National Service in the News for Thursday, March 30, 2017.
Life
saver: Poughkeepsie man revives overdose victim
The Poughkeepsie Journal (NY), March 29, 2017
The sight of a man sprawled out atop the elevated windowsill of Chase Bank
stopped Dwayne Joyner in his tracks Wednesday. The 21-year-old student in the
New Directions Youthbuild/Americorps Program had been trained only the day
before on identifying potential drug overdoses and administering naloxone nasal
spray, a medicine used to reverse the effects of opioids. This man,
unresponsive and with blue-tinted lips, appeared to need it. Joyner ran across
the street to Nubian Directions technology resource center to get the spray as
onlookers convened around the bank and a woman dialed 911.
Here’s
what Philadelphia nonprofits stand to lose if AmeriCorps is eliminated
Generocity, March 29, 2017
You can find this year’s 2,716 Philadelphia AmeriCorps members conducting
service across the city — in schools, food pantries, adult GED programs, mental
health nonprofits, even partnering with city departments to tackle
environmental issues. However, the entire AmeriCorps program is currently under
threat, as the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) – the
agency that oversees AmeriCorps – would be completely wiped out under President
Donald Trump’s proposed budget. CNCS supports over 80,000 AmeriCorps members
nationwide each year, along with Senior Corps and the Social Innovation Fund.
Its annual budget is $1.1 billion – which equates to approximately .03 percent
of the federal budget.
The
long road to college from the ‘at-risk’ list in high school
KPCC-TV (CA), March 29, 2017
Floyd Maxey stares at the computer screen currently flickering with all the
evidence of his high school career's rocky start: a B in one class, D's in
three others — and an F. Sitting next to him in the computer lab, his mentor
clicks into the page detailing the high school freshman's current 'D' in
algebra. "How's Ms. Ruiz's class been going?" asks the mentor,
23-year-old Eleanor Kim. "Ms. Eleanor, I don't like that class,"
Floyd groans. "It's hard up in there." "You should be asking for help,"
replies Kim, an AmeriCorps member for an education-focused service organization
called City Year. This school year, Kim has worked as a mentor and tutor to
Floyd and 10 other freshman at the South L.A. charter high school he attends,
Locke College Preparatory Academy.
Mayor Stodola outlines Little Rock’s Progress in State of the
City Address
KTHV-TV (AR), March 29, 2017
Mayor Mark
Stodola began his annual State of the City address on Wednesday touting a year
of literal and metaphorical building in Little Rock, before urging Congress and
citizens to action on a variety of issues. “Despite our low unemployment rate,
pockets of poverty exist in many areas of our city. This is often marked by
houses that are boarded up or condemned or in need of great repair. So, it is
vitally important we find creative ways to address these indices of poverty.
Last year, as mayor, I worked with the Corporation for National and Community
Service to design an AmeriCorps program directed toward helping the elderly and
citizens on fixed incomes with their utility bills by instituting a
weatherization program where AmeriCorps volunteers come and check for air
leaks, seal cracks, and insulate homes.”
Gary
establishes budget to fund downtown tourism efforts
The Chicago Post Tribune (IL), March 29, 2017
Gary officials are preparing a budget for the walking tours they want to offer
this summer of what they say are historically significant buildings in the
downtown area. The Common Council's Finance committee on Tuesday reviewed an
ordinance that creates a $15,400 budget to support the efforts to promote the
tours. Final approval of that budget is likely to come when the full council
meets on April 4. More than half of the money, about $7,900, came in the form
of donations made by 83 individuals or groups between Feb. 15-March 14.
Work Crews Spruce up Neighborhoods
The Rocky Mount Telegram (NC),
March 30, 2017
The Rocky Mount City Council is grateful to a group of out-of-state
volunteers working to improve downtown’s curb appeal. “We appreciate what
they’re doing for us,” Mayor Davis Combs said at a recent city council meeting
where he presented AmeriCorps Team Delta 5 with recognition for their efforts
to clean up southeast Rocky Mount. Folks from Oregon, Arizona and elsewhere are downtown
painting plywood to look like windows, cutting back overgrown vegetation
and removing graffiti on South Howell and West Thomas streets near Villa Place
as a project for AmeriCorps' National Civilian Community Corps.
Students
Spend Spring Break Rejuvenating Communities in Need
GANT News (PA), March 29, 2017
A group of 15 Penn State DuBois students opted to spend their spring break in
service to others in need. This year’s annual Alternative Spring Break trip
took the students to parts of the Appalachia Region, including Williamson,
W.Va., and Pikeville, Ky. Economies in these areas were thrown into a dramatic
recession in the last decade as the region’s largest employment provider, the
coal industry, suffered massive closures of mining operations due to a
nation-wide shift to other energy sources. Students volunteered with community
organizations to help rejuvenate the region through fresh, health-centered and
economic initiatives, working in community gardens, on local farms and at area
healthcare facilities.
Giving
help where it’s needed, at Shelby Lane School
The Mercury News (CA), March 29, 2017
The irony of Selby Lane School, which is surrounded by one of the richest towns
in the nation, is that 85 percent of its students qualify for free or
reduced-price lunch. Those students come from families of at least four making
no more than $30,000 a year. Straddled on the border between Atherton, where
most children go to private schools, and Redwood City, Selby Lane is populated
by about 92 percent Latino/Hispanic students, about 5 percent Caucasian/Anglo
students, and a smattering of black, Asian and Indian students, according to
Principal Warren Sedar. The school, part of the Redwood City School District,
faces new budget struggles, Sedar said in a recent interview, but continues
doing all it can to help its students, including developing a dual-immersion
language program.
Reading
Night- Students, Parents celebrate literature
The King City Rustler (CA), March 29, 2017
Willy Wonka and the characters from "Charlie and the Chocolate
Factory" joined King City Arts Magnet parents and students for the Annual
Reading Night March 25. Willy Wonka aka Principal Brad Smith and AmeriCorps
tutor Yanely Martinez kicked off the night in the Auditorium. Parents and their
students were given "golden tickets" and the chance to win prizes if
they received signatures from stations that they went to. The theme of the night was "Charlie and
the Chocolate Factory" with different stations for board games, musical
chairs and more. In five classrooms there were different special guests who read
stories to students. Mayor Mike Lebarre read "Diary of A Wimpy Kid.”
Vermont
Foodbank announces new Director of Communications and Public Affairs
Vermont Biz, March 29, 2017
The Vermont Foodbank is pleased to announce the promotion of Nicole Whalen to
the position of Director of Communications and Public Affairs. Nicole has worn
multiple hats for the Vermont Foodbank since joining the team in 2014,
including the position of Volunteer Coordinator and most recently, Marketing
and Promotions Manager. During this time she helped grow the volunteer program
to meet the needs of the Foodbank’s statewide charitable food distribution and
built partnerships with community groups and businesses to raise funds through
events and promotions. “The Vermont Foodbank is excited to give Nicole Whalen
the opportunity to take on this new role” said John Sayles, Vermont Foodbank
CEO. “Her passion for this work will help her tell the story of our
organization and give voice to the realities of over 153,000 people in our
state who face hunger.”
Profile: Seth
Quigg
The Chronicle and Pilot (CO), March 29, 2017
Seth Quigg has taken his wanderlust, stirred it with his expertise of trekking,
photography and a good business sense, and created a life of adventure in a
custom-made career most would envy. Although being an outdoor trekking guide
and traveling the world sounds incredibly romantic—and okay, it is most of the
time—what goes on behind the scenes, the pre-trip planning, the initial exploratory
trips, setting up all the details for safety and comfort to ensure an excellent
experience before any client steps foot into the wilds takes a lot of know-how and
many months of preparation.
Teach
For America – South Carolina announces new advisory board members
Midlands Biz (SC), March 29, 2017
Teach For America—South Carolina announced the appointment of David Haythe,
senior advisor at Morgan Stanley and Company; Tommy Preston, director of
national strategy and engagement at Boeing South Carolina; Mark Richardson,
owner and manager of MAR Real Estate LLC; and Ansel Sanders, president &
CEO of Public Education Partners of Greenville County to its advisory board.
Advisory board members help to oversee the vision and strategy of Teach For
America—South Carolina, which seeks to ensure all students have access to an
excellent education. “We are thankful for the diversity of experiences and
perspectives that our new board members will bring to our efforts,” said Josh
Bell, executive director of Teach For America—South Carolina.
Louisa
County supervisors hear update on $25,000 housing survey
The Muscantine Journal (IA), March 29, 2017
A housing survey for Louisa County continues to be promoted by the Louisa
Development Group (LDG). Louisa County Board of Supervisors Chair Chris Ball
reported LDG Executive Director met with the board on Tuesday to update it on
the latest effort. According to Ball, Buckman said the LDG had recently
approached Alliant Energy and Eastern Iowa REC for assistance in the study,
which has an estimated cost of around $25,000 to complete. Ball said the LDG is
discussing the proposed survey with three companies and Buckman indicated she
would continue the updates with the board. Ball also reported the supervisors
met with department heads for the monthly updates on activities in their
offices.
Volunteer
service honored
My Plain View (TX), March 30, 2017
Representatives of Runningwater Draw RSVP gather around Mayor Wendell Dunlap
during Tuesday’s Plainview City Council meeting after he issued a proclamation
recognizing April 4 as Mayor and County Recognition Day for National Service. Across
the nation, Americans provide voluntary service through AmeriCorps, Senior
Corps (including RSVP), Social Innovation Fund and other programs through the
efforts of the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal
agency.
Catholic
Charities across the U.S. could face huge cuts
America Media, March 29, 2017
If President Donald J. Trump gets his way, federal support for popular foster
grandparent programs will be a thing of the past. The programs, in which
low-income senior citizens receive a small stipend to spend time with
vulnerable students in public schools, is just one of several domestic programs
that would lose funding under the president’s proposed budget. Tiffany D. Page,
who administers the program for Catholic Charities of West Michigan, told
America the cuts could be “devastating” to both the seniors and the students
they serve. “The foster grandparent program provides low income seniors an
opportunity to receive a small stipend and a chance to give back to the
community,” she said.
Kay Hind
leaving behind a legacy at SOWEGA Council on Aging
The Albany Herald (GA), March 28, 2017
Kay Hind got into her position as executive director of the Southwest Georgia
Council on Aging after landing a job in Albany working with senior citizens,
which led to a passion on issues relevant to the elderly. Nearly 50 years
later, she is preparing to clean out her office at the Senior Life Enrichment
Center at 335 W. Society Ave. that bears her name and say good-bye. She said
the decision to retire was one she made on impulse, but that it was the right
one. Her retirement celebration attracted many contacts Hind has developed over
the years, including former state aging services officials. "I'm really
pleased to see many people I've worked with making the trip," she said on
the day of the celebration. "It means a lot to me.
Foster
Grandparent program hosts orientation
The Times Leader (PA), March 29, 2017
The Foster Grandparent Program (FGP) of Luzerne and Wyoming Counties held a
pre-service orientation for nine new recruits. FGP’s are income-eligible senior
citizens, 55 years or older, who serve 20- hours per week tutoring and
mentoring special needs children.
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