Governor Jennifer Granholm has declared the week of May 8 through May 15, 2010, as Michigan’s AmeriCorps Week. AmeriCorps Week provides an opportunity to shine a spotlight on the great service being done by AmeriCorps members across our state during this fourth annual celebration.
AmeriCorps Week is a recruitment and recognition campaign designed to involve more Americans in service, salute AmeriCorps members and alums for their powerful impact, and thank the community partners who make AmeriCorps possible. The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act has set a bold vision of expansion, impact, and innovation for AmeriCorps, and momentum for national service has never been stronger.
As part of a nationwide effort, AmeriCorps Week events and opportunities that showcase the power of service and educate key stakeholders are happening across the country. They include statewide AmeriCorps gatherings, “AmeriCorps for a Day” events with local VIPS, community service projects, recruitment fairs, and more. This year, the Michigan’s AmeriCorps Russ Mawby Signature Service Project will serve as Michigan’s AmeriCorps Week closing event. The Signature Service Project, taking place on May 14 and 15 will bring together more than 250 AmeriCorps members to assist with various service projects in Kalamazoo’s Northside neighborhood. This unique event is coordinated by Kalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity, Inc., Habitat for Humanity of Michigan, and the Michigan Community Service Commission.
“Now is the time to recognize the value and the impact of AmeriCorps members across the state of Michigan,” said Paula Kaiser VanDam, Executive Director of the Michigan Community Service Commission. “Every day, their service is tackling critical community issues including health care, affordable housing, illiteracy, the environment, and much more.”
To celebrate the 2010 AmeriCorps Week, activities are happening all over Michigan including Detroit, Grand Rapids, Houghton, Jackson, Lansing, and Petoskey. Projects range in scope from community park clean-ups, a Celebration of Service breakfast, native plant gardening, and book drives. All projects will showcase the power of AmeriCorps members and alumni and educate the public about the role, impact, and importance of AmeriCorps in our communities.
Michigan’s AmeriCorps programs are housed within nonprofit, public agencies, faith-based, and other community organizations. Each program sets its own goals to help meet local education, public safety, environmental, and human needs. The host organizations receive federal funding from the Michigan Community Service Commission to recruit, place, and support AmeriCorps members. These members serve full- or part-time for at least one year to help meet the goals defined by each program.
In 2009-2010, more than 1,200 AmeriCorps members will impact Michigan and its communities through 372 nonprofits. These members help mentor youth, provide housing resources, assist medically uninsured residents with gaining affordable healthcare services, respond to local and national disasters, and much more.
In a recent report released by the MCSC, 2009 Michigan’s AmeriCorps members:
* Completed more than 628,000 hours of service and training.
* Recruited more than 22,500 volunteers who served more than 135,000 hours.
* Impacted more than 110,000 students, citizens, and volunteers.
BACKGROUND:
AmeriCorps is commonly described at the “domestic Peace Corps.” Individuals, called members, commit to a specific term of service-usually one year-and are housed in nonprofit organizations, schools or other agencies. Members range in age from 17 to 70+ years of age and represent a wide spectrum of other demographics. Upon successful completion of their service, members earn an education award to pay for college, graduate school, or to pay back qualified student loans. During their service, members may also be eligible to receive a modest living allowance, health insurance, childcare, and student loan deferment. Michigan’s AmeriCorps, administered by the Michigan Community Service Commission, currently has 19 AmeriCorps programs and engages more than 1,200 members.
The Michigan Community Service Commission builds a culture of service by providing vision and resources to strengthen communities through volunteerism. In 2009-10, the MCSC is granting more than $8.5 million in federal funds to local communities for volunteer programs and activities. The MCSC is funding 19 AmeriCorps programs and 20 Learn and Serve programs. The Governor’s Service Awards and Mentor Michigan are also premier programs of the MCSC. The MCSC is housed in the Michigan Department of Human Services, whose mission is to assist children, families, and vulnerable adults to be safe, stable, and self-supporting. The Corporation for National and Community Service grants the federal funding the MCSC administers.
Source: News release from Governor Jennifer Granholm
