|
Dear Colleagues and Communicators,
Whether they’re tackling childhood obesity, helping
prevent disease, or encouraging physical fitness, our national service members
make our communities better, healthier places to live.
This week's updates highlight the great work they're doing. Read on below and learn more!
Thanks and have a great weekend,
The External Affairs Team
P.S. -- This week, President Obama released his FY 2015 Budget request. Go to our website for more.
AmeriCorps Leads to a Healthier Future: Too many of our nation’s citizens have unhealthy eating habits and don’t get enough exercise. Our AmeriCorps members are changing that. As part of our continued celebration of the 20th anniversary of AmeriCorps, CEO Wendy Spencer introduced Healthy Futures month by highlighting the important work that our members do to keep communities healthy.
Service Changes Lives: National service
transforms both communities and the lives of those who serve. Bicell Walker says his participation in the AmeriCorps program PowerCorpsPHL has
given him a fresh start. “I advise anybody who has this opportunity to take it
and do good with it,” he says. Watch and share his story (featuring
an appearance by Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter).
Welcoming a New Class: This week, the national service community welcomed members of AmeriCorps NCCC's 20th class at the
Vicksburg campus in Mississippi. The induction featured more than 300 members from two neighboring campuses (affectionately referred to as the "Southlantic" region.) Special guests included Vicksburg Mayor George Flaggs, Jr., AmeriCorps NCCC Director Kate Raftery, and FEMA Corps Program Liaison Alfred Claud. Know anyone who would make a great AmeriCorps NCCC corps member? The application deadline for next year is April 1!
Serving Those Who Served Us: In 2013 alone, about 27,000 AmeriCorps members and Senior Corps volunteers supported organizations serving nearly 1.5 million veterans and military families in more than 200 communities across the country. AmeriCorps VISTA member and Army veteran Neal Pointer explains
why service with Habitat for Humanity means so much to him: “When you look at all
the different ways that we’ve assisted in homeownership…we’ve probably touched
the lives of somewhere between 120 and 150 veterans.” Watch and share this
story of service with your networks.
Senior Corps
HUGS can work wonders in the community
Pocono Record (PA), March 4, 2014
Since its inception in April 2012, the Sock-It-To-Me program distributed more
than 2,000 pairs of socks, as has recently distributed 80 pairs of gloves and
150 hats. In addition to the many store-bought items, many of the socks and
hats were hand-knitted and crocheted by RSVP volunteers.
Aid for Seniors
Monroe News (MI), March 2, 2014
The center has received an $88,942 grant
to support volunteer activities from the Corporation of National and Community
Service (CNCS). The award is part of a competitive grant for the Retired Senior
Volunteer Program ( RSVP), one of three Senior Corps programs administered by
CNCS.
Social Innovation Fund
At Last, Someone Invented Innovation!
The Huffington Post (NY), March 4, 2014
Innovation is such a big deal in the
civic sector (nonprofits and partners doing society's work) that the White
House hosts a Social Innovation Fund. It's modest but influential and everyone
in the sector wants its attention, even more so than the attention we have
sought for innovation funding from foundations for over a century.
AmeriCorps
'Night of Stars' celebrates volunteers, kids' reading
progress
KSL-TV (UT), February 28, 2014
[VIDEO] Volunteers in KSL’s Read Today AmeriCorps program got to see the mid-year
results of their tutoring in a big-screen production. Here’s the trailer: kids
are doubling their reading progress. “Feeling like you’re contributing to
someone’s development is just great,” said tutor Mark Hammond.
AmeriCorps NCCC
Work broadens camp's appeal
Delaware County Daily Times (PA), March 5,
2014
Signs designed in harmony with the setting are placed sequentially by a group
of young AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps workers read in
succession down the gravel entry lane...AmeriCorps deploys the groups, comprised of 18- to 24-year-olds who are game for a little adventure somewhere away from familiar environs of home.
AmeriCorps VISTA
AmeriCorps VISTA program Joins Forces with Mayor for
Blanket Drive
Corsair (FL), March 4, 2014
Pensacola State College’s AmeriCorps
VISTA program is taking strides to change this wretched reality. AmeriCorps
VISTA is a service program designed to help eliminate poverty in America. PSC’s
branch of the program, headed by Michael Listau, provides volunteer
opportunities to the students and staff at the college.
National Service Blog
Creating Fit Bodies and Fit Minds
By Paul
Caccamo, Executive Director of Up2Us
NationalService.gov, March 6, 2014
For too many years we have addressed the equation of “fit body and fit minds” as requiring two separate interventions. For the mind, we’ve looked toward mentoring. For the body, we’ve turned to physical activity and health education. But our AmeriCorps investment proves that a national service member can be the catalyst to fit bodies and fit minds.
| 
