2010 AmeriCorps Week

4th Annual AmeriCorps Week a Resounding Success

Across the nation LISC AmeriCorps members spent the second week of May serving their communities in celebration of the 4th annual AmeriCorps Week. In many cases LISC AmeriCorps members partnered with other organizations to take part in celebrating national service while helping those in need. Service projects were wide ranging and included such activities as promoting healthy lifestyle through exercise and healthy eating for youth, cleaning up the banks of a local river, and planting community gardens. One of the projects was highlighted nationally in a CNCS press release. The Family Fun Fair organized by Virginia’s member to benefit Petersburg families was mentioned.

Below is a summary of just a few of the events that LISC AmeriCorps members took part in.

Bay Area, CA

Contact Jacob Schultz, JSchultz@lisc.org

Leah Tarran presented information on the AmeriCorps program to the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) year round youth program at Lao Family Community Development, Inc. for youths age 18 to 24. Many of the youth in Lao Family’s program are first or second generation refugees and most are the first in their families to attend college or even high school. About 15 youth attended each of the two presentations. Many attendees were unfamiliar with the AmeriCorps program prior to these presentations. Leah used a presentation from the AmeriCorps home website which contained a brief history and background of the AmeriCorps program and national service. After the presentation, Leah explained her position at Lao Family and the process of becoming involved. Leah concluded by sharing the benefits of the AmeriCorps program such as building your resume, gaining experience in community development and non-profit work, earning money towards college, and helping your community. Overwhelming attendees responded positively. The most frequent question asked was how one would sign up and get involved in AmeriCorps.

On May 12th, the entire Bay Area LISC member corps gathered for a full day of revitalizing the home of low-income seniors. Each year, Neighborhood Housing Services of Silicon Valley (NHSSV) engages the local community by sponsoring the Paint-a-Thon neighborhood improvement project. Bay Area LISC AmeriCorps members painted the entire exterior and trim of the house, which had been screened and selected based on the residents’ need. All of the supplies for this project were donated by area businesses. Residents expressed their gratitude throughout the day, providing fresh pastries and other homemade refreshments. Natalie de Leon, the LISC AmeriCorps member serving at NHSSV, help coordinate the event. This project provided three families in east San Jose home repairs and a fresh coat of paint who could not have otherwise afforded them.

Boston, MA

Contact Marizabel Benoit, MBenoit@lisc.org

In Boston, AmeriCorps members and Boston LISC staff joined two resident leaders to conduct the annual "Spring Cleaning" of the Madison Park Intergenerational Community Garden in the Lower Roxbury neighborhood of Boston. Volunteers cleared out trash and weeds to ready the garden for a new season of planting and growing. In the coming months, a dedicated group of community residents will manage more than twenty garden plots and partner with the adjacent Madison Park Technical Vocational High School to provide local students with an opportunity to engage in experiential education in an "outdoor classroom" setting. The new garden will include herbs, vegetables, and flowers, making it a thriving green oasis in Roxbury's bustling Dudley Square. Founded in 2002, the garden is a joint project of Madison Park Development Corporation in conjunction with the Madison Park Technical Vocational High School, the city of Boston, and a leadership committee of neighborhood residents.

Duluth, MN

Contact Nan Stubenvoll, NStubenvoll@lisc.org

On Tuesday, May 11th Duluth LISC AmeriCorps members attended the Serve Minnesota AmeriCorps conference. Serve Minnesota is the State Commission sponsoring AmeriCorps programs throughout Minnesota. The agenda included a variety of topics which were a mix of structured, organized, guest speakers and unstructured, participant led, discussions on topics of their choosing. Sessions covered topics such as public speaking, fundraising, higher education, social justice work, and life after the AmeriCorps. These sessions not only provided handouts and visual aids to all participants, but also allowed them and opportunity to ask questions and get answers from an expert on that topic. Although the participant led sessions were more informal and less organized, they were widely popular amongst conference participants. In discussing the day’s events Jacob Wagner, a first year LISC AmeriCorps member had this to say, “At the end of the day, I considered the Minnesota AmeriCorps conference to be a great success. Of course, the real genius to this event is that its success is tied directly to its participant’s own passions and interests. After all, the event was designed specifically for me; carried out by me; and was successful because of me. I don’t know if there could have been any other outcome.”

Houston, TX

Contact Paul Wright, PWright@lisc.org

To celebrate National AmeriCorps Week Houston LISC AmeriCorps members sponsored “Healthy Kids Day.” This event took place at a local elementary school and brought local youth and residents together for an afternoon of relay races, obstacle courses food and games promoting a healthy and active lifestyle.

Jacksonville, FL

Contact Eugene Montgomery, EMontgomery@lisc.org

Jacksonville LISC AmeriCorps members took part in the annual Clara White Mission’s “Miracle on Ashley Street.” This event featured countless local personalities serving food prepared by Jacksonville chefs event attendees. The Clara White Mission works to reduce homelessness through advocacy, housing, job training, and placement.

Michigan

Contact Sonja Dean and Brandon Ivory, SDean@lisc.org or Bivory@lisc.org

Michigan LISC and Detroit LISC joined forces and served nearby 250 Michigan State AmeriCorps Members as part of the Russ Mawby Signature Service project in Kalamazoo, MI. Members assisted Kalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity in a clean-up effort on the banks of the Kalamazoo River, which runs through the northeast side of the city. Members collected over a dozen large bags of garbage and debris from the Kalamazoo river shoreline and many adjacent lots. Members' efforts now make the Kalamazoo River and surrounding parcel lot areas look well cared for.

Milwaukee, WI

Contact Kathryn Berger, MBerger@lisc.org

Jennifer Wuest, in Milwaukee, WI organized a neighborhood cleanup project in the Harambee neighborhood with Groundwork Milwaukee. Groundwork Milwaukee focuses on brining about sustained regeneration, improvement and management of the physical environment in neighborhoods around the Milwaukee area. In preparation for the clean-up, Jennifer and Riverworks Development Corporation associates canvassed two different neighborhoods handing out flyers promoting the clean-up events. In addition Center for Family Prosperity brochures – the program she serves with - were distributed to every home adjacent to the corresponding alleys. Jennifer also secured food donations from Post Foods in order to provide snacks for the residents who came out to participate in the clean-ups.

Rhode Island

Contact Maria Canton, MCanton@lisc.org

In celebration of national service Rhode Island LISC AmeriCorps members were joined by over 100 other AmeriCorps members all of whom attended a PawSox game. Fans cheered as members were recognized for their service on the field prior to the game. Two days later Rhode Island AmeriCorps members partnered with The New Urban Farmers for an all day clean-up. The New Urban Farmers is a non-profit organization that works to preserve and restore the environment by creating a sustainable agricultural system in the Pawtucket and Central Falls area. This project focused on clearing out the The New Urban Farmers education center while also building a boardwalk surrounding the beds for both vegetables and flowers. The boardwalk will make space for summer programs where local children of all ages will be exposed to urban farming, hydroponics, and aquaponics, which will open the door to botany, ecology and biology.

San Diego, CA

Contact Jana Zawadski, JZawadski@lisc.org

San Diego AmeriCorps members connected with at risk youth in MAAC Project’s YouthBuild Program. The project took place in Greater Logan Heights, one of LISC’s Neighborhoods First Pilot Communities. At the site of a future mixed-use affordable development, members gave a presentation about the value of service, and demonstrated interview techniques to the YouthBuild students. This will be extremely beneficial as these students prepare to move into the world and find jobs, or go to college. YouthBuild is a youth and community development program that simultaneously addresses core issues facing low-income communities such as housing, education, employment, crime prevention, and leadership development. YouthBuild programs focus on low-income young people ages 16-24 working toward their GEDs or high school diplomas, assisting to learn job skills and serve their communities by building affordable housing.

Toledo, OH

Contact Kathleen Kovacs, KKovacs@lisc.org

The Toledo program was successful in securing the Toledo City Council to celebrate AmeriCorps week through a resolution recognizing the service of all Northwest AmeriCorps members. After, LISC AmeriCorps members took part at the Toledo Botanical Garden gardening project at the Padua Center. This project will create a beautiful space for all to enjoy.

Twin Cities, MN

Contact Chris Wiger, CWiger@lisc.org

Twin Cities LISC AmeriCorps members celebrated National AmeriCorps week by participating in a service project with the East Side Neighborhood Development Company and City Academy High School on the East Side of St. Paul. The organizations teamed up to create an outdoor gathering space for residents of the Phalen Senior Lofts apartment complex. Members helped to construct a gazebo, retaining wall, an accessible walkway, planted trees and bushes and prepared soil for a flower and vegetable garden. This will provide residents with an improved green space to enjoy throughout the spring, summer, and fall.

Richmond, VA

Contact Barbara DuVal, BDuval@lisc.org

Through donations from local businesses, Virginia LISC AmeriCorps members brought fun, games and prizes to the residents of Pecan Acres Estates in the Battersea neighborhood of Petersburg, VA. The Family Fun Fair was attended by approximately 100 children and parents of Pecan Acres and was made possible through a joint effort involving Virginia LISC AmeriCorps and the Resident Services Coordinator of the Petersburg Redevelopment and Housing Authority. Attendees included local figures such as the Mayor of Petersburg, the Honorable Annie Mickens. Mayor Mickens was so impressed by the event and the concern members show for the community at large that she invited members to speak in front of the city council regarding service in the community. A number of Virginia LISC AmeriCorps members helped make this event possible. Rishonda Anthony first proposed the idea last December and spearheaded the event planning. Melinda Petrimoulx assisted this event by making requests for sponsorships to businesses and Roger Whitney found a bicycle to give as the grand prize for the talent show. All of the members worked together as a team to make the day one of joy for residents of Pecan Acres Estates.

Anyone can volunteer and serve. If you would like to volunteer with LISC AmeriCorps members in your area, contact the local LISC office. To find other volunteer opportunities check out www.serve.gov. For more information about the LISC AmeriCorps Program please contact Stacey Rapp, at srapp@lisc.org or at 212.455.9308.