National Service in the News for Tuesday, June 27, 2017 through Friday, June 30, 2017.
Topeka and Shawnee County leaders give
thanks to AmeriCorps members
KSNT-TV (KS), June 26, 2017
Topeka and Shawnee County leaders give thanks to ten volunteers on Monday from
the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps Team for their service to the
community. The team has been in Topeka since mid-April to work in 21
Neighborhood Improvement Associations. The team helped advance the City of
Topeka’s most critical neighborhoods to a healthy status. Topeka Mayor Larry
Wolgast and representatives with Shawnee County Parks and Recreation were on
for the event as well. Skylar Sade, a volunteer, said the experience was very
beneficial for her. Sade said, “I’ve learned so many hands on skills that I did
not learn in college. So I feel like I have more of a balance in my life.”
AmeriCorps team leader leaves Topeka with
positive impression
The Topeka Capital Journal (KS), June 26, 2017
City leaders on Monday morning thanked eight members of an AmeriCorps team for
their three months of service and hard work in the Topeka community. The team’s
leader said he would leave Topeka next week with a favorable impression of the
time the group spent in the capital city of Kansas. “I like it a lot,” said
Jack Popwell, 23, of Birmingham, Ala., who is completing his second year with
AmeriCorps, and was the team’s leader. “I’ve driven through Topeka many times,
because we’re based in Denver, so Topeka is right on the way. But I’d never
really spent any time here.”
High School Dropout Crisis Addressed by CYC
The North Denver Tribune (CO), June 29, 2017
Colorado Youth for a Change (CYC) reengages at-risk students and helps them get
their high school diploma, GED or even an associate degree. “The work that
we’re doing is the right work to be done for this population,” says Robert Ham,
CYC’s development director. “If we don’t invest on the front end in these
students who have disengaged from school, we will pay for it on the back end,
in health care, prison and social service costs, not to mention the lost
potential of these students.” Reenrolling students into school is CYC’s primary
core goal. CYC has been getting students reenrolled into high school since
2005, when founder Steve Dobo reengaged 55 students at Denver’s Manual High
School. Last year, CYC served 1,700 students.
Bridging West Virginia’s Employment Gap
The West Virginia Executive (WV), June 26, 2017
At a time when transitioning to West Virginia’s new economy and retaining young
talent are of critical concern to decision makers and businesses alike,
connecting private sector employers with West Virginia’s national service
alumni, such as AmeriCorps volunteers, is a viable opportunity that could be a
game changer for the Mountain State. According to a recent report from the West
Virginia University Bureau of Business and Economic Research, West Virginia
faces an uphill battle in keeping people in the state. Projections indicate the
state may lose 20,000 people by the year 2030. Many of those leaving are
educated young adults. By 2030, nearly one in four West Virginians will be at
or near retirement age. However, according to the same report, there is still
time to improve population migration patterns in West Virginia’s favor, and
both public and business policies can make a positive impact.
AmeriCorps team helps build a trail in Kent
The Hour (CT), June 29, 2017
Before joining AmeriCorps, Tennessee native Brandon Shepard hadn’t given much
thought to Connecticut — except perhaps the University of Connecticut
basketball program. But now a six-member team led by Shepard, 23, has spent
nearly a month in northwestern Connecticut working on trails, planting trees
and performing community service as part of the AmeriCorps National Civilian
Community Corps. AmeriCorps was established in 1994 to help Americans complete
service projects with nonprofits and government agencies. The team spent
Wednesday morning hiking 2 miles up and down Kent Mountain, helping the Kent
Land Trust create a trail connecting property acquired in 2014 with existing trails
overseen by the Weantinoge Heritage Land Trust.
Topeka summer day camp coming to a close
The Topeka Capital-Journal (KS), June 29, 2017
The Forest Park Conference and Retreat Center’s free summer day camp will close
Friday. The center is affiliated with the Great Plains Conference of the United
Methodist Church in Kansas and Nebraska. The day camp, in its second year in
Topeka, was open to children in kindergarten through fifth grade. The
three-week program began June 12. Volunteers from the AmeriCorps Team, Washburn
University and other schools helped with the daily events from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Monday through Friday. One hundred children were registered for the day camp,
and 35 were on a waiting list. There were about 80 or 90 children per day,
about the same turnout as last year, said Jennifer Rea, director of the camp.
Meals served up to low-income kids
this summer
KING5-TV (WA), June 29, 2017
Several local groups are teaming up to help low-income children in the Seattle
area get meals over the summer starting Thursday. Kids 18 or younger are
eligible for free breakfasts or lunches for the next 10 weeks at local parks,
community centers or libraries during the week. United Way of King County plans
to serve 700,000 free meals in partnership with No Kid Hungry, AmeriCorps
VISTA, the City of Seattle, Seattle Children's, the Seahawks and the Sounders.
AmeriCorps members Paint Food Bus
K2TV (WY), June 28, 2017
Seven members from AmeriCorps, a national community service program, are here
in lending help to Wyoming food for thought. The volunteers have been painting
a bus in vegetables for the past week, which the nonprofit plans to use as a
mobile farmers market to reach those in need of food that may not have reliable
transportation.
More than 300 free smoke alarms installed
in Woodbury
South Jersey Towns (NJ), June 26, 2017
To help reduce the number of home fire-related injuries and fatalities, the
American Red Cross launched the Home Fire Campaign in New Jersey and across the
country in October 2014. The Red Cross New Jersey Region is partnering with
municipalities, fire departments and community organizations to help families be
better prepared for and take important steps to prevent home fires. As part of
the campaign, in Woodbury on June 24, police, fire and emergency management
departments partnered with the Red Cross and FEMA Corps team members.
AmeriCorps NCCC Spends the Summer with The
SoulFisher Ministries
The St. Louis Post Dispatch (MO), June 28, 2017
Americorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) has approved a grant that
deployed a team of service member to serve with The SoulFisher Ministries (TSM)
through their Educate Now to Achieve Later (ENAL) Summer Initiative. ENAL is a
partnership between TSM and St. Stephen’s & The Vine to provide an
eight-week learning and enrichment program for students from the Ferguson
community. This grant is helping us to engage our students with a diverse
groups of service members who travel around the world to make a difference in
the lives of the people they serve. Other partners with the Summer Initiative
that provide enrichment opportunities include: St. Louis Zoo, Bricks4Kidz
Robotics, Emerson YMCA, Forest Park Forever, and St. Louis County Library.
Camp Resilience Looking for Donation of
Office Space
The Laconia Daily Sun (FL), June 26, 2017
Camp Resilience, the Lakes Region-based veterans support group, is seeking
office space for one person effective August 2017. Due to unprecedented growth
in its veterans programs, Camp Resilience requested help from the Americorps
VISTA Program. The non-profit recently learned their request had been approved
and Olivia Kimmel will be joining Camp Resilience as its Americorps VISTA
volunteer. Ms. Kimmel’s work will include all the administrative functions of
Camp Resilience as well as innovating projects to help grow the network Camp
Resilience has started. To do that job, she will need an office space in the
Laconia-Gilford area.
DeltaCorps expands program in Arkansas and
surrounding states
Talk Business, June 28, 2017
The Delta Regional Authority and AmeriCorps have expanded their joint program,
DeltaCorps, in Missouri, Mississippi, Louisiana, Kentucky, and Arkansas.
DeltaCorps added 16 members at seven sites in those states, expanding the
program to more than 67 AmeriCorps members already awarded in the Mississippi
River Delta. DeltaCorps programming focuses on education, environmental
stewardship, disaster recovery, economic opportunity, and veterans and military
families. DeltaCorps members have recruited and managed over 2,000 volunteers
and supported 300 displaced residents throughout the Delta as they returned to
safe, stable housing.
AmeriCorps members make trails safer at
Hawk Mountain
WFMZ-TV (PA), June 28, 2017
If you've ever hiked at the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, you know some trails are
rockier and harder to navigate than others. The conditions make things even
harder for first responders. Changes are coming. Heavy boulders are being
relocated and dug is getting up and moved to a smooth path. It’s part of an
effort to make Golden Eagle trail at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary safer for hikers
and emergency crews.
United Community Services receives Grant
from PPL Foundation for YouthBuild AmeriCorps Program
Press Release, June 29, 2017
United Community Services is pleased to announce it has received a $19,500
grant from the PPL Foundation. These funds will support enhancing the hands-on
training component of the YouthBuild AmeriCorps program by building a
construction lab for students. YouthBuild AmeriCorps is a program of United
Community Services and has been operating in the Reading community since 2009.
The program targets young adults ages 17-24 who are in need of their high
school diploma or GED; providing a comprehensive approach to academic
preparation and vocational training. As an AmeriCorps site, students also can
earn an educational scholarship for giving back to their community through
service.
Village
of Hope invests in kids, too
The Daily Times (MD), June 27, 2017
The Village of Hope is a two-year transitional living program for homeless
women and children. Located in Salisbury, Village of Hope seeks to promote
self-sufficiency and to improve the quality of life among at-risk women and
children. For women who participate in the program, Village of Hope provides
various opportunities and programs, such as case management, life-skills education
workshops and counseling. But the Village is also invested in children’s growth
and success. The Village offers an after-school tutoring program for
school-aged children, in partnership with Wicomico County Public Schools. Along
with a tutor provided by the school system, a ShoreCorps/PALS AmeriCorps member
serves as an educational liaison to the students, partnering with the tutor to
facilitate after-school tutoring for two hours each evening, Mondays-Thursdays,
throughout the school year.
‘Dayton Corps’ has a
big agenda
The Dayton Daily News (OH), June 26, 2017
In an effort to combat local homelessness and "improve the quality of life
in the city," several local entities will launch a new partnership called
"Dayton Corps." Dayton Corps is an AmeriCorps initiative with support
from Gov. John Kasich that will employ 60 AmeriCorps members, the city of
Dayton announced. The year-long program, initiated by the University of Dayton,
the city of Dayton and Dayton Metro Library, will run from September until next
August. Local organizations such as St. Vincent de Paul, Daybreak, Home-full
and Montgomery County Homeless Solutions will also participate in the $385,000
venture. The program aims to aid families experiencing housing insecurity and
joblessness, increase active membership of neighborhood associations, raise the
number of engaged landlords and work to increase parent engagement in the city.
WMDS students engage in leadership
activities
The Waynesville Daily Guide (MO), June 28, 2017
From June 5-16, seven VISTA Summer Associates led 30 Waynesville Middle School
students in a leadership development program known as Tiger Leadership Camp.
Students performed a variety of team-building activities, developed leadership
tactics and resiliency styles, while learning about themselves through
personnel development assessments. Working with Soldiers from Fort Leonard
Wood’s Noncommissioned Officers Academy, students were split into groups and
challenged to complete urban orienteering and a team development/confidence
course. The Fort Leonard Wood Chaplain’s Office also participated in developing
team building by providing a fun hands-on learning experience through games and
group activities.
Their mission: to strengthen community,
meet needs
The Marysville Advocate (KS), June 28, 2017
Seven AmeriCorps members completed a beautification project at the Marshall
County Helping Hands Food Pantry and did additional work in Marysville over the
past week. The group of young workers painted the interior and exterior of the
pantry building and cleaned the yard. Food pantry volunteer Kenny Cain, Axtell,
supervised the project. “We’ve painted all of the walls white, and we are
painting the outside as well and replacing all of the gutters,” said AmeriCorps
member Lindsay Horne, New York. “We will also be cleaning up around the
building.”
Habitat
for Humanity awarded $4.8 million to fund 350 AmeriCorps member positions
Press Release, June 28, 2017
The Corporation for National and Community Service has awarded Habitat
for Humanity $4,887,750 in funds to support 350 AmeriCorps National member
positions for 2017-2018. The funds will support Habitat AmeriCorps members who
will serve in 36 states and in Washington, D.C. Habitat AmeriCorps is a network
of National Service programs that engage more than 80,000 Americans of all ages
and backgrounds in intensive service throughout the U.S each year. Habitat for
Humanity and CNCS have partnered together for more than 22 years to build
Habitat’s capacity to serve more families in a need of a decent and affordable
place to call home. During the 2017-2018 service year, AmeriCorps members will
contribute more than 595,000 hours of service toward building or improving
Habitat homes in 125 communities in partnership with 1,700 homeowners.
Trekkers Welcomes new AmeriCorps VISTA
Summer Associates
The Village Soup (ME), June 26, 2017
Trekkers is pleased to announce that Matthew Ansart and Jordan Carpenter have
joined the Trekkers team for the summer as our AmeriCorps VISTA Summer
Associates. Matthew and Jordan are graduates of Oceanside High School, Class of
2015, and Trekkers alumni. They have been part of the Trekkers program as student
leaders and adult volunteer leaders, and will continue to “live in the moment”
at Trekkers this summer as AmeriCorps VISTA Summer Associates. Matthew joined
Trekkers in the 7th grade and participated in the program for the six-year
duration. In 11th grade, he completed Trekkers student leadership program and
served as a student leader on several expeditions. Since graduating high school
in 2015, he has volunteered on many Trekkers expeditions as an adult volunteer.
Who
gives a hoop? Rutlanders do!
The Rutland Herald (VT), June 28, 2017
Saturday will offer a chance for local residents, especially those living in
the Northwest neighborhood, to live their hoop dreams. NeighborWorks of Western
Vermont will host “Hula Hoop Hoopla” in the Community Green Space on Library
Avenue. “It’s a brand new event and we’re really excited about it,” said Bianca
Zanella, an AmeriCorps member and community engagement and revitalization
specialist for NeighborWorks. “It allows people to not only get together and
engage with their neighbors, as do all of our events, but also be a little more
active and outside,” she said.
Pedal
Power: Kids get a workout while blending smoothies
The Observer Reporter (OR), June 27, 2017
About once a week after school, Karissa Frahm, 9, hopped on a stationary
bicycle and pedaled away at the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Umpqua Valley
facility in Roseburg. After about three minutes of effort, she’s generated
enough energy to power a lamp or a blender. That’s because the bike she rode is
no ordinary piece of exercise equipment. The Pedal Power bike, built by
Oakland, Calif.-based Rock the Bike, allows Karissa and other students at the club
to generate electricity. Once a month, the students get to power up blenders
and make smoothies. Karissa’s favorite is strawberry banana.
Mississippi
Commission for Volunteer Service Announces $3.12 Million in AmeriCorps funding
Delta State University (MS), June 27, 2017
Delta State University’s Center for Community and Economic Development (CCED)
will be one of 11 Mississippi organizations receiving grant funding from a
$3.12 million AmeriCorps campaign to support nonprofit and educational
organizations across the state. The grant will continue to support the Delta
Reads Plus (DRP) program, which is housed at the CCED on campus. DRP will
receive $293,616 thanks to the grant. Through DRP, 50 AmeriCorps members will
provide one-one-one and small group tutoring to students in kindergarten
through sixth grade five days a week for the 2017-18 academic term in school
districts in Bolivar, Coahoma, Leflore, Sunflower, and Washington counties. The
program will help reach 400 economically disadvantaged students. Focus areas
include literacy and math. The AmeriCorps tutors will guide the students to
program completion by participating in at least 50 tutoring sessions and
helping these students increase their literacy and/or math skills by at least
one grade level according to STAR assessment data.
Earth’s Table, Community Food Share help
families in need find fresh produce
The Daily Camera (CO), June 28, 2017
When former Brooklynites Alexandra and David Ferguson relocated to Boulder with
the intention of homesteading, they couldn't have possibly foreseen all the
helping hands around them. Early Thursday morning under a bright June sun,
Alexandra Ferguson tends "her" row, while Michele Pelanne, Bert Nett,
Rowland Sweet and Stan Stutzman work the other five rows at Ferguson's
quarter-acre garden, known to them as "Wonderview." The four retirees
are volunteers with Earth's Table, which has been growing all-natural produce
for local food banks on donated plots of privately-owned land since Nett
initiated the project, along with two co-founders, at Sacred Heart of Mary
Church in 1999. The grassroots group is open to everyone.
ABQ’s Running Start for Careers Wins
National Grant
Press Release, June 26, 2017
Today Albuquerque, New Mexico’s Mayor, Richard Berry was among a handful of
mayors who have won the 2017 U.S. Conference of Mayors/Strada Education Network
2017 National Education Pathways with a Purpose Grant Awards. Birmingham,
Alabama’s Mayor William Bell, Sr. and West Sacramento, California’s Mayor
Christopher Cabaldon were the other mayors recognized for this competitive
grant and award. The awards were announced during the U.S. Conference of
Mayors’ (USCM) 85th Annual Meeting in Miami Beach, FL. The awards are sponsored
by USCM and Strada Education Network, a nonprofit organization that works to
improve the college-to-career pathway by investing in strategic philanthropy,
research and insights, and innovative solutions.
Granite state ranks high for patriotism
Business NH Magazine, June 28, 2017
With Americans preparing to show their national pride this Fourth of July,
WalletHub has released a report on 2017's Most Patriotic States in America. To
determine where Americans bleed the most red, white and blue, WalletHub
compared all 50 states across 13 key indicators of patriotism. The data set
ranges from average number of military enlistees to share of adults who voted
in the 2016 presidential election to AmeriCorps volunteers per capita. See how
the Granite State ranked below:
Application Deadline Approaching for Big
Fix in Falmouth
CapeCode.com (MA), June 30, 2017
The Housing Assistance Corporation’s annual Big Fix is coming to Falmouth in
September and the deadline is approaching for residents interested in receiving
assistance to apply. The Big Fix is a community day of service where volunteers
work to make small home repairs and yard cleanups for seniors, veterans and the
disabled. HACs Director of Community Relations and Fundraising Laura Reckford
said 12-15 homes will be chosen.
Volunteer
Iowa approves $14.2 million for AmeriCorps
Business Record (IA), June 27, 2017
The Iowa Commission on Volunteer Services (Volunteer Iowa) approved $14.2
million worth of state and federal funding for AmeriCorps projects, including
$578,702 earmarked for the Des Moines Public Schools. AmeriCorps provides
grants to community organizations to address local needs from providing
childhood education to combating opioid addiction.
Patriotic and civic-minded states
The Neveda Appeal (NV), June 29, 2017
Many of our readers may have seen these periodic "Most favorite" or
"Top 10 or "Top 25" polls that come out from various websites.
With the Fourth of July upon us, I'd like to share some statistics received
from WalletHub that deals with patriotism, the Fourth of July and the most
patriotic states. "To determine where Americans bleed the most red, white
and blue, WalletHub compared the 50 states across 13 key indicators of patriotism.
The data set ranges from average number of military enlistees to share of
adults who voted in the 2016 presidential election to AmeriCorps volunteers per
capita," states WalletHub in its latest survey that came out this week. To
determine the most patriotic states, WalletHub's analysts compared the 50
states across two key dimensions, including "Military Engagement" and
"Civic Engagement."
Veterans
to be honored for Senior Corps service
The Patriot Ledger (MA), June 26, 2017
Weymouth officials will join the Norfolk County Commissioners and Norfolk
County RSVP Tuesday in honoring veterans who have continued a life of service
as Senior Corps volunteers. The ceremony will feature a National Veteran Corps
pin presentation to 40 Senior Corps members. State Sen. Patrick O’Connor, State
Rep. James Murphy, Weymouth Mayor Robert Hedlund and Norfolk County Veterans
Advocate Dale Kurtz will participate. National service members who are
supporting veterans and military families will be recognized for carrying out
the spirit of shared values of devotion, honor, and service. The Norfolk County
RSVP is working with the Corporation for National and Community Service, the
federal agency that administers AmeriCorps and Senior Corps.
Caring for dementia patients from all
backgrounds
DFW-TV (TX), June 26, 2017
Alzheimer's Disease is the most common form of dementia and researchers at the
University of Texas Arlington say, historically the African-American community
has been underserved and undereducated about the disease. They set out to
change that. Noelle Fields and Ling Xu,
assistant professors in UTA's School of Social Work, partnered with The Senior
Source to develop a training program for Alzheimer's caregivers. During the
month-long training, both family caregivers and volunteer companions worked
through nine modules to address issues such as stigma about the disease and
mistrust of health professionals.
Seniors frequently targeted by scammers
The Mendon Wicked Local (MA), June 26, 2017
Last month, a former Lowell building inspector was convicted of larceny after
swindling an elderly neighbor out of her home. A year ago, authorities accused
a Raynham woman of scamming her stepfather out of $200,000. And just last week,
a Waltham man pleaded guilty to a securities fraud scheme that stole $82,000
from victims including a senior citizen and his own girlfriend. Those incidents
are among countless examples of financial abuse and exploitation of elders in Massachusetts.
“Financial abuse is an extremely important topic in the commonwealth,” said
David P. Stevens, executive director of the Massachusetts Association of
Councils on Aging. “We need to make everyone aware of the extent that this is
going on and the issues involved in it.”
Area RSVP Reading Program Gains a Valuable
Grant
KIOW-FM (IA), June 30, 2017
Volunteer Iowa (Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service) has approved $275,733 in
state funded RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program) Grants. From the grant,
the North Iowa Area Community College RSVP program in Mason City will receive
$7,882.86. RSVP connects volunteers age 55 and over with service opportunities
in their communities that match their skills and availability. From building
houses to immunizing children, to enhancing the capacity of nonprofit
organizations to improving and protecting the environment, RSVP volunteers put
their unique talents to work to make a difference.
Waters’
students earn day of fun through reading program
The Fond du Lac Reporter (WI), June 28, 2017
Waters Elementary first-grade readers from Kathleen Parish's class were
recently treated to a special lunch from Tuckers Restaurant, compliments of
owners Steve and Kathy Blagoue. The readers read 320 books or more throughout
the school year. This equates to reading two books a night, five days a week.
Jackson Buelow read the most books in the class with 1,320. His sister,
Allison, a former first-grade student from 2015-16, continues to hold the
all-time record of 4,600 books. In addition, Desmond Thomas read 1,000 books. Eleven
of Parish's students read 600 or more books throughout the school year and will
be treated to a special lunch from Tuckers this summer on July 25, as well as a
day of fun at the Fondy Sports Park and treats at Dairy Queen Grill and Chill
on Fond du Lac Avenue.
Foster
grandparent mentor program makes a difference
The Press and Sun Bulletin (NY), June 27, 2017
At the front of a packed room of guests at the Holiday Inn in Binghamton,
just beyond the podium where officials introduced 52 volunteers being honored
for their service, a simple message was printed in bold letters on a framed
banner: "Share today. Shape tomorrow." This is the message of the
Broome County Office for Aging's Foster Grandparent program, a volunteer
program for income-eligible seniors who spend 20 hours of their week assisting
children with special needs at schools, day care centers and summer programs.
Program
Seeking Seniors to Volunteer
KNSI-FM (MN), June 27, 2017
A St. Cloud based organization is looking for seniors who want to help make their
community a better place. Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) Director Lisa
Braun says they have extra opportunities for volunteers in the summer. "There
is more of a need for volunteers than there are volunteers, so we ask people to
step up and help their community." She says local food shelves could use
some extra help right now. Their demand for service is up because school is out
and children have to eat at home. RSVP works with over 180 agencies in St.
Cloud, and in Stearns, Benton, and Sherburne County.
Catholic
Charities’ volunteer honored by Governor
The Times Weekly (IL), June 28, 3027
Catholic Charities, Diocese of Joliet announced that Sarah Marsh, a volunteer
in their Foster Grandparent Program in Will County, has been selected for the
Governor’s Volunteer Service Award in the SeniorCorps northeast category. For
the past 15 years, “Grandma Marsh” as she’s known, has volunteered 16 hours per
week at Catholic Charities’ Head Start and at public elementary schools in
Joliet. Her duties include helping school children improve their reading,
spelling, and math skills. This energetic 81 year-old rarely misses a day of
volunteering. Grandma Marsh has assisted hundreds of children during her many
years of service in the Foster Grandparent Program. “Grandma Marsh is a great
asset to our Foster Grandparent Program. We are thankful for her many years of
service to children in our community,” said Mari Ruiz, Foster Grandparent
Program Assistant.
|
