Posts Tagged ‘National Service’

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Standing for AmeriCorps

Thursday, March 10th, 2011

Today’s post comes from Whitney Soenksen, External Relations Manager for AmeriCorps Alums

Thousands showed up in response to the proposal in the US House of Representatives to eliminate the Corporation for National and Community Service, AmeriCorps Alums rallied the troops across the country on Friday, Feb. 25. Through their partnership with Voices for National Service, ServiceNation and America Forward, AmeriCorps Alums across the country went into action.

Over 200,000 Alums and supporters shared the message to Save Service. Petitions were signed, the cause was shared with friends on Facebook and the call to action was tweeted and retweeted; alerting friends, family and co-workers that AmeriCorps was threatened.

Then people took to the streets. District Day visits brought supporters of national service out across the country as they led groups of up to 65 people into our elected officials offices and made clear the value of the AmeriCorps program to this nation’s health and strength.

Alums participated in Congressional office visits in Boston, Dallas, Des Moines, Milwaukee, Nashville, New Orleans, Portland, Topeka and many other cities.  They showed up as ordinary Americans who cared deeply about the impact of national service with over 2,600 individuals participating across the country.

, an AmeriCorps Alums Chapter Leader in North Texas, took a Stand for AmeriCorps with a visit to four offices in Dallas, including Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison — joining hundreds of other passionate alums across the state.

Dominique Marsalek, an AmeriCorps Alum living in Frederick, MD, wrote an impassioned editorial that was published by the Baltimore Sun just last week. Dominique reflected on her AmeriCorps experience where she traveled to some of the poorest counties in the United States, working with programs like Habitat for Humanity and helping to build vocational programs for at-risk youth, and how it opened up opportunities for her.

And finally, Caleb Jonas, an active AmeriCorps Alum, started an online petition that has garnered over 112,000 signatures to date!

The latest federal budget agreement does not include cuts to AmeriCorps but we must remain vigilant and be ready to take up the cause as Congress tackles deficit spending.

We need to mobilize more alumni and supporters of national service to ensure that AmeriCorps and national service programs are funded for years to come. But we can’t continue the fight without you.

 

  • Call your Representatives & Senators and tell them to Save Service

Your support and leadership in this important fight keeps us working hard to make sure that Americans will always be given opportunities to serve and to give back to this great nation.



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Stand Up to Save Service

Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011

Today’s post comes from Whitney Soenksen, External Relations Manager for AmeriCorps Alums

Early on Saturday, February 19th, the US House passed HR 1, a continuing resolution to fund the government through the end of 2011.

In an attempt to reduce the national debt, cuts to many federally funded program are proposed in this bill, including funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the Corporation for National and Community Service.  The bill proposes a complete defunding of the Corporation for National and Community service, which engages more than five million Americans in service through AmeriCorps, Learn and Serve America, Senior Corps, and United We Serve—a nationwide service initiative that helps meet growing social needs resulting from the economic downturn.

When Caleb Jonas, an AmeriCorps Alum, heard about the legislation, he looked back on his year of service and decided that something needed to be done.

Caleb started the Save AmeriCorps Petition and the campaign which became the official campaign for AmeriCorps Alums.

Caleb’s experience volunteering started long before his AmeriCorps service term.  In high school he spent his summers working as a teacher and tutor for low-income students.  In college he volunteered on political campaigns, but couldn’t see how his work there helped create positive change in the lives of the neediest families in his community.

After graduating, he joined AmeriCorps*VISTA and built a city-wide partnership of tutoring programs in Saint Paul.  Because of his work, students in Saint Paul received more effective and better targeted support for their work, and were made stronger connections to what they were learning.

If the Corporation for National and Public Service is defunded, then thousands of programs across the country that work with people who need support the most will lose the AmeriCorps members, people just like Caleb, that help them to thrive.

What can you do to help support AmeriCorps?

Sign the Save AmeriCorps Petition and lend your voice to support national service.

Join the and share your story of service as an example for why AmeriCorps programs need to continue getting things done for America.

Call your Senators to let them know that you support AmeriCorps and national service.  You can find your Senators’ contact information at Congress.org.

Show up for a District Day event through saveservice.org.  On February 25, supporters of service around the country will be visiting their Congressmen’s district offices to show their support for national service.  You can find your Congressmen’s district office here.

Thanks for your support of national service programs!

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Fond Farewells from Departing AmeriCorps Members

Monday, September 6th, 2010

Four talented AmeriCorps members just ended their year of service with Volunteer San Diego. We loved their end of the year reflections – especially Gypsy’s remark about all the new acronyms she learned – so funny and so true!!  These were originally posted on the Volunteer San Diego Blog. Enjoy!

“If you had asked me last year what I hoped to accomplish during my term as an AmeriCorps VISTA at Volunteer San Diego, I would have answered in terms of small goals. I initially hoped to improve my public speaking skills and gain experience in the San Diego nonprofit community. I achieved these goals and more. I helped implement an orientation for community organizations, collaborated with community members to improve volunteer programs, and gained confidence as a nonprofit professional. I am completing my term with the self-assurance that my hard work has made a meaningful difference at Volunteer San Diego, and in the greater community. I am incredibly grateful for all of the wonderful opportunities that AmeriCorps and Volunteer San Diego have given me in this life-changing year.”  –Jennie McDonald, AmeriCorps VISTA – Community Organization Liaison.

“As my term of AmeriCorps service comes to a close, I have many reasons to be grateful for the experience of working at Volunteer San Diego.  As a previous office volunteer for Volunteer San Diego and Serve-a-thon Committee Member, I thought I knew a lot about how much work the staff handled and how the organization was run.  Once I became part of the staff, I realized how much I had not been aware of and how motivated the staff is on a daily basis to accomplish all that is humanly possible to make this the best organization it can be. Thank you Volunteer San Diego for guiding, encouraging, and helping me stretch in ways I had not imagined possible!” – Sharon Lynn, AmeriCorps Member – Volunteer Relations Coordinator.

“This is my second year, well spent, with AmeriCorps VISTA. I began my work in Iowa in response to the historic floods of 2008. Working for AmeriCorps has been the most rewarding work I have ever done in my life, so I decided to continue in service of my country. AmeriCorps VISTA gave me the tools and the chance to go to San Diego and do meaningful work for Volunteer San Diego. In turn Volunteer San Diego has enabled me to develop my professional skills and provide me with a firm foundation in San Diego, which I am proud to call my new home. I am excited to continue in service to my new community! Also, no offense to my hometown, but I love this land without snow!” - Nate Kieso, AmeriCorps VISTA – Community Organization Liaison.

“It is somewhat overwhelming to look back at everything I’ve learned during my AmeriCorps year. Aside from picking up enough acronyms to fill a word-of-the-day desk calendar, I gained experience in writing press releases, recruiting and training volunteers, and working with governmental and non-governmental organizations in the disaster arena. I developed a social media plan and documented processes for Emergency Volunteer Centers. I have been given the chance to improve my public speaking skills and represent the program and organization.

I appreciate the opportunities Volunteer San Diego has given me as well as all the help and support I have received from staff, Disaster Cadre volunteers, and fellow AmeriCorps members. It has been an honor and pleasure to work with such an innovative, energetic, and motivated group of people!” – Gypsy Walukones, AmeriCorps Member – Disaster Outreach Coordinator.

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Posted in Service, Stories from the Road, Volunteer Leader, Volunteer Reflection, Volunteering, Volunteerism | 1 Comment »

Did You Serve?

Thursday, June 24th, 2010

By Whitney Soenksen, AmeriCorps Alums

AmeriCorps alums – anyone who has completed a term of national service, including NCCC, VISTA and pre-AmeriCorps VISTA – are encouraged to visit www.didyouservewith.us and register as part of WE SERVE.

All AmeriCorps alums who register receive a coupon to the AmeriCorps Alums store and are entered in a drawing for one of ten gift cards to Target worth $100 a piece.

A drawing based on referrals will award the Grand Prize – autographed memorabilia from ServiceNation Youth Chair, Usher.

The WE SERVE outreach contest will end at 5pm EST, June 30th at the close of the 2010 National Conference on Volunteering and Service.

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The American Way to Change

Thursday, June 17th, 2010

If you believe that every person can discover their power to make a difference, creating healthy communities and vibrant democracies around the world, then the introduction of , by Shirley Sagawa  is sure to draw you in.

“We’re at a pivotal time in America.  We face crises in nearly every corner.

Whole communities stuck in poverty, and middle class families slipping downward.

Public schools that don’t graduate half of the African American and Latino students who come through their doors.

A majority of people all ages suffering from obesity and related health problems and millions without insurance or a place to go for regular health care.

Conflict among different religious, ethnic, and other groups, and many Americans uneasy connecting with people unlike themselves.

The largest cohort of older adults in history threatening to overwhelm systems of care and outlive their savings.

Climate change threatening to wipe away whole cities around the world and make entire species extinct.

Many people look to government to solve these problems.

But none of these can be solved by government alone.

In fact, none can be solved without the committed efforts of the American people, taking action on their own or in concert with others.”

On Wednesday, June 30th from 7:00 – 8:00 a.m.,  join Shirley Sagawa for a Books & Bagels session at The 2010 National Conference on Volunteering & Service to discuss this inspirational book telling stories of people who have dedicated themselves to service and the nonprofits that engaged them.

Shirley Sagawa, co-founder of the sagawa/jospin consulting firm, was named a “Woman to Watch in the 21st Century,” by Newsweek magazine, and one of the “Most Influential Working Mothers in America” by Working Mother magazine. A national expert on children’s policy and philanthropy, she has been called a “founding mother of the modern service movement” in the United States. She is currently a fellow with the Center for American Progress.

Session Name & ID: Books & Bagels: The American Way to Change. (1650)
Twitter Hashtag: #NCVS #BKCL6

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Posted in Inspire, News & Links, Service, Tools You Can Use, Volunteering, Volunteerism | 1 Comment »

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