Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Happy AmeriCorps Week!

We launched the week with a new video to show the real ingredients of an AmeriCorps member: teamwork, commitment, a desire to make a difference, and adventure. 

The spirit of those ingredients came to life as we turned over our Instagram and Snapchat accounts to AmeriCorps members serving in 26 different programs. They shared their stories of why #AmeriCorpsWorks and reminded us all that the members are the best messengers.

We captured all of this energy and enthusiasm on a new AmeriCorps Week splash page. 

Thanks and have a great weekend,

Ted Miller
Chief of External Affairs
Corporation for National and Community Service

P.S. Mayor, County and Tribal Recognition Day for National Service is right around the corner. Be on the lookout for more information or visit our website now!

Ready to Serve: Looking to share a tasty treat? Check out our new video that shares the ingredients of an AmeriCorps member: teamwork, commitment, passion to serve, a sense of adventure, and more.

Takeovers: This week we launched our first ever AmeriCorps Snapchat and Instagram takeover. This was a new avenue to share several incredible stories by grantees, organizations, state offices, and state commissions. Participants included: Teach For America, City Year, Habitat for Humanity, Public Allies, GRID Alternatives, College Possible, Reading Partners, United Way, Washington Conservation Corps, Citizen Schools, Rebuilding Together, Catholic Charities, YouthBuild USA, Conservation Legacy, Food Corps, OneStar Foundation, and AmeriCorps VISTA members from seven different states. Each of these organizations and teams were encouraged to write a blog about their experience as a member or alumni. Their stories can be found on the national service Tumblr blog.

#ServeWithMe: Yesterday we launched the first ever #ServeWithMe video contest. We asked members and alumni to create short videos in their own words and their own style to share with their friends and family to persuade them to join AmeriCorps.  Upload your video to your YouTube account (make sure it can be viewed by the public and it not unlisted) and make sure you use the hashtag #ServeWithMe. Sounds awesome, right? Find the rules here.

#DayoftheA: We asked everyone to don their best gear, large pins, baseball caps, or AmeriCorps logo creation and take a photo to share on social media. The creativity on #DayoftheA was awesome. Check our social media feeds to see the action.

The Best of AmeriCorps Week Clips

AmeriCorps Week Celebrates Young Volunteers
Public News Service (WA), March 6, 2016
It's national AmeriCorps week, a time when the community service organization founded in 1993 by President Bill Clinton celebrates its volunteers and alumni. This year, Congress gave the organization's budget a $51 million increase. In the state of Washington, there are more than 1,800 young volunteers, working in the conservation corps, with veterans, and as teachers. Debbie Schuffenhauer executive director of Serve Washington, the state's branch of AmeriCorps, says the people who participate feel the impact of service in their own lives. 

AmeriCorps Week is time for service
The Newton Daily News (IA), March 9, 2016
Each March, during AmeriCorps Week, we recognize and celebrate the commitment of AmeriCorps members across the country. It is a time to salute members and alums for their service, to thank community partners, and to illuminate the transformative power of service. As a proud AmeriCorps member, I am writing to lend my voice to this national effort and highlight the extraordinary impact of AmeriCorps in Iowa. I began my AmeriCorps service in 2013 when I was selected to serve for Iowa 4-H AmeriCorps Outreach. 

Mayor Salutes AmeriCorps Week
The Harrison Daily Times (AR), March 8, 2016
Harrison Mayor Dan Sherrell announced March 5th through March 11th as AmeriCorps Week and helps salute the volunteers who have served the local community since 2001. Pictured include (back row, let to right) Lisa Hernandez, Debra Dotolo, Pam Baker, Cliff Busch, Bonnie Grinder, Mary Pledger, Ferrin Carlton, Rob Thomason (front row, left to right) Teela Smith, Alicia Trowbridge (standing), Mayor Dan Sherrell, and Sue Lucas. 

AmeriCorps Week 2016 Alumni Spotlight: Victoria Rey
City Arts, March 9, 2016
I moved from Atlanta to Providence in September 2011 to begin an adventure I didn’t know would change the course of my life. Five years later, students I taught my first year as an EDTAP are graduating high school while some of my younger students are making their mark in the Providence art community by using the skills I taught them through CityArts and PASA programming. The two years I spent as an AmeriCorps Expanded Day Teaching Artist shaped me as a teaching artist and gave me a special skill set that I find myself using regularly.

Mayor Berkowitz Volunteers for AmeriCorps Week of Service
Alaska Business Monthly (AK), March 8, 2016
Today, Mayor Ethan Berkowitz announced plans to hold a “Clean-Up Day” on Ship Creek Trail meeting at Kings Landing and working towards Tyson Elementary on Wednesday, March 9th from 3:30-5:30 p.m. as part of AmeriCorps Week of Service. The Ship Creek trail connects downtown to the Mountain View neighborhood.  “AmeriCorps is a great organization that’s about giving back to one’s community, and I’m proud to support the program’s mission of volunteering,” said Mayor Ethan Berkowitz. 

Illinois Celebrates AmeriCorps Week
Illinois Department of Public Health (IL), March 8, 2016
Each year, the nation celebrates the service that thousands of Americans perform through AmeriCorps. We use this week to salute the AmeriCorps members and alums for their hard work and thank the community partners that support them. “AmeriCorps helps hundreds of thousands of Illinoisans each year,” said Scott McFarland, Executive Director of Serve Illinois. “AmeriCorps members dedicate a year of their lives to their communities, and AmeriCorps Week is a time for the rest of us to say ‘thank you’.”

Lt. Governor Garcia and Serve Colorado celebrate AmeriCorps Week 
Colorado.gov (CO), March 7, 2016
Lt. Gov. Joe Garcia and Serve Colorado-The Governor’s Commission on Community Service are celebrating AmeriCorps Week, March 7-12, to highlight the extraordinary impact AmeriCorps members are making in communities across Colorado and nationally. Since 1994, more than 30,000 Colorado residents have served in an AmeriCorps program. These members have served more than 27 million hours and have qualified for Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards totaling more than $65,340,000. 

Oswego AmeriCorps Members Recognized during AmeriCorps Week
The Oswego County Today (NY), March 7, 2016
The Corporation for National and Community Service will celebrate AmeriCorps Week across the nation from March 5 to 11. In Oswego County, AmeriCorps is administered by the Oswego City-County Youth Bureau. “AmeriCorps Week provides an opportunity to recognize AmeriCorps members in two local programs for their impact on Oswego County, and to thank our community partners who make AmeriCorps possible,” said AmeriCorps program coordinator Kathy Andolina.

School district celebrating ‘AmeriCorps Week’
The Daily Iowegian (IA), March 6, 2016
The Centerville Community School District's AmeriCorps program is celebrating its annual "AmeriCorps Week," where members promote community awareness of their services to youths in the area. The CCSD has been the longest grant applicant of the AmeriCorps program in the whole state of Iowa, Lisa McClure, of Centerville, said. "In its early years our AmeriCorps members provided academic services to Howar Junior High and Lakeview Elementary, eventually expanding to Centerville High School, and finally to Central Ward and Garfield Elementary too — the AmeriCorps program is now active in the whole CCSD," McClure said.