AmeriCorps Week Recap: VIP Fellows in Action

CalSERVES VIP Fellows from around the state did some amazing work during AmeriCorps Week.   We got the word out, and showed our communities why AmeriCorps works.  From service projects, to official governmental recognitions, to our contest winners, our AmeriCorps Week efforts demonstrated our passion for service, and our valuable impact in communities throughout California.  I want to highlight some of the unique AmeriCorps Week activities at Jewish Family Service, Cal Poly, and here at CalSERVES.

VIP Fellows at Jewish Family Service of San Diego received recognition for their service by their U.S. House Representative Scott Peters, Assemblyman Brian Maienschein, and Senator Diane Feinstein!  Representatives from the Peters and Maienschein offices also attended a lovely luncheon put on by Margot Schein, VIP Leader at JFS, to show official public support for the program and their work.  At the luncheon, JFS CEO, Michael Hopkins, spoke about the value of service and volunteerism.  There was even a guest appearance from our Program Coordinator Lauren Serpa and Program Manager Sara Sitch who travelled all the way from Santa Rosa to attend the event during their program site visits. 

JFS VIPs at the AmeriCorps Week Luncheon, with Program staff Lauren Serpa and Sara Sitch

The VIP cohort at CalPoly SLO received an official proclamation from the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors recognizing AmeriCorps Week in the county.  They also spread the word to potential future AmeriCorps members while passing out AmeriCorps swag at a Farmer’s Market in downtown San Louis Obispo.

CalPoly SLO VIPs outside the county office with the AmeriCorps Week proclamation in hand.

The VIP team here at CalSERVES kicked off AmeriCorps Week with a service project, at VIP partner site Catholic Charities, where we cooked dinner for the sixty people staying at the organization’s Family Support Center. We also received a proclamation from the Mayor that recognized the collective impact of AmeriCorps in Santa Rosa. From tutoring at risk students, to homeless outreach, to family support networks, it was great to see the broad and meaningful impact of AmeriCorps service in our city being recognized by the City Council.

CalSERVES VIPs with other AmeriCorps members receiving a proclamation with the City Council. 

I’m glad to see our VIP program getting the word out and about. AmeriCorps service is a unique opportunity that is often challenging and unglamorous, but when we step back and realize our collective impact, it is clear that our service is important and invaluable to the individuals and communities we serve.

by Alex Rowan, Local VIP Leader at CalSERVES

Why not start early? How to get kids started in service:

In volunteering it’s all about the three C’s of compassion, caring and community. However, a fourth, and often-neglected ‘C’ could be the most valuable: children.

Research has shown that a positive volunteer experience when young will increase the likelihood of that individual continuing engagement as an adult. With the right approach, young people can directly benefit any nonprofit organization. For the youth willing to contribute their energy, proficiency with technology (including social media), and fresh ideas, the benefits their service are numerous.

Here are some ideas for getting children more involved in service:

• Focus on service learning:
• School groups or classes can volunteer together under the direct supervision of a teacher or adult. This can involve conducting an enrichment activity through student-led clubs for those with specific skill-sets, e.g. band members providing instrument lessons for the disabled, educating a retirement community about smartphones, or peer-to-peer groups focusing on anti-bullying techniques.
• Established youth organizations can offer a service project they complete as a unit/troop/team, under the supervision of the adult group leader. 
• Get the whole family involved.  Families can volunteer as a multi-generational unit, with parent involvement.  This works great on tasks like making crafts, creating artistic performances, preparing food (just no knives for the kids!), painting, cleaning, and other group activities that accommodate varying skill levels.
• Create a place for "helpers." Have certain duties set aside during community service projects in which kids can act as helpers.  At a food bank, "helpers" might include greeters at the door as volunteers or clients sign in.  In a nonprofit office, "helpers" can assist office workers by shredding paper, organizing desks, or picking up after activities.  Get creative and find roles that directly connect to someone else's role so that the child has some direct supervision.

Based on their skills and interests, children can be lend a hand on many projects. Empowering youth volunteers in social work and direct service is exactly what Craig Kielburger, founder of Free the Children, has set out to do. Kielburger was just 12 years old when he took action against child labor and exploitation in Pakistan. Now 30, he is an author and global activist for the rights of children. Check out this interview he did in 2010 in which he discusses the potential that every child can harness:

Are there opportunities for young individuals to contribute to your program?

This article was written by Cody Cibart, AmeriCorps VIP Statewide Leader at CalSERVES.

AmeriCorps Works... for our video contest winner!

Congratulations to our AmeriCorps Week video contest winner - the local CalSERVES VIP team!  This video speaks for itself - take a look at how AmeriCorps VIP and other programs are making a difference in the lives of the children in the Santa Rosa community.  Take a look on YouTube.

Note: if the dance sequence at the end of the video didn't make sense - take a look at the recent trend of Harlem Shake videos online!

We hope you all had a great AmeriCorps Week!

AmeriCorps Works... four final photo contest winners!

Today we get to announce our final two photo contest winners!  Take a look at these great shots:

Winner: Best Volunteer Photo

 

Our pick for Volunteer Photo comes from Luis Alberto, VIP Fellow at the Boys & Girls Club of Tustin through OneOC.  We love seeing young volunteers get excited about service!  Luis says, "This is Ori helping to make cupcakes for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tustin fundraiser."  

Winner: Best Overall Photo 

 We love this creative photo from VIP Fellow Nick Larson, and we've picked it as our Best Overall Photo!  Nick serves with The Link: Youth in Action through Cal Poly SLO.  Here is some of what Nick had to say about this photo:

"One of the most difficult populations with whom I have ever worked is eighth grade boys. I discovered this while taking a group of six middle school students on an overnight camping trip with students who are part of a gang prevention program for at-risk youth.  They were a group with very-little-to-no previous experience with activities like kayaking, hiking, and camping, not to mention being away from computers, tv, videogames, and phones. These boys were not perfect angels, but they showed up and participated gladly.  Two days and one night in the great outdoors definitely made an impact on them.  Two weeks later, they still talked about it.  The boys experienced something completely new, their faces revealed a light, and now there are new possibilities that life can bring them."

Congratulations to Luis and Nick!  You've got some prizes headed your way!

Now, hold on to the edge of your seat... our video contest winner will be announced next week...

AmeriCorps Works... for our (first 2) photo contest winners!

Thank you to all of the creative VIP Fellows who entered in to our AmeriCorps Week photo and video contest!  We're proud to announce a couple of our winners today... drumroll please!

Winner: Best Service Photo

VIP Fellow Amy Chi (left) with volunteers for Western Youth Services.

Our winning Service Photo comes from Amy Chi, VIP Fellow with Western Youth Services through OneOC.  Here's what Amy says about this picture:
"The name of this event is the Valentine's Day Card Project.   For a week Western Youth Services, a nonprofit mental health organization, coordinated a card project for Valentine's Day.  We wanted to provide an opportunity for the children who seek our services to work on a fun activity and to reflect on the meaning of the  holiday.  We were able to collect a large array of colorful, thoughtful, and very lovely slips [from the kids].  On Valentine's Day, we took all 241 slips over to Soka University in Aliso Viejo, where students volunteered their time and helped us turn all the slips into beautiful cards."

Winner: Best Member Photo

Our pick for Member Photo comes from Hannah Elliott, VIP Fellow with the Santa Cruz Community Counseling Center through Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz.  This picture depicts Hannah (on the far left, in her AmeriCorps gray T-shirt) with the group of volunteers that gathered to build a garden at Tyler House, a residential substance abuse recovery program for teens.

Congratulations, Amy and Hannah! Keep a lookout for some prizes coming your way in the near future!

Check out our blog tomorrow to see our final two photo contest winners... 

AmeriCorps Works... for those Made in AmeriCorps

Join AmeriCorps Alums in showcasing how individuals and communities have been "Made in AmeriCorps."  Get some tips on joining their effort here.

AmeriCorps Works... for individuals

Ever wonder why AmeriCorps works?  Take a look at "Woodlande's Story" for a little piece of what makes AmeriCorps so impactful.

Gear up for AmeriCorps Week!

AmeriCorps Week starts this Saturday!  Are you ready?

It's still not too late to make plans to honor and spread the word about all of the great work that is done through AmeriCorps.  Check out the AmeriCorps Week website to order materials, get resources, and learn some fast facts about AmeriCorps, like these:

• 800,000: Number of individuals who have served as AmeriCorps members since 1994.
• 1 Billion: Total number of hours served by AmeriCorps members.
• 4 Million: Number of community volunteers managed or mobilized by AmeriCorps members in 2012.