National Service in the News for Wednesday, March 22, 2017.
More than 200 middle school students volunteer to harvest trees
WQAD News 8 (IL), March 21, 2017
Despite the bitter cold, North Scott middle schooler's put on their gloves and got to work on Tuesday, March 21. More than 200 students were bused to Living Lands and Waters tree nursery in Davenport to do some arbor-related work. "[It's] important to engage students, teach them that they are our future generations and to care about the environment, and also understand how trees grow and the different processes and to see what their great root systems look like," says Monique Dykman, Living Lands and Waters project organizer.
Udall
Welcomes AmeriCorps Members to Santa Clara to Restore Historic Site at Fort
Bayard
Press Release - Senator Tom Udall (NM), March 21, 2017
U.S. Senator Tom Udall announced today that the Village of Santa Clara will
receive a team of AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) members
to support efforts to restore buildings and historic sites at Fort Bayard,
foster community outreach, and provide food security to low income families and
seniors with the Volunteer Center of Grant County. "Historic Fort Bayard
holds economic and cultural promise for the residents of Santa Clara and Grant
County," Udall said. "This AmeriCorps program to restore and renovate
buildings at Fort Bayard and provide food to impoverished and vulnerable
individuals in the community will have a real, positive impact for the
students, families and seniors of Grant County. I salute every AmeriCorps
member on this team for their dedication to helping our New Mexico communities
prosper and grow."
Girls get GRITty in YWCA Missoula spring break trades camp
The Missoulian (MT), March 21, 2017
Maddie Smith thinks she'd like to be a cook when she grows up – that, or work with heavy machinery. The 11-year-old is one of 11 middle school girls learning trades over spring break this week with YWCA Missoula's newest program, GRIT! (Girls Representing In Trades), launched in January. The idea is to expose young girls to trades that are typically male-dominated, encouraging them to learn more about each, even if it doesn't lead to a career. They're learning about everything from welding to bike mechanics, from construction to engineering. They're visiting work sites and local businesses to see each field in action. On Tuesday, they headed to Missoula College's Agricultural Education Center for a lesson in carpentry – from women, of course.
Senior track star Olivia Pratt
makes the extra effort to succeed
The Butler Collegian (IN), March 21, 2017
“Keeping yourself accountable when no one else is.” This is what senior track
standout Olivia Pratt believes Butler University track and field has taught her
throughout her career as a Bulldog. Pratt makes sure to put in extra work —
even if no one is watching. “When you watch a race it’s exciting, but it’s just
the tip of the iceberg,” Pratt said. “Underneath it is just hours and hours of
training that nobody sees. Sometimes this means waking up early to run 10 miles
with my team, then after class I run another five miles, and nobody sees it.
But I do it.” Butler track coach Matt Roe said it is important to put in your
own work in order to be successful at a high level.
New
teacher retention at a record high: LAUSD is keeping 98 percent of its teachers
LA School Report (CA), March 21, 2017
LA Unified is retaining a record-high 98 percent of its new teachers, according
to a report presented Tuesday. But as administrative positions are cut,
some are concerned that the district’s support staff for those new teachers
will be spread too thin. “You are doing an amazing job with what you have,”
school board member Richard Vladovic said to the LA Unified administrators
assigned to helping new teachers. “But with the small staff you have, there’s
no way you’re going to be able to help those new teachers.” Marjorie Josaphat,
the co-lead chief of the Human Resources Division for the school district,
said, “We have a more streamlined effort than ever before in keeping new
teachers and it has increased each year.”
Spring clean with proper disposal of old household goods
KLFY News (LA), March 21, 2017
It’s officially spring and millions of Americans are clearing out the old to bring in the new. It’s what’s known as spring cleaning. Carris LeBlanc of Lafayette says clearing out his back yard is long overdue. LeBlanc admits he has more stuff than he would like to have. “It’s stuck in my backyard and I don’t have any transportation to bring it way into Carencro; and you got to pay,” adds LeBlanc. LeBlanc is trying to figure out the best way to get rid-of stuff he’s been hoarding for way too long. He says he has tires, a broken grill and a few other non-essentials. “Like this ladder I don’t know who that belongs too. It’s taking up more space and I don’t know where to bring it at. The trash man isn’t going to pick it up,” notes LeBlanc.
Two Friends Reunite 22 Years Later to Lead Youth Believing in Change
Garland Bubble Life (TX), March 20, 2017
Homero Perez was a staff member in 1995 for an AmeriCorps program sponsored by the Greater Dallas Community of Churches in Dallas. He was charged with the task of interviewing, hiring and training five leaders to serve in five areas of Dallas densely populated by children in poverty. One applicant stood out. “Of all the individuals we interviewed, we knew that God was doing something unique in Vince's life. His passion, his eagerness to serve and his transparency overwhelmed us,” Perez says. After much prayer and due diligence Vince was unanimously voted upon to work out in the field. Perez remembers, “Given the challenges of the poorest children in the inner city, Vince was best suited for the challenge.”
Fumbling
Towards Equity: Increasing Diversity at all Levels of the Talent Pipeline
ProInspire (VA), March 21, 2017
We believe that the nonprofit sector needs diverse leaders at all levels in
order to better achieve organizational missions, as well as reflect the
communities in which they work and serve. Currently there is a lack of racial
and ethnic diversity in the nonprofit sector: 82% of the U.S. nonprofit
workforce is white, compared to 65% of the overall U.S. workforce. In addition,
people of color are expected to be 50% of the U.S. workforce by 2039.
Deadline
approaching for NHHP conservation internships
The Maui Time (HI), March 21, 2017
College students interested in the Nā Hua Ho`ohuli i ka Pono conservation
internship program must apply no later than March 31. The NHHP program will
provide students with skills to prepare them for future careers in the
conservation field. Interns will also develop key leadership skills that are
important for advancing the protection of Maui’s natural resources. The summer
internship program will run from June 5-July 28, 2017, and will be full-time
(40 hours per week). One position will be available with each of the following
agencies: Maui Invasive Species Committee, Maui Nui Seabird Recovery Project
and The Nature Conservancy.
A
true 'America First' budget would never cut AmeriCorps
The Baltimore Sun (MD), March 21, 2017
The budget proposal released by the White House last week calls for the total
elimination of AmeriCorps and Senior Corps, two programs that enable us to live
out the American tradition of serving our country. We should all be wondering
what the loss of such an integral, if often humbly invisible, thread of our
communities' fabric would mean. AmeriCorps, Senior Corps and other national
service programs place dedicated individuals in full-time service positions at
local organizations in every state. Maryland alone hosts over 2,000 AmeriCorps
members and 5,600 Senior Corps members, who all serve full-time to carry out
local solutions to community needs.
Make a
Lifelong Impact
The Manchester Enterprise (KY), March 21, 2017
Clay County High School, Knox Central High School and Perry County Central High
School are teaming up with Berea College to improve local students’ academic
performance. Partners for Education at Berea College is looking for 60 new members
to serve in the PartnerCorps School Turnaround program to support high school
students. Twenty members per school will serve on-site. Interested applicants
must be 18 years of age or older, a U.S. Citizen or legal, permanent resident,
able to pass a criminal and social media background check, and have completed
60 credit hours of college coursework.
More
than 40 businesses expected at GCC Spring Job Fair
The Livingston County News (NY), March 21, 2017
Genesee Community College is expecting more than 40 companies to be represented
at the college’s annual Spring Job Fair on April 6. The fair is scheduled from
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the College’s William Stuart Forum on the Batavia
Campus, 1 College Rd. GCC’s Career
Services Center continues to solicit businesses from all types of industries to
join the popular, two-hour event that introduces potential new employees to
employers, and also provides businesses an opportunity to present their trade
and services to the local community.
Annual Planting of Dune Grass is Scheduled Saturday, March 25
CNBNews (NJ), March 21, 2017
In cooperation with several volunteer groups, the State Park Service will host the annual dune grass planting event at Island Beach State Park this Saturday, March 25. Volunteers from AmeriCorps New Jersey, Friends of Island Beach State Park and the Barnegat Bay Partnership are scheduled to meet at 9:30 a.m. at Ocean Bathing Area 1 for the planting of 30,000 American Beachgrass plants. The annual spring event, which is to conclude at 12 noon, has become an important part of building and protecting the park's natural dune system.
A bipartisan call to save AmeriCorps
The VT Digger (VT), March 21, 2017
'The best wayt o find yourself is to lose yourself in service of others." Those were the words of Mahatma Gandhi, whose peaceful protest movement led to India's independence from Britain in the 1940s. Gandhi's message, that we can achieve a sense of purpose through helping our fellow man, and serving our communities, is a universal one, and one that has also come to define the growing service movement across the ocean here in America, and locally in Vermont.
Public Service and the Legacy of JFK
The Finger Lakes Daily News (NY), March 22, 2017
Steven Rothstein, the executive director of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, will deliver President’s Forum remarks and participate in a panel discussion examining how Kennedy’s presidency shaped the future of American public service, from his leadership during the Cold War to his establishment of the Peace Corps. During Rothstein’s talk, which will begin at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 22, in the Geneva Room of the Warren Hunting Smith Library, he will outline the historical context of Kennedy’s commitment to public service, as well as the strides he made while in office to advance the lives and livelihoods not only of Americans but citizens across the globe.
Key
ingredients to healthy retirement
The Register Guard (OR), March 22, 2017
At Senior Meals’ Café 60 dining rooms throughout Lane County, people sit
together to enjoy meals that are healthy versions of comforting favorites. The
meals, offered through Senior & Disability Services in Lane County, are
complimentary to anyone older than the age of 60. Diners who gather for the
meals receive multiple benefits: eating regularly, getting balanced nutrition
and finding the social connection that makes life more meaningful. “When you don’t have somebody to eat with,
you don’t necessarily eat a meal and you don’t eat good stuff and it’s kind of
challenging to cook for yourself a balanced menu,” says Sandy Karsten, of Lane
County’s Senior Meals program. “We can provide a sociable experience and a
healthy meal.” Like everyone, seniors need social engagement and balanced
nutrition to keep their bodies and minds going.
Foster
Grandparents also learn from kids while being mentors
The Kenosha News (WI), March 21, 2017
In some ways, it sounds like the plot of a television show: Put senior citizens
in the middle of dozens of kids in a grade school and watch the non-stop
hilarity that ensues. While it might not make it as a CBS sitcom, the Foster
Grandparent Program from Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin does
seem to create a great deal of joy for both the kids and the senior citizens
who make the program possible. A few years ago, a speaker who visited the apartment
complex where Darlene Pauna, 83, lives told a small group about how to get
involved. “I was the only one who stayed behind to sign up,” “Grandma” Darlene
said. “I thought it was a wonderful idea. I've been enchanted by it ever since.
The program (aims to) place people of our age, who really want to do something
other than sit at home. We really want to help children.”
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