes a dozen years to learn to spell!). The disease remained hidden, slowly peeking out as I grew, searching out ways to trip me up, slow me down and make me different. My older brother, Chris, had been diagnosed with FA (so much simpler, right?!) when he was 12. I was only five at the time, and didn’t make the fatal connection between my growing limitations and the same ones that had led him to a wheelchair at 16. Long story short, I’ve used a wheelchair full-time now for 11 years. But, after so much time, I was about to learn how “normal” I could be, and that the ups and downs, goods and bads, or pings and pongs of working in non-profit were applied equally, disability or no.

Beginning my service at the Ann Arbor CIL was an exercise in extreme humility. My encounters with others with visible disabilities (because – make no mistake – disabilities are everywhere, but there are many one can hide) was limited. Several of my coworkers are in chairs for a variety of different reasons. I was no longer “special” in my abnormality. At the CIL, disability was the norm and expectations of me and my abilities were not automatically assumed to be less (commence the first serve: Ping, Pong, Ping…). My coworkers—I think it’s safe to say, “My friends”— have ushered me into a whole new world of adaptive sports, advocacy, and understanding. Not only has my job resume exploded in the Skills and Accomplishments sections (I’m on to two pages!) because of the CIL, but the wisdom and knowledge of resources that I could add to my “life” resume could fill a book. There was one, now infamous, occurrence with a male coworker who said he’d “help me in the shower.” When coworkers surrounding our exchange heard this and some jaws dropped, he quickly reddened into a virtual turnip and loudly declared, “I meant with advice on adaptive devices!”

My first term as a VISTA brought me into the world of volunteer coordination. While this sounded like I’d be helping people to help people, I misjudged, as happens very often in my life. Upon starting at the CIL in November 2009, the volunteers had not been “coordinated” for several years in anything resembling a streamlined structure. With the help of supervisors and colleagues who had worked a lot with the volunteers in the past, I tried to develop and implement programs that would structure the current volunteers, while adding room to bring fresh ones into the fray. Several of the programs took flight and continue to be operational today, which has been exciting for me to see.

My second term of service brought with it new responsibilities that have both challenged me and elevated my spirit with each peel of laughter, cooking project gone wrong, and silly picture taken. I was appointed to assist in the Youth Department, which incorporated fun and imagination into the 9 to 5 service structure. This youth program stood proudly apart from the rest. Serving those age 14-26, the focus was on kids in special education programs in the county, who could stay in the educational system until the age of 26, at which point they would need to transition into the community. The program’s aim--while always remaining inclusive--was to prepare these youth for that time when the daily structure and support of special education was gone, so they might have the social and independent living skills to enter into community in a way that would foster continual growth.

And so, I teamed up with Youth Services Coordinator (and VISTA Alum!), Anna Dubiber-Gossage, and embarked on creating ever-stronger programs and bonds with each of our youth that has added a new vibrancy to the fabric of my life. The Girl Talk six-week course was my first experience with teaching independent living skills. Anna gave me a lot of creative freedom in letting me design classes titled Dress for Success, Homemaking Magic, and Love and Disabilities.

The buzzer will sound on my time at the Ann Arbor CIL on November, 21, 2011. I hope I have made an impact. Scratch that. I know I have made an impact. The moment a youth participant, not much younger than me in physical age, gave me a shy smile and announced, “I sure will miss you, Robin,” I knew. And as for my game of ping-pong? Well, the CIL has reminded me that in life’s game, it is a win to even come out in a tie of hits and misses, as long as you gave it your all. And, Mom & Dad, thanks for the flowers.

AmeriCorps: A Life-Changing Experience!

Greetings! My name is Alex Gossage and I am an AmeriCorps*VISTA Program Manager for the Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living (CIL) and a VISTA alum. I have been a part of AmeriCorps*VISTA in some capacity over the last seven years, and during that time I witnessed life changing moments and even had a few of my own.

My service began at the Ann Arbor CIL in November of 2004. I was a recent college graduate with a notion and a need that I just couldn’t shake. I was at a point in my life where I was ready to become more comfortable with my own disability and I thought that the best way to do that was to work in the disability community. Life, being what it is, gave me the opportunity to discover Centers for Independent Living and Ann Arbor’s own Ann Arbor CIL. After volunteering there for a brief time, I was presented with the idea of becoming an AmeriCorps*VISTA member. I applied and was accepted shortly thereafter.

During my two years of service, I assisted with program research and development. I gained skills in proposal writing, research, and program evaluation. I learned how to work in groups effectively and how to pace my own work and complete projects within short timeframes. As my service progressed I took on more responsibilities, coordinating the work of other service members, attending community meetings as a CIL representative, and presenting in front of both small and large audiences.

Through my work, I saw how our organization helped people every day. Whether it was navigating through a maze of public benefit applications, helping an individual with a disability start their own business, or giving a child with a disability the chance to swing a tennis racket for the first time, the Ann Arbor CIL was there to help. And the great thing about my VISTA position was that I got to see all of these things happen because I was involved with the development and improvement of these programs.

After two years of hard work (service!), the skills I learned and the relationships I made helped me find a place at the Ann Arbor CIL as a staff member. I was hired to continue my work in program development and assist with the overall coordination of our VISTA program. Without AmeriCorps*VISTA, I would not be the employee I am today; I would have missed out on a great opportunity to improve myself professionally; and I would not have had the opportunity to see other people with disabilities grow as members themselves. This alone gives me a sense of indebtedness to the AmeriCorps*VISTA program, but in my eyes it is not the greatest way in which I have benefited.

As an AmeriCorps*VISTA member I developed a meaningful connection with the Ann Arbor CIL and, in turn, the disability community. More than anything, socializing with other individuals with disabilities, participating in recreation activities with individuals with disabilities, and developing pride in being an individual with a disability helped me become comfortable with who I am and not focus so much on what I am not. Finally, my VISTA service set the stage for me to have a family of my own… During my service I got the chance to get to know one of my co-workers better. She became the love of my life and she eventually agreed to be my wife.

Acquiring Skills and Experience

Hi, my name is Miranda Grunwell and I served as an AmeriCorps member at Disability Network Southwest Michigan in 2008.

I originally decided to do a year of AmeriCorps as a way to gain additional work experience. At the time, I was a year out of college and could not find a job. Every interview I went on told me they were looking for more work experience. Since I loved to volunteer and had done so since I was a teenager, AmeriCorps seemed to be a good fit for me. It allowed me to stay involved in my community, as well as earn some income to help pay the bills.

I also thought doing a year as an AmeriCorps member would be a safe place to try something new without the long-term commitment. I have a Learning Disability and was unsure of how that would affect my ability to work in an office setting. Participating in AmeriCorps gave me the opportunity not only to experience what it was like to be in a typical work-place environment, but it was also a great way to test my skills and expand my abilities.

During my year of service I worked with the Brain Injury Support Group (pictured) along with other support groups. My task was to increase the attendance of our groups and come up with topic ideas for group meetings. Throughout the course of my service, I had an opportunity to network with several community professionals and to speak with them about our groups. As a result, some professionals made recommendations to people to join our group, some volunteered their time to speak at group meetings, and some even made donations.

After my year of service I was hired on as a full-time staff member at Disability Network Southwest Michigan as an Independent Living Assistant. I am now celebrating my third year there! My time as an AmeriCorps member helped me, as well as the staff at Disability Network, to see that my disability didn’t affect my ability to do good work and be a strong asset to my office. While I may not be editing a grant anytime soon, I can plan and organize our events and not miss any details!

I believe AmeriCorps is a great way to learn about who you are and what you enjoy doing. And for me, it turned out to be a pathway to a great place of employment!

Connecting With Youth

I’m Missy Olgine and I’m a second year AmeriCorps Member serving with the Mentor Michigan College Coaching Corps. For the past two years I have had the privilege of coordinating a mentoring program for foster youth through the Department of Human Services (DHS) in Midland and Isabella counties.

My kids are the best! They’re zany, energetic, thoughtful, and giving. They love deeply, laugh loudly, and are passionate about achieving success. My mentors are just as amazing. They generously give of their time week after week and pour into their young people. They truly care and will do whatever they can to help their young people reach their dreams!

Like most Michiganders, I was facing an extremely grim job market 2009. A recent college grad filled with youthful idealism and big ideas on how to change the world, the lack of job offers from employers—never mind those with “world changing” positions-had worn me down. Thus, when I stumbled upon the posting for this AmeriCorps position it was with a fluttering of new hope that I applied and was accepted.

My service on an average day is never the same. Some days I am meeting with community organizations recruiting mentors to work with my teens; some days I do a lot of paper work, reference checking, interviewing prospective mentors, and running background checks to ensure they’re a good fit for our program; other days, I take groups of mentors and youth rock climbing, snowshoeing, or to the local pottery studio to play with clay. But mostly, my time is devoted to talking to mentors, youth, caseworkers, and foster parents, ensuring that everybody is on the same page for helping our young people achieve success.

Often the best days are when I get to meet face-to-face with a single mentor and mentee and just “share life” with them. Sometimes this is done over coffee or ice cream, other times it’s in a cozy living room surrounded by baby toys with a toddler happily drooling on my knee while a mentor and mentee comfortably chat about their great time together the week before. But the best memories are always attached to that moment when I see the deep connection between a young person and their mentor.

AmeriCorps has shaped me professionally. I have had countless professional development opportunities. I’ve connected with countless movers and shakers in the non-profit, higher education, and human services worlds, as well as with leading policy makers in our great state. I’ve developed in skills, inner strength, and confidence.

For those that are considering a year of service—whether it be through working with a disaster relief organization, a poverty reduction crew, or a group of people passionate about changing their communities for the better through mentoring—I have one piece of advice: do it! There is nothing more rewarding than this and there’s no time like this moment to take that step and find just how much you can accomplish. And how one person really can change their world!

Using AmeriCorps as a Pathway to Employment

Hello! My name is Katie Niersbach and I am an AmeriCorps alum who recently joined First Book as an Operations Manager. First Book is a nonprofit that connects kids in need with new books. We’re based out of Washington, DC, but I get to travel nationwide, overseeing large-scale book distributions. My job is a perfect balance of on-the-ground physical work and time at a desk, manipulating inventory data.

Prior to serving in AmeriCorps, I studied Advertising and Marketing at Syracuse University, where I realized I wasn’t wild about trying to sell somebody about the benefits of a 15-blade razor. During a career fair I gravitated toward the service booths, such as Teach for America. I had a great conversation with somebody from AmeriCorps who was part of the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC). After the fair, I checked out the AmeriCorps website and was hooked!

I became an AmeriCorps*VISTA at Children for Children, which is a nonprofit that brings service opportunities to children and families living in New York City. I oversaw our online database of opportunities and was charged with expanding our network of nonprofits willing to host youth volunteers. I have so many wonderful memories of my VISTA term – they all blend together into one great year! The people I worked with made a huge impression on me. Suddenly I was surrounded by like-minded individuals all excited about service and volunteering. It opened my eyes to the nonprofit world and inspired me to continue in the field after my service year ended.

My year as an AmeriCorps*VISTA was my first work experience out of college and it paved the way for my career. I remained at my service site as a full-time employee. During my service year, the professional experience I gained was HUGE. I remember sharing my intense experiences with friends who graduated alongside me. They were stuck performing mundane tasks in their entry-level jobs while I had specific, important tasks that helped keep our small nonprofit afloat.

I think anybody who has done AmeriCorps would enthusiastically say, “Do it!” Think about where you want to be after your year of service… Of course, visions change – but since AmeriCorps can inspire you to become more connected to your community, make the most of it and pick a place where you might see yourself staying. Also, take advantage of the program summaries online and try to speak with current AmeriCorps members at the organization to make sure the program is a good match for you. Since compensation is small and the hours can be long, it’s particularly important to be passionate about what you’re doing every day.

Serving the Volunteer Centers of Michigan

Howdy!

Matthew Reaume here, and I’m glad to be back on the LeaderCorps Blog! I was privileged enough to serve on the Michigan’s AmeriCorps LeaderCorps from 2008-2010 as part of the ACE (Alumni and Citizenship Engagement) team. In that time I served with Huron Pines AmeriCorps, and as a VISTA with the Michigan Community Service Commission. This year, I am serving as VISTA Leader with the Volunteer Centers of Michigan (VCM), supporting a fantastic team of VISTAs dedicated to increasing the capacity of Volunteer Centers in Grand Rapids, Petoskey, and Lenawee.

For those of you who may be unfamiliar, Volunteer Centers are organizations dedicated to matching community volunteers to appropriate service opportunities. While some Centers stand alone as their own 501(c)3, many times they are housed within existing organizations such as the local United Way.

What makes a Volunteer Center so unique is the ability of the organization to leverage local partnerships to identify specific community needs and the unique desires and skills of residents who wish to volunteer. This process ensures that the right volunteers are consistently matched with the right opportunities to serve, contributing to higher quality service, satisfaction, volunteer retention rates, and most importantly, impact.

VCM VISTAs are responsible for enhancing the capacity of Volunteer Centers to effectively engage youth, volunteers age 55 and over, highly-skilled volunteers, volunteer leaders, and develop programs that streamline community collaboration through the implementation of regional volunteer project calendars. In addition, VISTAs also leverage resources for their organizations, conduct volunteer management training to nonprofit partners, and collaborate with other national service programs to implement National Days of Service projects.

My role as a VISTA Leader is to provide ongoing support to the VISTA program by developing training content, providing resources and one-on-one guidance, as well as implement volunteer management best practices internally for replication. The most rewarding aspect of being a VISTA Leader has to be the opportunity to cultivate new and inspired leaders in the field of social justice. Every day I am impressed with the impact that results from the dedicated service of this team of highly motivated and caring individuals.

Currently, I am in the midst of recruiting young men and women to join our effort for the program’s next fiscal year. Volunteer Centers of Michigan was awarded a grant through the HandsOn Network to support five AmeriCorps VISTA members. Host sites will be located in: Detroit (x2), Port Huron, Flint and Niles. The Volunteer Centers of Michigan was also awarded five slots from the Corporation for National and Community Service to host VISTA members in the following locations: Battle Creek, Grand Rapids, Petoskey, Kalamazoo, and Sault St. Marie. VISTA members are being recruited to begin their year of service in November.

For more information about the Volunteer Centers of Michigan and our VISTA program, please visit www.mivolunteers.org. Don’t forget to “like” us facebook by visiting www.facebook.com/Volunteer.Centers.Michigan.

Engaging Volunteers Through VISTA Service

Greetings from the field! My name is Chelsea Martin and I am about nine months into my year as an AmeriCorps*VISTA with the Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC). My VISTA service has been spent supporting the Volunteer Michigan initiative that actively works to increase volunteerism across the state of Michigan by focusing on National Days of Service, volunteer management technology, and strategic youth engagement.

Why I Chose to Serve:
I have always had an interest in civic engagement and community involvement and felt this was an opportunity to walk the talk. I learned about the AmeriCorps*VISTA opportunity while I was finishing up my undergraduate degrees at Eastern Michigan University and thought it would give me the chance to explore the nonprofit world while giving back to my community.

How I Support Volunteerism in Michigan:
One of the HUGE projects currently being launched in the volunteer management world is a new technology called HandsOn Connect. HandsOn Connect is an amazing technology that allows volunteer connector organizations, like volunteer centers, to work with local nonprofits to post volunteer opportunities and track who and how people are getting engaged. The new system helps volunteer centers create visually appealing websites for returning and prospective volunteers to visit and search for opportunities to serve based on zip code or city name. My role with HandsOn Connect has been to support seven communities across the state in their individual launch process. It has been great to see several of their sites “Go Live” and all the potential the new technology is creating for their organization and their communities.

In addition to HandsOn Connect, I help with National Days of Service like the September 11 National Day of Service & Remembrance and the Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service. For MLK Day in 2011, the MCSC and our partners distributed $15,000 in mini-grants to support more than 70 local projects. I supported those local sites by offering tools and resources to make their projects more successful. I’m currently in the planning stages of the 2012 MLK Day and hope the projects get stronger and engage more volunteers as a result of the past years efforts!

As the last months of my service start flying by, I’m taking a step back and thinking about how to enable all of Michigan’s citizens to gain access to volunteer opportunities. HandsOn Connect is a wonderful system that will allow those with internet access to find ways to volunteer, but not everyone has the internet or a computer. As a result, there need to be additional engagement strategies that don’t include “new” technologies to reach potential volunteers.

Volunteerism has wonderful benefits to both the served and the serving. It can be great job experience, help fill holes in a resume, build new skills, and much more! Those benefits can lead individuals to getting a first job out of college, re-employment, or better employment. As everyone in Michigan knows, that is the direction more people need to be headed in and access to volunteer opportunities can help them get there.

My experience has an AmeriCorps*VISTA has truly been one-of-a-kind and given me the chance to see volunteer service from a whole new vantage point.

For more information about HandsOn Connect visit http://www.handsonnetwork.org/actioncenters/handsonconnect and check out the demo video!

Serving with Mentor Michigan

Hi, my name is Jess Chung and I’m the Special Initiatives AmeriCorps*VISTA for Mentor Michigan. Like Learn and Serve – see Ellen’s post from last week – Mentor Michigan is based in the Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC). Mentor Michigan supports more than 250 mentoring programs in Michigan, providing training, resources, and partnership opportunities throughout the year.

Why did I join AmeriCorps*VISTA?

I finished my M.A. in Educational Administration and Policy at the University of Michigan in April 2010. My husband, Noel, still had another year before finishing his M.A. in Entomology at Michigan State. (Yeah, I know, we’re a “house divided,” but in our defense neither of us is originally from Michigan so we actually didn’t know the extent of the rivalry between U of M and MSU until after we got accepted to graduate schools.) The summer after I graduated, I did some contract work for the Michigan Department of Education; these were mostly short-term projects, like grant-writing, editing, and research. After a few months of this, I decided I wanted a longer-term project that would positively affect underrepresented students, ideally in the realm of K-12 education. Since Noel and I had already agreed to look at Ph.D. programs outside Michigan, I knew I could only commit to a year.

AmeriCorps*VISTA fit well with my goals – a year-long commitment, a focus on service and poverty-ending activities, and (bonus!) an education award to help pay off my graduate loans. I began my service in November 2010, but transferred from my initial placement to the MCSC in February 2011. Joining Mentor Michigan felt right because supporting mentoring programs meant promoting a relationship-based practice that can provide the academic and social supports youth need to succeed in school and life.

What do I do at Mentor Michigan?

As the Special Initiatives AmeriCorps*VISTA, I focus on providing support to mentoring programs serving specific youth populations Mentor Michigan has identified as needing special attention. For my term of service, that youth population is youth in and aging out of foster care. My responsibilities are to identify and make available the tools, resources, and training mentoring programs serving youth in foster care need to support high quality match relationships.

Youth are put in foster care when the state determines their parents are unable to care for them or it is unsafe for them to remain at home; although a good number of youth are reunified with their families or, if their parents’ rights are terminated, adopted, but many remain in the foster care system until emancipation (between the ages of 18-21). I didn’t understand how much foster youth need caring adults, like mentors, in their lives until I began doing research and talking to the staff at different mentoring programs.
Hearing about the difficulties these youth have to face and overcome on a daily basis, and learning that May is National Foster Care Month, motivated me to put together the Foster Care Month Mentoring Toolkit. This Toolkit provides mentoring programs with materials and ideas for promoting the need for and recognizing and supporting the service of mentors in the lives of foster youth. Along with the Toolkit, I’ve begun summarizing research and compiling resources on the Mentor Michigan website and helping to organize foster care mentoring workshop sessions at Mentor Michigan’s annual conference in November.

One of the difficult things about being a VISTA is that you don’t see the immediate effects of your service. I don’t directly serve youth in foster care and I rarely get to see how programs implement the tools and resources I’ve made available on our website. But since I’ve begun, I’ve received feedback through phone calls, emails, and even Facebook that indicate I’ve helped Mentor Michigan get a good start on supporting programs serving youth in foster care. Those, and the terrific people in the MCSC, are what keep me going and remind me that what I’m doing this year is worthwhile.

Shameless plug: Won’t you consider becoming a mentor to a youth in foster care today? Check out mentoring programs near you on the Mentor Michigan Directory of Programs (www.mentormichigan.org).

Eight Months In: My VISTA Year of Service Thus Far

Hello! My name is Ellen King and I am the Learn and Serve – Michigan AmeriCorps*VISTA. Learn and Serve – Michigan, administered by the Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC) in partnership with the Michigan Department of Education, is part of the Learn and Serve America grant program supported by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). The MCSC funds the development and implementation of high quality service-learning programs in K-12 schools.

Why did I pursue AmeriCorps*VISTA?

As a sociology major who attended a small liberal arts college, I knew I wanted to gain experience in the nonprofit world by serving with AmeriCorps. I had taken several sociological classes with topics surrounding the cultural and structural theories behind poverty, and I wanted to see for myself what poverty was like first-hand. Serving as an AmeriCorps*VISTA only seemed fitting; it is the national service program designed specifically to fight poverty and build capacity

What has my term been like?

These past eight months have definitely been a whirlwind experience. Within my first two weeks I found myself mentoring members of the MCSC’s Service-Learning Youth Council (SLYC) as they began exploring service project ideas for the annual Global Youth Service Day (GYSD). My connection with these members only grew from there. I soon helped two members from a high poverty school district write and receive a Youth Service America Grant to address literacy in their community. I also made sure at least half of the SLYC members were involved in GYSD in some way. I rapidly found myself deeply invested in the outcome of GYSD and its impact on the state of Michigan. Thankfully, it turned out to be a huge success: more than 1,615 youth and 522 adults volunteered more than 6,917 hours via 106 service projects this past April.

In the midst of learning about the amazing benefits of youth service efforts throughout the state, I had to face the federal budget cuts. In early April, Congress made deep cuts in government spending for Fiscal Year 2011 which reduced the CNCS budget by $74.6 million. This included a $40 million deal that eliminated Learn and Serve America funding. Ultimately, the result meant that Learn and Serve – Michigan would not be able to grant nearly half a million dollars in federal funds to its programs for 2011-2012, like it did in 2010-2011. You can imagine then, five months into my year of service, how confusing and complex this information was to me. I kept asking many questions to whomever would listen, but the one I asked most frequently was, “What will happen to service-learning?” After three months digesting this information I can finally answer my own question: service-learning will still exist, but its funding will be different.

Each time I finish a conference or phone call, receive an email message, or serve alongside a SLYC member, I get a feeling inside that I can only describe as a happy-tingly feeling. This may sound corny, I know. But when I look at a list of their accomplishments from this past year I am inspired. Our young people are undertaking amazing service projects, and tackling the state’s biggest problems. I started my year of service supporting our SLYC members, but that does not mean I will end my year of service and no longer serve alongside or encourage youth to serve. Now, more than ever, I am motivated to do my part in supporting youth-led service efforts.

For more information on Learn and Serve – Michigan, visit www.michigan.gov/mcsc.

The President’s Interfaith & Community Service Campus Challenge

Hi, I’m Rachel and I’m an AmeriCorps*State member serving with Michigan’s AmeriCorps Partnership (MAP) at the Ginsberg Center in Ann Arbor. I direct a student program called Interfaith Action where students can come together to learn about each other’s faiths through dialogue and service work.

Last time I posted, I wrote about a very exciting trip to Washington, D.C. This time I want to share with you a new initiative put out by the White House that our program will be participating in next year – the President’s Interfaith and Community Service Campus Challenge. This challenge, hosted by the Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, asks educational institutions like the University of Michigan to bring students from different faith backgrounds together for a single purpose, work together in service, and spend an entire year in dialogue and service together. The University of Michigan is one of more than 300 campuses nationwide participating in this exciting challenge.

We are lucky to have an incredible group of students who are excited to be part of this challenge who are working with Interfaith Action. A continuation of our “Better Together” campaign, our students have decided to address issues of sexual assault and domestic violence in faith communities – an area that is so often not dealt with in faith communities.
Our plan has three parts that work together: an intra-faith component, an interfaith component, and a service initiative. Our students will work first to create dialogues around this topic in their own communities, and then come together to have dialogues across communities and around campus. At the same time, we will have campus-wide service projects for members of all faith communities – working with both campus and community partners like SAPAC and SafeHouse to raise money and physical goods (clothing, personal hygiene items, etc.).

This challenge is a great way to really highlight interfaith work on campuses, and the University of Michigan is excited about the upcoming year! Part of our program for the next year will include a blog, so please check our website to stay updated: http://ginsberg.umich.edu/interfaith-action

Nominations Being Sought for 2011 Governor’s Service Awards

The Michigan Community Service Commission has announced that nominations for the 2011 Governor’s Service Awards are being sought.

These awards acknowledge the commitment of individuals, organizations, and businesses to their communities through service and volunteerism. This is the 19^th year of the program.

Eight awards will be presented in the following categories:

• Governor George Romney Lifetime Achievement Award for Volunteerism – honors an individual who has taken volunteer service to the highest level year after year.

• Corporate Community Leader Award – honors corporations and businesses that excel in community involvement.

• Outstanding National Service Program Award (NEW category this year) – honors programs that excel at engaging national service members in programs across the state.

• Outstanding Volunteer Program Award – honors organizations or clubs that make a difference in community life.

• Mentor of the Year – honors an individual who has made a significant difference in a child’s life through mentoring.

• Senior Volunteer of the Year – honors individuals who are 65 and older.

• Volunteer of the Year – honors an individual who strives to improve the lives of neighbors, friends, community or congregation.

• Youth Volunteer of the Year – honors individuals who are age 21 or younger.

We’d like to make a special note that the Outstanding National Service Program Award is a brand new category this year. Any national service programs in Michigan are eligible to apply.

Five finalists in each category, including the winner, will be recognized at a celebration this October. The Governor’s Service Awards are coordinated by the Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC), the state’s lead agency on service and volunteerism.

The nomination form is available on the Michigan Community Service Commission’s website at www.michigan.gov/volunteer. Nominations must be postmarked by Tuesday, July 26. A hard copy of the nomination form is also available. To request a copy, please contact the MCSC at (517) 335-4295.

For more information, contact Kathie Vasilion Robinson at (517) 373-4200 or robinsonk13@michigan.gov.

Michigan’s AmeriCorps Members Help with Natural Disasters down South

Welcome to summer. I am Misty Youngson, a member of the AmeriCorps: Together We Prepare Program serving with the American Red Cross in Traverse City. As you are aware, the Red Cross has had an active spring with the numerous disasters occurring throughout our country and state. We have deployed many of our members to floods and tornadoes in various locations such as Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas, North Carolina, and most recently to Missouri. Many of our team members were deployed as client caseworkers or mass care shelter staff.

I was deployed for three weeks to Arkansas to provide assistance to people affected by tornadoes and floods. I flew to Little Rock to serve as a client caseworker. From Little Rock, I was dispatched to Jonesboro, Arkansas near the Mississippi River. In this position, the caseworker interviews clients to determine what their immediate emergency needs are for food, clothing, and shelter. We then issue funds to help them through the first few days of the disaster. We will also let our clients know where to find open shelters or feeding stations in their area, so they may stock up on meals-ready-to-eat, water, or have a safe place to sleep for the night.

A client caseworker also provides emotional support to families. We give referrals to our nurses for health-related needs, as well as mental health staff for emotional needs. Referrals are also given to other agencies that are able to meet needs not provided by the American Red Cross, such as furniture, long term medical needs, or housing needs. All of these services are provided as gifts from the American public through the donations the Red Cross receives. The American Red Cross does not receive funds from any government agencies.

My experience in Arkansas was both heart wrenching and heart warming. Our disaster clients have experienced tremendous loss and suffering. Some do not know where they will live next month. However, even under such dire conditions, they smile, joke, and tell a story about their kin, neighbor, or pet. They thank us for being there, away from our own children, spouse, and families for three weeks at a time to provide service to them. Our clients are very appreciative of any service or information we provide, whether it is financial help, information on how to safely return to their home, or clean mold and mildew from the walls. 

A national deployment to a large disaster is a life-changing experience. You will return home with a sense of sadness at not having been able to stay longer, give more, do more.  However, you will also return home with a sense of pride at how resilient Americans are when faced with a crisis. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer with the American Red Cross, call your local chapter or visit www.redcross.org for more information.

Really Raised Garden Beds – Allowing Everyone to Get Involved

My name is John Bolan and I am an AmeriCorps member serving with the Power of We Consortium at the NorthWest Initiative’s Food System Project in Lansing. On April the 16, at the Allen Neighborhood Center’s (ANC) Hunter Park Garden House, myself and fellow AmeriCorps members Bekah Galang and Kathleen Egan, and community advocate/ANC Intern Jared Talaga mobilized 44 volunteers from the community, Power of We AmeriCorps State and VISTA programs, and more than 20 youth volunteers to build Really Raised gardens beds.

The beds were built at the Hunter Park Garden House, and designed by ANC intern Jared Talaga to better accommodate members in the community who might not be able to do the bending and kneeling gardening often requires. Brick pavers were laid to ensure easier wheel chair mobility and access.

The project was part of 2011 Global Youth Service Day. Global Youth Service Day (GYSD) is an annual campaign that celebrates and mobilizes the millions of children and youth who improve their communities each day through service and service-learning. Established in 1988, GYSD is the largest service event in the world and is now celebrated in more than 100 countries. On GYSD, children and youth address the world’s most critical issues in partnership with families, schools, community and faith-based organizations, businesses, and governments.

Our project was lucky enough to receive both a Global Youth Service Day mini-grant as well as a Diversity and Inclusion mini-grant from the Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC) and The LEAGUE Michigan; we were also able to secure donations from the west Lansing Home Depot.

Planning this event involved long days and even longer nights but thanks to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved the project turned out to be a huge success. It will be used as a model for other gardens across the city and state to make sure all of our citizens have access to the gardening experience that we might sometimes take for granted. This project really opened up my mind to disability and inclusion issues that I have not thought about before, but will forever be aware of now. There were many amazing aspects to this project, but by far the best was seeing a community coming together to make a positive change for people they might never meet.

Grand Rapids Youth Fair Demonstrates the Value of After School Programming

Hello! I’m Megan Hunter and I serve with Camp Fire USA AmeriCorps.

Last Saturday, May 21 2011, Creston High School hosted the Grand Rapids Youth Fair, an annual event that showcases work done by students throughout Grand Rapids Public Schools (GRPS) after school programs. This year there were 34 elementary, middle and high schools included, and it proved to be a great opportunity for anyone curious about what is going on with the city’s youth. Most everyone knows about the programs offered by GRPS, but few are able to see what goes on inside.

As one of the high school students who spoke in the opening ceremony said, “When I first joined LOFT (city sponsored high school after school programming), I wanted a place to chill out and do my homework. It was only later that I found out that there was much more to it.” The events of the Youth Fair really showed what he meant.

The artwork, projects and presentations done by the kids reflected the innovation and versatility that defines Grand Rapids after school programs. Walking through the display area, one could find all kinds of artwork from paintings to 3-D sculptures. At Covell High School’s award winning booth, a 2 ½ foot dolphin made from over 3,000 recycled milk caps was the centerpiece, representing their theme of protecting ocean animals. Other displays ranged from posters about different countries and cultures to water color paintings and plaster handprints.

In addition to display booths for each school however, the Youth Fair was an opportunity for students to perform on stage. The school’s auditorium attracted a wide audience where 12 different groups performed dance routines as well as poetry and raps. Students from Kent Hills recited a poem about environmental issues, while Brookside students performed an original rap about segregation in Grand Rapids. These unique performances accompanied some Hispanic cultural dances as well as several hip-hop routines.

Clearly students are doing more than homework and busywork when they go to their after school programs. Their work could compete with that done in any art or dance class, and their original poems and lyrics revealed some powerful ideas and lessons learned in the process. Youth fair was a great success and a day that proved to be “all about the kids”.

Serving at Signature Service Project

Hello! I’m Andrea Villaneuva and I serve with the Mentor Michigan College Coaching Corps.

"I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. What I can do, I ought to do and, by the grace of God, I shall do.” These powerful words were once said by Edward Everett Hale and were repeated again to 350 AmeriCorps members gathered in Grand Rapids to celebrate Michigan’s AmeriCorps Week and kick off the 2011 Russ Mawby Signature Service Project.

Many times as AmeriCorps members we can feel as if our efforts are hard to see, but the weekend of May 20 my efforts; our efforts, were seen instantaneously. That’s one of the things I love about Signature Service Project. Members from all different programs across the state gather together with one cause; to make a community better. More than 350 Michigan’s AmeriCorps members, AmeriCorps alums, community partners, and local residents served together to clean up and renovate local parks and help revamp a neighborhood with the local Habitat for Humanity affiliate. My team, “2A”, was at Hillcrest Park.

The first day we had the task of re-mulching the one and only Dog Park in the city of Grand Rapids! The mulch pile was seven parking spaces long by the width of the spots when we started. And it was equally tall! It was amazing to see members grab a tool and give themselves a task; whether it was hulling mulch via wheel barrel or tarp, or loading up said wheel barrels/tarps with a pitch fork, shovel, or by hand! In less than three hours we had re-mulched the entire park!

The second day we returned to Hillcrest Park, but to tackle other areas. There was a group of people pulling and cutting down invasive species, leveling the baseball diamond, painting fences and two play sets, picking up trash, repainting the lines on the basketball court, and edging the sidewalk. Everyone picked a task that interested them and got straight to work! Being the geek I am about painting, I opted to give one of the play sets a new coat of paint. I got the privilege to work alongside three amazing members. One member, Cody, told me about his service and how he uses poetry to reach out and teach youth. It was amazing to hear how he uses something that so many people overlook, and inspires youth to reach their potential. I also learned that Cody studied poetry and literature in college. His passion for youth and poetry not only impressed me but inspired me. If I had not gone to the 2011 Signature Service Project I would not have had the chance to meet Cody, among the many other remarkable people.

The experiences I had and the people I met at the Russ Mawby 2011 Signature Service Project are something I will cherish for a long time to come.

2011 Russ Mawby Signature Service Project Headed to Grand Rapids

Written by: Michigan’s AmeriCorps Team

In just two days more than 350 Michigan’s AmeriCorps members will gather in Grand Rapids for the annual Russ Mawby Signature Service Project! On Friday, May 20 and Saturday, May 21 members will assist with various community projects and work with several organizations to make a significant impact on the Grand Rapids community.

Each year, the Russ Mawby Signature Service Project brings hundreds of AmeriCorps members to one Michigan community for two days of training, teambuilding, and service. By the end of the second day, several projects are completed, visibly demonstrating the power of Michigan's AmeriCorps members in action. The 2011 project is a partnership with the Michigan Community Service Commission, Friends of Grand Rapids Parks, Habitat for Humanity of Kent County, American Red Cross of Greater Grand Rapids, and Elemental Media.

This year’s project has been designated as Michigan’s 2011 AmeriCorps Week closing event. AmeriCorps Week provides an opportunity for AmeriCorps members, alums, grantees, program partners, and friends 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.

Friends of Grand Rapids Parks
We know parks are essential to a community's quality of life. AmeriCorps members will serve with Friends of Grand Rapids Parks and the City of Grand Rapids to enhance their annual "I LOVE GR PARKS" event. Members will help communities get a jump on the upcoming summer by sprucing up local parks; including Wilcox, Richmond, and MLK, among others. Teams of AmeriCorps members will work with neighborhood volunteers to conduct playground repair, court resurfacing, trash cleanup, equipment installation, and general repair.

Habitat for Humanity of Kent County
As part of the Wealthy Heights Partnership Project, Habitat for Humanity of Kent County has been focused on revitalizing the Wealthy Heights neighborhood of East Hills. In addition to being one of Grand Rapids’ most eclectic and diverse neighborhoods, Wealthy Heights is home to Habitat Kent’s first net-zero energy home, which offers a hard working family a nearly $0 energy bill at the end of the month. AmeriCorps members will assist with revitalization efforts by scraping and painting homes, doing a variety of landscaping projects, and repairing or replacing porches, fences, windows, and doors. For more information on the Wealthy Heights Partnership Project, visit: http://www.habitatkent.org/BuildingGreen/WealthyHeightsPartnershipProject.aspx.

On-Site Book Drive
As part of the 2011 Russ Mawby Signature Service project, an on-site book drive will occur at various service project sites on May 20 and 21. All collected books will be donated to the Heart of West Michigan United Way Schools of Hope program. Donations will be distributed to public schools throughout Grand Rapids. Drop-off sites for the book drive include Sparrows on Wealthy Street, Wilcox Park, Richmond Park, MLK Park, and Hillcrest Park.

Cinema & Service Night
Residents and families of Grand Rapids are invited to attend the first ever “Cinema & Service Night” held at Wilcox Park on Friday, May 20 at 7:00 p.m. The event is being held in conjunction with the 2011 Russ Mawby Signature Service Project, a large scale service project occurring in Grand Rapids May 20 and 21 as part of the 2011 AmeriCorps Week.

Join the more than 350 Michigan’s AmeriCorps members who will be visiting Grand Rapids from across the state for an evening of fun! The night will kick off with a volunteer fair that will allow residents to discover the various ways they can serve in the Grand Rapids community. Several nonprofits will be on hand to provide resources and information about their volunteer programs.

Beginning at 9:30 p.m. the hit movie “Megamind” will be shown on the lawn at Wilcox Park. Visitors are encouraged to bring blankets, chairs, and refreshments to enjoy the film. Additional refreshments will be available for purchase on site. Live music will also be provided throughout the evening, courtesy of local musician Matt Foresman.

Financial support for the 2011 Russ Mawby Signature Service Project is provided by Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services, Consumers Energy, Meijer, and Heart of West Michigan United Way, with assistance from the City of Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation.

For more information, visit http://mi-ssp.com.

Habitat for Humanity – Providing a hand UP, not just a hand OUT!

My name is Jason Gapa, and I serve as the Partner Family Liaison at Habitat for Humanity of Oakland County, located in Pontiac, Michigan. Habitat for Humanity is an international organization that seeks to end poverty housing around the world by providing simple, decent, and affordable housing for people in need. In 2009, Habitat for Humanity was named the nation’s 8^th largest builder, and has built more than 400,000 homes around the world. Since 1994, Habitat has built or rehabilitated more than 100 homes in Oakland County alone, and has plans to complete 15 more this year.

Despite the misconceptions of being a “give-away program”, Habitat homeowners (Partner Families) work very hard to earn their homes by saving for their down payment, paying their monthly mortgages, and completing 300 hours of Sweat Equity. Partner Families earn their sweat equity by volunteering to work on their homes, their neighbors’ homes, and generally offering their talents to further the success of Habitat’s mission.

Habitat for Humanity relies heavily on volunteer support to complete the projects. In 2010, nearly 2,000 individuals came out to volunteer and support Habitat for Humanity of Oakland County. Volunteers assist with more than just construction by providing and serving food to other volunteers, assisting in the office, serving in our ReStore, and participating in various committees and boards. As always, we continue to encourage more people to become involved by donating their time, talent, and resources.

Habitat for Humanity of Oakland County is also actively engaged in supporting and revitalizing the community. In the city of Pontiac, where much of the building occurs, there is a very low home ownership rate. We attempt to address this by allowing people to purchase affordable homes in Pontiac and educate them to become responsible homeowners. We also try to transform blighted neighborhoods by deconstructing and demolishing dilapidated structures and building new, energy efficient homes. In neighborhoods where the housing stock is more suitable, Habitat makes all efforts to restore homes to their previous state of beauty and utility.

This past winter, as a pilot project, we partnered with the City of Auburn Hills to design and construct a wheelchair ramp for a resident that suffered from a paralyzing illness. Mr. Wiley was unable to return home to the care of his family during his rehabilitation because he was wheelchair bound. Thanks to the support and dedication of city officials, Habitat staff, and AmeriCorps members the Wiley family is now able to provide care and support for their loved one at home. This is just one of the many great stories Habitat for Humanity and AmeriCorps has helped to create.

Making Midtown Detroit a Better Place to Live!

My name is Nicole Stagg and I serve with the AmeriCorps Midtown Urban Safety (AMUS) Project in Midtown Detroit. Alongside community organizations and local law enforcement, we are working to reduce crime in the area and create a more livable environment for everyone. Despite Detroit's reputation as a dangerous and blighted city, there is a vibrant community here that is working to make the city a safer place!

The main focus of our initiative so far has been forming block clubs – much like neighborhood watch groups – throughout our target area. It has been great to see people getting to know their neighbors better. Many times people introduce themselves at our block club meetings, and then learn they live right next door to each other!

Research shows that in more tight-knit communities, crime is lower, a result of residents looking out for each other and watching over the neighborhood. In bringing people together with their neighbors, we are able to strengthen connections between residents, making them better prepared for adverse events.

Additionally, through our collaboration with the Wayne State Police Department, we're able to disseminate relevant crime data and security information, which residents can then use to protect themselves and form action plans. Through this communication, the neighborhood is more able to respond to crime threats.

The meetings also serve as a forum for residents to come up with neighborhood improvement strategies. Linked together by common concerns, people are able to clearly identify the most pressing neighborhood issues and come up with collaborative solutions. From block to block, neighbors have banded together to do everything from starting to plan a security patrol to organizing a neighborhood cleanup!

Our project has also been able to collaborate with a number of community organizations to help beautify the area. So far, we've helped rehabilitate a local park, spruced up neighborhood streets, and tomorrow we will be boarding up an abandoned house! This project has been especially rewarding for me, given that I live in one of our project’s target neighborhoods, and I can see the changes occurring firsthand.

The community support and gratitude we've seen as a result of our project is truly inspiring. It is incredibly satisfying to know that through our service, community members are able to see their dreams for Midtown start to happen. Moreover, we’re starting to see the effects of our actions in more concrete ways: due in part to our efforts, crime is down in the Midtown area!