The Service News Digest is a regular feature on the Serve.gov blog. In this series, we showcase articles that feature national service and Corporation for National and Community Service programs. Take a look at some of the great stories that had people talking recently.
AmeriCorps
Conserving, one step at a time
The Citizens' Voice (Pennsylvania), March 18, 2013
Tiffany Welch, 25, is a member of AmeriCorps, a government civil service program that does work in areas such as education, conservation and housing. She and her colleagues clamp into the breaker box and install a transmitter for a wireless energy display that will allow the resident to monitor her energy use, and more importantly, how much money she is spending.
School crisis teams ready to respond
UT San Diego (California), March 25, 2013
Buchheit was one of 11 counselors and psychologists from the county office who went to El Camino High School and Cesar Chavez Middle School on March 14. The team augmented the schools' own counselors and psychologists and volunteers from the Promoting Achievement and Student Success (PASS) AmeriCorps program.
Low-income families in mountains get boost from Habitat for Humanity
The Denver Post - Online (Colorado), March 25, 2013
Blue Spruce Habitat for Humanity is branching out to other areas in the mountains. With three houses being erected in Evergreen and three more in the planning stage, the nonprofit also is in the design phase for a house in Idaho Springs. […] Cyndy Cservenyak, an AmeriCorps volunteer, works on outreach and also coordinates volunteers for build days.
Minnesota Reading Corps helps her give back to the community
Park Bugle (Minnesota), March 25, 2013
Minnesota Reading Corps is a research-based AmeriCorps program targeted at Minnesota students from age 3 through third grade with the goal of helping ensure all Minnesota children are on track to reading proficiency by the end of third grade. I work one-on-one daily with my students, monitor their progress weekly and have a file full of graphs to show their growth that I can share with their teachers. It's inspiring to see the number of letter sounds or words they can read in a minute increasing each week.
AmeriCorps Project Conserve tours Polk County farms
Tryon Daily Bulletin – Online (North Carolina), March 25, 2013
Project Conserve is an AmeriCorps program unique to western North Carolina, and members are placed at host sites that focus on land conservation, water quality, energy conservation, and local food and farmland initiatives.
Two serve Macoupin County through AmeriCorps
State Journal-Register - Online (Illinois), March 24, 2013
Alexandria “Alex” Boles, one of two people serving a stint at the Macoupin County Public Health Department as a member of the AmeriCorps service program, has found her duties to be an eye-opener when it comes to working with domestic violence victims.
Homeless role-playing event draws attention to Grand Rapids' housing challenges
MLive.com (Michigan), March 21, 2013
Michigan's Campaign to End Homelessness and AmeriCorps are teaming up for a simulation designed to raise awareness of the challenges many people face in obtaining affordable housing.
Rebuild Joplin celebrates opening of 59th house
Joplin Globe - Online (Missouri), March 20, 2013
“Once they got out of that immediate crisis mode, they looked at what was the biggest need, and the biggest need was housing,” she said. Rebuild Joplin now operates with a paid staff of eight to 10, and a volunteer staff from AmeriCorps of about 35 to 40, Finnie said.
A Place to Power Up: Technology and Teamwork
Edutopia (California), March 19, 2013
Through one of its many partnerships, PowerUP has teamed with the national AmeriCorps VISTA program to provide two staffers for each new center. These individuals work closely with the staff of partnering organizations to ensure that computer-related activities are coordinated with other programs for youth.
Build-a-Bed project responds to needs of county children
Tribune Courier - Online (Kentucky), March 18, 2013
Thirty or more Marshall County children will be sleeping in new beds this year, thanks to the Build-a-Bed project. Debbie Proctor, a reading and math interventional teacher at Jonathan Elementary School, is a member of AmeriCorps. She and other AmeriCorps teachers in the county have selected Build-a-Bed as their service project.
AmeriCorps NCCC
Raven 5 team swoops in to do good works
The Meadville Tribune (Pennsylvania), March 25, 2013
The Adopt a Roof program is moving slowly but surely after winter storms grounded National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) team Raven 5, expected to complete 15 roofing projects by mid-April.
AmeriCorps VISTA
Storm recovery VISTA shares her experiences
The Daily Mountain Eagle - Online (Alabama), March 23, 2013
A month in Walker County wasn't enough for Karen Neupauer. Neupauer, who spoke to the Rotary Club of Jasper this week, is a native of Lancaster, Pa., who is currently assisting with long-term recovery efforts as an AmeriCorps VISTA. Neupauer had a successful career in the construction industry before a slowdown in the economy inspired her to dedicate more time to disaster relief.
Senior Corps: RSVP
Help with legal matters readily available
Centre Daily Times (Pennsylvania), March 25, 2013
According to Taylor, the Retired Senior Volunteer Program assists with income tax preparation for low- to middle-income taxpayers. Through the sponsorship of the county commissioners, the RSVP and Penn State, free tax help is available in Centre County. An IRS effort called the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program also offers free tax help to low-to-moderate income individuals/families that generally fall lower than $51,000 combined household income.
RSVP celebrates 40th anniversary
The News-Courier - Online (Alabama), March 23, 2013
Dr. Sidney Sandridge, former president of Athens State College wrote the first RSVP grant for Limestone County in 1973. Today, RSVP has 381 active volunteers serving more than 145,000 hours annually working with 55 volunteer stations.
Veterans and Military Families
National Guard Kicks Off 'Joining Community Forces'
TheBayNet.com (Maryland), March 24, 2013
The National Guard Bureau recently signed an agreement with the Corporation for National and Community Service to work together to develop and mature a network of support in the three critical areas of employment, wellness, and education. Watson said the CNCS already has dedicated more than 100 members of Volunteers in Service to America to help develop and foster this critical network of support at the local level across the United States.
City Year
City Year hopes to improve education in South LA
Intersections South LA (California), March 18, 2013
Over 200,000 South LA residents do not have a high school diploma according to the 2000 census. City Year, a non-profit organization that partners with public schools to help students succeed, hopes to change this.
