ct americorps monthly - january
DESCRIPTION
Volume 1, Issue 1TRANSCRIPT
Ct AMERICORPS monthly
Getting Things Done
In Connecticut
Interested in submi ng an ar cle or upcoming event for next
month’s issue?
Contact the editors at: [email protected] Ar cles are due the 25th of every
month
Inside this issue:
AmeriCorps Launch Recap 1
Alumni Spotlight 2
InterCorps CT Reminder 2
CT Campus Compact 3
New Haven Educa on
AmeriCorps VISTA Project 3
Hands on Har ord 4
VISTA Grantwri ng 4
MLK Day Reminder 4
Project Successes 5
Wendy Spencer, CEO of the Corpora on for Na onal and Community Service Swears In Members at AmeriCorps Launch On November 7, over 330 Members who commi ed to a year of service a ended an AmeriCorps Launch to receive training and leave inspired to con nue serving. Special guest, Wendy Spencer felt the energy and tweeted:
Melissa Georges, Training Officer was in awe by the posi ve feedback received from the event and states, “The biggest take away was when AmeriCorps Members realized that AmeriCorps is much larger than the service they do in their communi es. AmeriCorps Launch allowed Members of all ages and backgrounds to see the different projects and ini a ves occurring throughout the state which seemed to inspire and mo vate them.” Members and staff took part in several training workshops on topics including diversity, disability and inclusion, conflict resolu on, and communica on styles. Par cipa ng organiza ons included: MYO AmeriCorps, CT AHEC Network AmeriCorps Program, FoodCorps Connec cut, Public Allies Connec cut, Teach for America, AmeriCorps Collegiate Development Program, Experience Corps, Green Crew, Waterbury AmeriCorps, and AmeriCorps VISTA.
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 CREATED BY INTERCORPS CT COUNCIL JANUARY 2014
Photograph from CT Office of Higher Educa on
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What’s the latest news on your service project? Tweet about your latest ini a ves and efforts!
#ServeCT
Share your Story — Send an ar cle for next month’s newsle er at:
[email protected] Submissions are due no later than the 20th of every month
Inform us on events that AmeriCorps Members and community partners can a end Post photos and statuses on Facebook to keep everyone posted!
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ALUMNISPOTLIGHTChris na Honeycu Strengthens Passion
to Help Others with AmeriCorps VISTA
A er dedica ng two spring break trips during her undergraduate year towards service, Chris na couldn’t get enough of helping others. She had friends who served with AmeriCorps and was fascinated by the impact they le in their given communi es. This is when Chris na decided to devote one year of service to AmeriCorps VISTA
with Connec cut Campus Compact.
VISTA allowed Chris na to understand the deep poverty related issues that Americans face. “I was unfamiliar before; coming from a small town in
New Hampshire. I also learned a lot about poverty from the discussions and workshops at
Pre‐Service Orienta on (PSO),” she says.
One of Chris na’s fondest memories as a VISTA was when University of Har ord’s Student
Government Associa on asked for her assistance with forming a campus‐wide service day,
consis ng of students working on projects at churches, shelters, and other non‐profits in the
Har ord area. She enjoyed how students included her on their vision and referrals to the most fi ng community partners. The event was called, “Hawks Helping Har ord” and has been
an annual tradi on ever since her term of service.
A er her VISTA year, Chris na worked at CT Associa on of Nonprofits as a Training and
Membership Services Coordinator before then being hired on as the University of Har ord’s Assistant Director of Community Service and Student Conduct. Chris na is
currently the Program Assistant at UConn for the Office of Community Outreach.
Chris na found networking a key benefit when
serving. Her words of advice for current members include, “Take advantage of all the
resources you can get your hands on –your fellow VISTAs, community partners, supervisors, and
community members. A er AmeriCorps, con nue taking advantage of its resources. AmeriCorps Alums is a con nuously growing
network of professionals eager to serve, be sure to find your local chapter a er your year of
service.”
CT Campus Compact VISTA Member Leads a Post Graduate Service Panel Submi ed by: Alix Lawson On November 18, Alix Lawson, the AmeriCorps VISTA with the Academic Service‐Learning Office at the University of New Haven, held a Post Graduate Service Panel including panelists from AmeriCorps NCCC, AmeriCorps VISTA, Public Allies and the Peace Corps. Students were able to hear about the panelists’ service experiences and how service impacted their lives. Students learned about the benefits and requirements for each organiza on. Each panelist agreed that their term of service helped them find a career path, obtain real‐world experience while suppor ng public needs, and develop stable networks and friendships that last beyond the service year.
New Haven Educa on AmeriCorps VISTA Project Team Brings Hope to Residents Submi ed by Katherine Candio and Carol Hazle At the New Haven Educa on AmeriCorps VISTA Project, sponsored by the Agency on Aging of South Central Connec cut, not only are we proud of our mem‐bers for embracing the 24/7 service pledge, but we are grateful for their generous hearts and spirit of enthusiasm when going the extra mile through to volunteer as a team at addi onal service projects. In November, we collaborated with Neighborhood Housing Services (NHS) of New Haven to plan a service project right here in our community. NHS has a client who has worked on his house repairs for several months now. 16 of our members joined forces and painted three rooms in the upstairs apartment, stained wooden cabinets in the kitchen, sanded and stained the wooden fence and ramp leading up to the house. They also assisted him with an applica on to receive funding to go toward needed renova ons on his home, which he has owned for 40 plus years. Unfortunately, he fell off the ladder and put himself out of commission for about four months. The renova ons to the house were necessary not only for the sake of him and his wife who live in the house, but also for the future tenants he plans to seek out to u lize an upper floor unit. Now, as he prepares to make the necessary updates in order to qualify for Sec on 8 inspec on, NHS helps out by bringing volun‐teer groups to assist in indoor and outdoor improvements. For more informa on about NHS please visit: www.nhsofnewhaven.org. Facebook: www.facebook.com/newhaveneduca onproject
Photograph submi ed by VISTA Leader, Katherine Candio
Photograph submi ed by VISTA Member, Alix Lawson
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THEULTIMATEMEASUREOFAMANISNOTWHEREHESTANDSINMOMENTSOFCOMFORTANDCONVENIENCE,BUTWHEREHESTANDSATTIMESOFCHALLENGEANDCONTROVERSY.
‐MARTINLUTHERKING,JR.
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Hands on Hartford Outreaches Endlessly During NATIONAL HUNGER AND HOMELESSNESS AWARENESS WEEK
Imagine not having a warm house at the end of the night, waiting in line at a homeless shelter, hoping there is enough room available for you and your family; having to miss supper because you needed to choose between receiving shelter or a meal. This is the reality of the homeless community in Hartford. From November 16 to November 24, Hands on Hartford gave their all towards educating the community on the issues, struggles, and misconceptions the homeless face on a daily basis. The week included guest speakers from The Faces of Homelessness Speakers’ Bureau — comprised of people who are or have been homeless and works to educate the public about homelessness and what can be done to end it. Nearly 400 people participated in the six events Hands on Hartford planned throughout the week; including the Day of Sharing and Caring — to honor and support individuals facing homelessness and food insecurity featuring meals to feed up to 200 guests, music, poetry, a mini resource fair with 50 volunteers and vendors, firsthand experiences, 125 gift bags, and 18 raffle prizes.
AmeriCorps VISTAs Receive Specialized Training in Grant Wri ng Diane Gedeon‐Mar n is a na onally recognized consultant and instructor with over 22 years of experience in the area of grants and grant seeking for nonprofit organiza ons. Since star ng The
Write Source in 1993, she has worked with over 230 clients in 25 states and Washington, DC to help them secure grants to further their missions.
On November 22, Ms. Gedeon‐Mar n shared with over 30 AmeriCorps VISTA the latest grant wri ng trends, ps and tricks; and provided an overview of the en re grant wri ng process with resources
to bring home.
JoinAmeriCorpsMembersthroughoutthenationonJanuary20asWeServeinHonorofMLKDay MartinLutherKingDayisanationaldayofservice SendInterCorpsCTanarticleaboutyourdayofservicefornextmonth’sissue Needhelp [email protected]!
Photograph submi ed by Tracy Choomack
DID YOU KNOW... In the past three months, AmeriCorps VISTA members serving with the New Haven Educa on AmeriCorps VISTA project recruited
more than 200 volunteers, who contributed close to 2,000 hours of service to New Haven Reads, New Haven Public Schools, and other educa onal ins tu ons and organiza ons. Members also organized 12 outreach events, created databases and communica ons tools, and assisted in grant wri ng ac vi es that resulted in almost $200,000 in funds raised.
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AmeriCorpsLaunch
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RSVP (Re red and Senior Volunteer Program) Passionately Helps Children Six RSVP volunteers serving with the RSVP of Greater Har ord are conduc ng a series of eight one‐hour health educa on and fitness classes for 120 children in grades K‐2 and 3‐5 at three schools. The program, called CATCH, Coordinated Approach to Child Health, runs from September 18 through November 8 and teaches children how to iden fy healthy snacks, how to add fruits and vegetables to their diets, and how to make fitness fun.
AMERICORPS VISTA EVENT SECURES A MEDIA HIT Maximize Your Service Year, a workshop held on September 23 at Goodwin College in East Har ord, drew 45 AmeriCorps VISTA members for a day of training that included presenta ons by VISTA alumni and VISTA Leaders. A news release prepared by one of the VISTAs appeared on the Har ord Courant Web site: h p://www.courant.com/community/rocky‐hill/hcrs‐80149‐greater‐har ord‐20130925,0,1364670.story
CT Campus Compact AmeriCorps VISTA Team Results from July to September 2013: Engage 1,100 youth in a er school programming Involve 186 youth in a mentoring program, to bring
more involvement amongst children at school. So far, there is data proving that 32% of par cipants have been ac vely engaged in the program and show progress at school
Expose 200 youth (16 ‐ 20 years old) to summer internship opportuni es through workshops, a er‐school programs, and field trips Recruit 544 college students for service events Manage 620 community volunteers and students