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Dear National Service Family,
We are less than 30 days away from the nationwide celebration of the 20th anniversary of AmeriCorps. This week, we continued our celebration of the 20th with “Day of the A” and introduced a new initiative that will help communities tackle their toughest challenges. In addition, we are highlighting Senior Corps and AmeriCorps' efforts to help communities prepare for disasters.
Read more below for details.
Thank you and have a great weekend,
Ted Miller
Chief of External Affairs
Corporation for National and Community Service
P.S. – Did you know that the Social Innovation Fund reaches more than 200 nonprofits across the country? Scroll down to check out an interview with Director Michael Smith.
Introducing Operation AmeriCorps: Whatever the challenge is, service can and should be part of the solution. During the National League of Cities Summit earlier this week, CEO Wendy Spencer announced a new initiative called Operation AmeriCorps. As part of this initiative, AmeriCorps members will serve in a community over a two-year period to help solve a specific issue.
And we need you to help us make it the best it can be. Send us your ideas about the program’s development and how you would use AmeriCorps to solve your community’s challenges by emailing OperationAmeriCorps@cns.gov.
Sharing AmeriCorps on the "Day of the A": This week’s “Day of the A” highlighted the key role that service plays in the field of disaster services as part of the 20th anniversary of AmeriCorps. Across the country, AmeriCorps members and program staff shared creative photos displaying the AmeriCorps "A" in their service sites and offices.
Shaping Innovation: The Social Innovation Fund (SIF) is committed
to finding what works and making it work for more people. Director Michael Smith recently sat down with
NationSwell, a new digital media company, to discuss the SIF and its potential
to reshape the nonprofit sector. Watch
his interview here.
 Helping Seniors Prepare: The Schuylkill County Office of Senior Services in Pennsylvania along with RSVP volunteers are making sure residents are prepared for emergencies. They have started a new program that distributes emergency preparedness kits for seniors throughout the county.
“It’s a need and RSVP has always been committed to meeting the needs of the community, so when a disaster occurs the volunteers help out where they can,” said RSVP Director Carol Bowan.
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AmeriCorps
Civic Works' Real Food Farm helping to "grow"
Baltimore
Baltimore Times, August 8, 2014
Real Food Farm is offered through Civic Works, Baltimore’s urban service corps
and an AmeriCorps program. Civic Works seeks to strengthen Baltimore’s
communities through education, skills development, and community service.
AmeriCorps NCCC
AmeriCorps: Giving Direction
EIN News, August 10, 2014
Katie Ryer, 20, has been settling into life in Marion after returning home from
ten months of volunteering with AmeriCorps. From October 24, 2013 to July 25,
2014, Ryer worked with a team of other volunteers on four different charity
projects throughout California and Oregon. Of AmeriCorps’ three volunteering
programs, Ryer chose the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC).
AmeriCorps VISTA
Little Free Libraries popping up around Dubuque
KWWL-TV (IA), August 11, 2014
Dubuque's Little Free Libraries outside the fire stations are a partnership
between the Dubuque Campaign for Grade-Level Reading and the AmeriCorps VISTA
program, with the goal of promoting literacy and increasing access to books.
Senior Corps
St. Peter’s, RMDC team up for Keeping You Home
Independent Record, August 10, 2014
The Retired Senior Volunteer Program branch of Senior Corps is perfectly
designed for this type of program, Melony Bruhn, assistant director of Senior
Corps and Keeping You Home project manager, said. Senior volunteers will use
their access to RMDC’s extensive community resources to pair patients with
exactly what they may need to thrive in their homes.
Social Innovation Fund
Philanthropy and Government
Forbes (NY), August 14, 2014
This has been, for instance, the animating principle of the White House Social Innovation Fund, the Obama Administration initiative mounted through the Corporation for National and Community Service.
National Service Blog
Expanding a Culture of Service
NationalService.Tumblr.com, August 14, 2014
Service is an essential part of our nation’s DNA. Throughout our history, volunteers across the country have stepped up to fill a range of critical needs. Whether in support of our returning veterans and their families or providing after school tutoring to young students, Americans have always answered the call to serve our neighbors in need.
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