Developing Leaders through Service

Kaitlyn Sargent is a Michigan native whose AmeriCorps service has been much different than that of our Michigan’s AmeriCorps members. Read on to learn about her service with AmeriCorps NCCC. 

My name is Kaitlyn Sargent and I was a 2011-12 AmeriCorps NCCC Corps member and am currently a 2012-13 NCCC Team Leader at the Southwest Region based in Denver, CO. NCCC stands for National Civilian Community Corps and members are between the ages of 18 and 24. Members spend 10 months serving in teams to strengthen communities and develop leaders through direct, team-based national and community service. As a Corps Member, I was able to see new places, do amazing things, form meaningful relationships, and give back to others all at the same time. 

Throughout the ten months of service, NCCC members participate in four different project assignments called “spikes.” I loved each and every one of my spikes and wouldn’t trade my experience for anything. When I reflect on my year of service, I feel extremely blessed to have been part of a great team (my second family!) and had incredible project assignments. My first spike was a camping project at Daisy State Park in Daisy, Arkansas. Daisy is a small town with a population of 118. Initially, I was not thrilled to live in a tent for over a month in a city too small for its own zip code in the middle of nowhere, Arkansas… As it turns out, my negative assumptions couldn’t have been more wrong. My team and I came to love Daisy and became a family in the process. Our service tasks at Daisy ranged from park maintenance to making 350 wreaths for a Christmas celebration in a neighboring city. When it came time to head back to Denver, my teammate and I were in tears in the back of the van not ready to say goodbye. 

After spending quality time back home in Michigan for the holidays, I was excited to return to Denver and start my next spike. Round two was spent at Denver Green School serving as a teacher assistant. The transition of working together as a team in isolated Daisy to working individually in classrooms was a bit of a struggle; but by the end of the two months at Denver Green School, we all came to love our classes and our individual experiences. 

Our third round was “shuffle round” in which teams get mixed up and Corps members have a say in their project assignment. I ended up getting my first-choice project with my roommate, Jenny, so I was very excited! This spike was a split project in Texas where part of the time was spent trail building at Big Bend National Park and the rest of the time was spent helping out at Grand Companions Humane Society in Ft. Davis. Again, the transition was rough as I went from a people project to an extremely isolated project. Big Bend was another camping project where we stayed in tents in the middle of the desert without any indoor access, cell service, or internet (which was quite an adjustment!).

Aside from the harsh living conditions, the work was more physically intense than anything I’ve experienced. We would wake up before the sun came up, hike up to four miles to get to our service site, work on building trails, hike back down, and go to bed. This was the routine for six weeks straight as we built more than half of the 2.7 mile Lone Mountain biking trail. Though it was a challenge, it is one I am happy to say that I accomplished. The rest of the time on this spike was spent with puppies at the Grand Companions Humane Society, which made all the previous challenges worth it! During our time here, we built a fence around the adoption center that will enable the dogs to have more space and freedom outdoors to play and exercise.  I enjoyed my time at Grand Companions so much that I even ended up adopting one of the dogs and shipping her home to my parents in Michigan!

My fourth and final round was spent at an Easter Seals summer camp for children and adults with disabilities in Empire, Colorado. This project was one of the most challenging projects for me, but without question, the most rewarding. My teammates and I were placed into this project not knowing what to expect, but we all came out loving it. We were essentially full-time counselors, serving up to 18 hours daily, six days a week. I spent half of the project as the sports and recreation coordinator and the other half as a counselor. The last week of camp, I had a camper with cerebral palsy and a developmental disability. He was in a wheelchair, nonverbal, and fed through a G-tube. My week spent with this camper was intense, but one that I will never forget. 

 

Over the course of my 10 months of service, I grew immensely as an individual. I completed tasks I would have never thought possible and had fun in the process. I was able to see places and do things I never would have without AmeriCorps. My experiences as a Corps member gave me the confidence and motivation to apply to be a team leader, which means I will be in charge of a team of 10 to 12 Corps members. I am now back in Denver beginning my journey as a team leader and I am feeling a multitude of emotions. I am excited for the adventures to come, but also anxious about taking on a lot more responsibility. Like my first year, I know there will be challenges that arise, but I now know I have the strength to persevere. AmeriCorps NCCC has had an amazing impact on my life thus far, and I can’t wait see what the next 11 months have in store for me!

Making a Difference in the Lansing Community

My name is John Bolan and I am a second-year AmeriCorps*State member with the Power of We Consortium (PWC) at the North West Initiative-Food System Project in Lansing. The PWC is a diverse group of partners that aims to reduce chronic disease for Lansing-area residents by creating, maintaining, and expanding community gardens, sustainable food systems, and access to healthy food; and by creating, maintaining and expanding trails, greenways, and non-motorized transportation systems. At the Food Systems Project, I serve as the volunteer and internship coordinator. 

My fellow PWC AmeriCorps members currently serve at various agencies such as: Allen Neighborhood Center, Greater Lansing Food Bank, Ingham County Land Bank, Ingham Family Center, Mid Michigan Food Bank, Northwest Initiative, South Lansing Community Development Association(SLCDA) and The Garden Project. In the 2010-2011 program year, the PWC AmeriCorps program educated 1,500 residents about the links between chronic disease, diet, and exercise. We also supported more than 1,000 families in 90 gardens and more than 1,700 volunteers. In addition, we offered 2,500 residents information about active transportation and trail use.

This year, the PWC AmeriCorps program has created more than 40 new gardens and helped to improve countless others, specifically in the area of creating inclusive and accessible spaces. We have produced thousands of pounds of fresh produce for the community. We also provided resources to people who wished to start gardens on their own land, as well as supported individuals who needed garden space through the use of Land Bank property. PWC AmeriCorps members also provided expertise to new gardeners and guidance to community centers, schools, faith-based organizations, and neighborhood groups who wished to create community gardens.

Gardening has not only encouraged neighborhoods to take pride in their land, but it has also increased fresh food access in low-income areas. It has enabled families to save money and helped PWC AmeriCorps members like me to bring to light the connection between eating fruits and vegetables and reducing chronic disease. We are also very proud of the many new inclusive spaces we have created – you can view our end result at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAM96CH8E1Q.

In addition to our focus on healthy eating, PWC AmeriCorps members also promote the use of trails, greenways, and non-motorized transportation by hosting community events and improving local trails and parks. One of our efforts, the Walkability Audit, will help to increase non-motorized transportation. Additionally, our member at the Fenner Nature Conservancy has helped to create a more attractive, user-friendly greenspace for residents by removing invasive species from the parks and improving trail. This has helped to increase both residents’ and volunteers’ involvement with local parks and helped the native habitat to thrive.

Lastly, the PWC AmeriCorps program aims to educate community members about the link between exercise and healthy food and the reduction of chronic disease. To do this, our AmeriCorps members at NorthWest Initiative and SLCDA organize and teach nutrition, exercise and gardening classes to local elementary students. Our program has helped the Ingham Family Center to start a large garden, chicken coop, and hoop house to grow food in the winter. Students now grow, learn about, and eat local organic food.
 

 As I wrap up my second year of AmeriCorps service, I am very proud of the efforts and impact that my fellow PWC AmeriCorps members and I have had on improving the health and nutrition of Lansing area residents.