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In the News
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MCSC Commissioner Receives Giants Award
 Tony Campbell, vice president of focused impact for the Heart of West Michigan United Way, current board member of the Michigan Community Service Commission, and co-chair of the Mentor Michigan Leadership Council was honored with the W.W. Plummer Humanitarian Award this winter.
The award was one category of the 29th annual Giants Awards; given to 12 African-Americans in the Grand Rapids area who make big contributions to the community. The honorees are selected by representatives from Grand Rapids Community College and the community.
Congratulations Commissioner Campbell!
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2011-2015 Corporation for National and Community Service Strategic Plan Available
This February the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) released their Strategic Plan. It details their objectives,  strategies, and priority measures for each of their six focus areas of Disaster Services, Economic Opportunity, Education, Environmental Stewardship, Healthy Futures, and Veterans and Military Families.
The Strategic Plan provides a roadmap for using national service to address critical challenges facing the country's communities and our nation. It builds on the strong foundation of national service that has developed over the past four decades and the vision set forth in the bipartisan Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act of 2009. It is the result of a nine-month collaborative effort between CNCS and their network of state commissions, grantees, project sponsors, participants, staff, and the public through which more 1,900 individuals provided input on our strategic direction.
The plan recognizes the critical role that CNCS and the network it supports plays in engaging millions of Americans in sustained service to solve community problems, supporting the country's most vulnerable citizens, strengthening the voluntary sector, and transforming lives. It also calls on all those involved in national service to lead and operate at the highest level of accountability, integrity and transparency.
To view the complete 2011-2015 CNCS Strategic Plan, visit http://www.nationalservice.gov/pdf/11_0203_cncs_strategic_plan.pdf.
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2011 MLK Day Engages Michigan Volunteers
The Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC), together with  our partners the Michigan Department of Human Services, Volunteer Centers of Michigan, Michigan Campus Compact, The LEAGUE Michigan, the Corporation for National and Community Service - Michigan, and the Michigan Association of United Ways, encouraged organizations and individuals to get involved and plan service projects for the 2011 Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.
Key highlights of those efforts include:
- 2011 MLK Day projects primarily focused on education, economic opportunity, supporting veterans and military families, health, clean energy/environmental stewardship, disaster preparedness, and public safety.
- More than 2,200 citizens volunteered more than 7,600 hours via 67 service projects in Michigan for MLK Day.
- Those volunteers served/impacted more than 8,500 individuals.
An official recap of 2011 Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service efforts is currently available at www.michigan.gov/mcsc.
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Come to 2011 Giving & Volunteering Celebration in Lansing on April 13
The Michigan Community Service Commission, Michigan Nonprofit Association, Michigan Campus Compact, Volunteer Centers of Michigan, Council of Michigan Foundations, and the Corporation for National and Community Service Michigan Office will engage individuals and organizations in a celebration honoring Michigan's giving and volunteering champions on Wednesday, April 13 on the steps of the Capitol in Lansing.
This free event, which is open to the public, will honor leaders in service including mayors and legislators, and will unveil the results of the 2010 Giving & Volunteering Report. Registration is required to attend as lunch is provided following the event. For more information, visit http://www.mnaonline.org/givingvolunteering.aspx.
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Global Youth Service Day - Showcasing Young People this April
The Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC) and Learn and
Serve - Michigan are excited to mobilize youth across the state through volunteerism this April as part of the 2011 Global Youth Service Day (GYSD). This annual opportunity, held on April 15, 16, and 17, encourages children and youth to address the world's most critical issues by partnering with families, schools, community and faith-based organizations, businesses, and government.
GYSD is led by Youth Service America, with the MCSC serving as a GYSD Lead Agency to encourage service locally. As part of the MCSC's efforts, we are inviting you to participate in the 2011 GYSD Michigan Coalition.
Help the MCSC illuminate the efforts of our young people this April...here's how you can get involved by committing to support the 2011 GYSD in Michigan in the following ways:
- Plan a Global Youth Service Day event in your community.
- Post information about the 2011 GYSD on your website - if applicable.
- Encourage the young people in your community to create their own GYSD projects.
The Michigan Community Service Commission, the LEAGUE Michigan, and Youth Service America also recently announced the distribution of $11,000 in mini-grant funds to support 2011 GYSD projects across the state this April.
Thirty-five organizations from across Michigan received the funds to coordinate service projects that tackle critical challenges in their communities; including education, economic opportunity, supporting veterans and military families, health, clean energy and environmental stewardship, disaster preparedness, and public safety. Grants range in value from $160 to $485.
All of the projects funded by the mini-grants incorporated youth in the planning process and/or will engage youth as volunteers. To see a complete list of recipients, please visit the MCSC's website.
For more information on Global Youth Service Day in Michigan, visit www.michigan.gov/mcsc.
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Youth Service - A Panel Perspective
The Michigan Community Service Commission has a strong commitment to youth service in the state and works hard to propel the efforts of young people and their impact on a larger scale. For many years they've benefitted from youth commissioners serving on their board in an effort to capture the voice of Michigan's young people.
Three of those individuals; two current MCSC youth commissioners and one former youth commissioner, recently sat down together to discuss their commitment to service and the impact it's had on them and others. Please read on to learn more about Ella Kate Wagner, Breannah Alexander, and Kari Pardoe - three leaders in Michigan's youth service movement.
Please introduce yourselves and explain your current involvement with the Michigan Community Service Commission.
- Ella Kate Wagner: This is my first year as a commissioner, but I've worked with the MCSC a lot. I was on the Service Learning Youth Council for five years. I am currently a freshman at Michigan State University studying elementary education.
- Kari Pardoe: I was a commissioner with the MCSC for nine years, starting my freshman year of college and I stayed on after that. I currently work at the Michigan Nonprofit Association as the Director of The LEAGUE Michigan.
- Breannah Alexander: This is the first year of my second term with the MCSC. My first term as a commissioner started in 2007. I'm currently a senior at Grand Valley State University studying public administration and criminal justice.
What is/was it like to be a youth commissioner for the MCSC? Is this role different than that of a traditional MCSC commissioner?
- Kari: I think my role [as a youth commissioner] was different for a couple of reasons. For one, I got to be part of a national movement to engage youth commissioners and to raise awareness about having young people serve on commissions. I helped to write a white paper for engaging youth commissioners that focused on discussing their roles and what they should be doing in those positions. I also helped to provide technical assistance to other state commissions to encourage youth involvement on their boards.
- Breannah: The biggest difference [serving as a youth commissioner] is that with a lot of the other MCSC commissioners, they bring resources their respective organizations can provide.... Which is great, but at the same time when you come in as a youth commissioner you come in recognizing that your presence and your voice will be biggest contribution. You are to be knowledgeable about what's affecting young people in the state .
The complete transcription of this panel is available online at the MCSC's website.
For more information on youth service in Michigan, or the commissioners profiled above, please visit www.michigan.gov/mcsc.
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RESOURCES
Summer Food Service Programs - The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) is looking for community sponsors to run summer food programs to prevent more than 546,000 children in Michigan from going hungry when school lunchrooms close for the summer. Sponsors receive federal payments for both the meals served to children and the administrative costs of serving the meals. New sponsors will receive free training and technical assistance from MDE. Sponsors can be public school districts or nonprofit private schools; public or private residential summer camps; local, county, or state government agencies; colleges or universities; or private nonprofit organizations. To sponsor a program this summer, please contact MDE by March 31, 2011 at http://www.michigan.gov/mde.
BE BIG Contest - Executed by Scholastic, HandsOn Network Action Centers and BE BIG's corporate sponsor, American Family Insurance, the BE BIG Contest is a national campaign that invites applicants to take action and raise awareness for how Clifford's Big Ideas (Share, Play Fair, Have Respect, Work Together, Be Responsible, Be a Good Friend, Help Others, Be Truthful, Be Kind, Believe in Yourself) can make the world a better place. Volunteers, schools, or community partners are eligible to apply for a maximum of $25,000 for the grand prize, $2,500 for 10 first-prizes, and other prizes. The deadline to apply is June 17, 2011. For more information, visit http://www.scholastic.com/cliffordbebig/contest.
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AWARDS
President's Volunteer Service Awards - The MCSC is seeking nominations on an on-going basis for volunteer recognition. Nominees meeting established criteria will be presented The President's Volunteer Service Award. This award recognizes individuals, families, and groups that have achieved a certain standard - measured by the number of service hours over a 12-month period or cumulative hours earned over the course of a lifetime. To nominate someone, click here.
Governor's Service Awards - The Michigan Community Service Commission will be celebrating its 20th Anniversary in the fall of 2011. The annual Governor's Service Awards will be part of that celebration. Please look for the 2011 Governor's Service Awards nomination form in Spring 2011 on our website, www.michigan.gov/mcsc. |
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SOCIAL MEDIA/NETWORKING
Find Us on Facebook & Twitter!The
Michigan Community Service Commission has spread its efforts to the social
networking site, Facebook. Keep up to
date on the latest news, events, and stories by searching for "Michigan Community Service Commission," "Michigan's
AmeriCorps," "Mentor Michigan," and "Learn and Serve - Michigan." We're also on Twitter - follow us at
@MCSConline, @miamericorps, @MentorMI, and @learnandservemi. Michigan's AmeriCorps LeaderCorps Blog
Join members of the Michigan's AmeriCorps LeaderCorps as they "Get Things Done!" through one year of service. Each week a different participant of the LeaderCorps will share a story about their service. To read more, visit http://miacleadercorps.blogspot.com/. Learn and Serve - Michigan's Resources Blog
Check out Learn and Serve - Michigan's connection to resources and information relevant to the service-learning community through their Resources Blog! Postings are new weekly and often feature guest authors. To read more, visit http://learnandservemi.blogspot.com.
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April 10 - 16, 2011
National Volunteer Week (Nationwide & Statewide) - National Volunteer Week, always held in the third week of April, has been celebrated annually since the 1970s. This opportunity is sponsored by Points of Light Institute. The 2011 theme is "Celebrating People In Action" and millions of Americans will volunteer this week and demonstrate the positive community impact that engaged individuals, families, businesses, and organizations create year-round. For more information, visit www.pointsoflight.org.
April 13, 2011
2011 Giving & Volunteering Celebration (Lansing, MI) - Join Michigan Nonprofit Association, the Michigan Community Service Commission, Michigan Campus Compact, Volunteer Centers of Michigan, Council of Michigan Foundations, and the Corporation for National and Community Service Michigan Office in a celebration honoring Michigan's giving and volunteering champions. The event will honor leaders in service including mayors and legislators, and will unveil the results of the 2010 Giving & Volunteering Report. To register, visit http://www.mnaonline.org/givingvolunteering.aspx.
April 15 - 17, 2011
Global Youth Service Day (Nationwide & Statewide) - The Michigan Community Service Commission and Learn and Serve - Michigan are excited to mobilize youth across the state through volunteerism this April as part of the 2011 Global Youth Service Day. This annual opportunity, held on April 15, 16, and 17, encourages children and youth to address the world's most critical issues by partnering with families, schools, community and faith-based organizations, businesses, and government. For more information, visit www.gysd.org.
April 20, 2011
6th Annual Nonprofit Management Conference (Troy, MI) - The Troy Chamber of Commerce and its Non-Profit Network are presenting the 6thAnnual Nonprofit Management Conference, sponsored by theTroy Chamber of CommerceandWalsh College. This affordable, day-long management conference is for nonprofit professionals, board members and volunteers. For more information, visit www.troychamber.com/non-profit-network.
May 10 & 11, 2011
Michigan Nonprofit SuperConference (Lansing, MI) - The Michigan Nonprofit SuperConference is the state's premier conference for nonprofit professionals. With a focus on the 12 Principles and Practices for Nonprofit Excellence in Michigan, Michigan Nonprofit Association provides innovative workshops from state and national experts on fund development, communications, public policy, governance, and more. Guided by energizing speakers, this conference is a great way to achieve your professional development goals while staying close to home. For more information, visit http://www.mnaonline.org/superconference.aspx.
May 14 - 21, 2011
2011 AmeriCorps Week (Nationwide & Statewide) - AmeriCorps Week provides an opportunity to shine a spotlight on the impact AmeriCorps members are having on communities across the country - and to motivate more Americans to join AmeriCorps or volunteer in their communities. For more information, visit www.americorpsweek.gov.
May 20 & 21, 2011
2011 Russ Mawby Signature Service Project (Grand Rapids, MI) - The Russ Mawby Signature Service Project is an annual event. Each year AmeriCorps members from all around Michigan join together for two days of training, teambuilding, and service. By the end of the second day, several projects are completed, visibly demonstrating the power of Michigan's AmeriCorps members in action. The 2011 Project will be held in Grand Rapids. More details will be available in the future at www.michigan.gov/mcsc.
May 23 & 24, 2011
CNCS Strategic Plan Discussion (Saginaw, MI) - The Corporation for National and Community Service released their new strategic plan for using national service to address critical challenges facing our communities and our nation this winter. Over the spring and summer they will be conducting discussions on this strategic plan with critical audiences in key Michigan communities. Registration instructions will soon be available at www.highimpactgrants.com.
June 6 - 8, 2011 SAVE-THE-DATE
National Conference on Volunteering and Service (New Orleans, LA) - Sponsored by the Corporation for National and Community Service, Points of Light Institute, HandsOn Network, and Target - make plans now to attend the world's largest gathering of volunteer leaders as service takes center stage. For more information, or to register click here.
July 11 & 12, 2011
CNCS Strategic Plan Discussion (Gaylord, MI) - The Corporation for National and Community Service released their new strategic plan for using national service to address critical challenges facing our communities and our nation this winter. Over the spring and summer they will be conducting discussions on this strategic plan with critical audiences in key Michigan communities. Registration instructions will soon be available at www.highimpactgrants.com.
July 18 & 19, 2011
CNCS Strategic Plan Discussion (Grand Rapids, MI) - The Corporation for National and Community Service released their new strategic plan for using national service to address critical challenges facing our communities and our nation this winter. Over the spring and summer they will be conducting discussions on this strategic plan with critical audiences in key Michigan communities. Registration instructions will soon be available at www.highimpactgrants.com.
August 1 & 2, 2011
CNCS Strategic Plan Discussion (Dearborn, MI) - The Corporation for National and Community Service released their new strategic plan for using national service to address critical challenges facing our communities and our nation this winter. Over the spring and summer they will be conducting discussions on this strategic plan with critical audiences in key Michigan communities. Registration instructions will soon be available at www.highimpactgrants.com.
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About the MCSC
The Michigan Community Service Commissionbuilds a culture of service by providing vision and resources to strengthen communities through volunteerism. In 2010-2011, the MCSC is granting nearly $10 million in federal funds to local communities for volunteer programs and activities. The MCSC is funding 26 AmeriCorps programs, 25 Learn and Serve programs, and seven Volunteer Michigan grantees. The Governor's Service Awards and Mentor Michigan are also premier programs of the MCSC.
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