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CELEBRATING & SALUTING
SERVICE IN OUR STATE
Throughout the month of April, service and volunteerism in the United States were celebrated in a big way. From the first-ever Mayors Day of Recognition for National Service to National Volunteer Week and the largest service event in the word, the spotlight shown brightly this past month on those who give their time and talent. Across our own state, the Michigan Community Service Commission joined with countless organizations to recognize, thank, and serve alongside Michigan's many volunteers; marking the month with multiple Mayors Day of Recognition events, Michigan Volunteer Week, and nearly 100 Global Youth Service Day projects. Read on to learn more about the many ways national service and volunteerism in Michigan were celebrated in April.
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Mayors Day  Illustrates Wide National Service Support
On Tuesday April 9, 2013, the first-ever Mayors Day of Recognition for National Service united mayors across the country to spotlight the impact of national service and honor those who serve. Led by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the event helped local officials recognize the work that AmeriCorps members and Senior Corps volunteers are doing to make cities better and stronger. In total, 832 mayors participated, representing all 50 states and nearly one-third of all Americans.
In Michigan, the Mayors Day of Recognition for National Service was celebrated by 11 Michigan mayors, including: Dave Bing (Detroit), George Heartwell (Grand Rapids), Dayne Walling (Flint), Virg Bernero (Lansing), Brenda Lawrence (Southfield), John Jenkins (Gaylord), Steve Gawron (Muskegon) Bobby Hopewill (Kalamazoo), Michael LePage(Pigeon), Paula Zelenko (Burton), and James Cronin (Yale). The CNCS-Michigan office helped to secure this wide-spread participation and provided assistance with proclamations, events, service projects, and more.
The Mayors Day of Recognition activities were especially dynamic in Flint, where Mayor Dayne Walling, a former AmeriCorps member himself, marked the occasion with a full day of events. Beginning with a roundtable discussion between community members and national service participants, Mayor Walling focused on how national service can be used as an effective and targeted approach to some of the city's most pressing issues. Following the roundtable, Mayor Walling hosted an awards luncheon honoring national service champions, and completed the day with visits to two national service sites: the Foster Grandparent and Retired and Senior Volunteer Programs at Richfield Public School Academy and then the AmeriCorps*VISTA members at the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Flint. "None of you are in this line of work [service] or role for credit," commented Mayor Walling. "But I know you do this with seriousness and dedication that allows this work to be successful."
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 Michigan Volunteer Week Marks Statewide Celebration of Service
Joining in the day's activities to celebrate and thank Michigan volunteers and philanthropists was Governor Rick Snyder, who presented the keynote address. During his remarks, Governor Snyder unveiled the MCSC's innovative new statewide portal, Volunteer Michigan, which offers volunteers across the state a one-stop-shop for finding volunteer opportunities. Snyder also launched an exciting pay-it-forward social media campaign, #MIGoodDeeds, which encourages state residents to do good deeds and acts of kindness now through May 17 and to share them online.
The annual Giving and Volunteering Celebration also featured several award presentations, including the 2013 Outstanding AmeriCorps Alum and Outstanding Senior Corps Volunteer Awards, which were presented to Barbara Ernsberger of Port Huron and Art Nichols of Kalamazoo, respectively. Also presented were the 2013 Nonprofit Champion, 2013 Engaged Campus of the Year, and the 2013 Volunteer Center of the Year Awards. During the event, the inaugural Michigan Civic Health Index was also revealed for the first time. This report examines the attitudes and behaviors of Michiganders in regards to important civic health activities including voting, volunteering, and charitable giving. Key findings of the report included more than 2 million Michigan volunteers in 2011. These volunteers provided more than 233 million hours of volunteer service, a contribution valued at more than $5 billion.
For more information about the Giving and Volunteering event, including award winners, read the complete press release.
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 GYSD Shines Spotlight on Youth Service
On April 26-28, young people in more than 100 countries participated in the largest service event in the world: Global Youth Service Day (GYSD). GYSD celebrates the millions of young people who improve their communities each day through service by mobilizing them together on one unique day. Created in 1988, the service event is celebrated across the globe and reached record-breaking heights in 2013 with events in 135 countries. Michigan youth were especially active on GYSD 2013, with nearly 100 registered projects across the state - the fourth highest number in all 50 states! From schools to scout troops, community clubs to businesses, youth throughout Michigan participated in GYSD 2013. To help young people in the Bellaire community learn to address issues through service, the Antrim Conservation District and Huron Pines AmeriCorps program hosted a GYSD service project on April 26. With the help of 15 volunteers, more than half of which were youth, the group built three raised garden beds at the Bellaire Senior Center. These garden beds will be used to grow vegetables and herbs that will be harvested for use in the center's cafeteria. In addition to enlisting the help of local youth, the service project also sought volunteers from Grand Traverse Industries, an organization that provides persons with disabilities with volunteer opportunities to help them become more independent. Back to top |
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Has April's month-long celebration of service inspired you to answer your own call to serve? Many volunteer opportunities exist across the state - find one that matches your unique skills, interests, and availability! Use our new, exciting online volunteer portal, Volunteer Michigan, to search for opportunities in your community.
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About the MCSC
The Michigan Community Service Commission builds a culture of service by providing vision and resources to strengthen communities through volunteerism. In 2012-2013, the MCSC is granting more than $7.5 million in federal funds to local communities for volunteer programs and activities. The MCSC is funding 23 AmeriCorps programs and six Volunteer Michigan grantees. The Governor's Service Awards and Mentor Michigan are also premier programs of the MCSC.
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