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Message from the program director
We’re more than halfway through this program year, and I want to take a moment to sincerely thank AmeriCorps Volunteers for their service. Your dedication does not go unnoticed.
While Serve Idaho staff is often removed from the day-to-day work happening in communities, we have the privilege of hearing countless stories about the impact AmeriCorps Volunteers are making, and those stories are both inspiring and deeply appreciated. It was also a true pleasure to meet so many service-oriented individuals at the Serve Idaho conference in March.
As we look ahead to the celebration of our nation’s 250th anniversary on July 4, I encourage everyone to take time to reflect on your current or past service. Consider the ways your service makes a difference and how your efforts will leave a lasting legacy in Idaho’s communities.
Thank you again for all that you do.
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Member highlight - Eddison Black
Eddison Black is the environmental education instructor at the Foothills Learning Center and is serving through the Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute program.
Black’s primary area of service is traveling out to elementary schools and providing lessons focused on the local ecosystems, habitats and animals in the Boise area.
As spring advances, Black will be leading field trips at the Foothills Learning Center. In the summer, he will help host weeklong camps for kids where they will go on hiking trips and learn about the Foothills.
One of Black’s most memorable experiences was his first day teaching in a classroom. He was nervous about not being able to keep the kids engaged and entertained for a full hour. By the end of the lesson, the kids were asking if he could come back, and one kid even said it was the most fun lesson he had ever had.
“It is really inspiring to see how excited kids get about the things I care about, and I hope to inspire them to look more into their natural world. I also just love encouraging people to get outside no matter what it is they're doing,” Black said.
After this project, Black wishes to continue his work involving Idaho’s salmon population.
“I have been very passionate about the current issues with Idaho's salmon population for a very long time and want to continue to work towards saving the population,” Black said. “In the past through my other jobs I was able to provide interpretive programming that I created about the sockeye salmon and I was able to help raise a lot of awareness about the issue.”
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Serve Idaho State of Service Plan
Serve Idaho staff and commissioners will be focusing on the following goals and objectives for 2026-2028.
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Volunteerism: Bring the capacity of organizations to expand public service and volunteer opportunities through training and technical assistance.
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Awareness: Elevate awareness of service and volunteerism in Idaho.
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Human and operational resources: Secure and develop Serve Idaho’s human and operational resources necessary to execute on the state service plan.
 Pictured above from left to right are Natalie Hui, Cieara Leicester, Kelsey Nelson, Katie Mathias, Kimber Russell, Eric Anderson, Emily Straubhar, Amy Ridenour, Kim Ellsworth, Becky Martin, Renee Bade (back row) Cara Nielsen, Kristi Keeler, Char Kremer, April Durrant, Farhana Hibbert, Micaela de Loyola-Carkin (front row) at the Serve Idaho Commissioners' October 2025 meeting.
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Serve Idaho AmeriCorps Conference
The annual conference convened AmeriCorps Volunteers, program staff, AmeriCorps alums and Serve Idaho commissioners from across Idaho for a two-day learning and networking opportunity.
The conference started with an opening keynote from Recycled Minds, an improv session that set the tone for the conference and encouraged people to be open, get out of their comfort zone and fully experience the conference.
Attendees supported a variety of organizations with the following service projects:
- Creating fidget rings for Faces of Hope.
- Tagging jewelry for Idaho Youth Ranch.
- Boise river and Greenbelt clean up.
- Bundling diapers for the Idaho Diaper Bank.
- Making 988 suicide prevention bracelets for Gem State Public Health.
- Assembling senior care kits for the 9/11 Service Day grant.
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Lewiston
Financial empowerment coordinator VISTA
This member will serve at the YWCA Lewiston-Clarkston and will develop 12 trauma-informed financial empowerment curriculums and volunteer programs to serve domestic abuse survivors.
Twin Falls
Youth education and food security program coordinator VISTA
This member will serve at Culture for Change and will develop an after-school homework program, lead the design of an equitable food bank distribution system for youth and develop a volunteer program to ensure sustainability of both programs.
Caldwell
VISTA development coordinator
This member will support survivors of domestic violence through outreach, partnership development and creating critical resources in rural and underserved communities to help ensure safer futures for survivors and their children across the region.
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Service Year Alliance
Serve Idaho is partnering with Service Year Alliance to provide alums with resources, communication and connection.
Alums can sign up by providing their information through this survey.
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The Idaho Department of Labor is an equal opportunity employer and service provider. Reasonable accommodations are available upon request. Dial 711 for Idaho Relay Service.
Serve Idaho is supported by AmeriCorps. A total of $7,722,927 (79%) of the program is financed through federal funds, and $2,051,059 (21%) is funded through local support.
      
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This email was sent by Idaho Department of Labor from 317 West Main Street, Boise, ID, 83735, United States
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