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.