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2011 AmeriCorps Week
May 14 - 21 


In This Issue
Answers to AmeriCorps Week questions
2010 AmeriCorps Week in Michigan
Upcoming AmeriCorps Week service projects
Quick Links

 


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National AmeriCorps Week

Your AmeriCorps Week Questions Answered
AmeriCorps Week

 

What is AmeriCorps Week?  
AmeriCorps Week is a recruitment and recognition event designed to bring more Americans into service, salute AmeriCorps members and alums for their powerful impact, and thank the community partners who make AmeriCorps possible. AmeriCorps Week provides an opportunity for AmeriCorps members, alums, grantees, program partners, and friends to shine a spotlight on the service done by members in communities across the country - and to motivate more Americans to join AmeriCorps or volunteer in their communities.

 

When is AmeriCorps Week?     

The fourth annual AmeriCorps Week will take place May 14-21, 2011.

 

What Activities are Planned?   
AmeriCorps Week events are happening across the country. They include statewide AmeriCorps gatherings, award ceremonies, "AmeriCorps for a Day" events with local community leaders, community service projects, recruitment fairs, and more. 

What Resources are Available for AmeriCorps Week? 
Check out the resources the Michigan Community Service Commission has made available by visiting
http://www.michigan.gov/mcsc/0,1607,7-137-8074_49726-212063--,00.html. The Corporation for National and Community Service also has resources available by visiting http://www.americorpsweek.gov.
What is AmeriCorps?
AmeriCorps Logo

AmeriCorps is commonly described as the domestic Peace Corps. Individuals, called members, commit to a specific term of service (usually one year) and are housed in nonprofit organizations, schools, or other agencies. Members range in age from 17 to 70+ years and represent a wide spectrum of other demographics.  Upon successful completion of their service, members earn an education award to pay for college, graduate school, or to pay back qualified student loans. During their service, members may also be eligible to receive a modest living allowance, health insurance, childcare, and student loan deferment. More than 620,000 AmeriCorps members have helped recruit, train, and supervise community volunteers, tutor and mentor youth, build affordable housing, teach computer skills, clean parks and streams, run after-school programs, respond to disasters, and build the capacity of faith-based and community organizations since 1994. Together with the federal initiatives Senior Corps and Learn and Serve America, AmeriCorps is meeting critical needs in communities and promoting civic participation.


For more information, visit www.americorps.gov.

 


Michigan's AmeriCorps Week

Michigan Gears Up for 2011 AmeriCorps Week
2010 Signature Service Project
Michigan is proud to engage AmeriCorps programs and members, community members, volunteers, elected officials, and others in the annual AmeriCorps Week. There are several exciting opportunities planned for 2011 to highlight the importance and value of service - check them out!

 

Signature Service Project

This year, the Michigan's AmeriCorps Russ Mawby Signature Service Project will serve as the state's AmeriCorps Week closing event. The Signature Service Project, taking place on May 20 and 21, will bring together more than 350 AmeriCorps members to do service in Grand Rapids. Project sites include the Wealthy Heights Neighborhood and several Grand Rapids public parks. By the end of the two days, many projects will be completed, visibly demonstrating the impact of AmeriCorps members in action. This year's event is a partnership of the American Red Cross of Greater Grand Rapids, Elemental Media, Friends of Grand Rapids Parks, Habitat for Humanity of Kent County, and the Michigan Community Service Commission.

 

For more information on the 2011 Signature Service Project, visit http://mi-ssp.com.

 

Michigan's AmeriCorps Week Service Projects
AmeriCorps Week
Governor Rick Snyder has declared the week of May 14, 2011, as Michigan's AmeriCorps Week. AmeriCorps members from all across Michigan will be engaged in various service projects as they aim to "get things done" for their local communities and throughout America.

 

2011 AmeriCorps Week activities have been planned for Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Manistique, and other locations throughout Michigan. Examples of specific projects include:

 

Fifth Annual Metro Detroit AmeriCorps Celebration - Detroit   

All Detroit-based Michigan's AmeriCorps programs will unite to celebrate the 5th Annual AmeriCorps Week. More than 300 members will visit the Brightmore community on Monday, May 16 to tear down a home, clean up three parks, install new playground equipment, board up abandoned homes, and install a senior community garden.    

 

Disaster Awareness Peoples Symposium - Lansing

Members from the Together We Prepare AmeriCorps Program who serve in Lansing will coordinate the Disaster Awareness Peoples Symposium for Saturday, May 14. The Symposium will be a way for community members of the Lansing and its surrounding areas to not only realize, but utilize the many wonderful resources that are already available to them.

 

Step Up Greater Lansing - Lansing

AmeriCorps members have challenged Greater Lansing residents to step up on Saturday, May 14 and show their pride in the area on this community-wide day of service. Projects will be occurring across the city. 

 

For additional project examples, click here to view a detailed spreadsheet online. 

 


Service Spotlight

To honor the great impact of Michigan's AmeriCorps members across the state - we'd like to share a special story with you about a former member who served with the Power of We Consortium AmeriCorps Project.

An Alum is still "Getting Things Done"

Alex Bryan has been all over the country, and parts of the world, exploring personal and professional opportunities that interest him. Alex BryanThese opportunities have included studying environmental science and outdoor education in New Zealand, working as a construction manager in Turkey, farming in Colorado, working in the food industry in New Hampshire, and finally settling back in his home state of Michigan.

It was this final move, made in an effort to invest in the local economy and the community he was raised in, that has set Alex on a path for his future.

"I strongly believe we should invest in the communities we come from," he explains. "It's a luxury that we can choose to leave - but it's not always the best option."

Upon his return to Mid-Michigan, Alex began serving as an AmeriCorps member with the Power of We Consortium Project. Power of We members are placed at different host sites in the Greater Lansing area to focus on two key project goals: 1) creating, expanding, and/or maintaining trails, greenways, parks, and non-motorized transportation options; or 2) creating, expanding, and/or maintaining community gardens, sustainable food systems, and access to healthy foods. Alex was placed at the Greater Lansing Food Bank where he served as the volunteer and outreach coordinator.

"Serving with a food bank fit the passion I have for food. I used to think it was all just about growing food - but now food justice is really my passion."   
As part of Alex's service with the Greater Lansing Food Bank, he strived to develop a formal volunteer program for the organization that would allow for consistent tracking of the efforts of those who serve. His efforts were so helpful that as his AmeriCorps service was winding down the Food Bank sought a way to incorporate Alex into their full-time staff. The result? He now wears multiple hats at an organization he's proud to be a part of.

In his full-time capacity Alex still helps with volunteer coordination and outreach, as well as providing IT support and graphic design and assisting in planning conferences and events for the Food Bank. He believes he owes his new-found career to the experience AmeriCorps afforded him.

"It's hard to say if I would have been given this opportunity without AmeriCorps as my background," he says. "AmeriCorps provides organizations an opportunity to work on capacity building that can lead to more permanent jobs."

Alex is just one example of the many opportunities AmeriCorps provides the citizens of Michigan - both in recommitting them to the communities of our state and helping them develop marketable skills that can lead to gainful employment.

For more information on the Greater Lansing Food Bank, visit www.greaterlansingfoodbank.org.

 

 

AmeriCorps Alums has new Executive Director

AmeriCorps Alums, the organization run by national service alumni for alumni, recently announced it has a new executive director.  Ben DudaAmeriCorps Alums joins AmeriCorps Alums in their efforts to help those who served with education, leading and serving, special days of service, and much more!

Prior to becoming the executive director, Ben spent the past five years working at KaBoom as Manager of Projects to the CEO and as a Senior Programs Manager. His involvement with AmeriCorps is extensive having served as a NCCC member and Team Leader and with Citizen Schools as part of their two-year Teaching Fellowship.

Ben says he is looking forward to deepening the collaboratives and elevating the profile of AmeriCorps Alums. He is looking for input from the chapter network and is welcoming emails at [email protected].

For more information on AmeriCorps Alums, visit
www.americorpsalums.org.

 

 


Calendar of Events

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 at http://mi-ssp.com.  

 

CNCS Regional Training Sessions - "Your National Service Program: More Money, More Mission!"   

The Corporation for National and Community Service state office in Detroitwould like to offer all national service program staff a unique opportunity to help grow and sustain your program. The office is sponsoring and coordinating four regional sessionscalled "Your National Service Program: More Money, More Mission!" specifically designed for national service project directors and program staff. For more information, call (313) 226-3024.

  • May 23 & 24, 2011 - Saginaw, MI
  • July 11 & 12, 2011 - Gaylord, MI
  • July 18 & 19, 2011 - Grand Rapids, MI

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    


September 11, 2011
National Day of Service & Remembrance - Nationwide  

Thanks to the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, September 11 was officially established as a National Day of Service and Remembrance. For the third year, citizens across the country will engage in service projects in their communities. For more information, visit
http://www.911day.org.

 


Opportunities

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.

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 LeaderCorps member 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.


AmeriCorps Alums

AmeriCorps Alums is run by national service alumni for alumni and can offer help to those who served with education, leading and serving, special days of service, and much more! AmeriCorps Alums is a great network of individuals aimed at supporting fellow AmeriCorps members. For more information, visit www.americorpsalums.org.

 

About the MCSC 
The Michigan Community Service Commission builds 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.

www.michigan.gov/mcsc