Santa Rosa Area AmeriCorps members recognized for AmeriCorps Week

For AmeriCorps Week last month, CalSERVES VIPs took an active role in the community through service and by spreading the word about AmeriCorps’ Impact in Santa Rosa.  We began the week with a service project at VIP partner site Catholic Charities.  Our VIP team cooked dinner for over 60 people staying at the organizations Family Support Center.  Items on the menu included mama’s fried chicken, pappy’s homemade mashed potatoes, and salad.  Our team had a great experience working together to cook the meal, and also to serve it to the families at the center.  

 CalSERVES VIP Fellows preparing dinner at Catholic Charities

 

Our VIP team didn’t stop there; we also received a proclamation from the mayor that recognizes the impact of AmeriCorps in Santa Rosa.  When we drafted the proclamation, we didn’t only want to recognize the role of VIP in Santa Rosa, we wanted to highlight the role of all AmeriCorps members.  So we went in search of the numerous AmeriCorps members at organizations throughout Santa Rosa in an effort to bring us together and recognize our collective impact in the community.  

AmeriCorps members after receiving a proclamation from Santa Rosa Mayor Scott Bartley

Local VIP Leader, Alex Rowan, accompanied by six other AmeriCorps members, received the proclamation and gave a compelling speech to the City Council that gave an overview of the collective service efforts of all AmeriCorps members in Santa Rosa. From tutoring at risk students, to homeless outreach, to gang prevention, to family support networks, to energy independence, it was great to see the broad and meaningful impact of AmeriCorps service in our city.

Alex Rowan, Local Leader, delivering a speech about AmeriCorps impact in Santa Rosa