AmeriCorps NCCC

Smiles and Tears

noreply@blogger.com (AmeriCorps NCCC) — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:22:00 +0000

Raven 1’s first round project was a “split round,” which means the length of the project round was split over two (or more) locations. Raven 1 started in Winterthur, Delaware and then went to Danbury, Connecticut to work on a short term assignment with the Connecticut Mission of Mercy (MOM).

For our second project of our first round spike, my team and I traveled to Danbury, Connecticut to help CT Mission of Mercy (MOM) set up, run, and break down a free dental clinic. I arrived expecting just another project with long days, hard labor, and great company. I left MOM with tears of joy and gratitude, and a thorough understanding of why AmeriCorps NCCC is such an important program to so many individuals.

Raven 1 poses for a quick picture in the gym they transformed into a dental clinic

This adventure began in a large, empty gymnasium that required much heavy lifting of oodles and oodles of tables, chairs, food, and dental equipment. The physical strain was felt by not only me, but many other team members.

The sense of accomplishment at the end of the set up was quite rewarding. Our sweat and pain had turned an empty gym into a fully functioning dental suite, complete with areas of registration, triage, cleanings, fillings, root canals, sterilization, oral surgery, a pharmacy, and child care. This feeling in itself brought me much elation and great joy resonating from my heart. The thanks from sponsors and volunteers made it seem already complete, but as we left and saw the line of people lined up to spend the night camping out awaiting dental treatment, the reality of what the next two days entailed really hit me.

We awoke Friday morning at a brisk 2:00 a.m. That early hour, plus a malfunctioning coffee brewer, left many of us in a grumpy mood. We got to the work site around 3:00 a.m. to start directing traffic. I never fully comprehended how big of a deal this was until the droves and droves of cars arrived. They filled up every parking lot available, overflowed into a quickly filling parking garage, and once reaching max occupancy there, formed a single file line down the side of the road for what seemed like forever. The people then exited their cars and made the long trek uphill to the beginning of the line.

Around 9:00 a.m. we then made our way into the clinic itself. After a quick crash course in how to run the thing, we divided and conquered at several different stations that needed help. The almost superhuman feat of pulling off such an event was not the most rewarding experience however. The stories from the patients and their friends and family became my only source of energy and drive to continue at max power for such a long work day. Positive energy was everywhere. Despite sore feet and bodies and heavy eyes, we completed the day with enthusiasm and a newfound dedication and respect for the work MOM does.

Raven 1 Team Leader, Keiper supports a dental clinic procedure

Saturday was by far the toughest day I have yet to encounter in my AmeriCorps NCCC experience. It started the same as Friday, early and without a proper amount of coffee. However, the cause itself towards the end of the day took a much more personal stance in my mind and heart. Through a chain of events I cannot go very much into detail about, I realized just how poorly the care of my teeth has been.

It dawned on me how much an organization such as this actually affects those it helps, and gave me great pride and humility to be a part of such a wonderful event. I was not the only team member who cried that day. These people became more than just patients to me and everyone else involved. They became brothers, sisters, friends, mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, and lastly equals. I gained many new friends, of which I intend to keep in touch with for many years.

Raven 1 member Skylar assists with dental treatment at the CT MOM

The long days, arduous labor, and emotional strife of MOM left our Raven 1 team in awe of what we had accomplished together. I felt it very difficult to actually digest the mass amount of thanks that I received from countless masses of individuals, until we began to slowly drive away for the last time only to look out the window and see our sponsor crying, overcome with gratitude for the work we had done, for the people we helped, and most of all for the people we are.

Raven 1 takes a picture with the project sponsors of the CT MOM project

I learned a lot about myself through this experience. I learned to love a stranger, to help a friend, to be a team, to trust myself, and most of all to soak in the little things. At the end of the day, it wasn’t the over 2,000 people we helped, or the over $1,300,000 worth of free dental work we helped supplied. It was seeing someone walk out, finally able to smile for the first time in their life.

It was being able to cry on a teammates shoulder, overcome with emotion, and feeling the sense of security that only a true team can understand. My teammates understand little things like supplying a homeless man with enough granola bars and water he can possibly carry, only for him to give you a hug with a face overcome in tears. They also understand what it’s like to see such wonderful people crying as you leave after a mission accomplished. I tear up as I write this, with countless amounts of thanks for such a priceless experience, and sincerely hope everyone who put forth any time or effort into this opportunity of a lifetime the best and brightest futures.

Smiling often and forever,

Henry

“Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.”

― Mother Teresa

For more information about Raven 1’s first round project including photos of their housing check out their project debrief presentation.

My first holiday away from home

noreply@blogger.com (AmeriCorps NCCC) — Mon, 07 May 2012 17:26:00 +0000

This was the first year I have EVER been away from my family and friends on Easter (or really any period of time longer than a few weeks). I was almost dreading Sunday to come because homesickness was kicking in and I was imagining my family spending Easter together without me. Needless to say I wasn’t expecting this Easter to be more than any other Sunday…who would’ve thought that this would probably be the best Easter I have ever had?! I feel that by the end of this weekend it brought our team closer together and makes me feel grateful for the sponsors we have at Winterthur.

I woke up Sunday morning, not expecting much. I knew we had planned to make Easter baskets for each other, but other than that I was just planning to catch up on extra sleep I didn’t get throughout the week. When I went downstairs the first thing I saw was the dining room table with all of our bags plus Easter baskets, candy, and Edgar (the Raven unit mascot) chilling on the table with some ‘Peeps’.

Easter bags and candy with Edgar, the Raven Unit Mascot

Apparently our sponsor told all the staff that we weren’t able to go home for Easter, so they all chipped in to bring Easter to us at the Butler House where we stay.

Part of the lovely Easter spread Ashley and the Raven 1 team received

Rob, one of the supervisors of the garden department we work with here, stopped by the house to wish us a Happy Easter with a dinner for us to eat that night. This really meant a lot to me and made me grateful to be part of such an amazing team. It was one of those moments where all the days of hard work, some that I honestly thought went unnoticed, seemed to be worth it at this moment. For Rob to stop by and for all the staff to go out of their way to make us feel at home is something that wasn’t required and I could tell came from a sincere place. Actions go a long way, and all the staff at Winterthur really made the Easter I was dreading for weeks into a positive experience.

Dyed eggs from Raven 1's Easter day

The day I expected to catch up on sleep turned into a fun filled day of dying eggs, playing board games, and probably every child’s fantasy Easter egg hunt at the enchanted woods (decked out with a troll bridge, cool looking mushrooms that steam up, and miniature cottages for little people). I felt like I was at the Cornucopia at the hunger games. Cool stuff. Thank you Raven 1 and thank you Winterthur for making my Easter one of the most memorable experiences first round!

~ Ashley

A Wonder of Winterthur: Wild geese are my alarm clock

noreply@blogger.com (AmeriCorps NCCC) — Thu, 03 May 2012 19:35:00 +0000

Keiper, Team Leader of Raven 1, created this reflection during her final week at Winterthur Garden and Museum in Delaware.

I wake up each morning to the sound of wild geese. I leave my window open at night so that they wake me up, rather than the droning noise of my alarm clock. It used to require more of an effort warming up my bones to go indulge in coffee, but stillness has entered into my soul since being here, and flourished within me, kind of like the English Ivy we pulled today.

Now I allow myself to be attentive to the sounds of the morning, and the fresh air that creeps in through the window. No cars, no trains, just the sound of an untouched morning. No effort required in getting out of bed- it happens naturally.

Now I could write to you about the challenges I have faced as a Team Leader, or tell you the impact NCCC has made on the surrounding community, and I could definitely elaborate on the cohesiveness and personality of our team- but I will save that for another time. For today, I think I’ll just share with you a very simple response my entire being has experienced since serving here: there is no rush.

Being surrounded by beauty day after day seems to have sunken into my bones, the simplicity of it all is what is most striking- nothing here is elaborate or forced. Henry Francis du Pont, who left the Winterthur legacy, did not want a lot of structure in his gardens. This basically means he wanted things to grow naturally. When we prune trees here, they are to look like they were not pruned. Although a lot of effort and detail is invested in the care of the gardens, it looks effortless, it appears natural.

Such genuineness is reflective upon those with whom we served. The horticultural staff at Winterthur, who supported, taught, and guided us, understood the importance of the stillness. They were all patient with us when teaching new skills (and you would have to be to teach me how to operate a front loader) but they never frowned upon our team's curiosity or whimsy. They supported our quest for knowledge, but did so in a way that allowed us to discover it on our own terms. I am at a place where I wonder two things: How did I end up here and how could I be so blessed?

Of course it is critical to grow as a team, and Raven 1 did, but I also believe that it is important for each person to grown individually, to be challenged, to be inspired, to be aware. Many of us have that puzzling question of “what to do after AmeriCorps NCCC!?” but…not here, not at Winterthur.

Things are too beautiful to be preoccupied by such thoughts. I was able to enjoy the present moment here better than I have in a long time. I was able to explore my center of gravity again, something I had longed for since I started AmeriCorps NCCC.

They say just being outside in nature relieves stress- now imagine working outside everyday- digging your hands in the soil, tending to the flowers, letting the vitamin D soak in and the ancient trees rustle around you.

I allowed myself to be open to and connect with Winterthur’s wonder. I hope that its magic continues to flow through the team and myself as our journey moves ahead. I hope someday again, somewhere, I can wake up to the geese.

~ Keiper

Wild Geese

You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
For a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting --
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.
~ Mary Oliver ~

What in the world is Winterthur?

noreply@blogger.com (AmeriCorps NCCC) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 21:14:00 +0000

When my team and I first discovered that we would be spending six weeks at Winterthur Garden and Museum in Delaware for their first round project, some questions arose, “What exactly is Winterthur? Is it a garden or a museum, an estate…? Who is this Francis du Pont character?”

My team is composed of a diverse group of individuals from nine different states but only one originally from the East Coast. The more research we did on the project, the more the anticipation was building.

A cloud of curiosity lingered over us as we traveled north from our campus in Perry Point, Maryland.

The Mansion property on the estate of the Winterthur which serves as office space

As we entered Winterthur and began to drive down the hill, everyone on the team was quiet (which is very rare) but no words were necessary for the team to recognize how fortunate we were to be serving at the uniquely stunning Winterthur.

Henry Francis du Pont established the Winterthur Corporation in 1930 with intentions of maintaining Winterthur as a place for education, historical preservation, and enjoyment to the public. In 1951, Winterthur Museum and Gardens opened to the public. Winterthur is very unique in that in offers history, art, beauty, and learning.

The museum collection consists of rare early American decorative arts. Winterthur also has a research library that serves as an academic center for American art and culture that reaches out internationally.

Winterthur has approximately 80,000 visitors each year, including over 1,000 school children who are given the opportunity to experience and learn from Winterthur through scholarships.

The museum is filled with priceless antiques that demand upkeep. Originally with Henry Francis du Pont, the garden staff consisted of 50 members; it now currently holds 15 gardeners. The staff is usually pulled from their regular duties, so NCCC helps fill this gap which in turn directly benefits the entirety of the estate.

What we did in Winterthur
Raven 1 was a valuable asset to Winterthur Garden and Museum. We were able to complete projects that had been set aside for years because they required larger numbers than available before we arrived. The team entered the project during the most pivotal time of the year and was able to help prepare for not only its most active season, but also for Point-to-Point, a steeple race that is the largest event of the year for Winterthur. This was critical for the health of the surrounding environment and also necessary in preparing for the special event.

Skunk cabbage gives birth to cabbage patch kid, Henry

Winterthur consists of almost 1,000 acres of land with an overwhelming amount of trees and plants.

The team completed a broad range of small and large projects serving beside and learning from the horticultural staff such as:

Pruning, watering, and mulching of over 500 trees on the land
Planting several new trees and approximately 250 native plants
Landscaping 75 acres of the land
Removing and chipping dead trees
Clearing unwanted brush and invasive species
Construct, repair, and restore the irrigation system which is invaluable for Winterthur to function properly
Restored numerous streambeds and banks on the Winterthur property; part of this required utilizing the wood chipper to remove debris
Painting/sanding signs and fences, building/restoring almost 9 miles of fences
Painting and installing communication poles
Demolishing a rotted, unsafe pavilion for the public

We got green thumbs

Raven 1 got their green thumbs in Winterthur, DE

Each member genuinely enjoyed working alongside and learning countless skills and interesting facts from Winterthur’s horticultural staff. It is now common for us to test our new knowledge by pointing out new plants and trees we’ve learned about, or interesting facts about the garden and Winterthur.

The garden department staff has also inspired the team to investigate edible plants, landscaping, and gardening. One Corps Member, Jerramie, used the always-crowd-pleasing garlic mustard in a pasta sauce he created on the Ameri-budget.

We learned how to use some tools for the first time

The staff at Winterthur taught us a variety of skills and gave us hands-on learning experiences through one-on-one training and instruction with equipment and horticultural contents.

Emily and Maddi use weed wrenches to remove roots and weeds from the garden.

Here’s a short list of some of the useful tools we learned to use:

Weed wrench
Shovels
Hand saws
Weed eaters
Loppers
Pitch forks

We learned how to operate a manual transmission

The staff also trained us to use a variety of utility vehicles; several members on the team did not previously know how to drive a manual transmission. Through consistent practice the members on my team learned how to operate vehicles with manual transmission for the first time.

Here are some other vehicles we learned to operate:

Toolcats
Bobcats
Mowers
Dump trucks
Front-end loaders

We appreciate the patience and willingness from the horticultural department to teach us about the garden and how to use tools and equipment.

What we liked best and how we grew as a team

It is no surprise that each member of the team embraces the serenity of the garden by going on strolls, practicing yoga in the Sundial Garden, having an Easter egg hunt in the Enchanted Woods, or reading outdoors in their own favorite place.

Raven 1 poses for a team photo at Winterthur Museum and Country Estate in Delaware.

Left to Right: Michael, Andre(Romerio), Skylar, Maddi, Ashley, Cassie, Jerramie, Henry, Emily and Keiper

We feel blessed to be a part of Winterthur, feeling that the peacefulness and beauty of the garden is reflected upon all those that work at Winterthur.

While on this project we’ve fostered a connection with the Winterthur community; we also feel a strong connection to the estate itself and the spirit that Henry Francis du Pont was trying to establish.

It is evident how much pride the team takes in Winterthur because we got to see the fruits of our labor and we were able to display our accomplishments.

We were also given multiple service learning opportunities including a garden walk, museum tour and restoration tour to make the connection with the historical impact Winterthur has on the community, Delaware and the world. Our projects at Winterthur that involved clearing brush and invasive species taught us that if we feed off of the energy of one another we can accomplish great things when working together that may not have been feasible with one person.

Cassie from Raven 1 does chainsaw work on her birthday

It’s amazing that one place we knew nothing about previously could teach us so much in only six weeks.

"In these surroundings, so intimately connected with the lives of our forefathers, we see fine craftsmanship and soundness of workmanship; we see the economic and cultural development of our country, and in addition the symbols through which the founders of our Republic expressed their patriotism and love of country." - Henry Francis du Pont

~Keiper, Raven 1, Class 18, Team Leader

Have you ever been to a NCCC induction ceremony?

noreply@blogger.com (AmeriCorps NCCC) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 21:13:00 +0000

Each AmeriCorps NCCC campus has an induction ceremony which celebrates the start of a new service year and the completion of Corps Training Institute (CTI). Read Henry’s thoughts about the Class 18 induction experience!

I felt excited to start the service year…Outside the induction hall, two bald eagles flew overhead while the team waited to walk into the ceremony. Our team took the eagles flying overhead as a symbol of the hard work we would be doing for America this year. We did cheers and stomps outside while waiting to go into the ceremony to pump us up and show our team pride. Since CTI was intense with long hours of training, we finally felt everything was coming together at induction.

Barbershop trio of NCCC members sing "Happy Birthday" to Kate

I sang twice during the ceremony…
I was a part of the barbershop trio which sang happy birthday to Kate Raftery, NCCC National Director , whose birthday was the exact day of our induction ceremony. I didn’t find out I would be singing the birthday song until a few days before the ceremony. The trio of birthday singers included me and two other Corps members from other teams. A few days before the ceremony, we spent some time practicing to perfect our harmonies. At the induction rehearsal, the day before the ceremony, the trio sang the birthday song live for the entire Corps. What a cool experience! Team based singing!

Henry singing the National Anthem

I also sang the National Anthem for the ceremony, which was a major highlight for me and the Raven 1 team. During the national anthem, while others were looking at me thinking about America, I was looking at the faces of the people who would be my family and friends. I got tears in my eyes because I realized this Corps is making a big impact on my life.

The speeches were inspiring…

All of the ceremony speeches were excellent. I thought Rusty, the NCCC Atlantic Region Community Council president, did a really terrific job to inspire the Corps. (Read Rusty's speech here.) I also enjoyed listening to the speech from Kiera, a class 17 NCCC Atlantic Region alumna, because she reassured us of our commitment and awe at what we too can accomplish.(Kiera's speech is here.) Kate, the National Director of NCCC, also really connected with us through her remarks. (Check them out here.)

Kiera, Class 17 Alumna, speaking to members

Mmmmm...Raven cake

Cake and hugs with the Corps…The ceremony also included refreshments and I remember eating cake and punch afterwards while hugs, congratulations, and goodbyes were shared with friends and Corps Members.

Ta-da! You’re it! The announcement that Raven 1 was the blog team also happened at induction and it was unexpected. The announcement was informal. During the reception part of the ceremony, we saw a photo of our team pop up on the projector screen with a sentence that we would be the national blog team! We all felt so excited and honored to be the featured team for the Atlantic Region that we took to the stage to take a photo with the announcement slide.

Raven 1 finds out they are the national blog team at induction

All in all, the induction ceremony was moving and memorable for everyone. I hope everyone reading this has an opportunity to experience a NCCC induction ceremony!

~ Henry

NEXT Raven 1 Blog Post: Raven 1 shares a summary of their round 1 project in Delaware.

Raven 1 Team: Meet Maddi from New Jersey

noreply@blogger.com (AmeriCorps NCCC) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 15:10:00 +0000

Now that you’ve seen the Raven 1 team introduction video, it’s time to hear directly from the members of Raven 1.Run. Read. Eat. Serve. Meet Maddi.

Maddi

From: New Jersey

Age: 22

Before NCCC: I was interning for a meeting planning company that specialized in pharmaceutical events.

About me: When not out running, I spend most of my time reading and eating. After attaining a BS in Public Health Education from James Madison University, I worked at an assisted living community and a meeting planning company. I also traveled to Guam to work with a non-profit specializing in HIV/AIDS education and prevention.

Team Specialty Role: Corps Ambassador Program Representative (CAP) Team Trainer

Most excited about this year: I am excited about being exposed to a variety of work environments.

Now you have met Raven 1!

Raven 1 Team: Meet Ashley from California

noreply@blogger.com (AmeriCorps NCCC) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 19:30:00 +0000

Now that you’ve seen the Raven 1 team introduction video, it’s time to hear directly from the members of Raven 1.Meet Ashley from the Raven 1 blog team, she represents the Atlantic Region Corps on the Community Council.

Ashley

From: California

Age: 23

Before NCCC: I recently just graduated from college. I was working at an after school program. There weren't too many job opportunities available and felt like I was waiting around for something to happen. I figured that I might as well create my own path and do something interesting instead of waiting around.

About me: I graduated from Sonoma State University with a BA in Sociology. My professional experience of working/mentoring at risk youth, being a camp counselor, and recreational leader is balanced by my hobbies of playing basketball and other sports, going for hikes, and photography

Team Specialty Role: Community Council Representative

Most excited about this year: To step out of my comfort zone. By doing this I feel it will give me more confidence in life after AmeriCorps.

Next Raven 1 Team Post: Maddi from New Jersey

Let AmeriCorps Be Your Navigator

noreply@blogger.com (AmeriCorps NCCC) — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 20:56:00 +0000

This post originally appeared on the AmeriCorps Alums Blog on April 18, 2012.

by Ken Tran

ROAD TRIP! Nothing like counting license plates, playing punch buggy, and singing all your favorite songs with the windows rolled up as you’re driving across America. Well, ever wonder how you could incorporate some service into the mix? Meet two current AmeriCorps NCCC members who are planning to do just that as they begin Navigating for Non Profits at the start of their Life After AmeriCorps.

Maggie and Jenna are both currently serving as NCCC Team Leaders at the Sacramento campus.

Maggie, an Indiana native, started her year with NCCC at the Iowa campus, after completing her Accountant degree at Ball State University in 2010. She realized right before her last semester that she did not want to go into the working world as an accountant. Confused, she consulted her brother, a Peace Corps Alum, who recommended her to try out AmeriCorps as an introduction to contributing to the service world.

Jenna, originally from Sugarland, Texas, joined AmeriCorps after working for a lobbying firm in DC. She wanted to make a difference and do something out of the box. Initially, it wasn’t the service component of AmeriCorps that attracted her but rather that it sounded really fun!

Their service paths would cross during Team Leader training, where they both discovered a shared passion for getting people excited for service. Through months of planning and brainstorming, the idea to create a non profit out of their travels developed; thus forming Navigating for Non Profits.

Their mission statement reads:

“Navigating for Non Profits mission is to promote service through the act of serving and experience while creating awareness through publicity and incorporating the local communities. Navigating for Non Profits has a strong belief in supporting non-profits because there is always more to be done than can be accomplished by a group of dedicated staff.”

And more will be done once these ladies hit the road on July 29^th serving at their first project in the Presidio in San Francisco. Their goal is to work on volunteer days/projects at every city they stop at. Partnering with local nonprofits, they hope to build community by involving regular volunteers and people who haven’t volunteered before or haven’t in awhile. When the girls leave for the next city, they hope that the locals don’t forget about the service given back to the community and continue to foster a spirit of volunteerism.

The desire to head off on a voluntourism road trip can be attributed to NCCC, as that’s where the travel bugs first bit! Maggie is excited to travel and hopes to accomplish her goal of staying in all 50 states before she turns 50 and Jenna is excited to visit all the National Parks along the way. Through their AmeriCorps service, both have developed an appreciation for small towns and the local flavors they hope to experience on their tour stops.

Ultimately, through their anticipated journey, the ladies hope to instill one of AmeriCorps Alums’ core beliefs – living out a Lifetime of Service. Maggie and Jenna want to re-energize communities and find volunteers to continue providing local solutions. They want communities to get excited and find the passion in service. By connecting with local non profits and our Alums chapters along the way, their journey will set the course for all of us as we continue to serving in our Life after AmeriCorps.

Visit their homepage to learn more about Maggie, Jenna, and Navigating for Non Profits. They’re mapping out their summer trips, so if you’d like to connect with them along their way with your non profit or make donations to their journey, get connected with them!

Raven 1 Team: Meet Emily from Wisconsin

noreply@blogger.com (AmeriCorps NCCC) — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 14:51:00 +0000

Now that you’ve seen the Raven 1 team introduction video, it’s time to hear directly from the members of Raven 1. The environment is her thing. Meet Emily from the Raven 1 blog team.

Emily

From: Wisconsin

Age: 21

Before NCCC: I had a full time job at a factory.

About me: I try to be creative and optimistic with everything I do. I take pride professionally in organization, a strong work ethic, and supreme listening skills. I am especially interested in the environmental aspect of my service year. While attending University of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin for the past year, I studied Environmental Science and my major is Natural Resource Management.

Team Specialty Role: Project Outreach Liaison

Most excited about this year: Building relationships with my team and broadening my knowledge on different volunteer opportunities whether they are environmentally related or not. I’m excited for our spikes.

Next Raven 1 Team Post: Ashley from California

Raven 1 Team: Meet Romerio from North Carolina

noreply@blogger.com (AmeriCorps NCCC) — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 14:54:00 +0000

Now that you’ve seen the Raven 1 team introduction video, it’s time to hear directly from the members of Raven 1. Communications is his forte and so is being awesome. Prior to NCCC he was a sandwich maker. Now he cuts trees. Read about Romerio from the Raven 1 blog team.

Romerio

From: North Carolina

Age: 24

Before NCCC: I was making sandwiches.

About me: I attended college at Western Carolinaand majored in Communications. Aside from being excelling at running, drawing, and laughing, I am quite skilled at being Awesome. Sometimes, even my awesome has awesome. Within the Raven 1 team, I try to supply everyone with constant laughter and energy, and I remind everyone to sit back and enjoy life while it’s here.

Team Specialty Role: Media Representative

Most excited about this year: I am most excited about meeting new people.

Next Raven 1 Team Post: Emily from Wisconsin

Raven 1 Team: Meet Keiper from Iowa

noreply@blogger.com (AmeriCorps NCCC) — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 15:53:00 +0000

Now that you’ve seen the Raven 1 team introduction video, it’s time to hear directly from the members of Raven 1.Meet Keiper, the leader of the Raven 1 blog team.

Keiper

From: Iowa

Age: 24

Before NCCC: Before NCCC I graduated college, went on some adventures around the globe and spent a lot of quality time with my wonderful grandmas and parents.

About me: I hail from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, graduating with a BA in Elementary and Middle School Education from the University of Northern Iowa. My hobbies include giving hugs, yoga, poetry, laughing and enjoying a hot cup of coffee. My previous experience included project coordination and direction of sports camps, coaching, and international teaching in the countries of Germany, Japan, Italy, and Brazil. As the Team Leader of Raven 1, I am the “go-to-gal” to make sure all the project sponsor needs are met and that Raven 1 exceeds expectations.

Team Specialty Role: Team Leader

Most excited about this year: Getting to see individuals grow, seeing the team grow and being a part of the service

Next Raven 1 Team Post: Romerio from North Carolina

Raven 1 Team: Meet Henry from Texas

noreply@blogger.com (AmeriCorps NCCC) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 18:33:00 +0000

Now that you’ve seen the Raven 1 team introduction video, it’s time to hear directly from the members of Raven 1. ...from Texas with a theatrical side, here’s Henry.

Henry

From: Texas

Age: 22

Before NCCC: As a full time student working towards an English degree, I mentally and emotionally drained myself. Between student loans, late night study sessions, and writing enough papers to fill a hefty hole in the ground, I decided it was time for a change of scenery before I continue the last stretch of college.

About me: I am an English Major at the University of North Texas. I’m always on the theatrical side; I stay involved with the fine arts and creative hemisphere of my brain through live shows, vocal competitions, and creative writing gatherings. My hobbies are baking, gardening, reading, writing, playing the piano and singing as often, as loud, and as much as I can. My previous work experience was managing a small business; starting, running, and maintaining a slew of school sponsored programs such as a Spirit Squad, Choral Council, and the Poetry Club. My greatest accomplishment is climbing Mt. Yale, the third tallest peak in Colorado.

Team Specialty Role: Media Representative, Health and Wellness Liaison (HAWL)

Most excited about this year: Developing serious long-term highly personal relationships with a select few people that I connect with on a deep level

Next Raven 1 Team Post: Keiper from Iowa

Raven 1 Team: Meet Skylar from Ohio

noreply@blogger.com (AmeriCorps NCCC) — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 19:39:00 +0000

Now that you’ve seen the Raven 1 team introduction video, it’s time to hear directly from the members of Raven 1. She dreams big and she’s traveled to India, meet Skylar, from the Raven 1 blog team.

Name: Skylar

From: Ohio

Age: 20

Before NCCC: Before Joining NCCC, I was working at a grocery store. I had also gone to school to get my EMT- Basic Certificate, but I still wasn't sure what I really wanted to do with my life.

About me: I’m a dreamer. I like to watch movies and learn new crafty skills, like knitting. I have an EMT-B certificate; and experience working at a greenhouse, food prep/service, and warehouse experience. I have also had the opportunity to travel to India.

Team Specialty Role: Corps Ambassador Program Representative (CAP), Health & Wellness Liaison

Most excited about this year: The experience and attaining unique skills I otherwise may not have explored. I look forward to getting to know not only my awesome teammates but also individuals I meet through service.

Next Raven 1 Team Post: Henry from Texas

Raven 1 Team: Meet Jerramie from Idaho

noreply@blogger.com (AmeriCorps NCCC) — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 15:07:00 +0000

Now that you’ve seen the Raven 1 team introduction video, it’s time to hear directly from the members of Raven 1. Meet Jerramie; he’s on the fire team. Ask a question in the comments if you want to know about the fire team or about Jeremie.

Jerramie

From: Idaho

Age: 19

Before NCCC: Before NCCC I was finishing up high school and talking to a few military recruiters.

About me: I’m a corn-fed country boy from Idaho with hobbies such as working on cars, playing sports, and outdoor activities. My professional experience is in mechanics, working with children, animal husbandry, outdoor cleanup, and leadership. I’m looking forward to new opportunities, new experiences, and for the chance to make a difference in other people’s lives.

Team Specialty Role: Assistant Team Leader, Corps Ambassador Program Representative (CAP)

Most excited about this year: Our first spike, taking on the Assistant Team Leader Position, Fire Team and the possibility of becoming at Fire Team Leader

Next Raven 1 Team Post: Skylar from Ohio

Raven 1 Team: Meet Cassie from Wisconsin

noreply@blogger.com (AmeriCorps NCCC) — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 20:50:00 +0000

Now that you’ve seen the Raven 1 team introduction video, it’s time to hear directly from the members of Raven 1. Find out about Cassie and what she is most excited about this year. Have questions for Cassie or something in common? Leave a comment.

Cassie

From: Wisconsin

Age: 23

Before NCCC: I was working as a bartender in my hometown.

About me: I am from Sparta, Wisconsin. My experiences and hobbies include crafting, reading, woodworking, gardening, and DIY home improvement. I became involved with AmeriCorps NCCC after spending a week doing Hurricane Katrina relief in 2007.

Team Specialty Role: Health and Wellness Liaison, Service Learning Initiator

Most excited about this year: The opportunity to support disaster relief efforts

Next Raven 1 Team Post: Jerramie from Idaho

Raven 1 Team: Meet Michael from Florida

noreply@blogger.com (AmeriCorps NCCC) — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 16:24:00 +0000

Now that you’ve seen the Raven 1 team introduction video. It’s time to hear directly from the members of Raven 1. First up to tell us about himself is Michael. If you have questions for Michael feel free to leave them in the comments!

Name: Michael

From: Florida

Age: 20

Before NCCC: I was in training in Job Corps for Building Maintenance

About me: I am an alum of Job Corps Schenck in North Carolina. My hobbies include sports, reading, and hiking. I have previous experience in the fields of retail, food prep, landscaping, building maintenance, and construction. I have experience aiding those with disabilities including my autistic twin sister. I am calm, peaceful, yet a mighty voice to the team. I try to always lend a helping hand, and gain an in-depth understanding of other people’s history, ideals, and beliefs.

Most excited about this year: Learning new things about the team, accomplishing the projects given, making an impact on society, helping the environment and people of this country

Team Specialty Role: Vehicle Safety and Tools Officer.

Next Raven 1 Team Post: Cassie from Wisconsin

Back to Team Blogging: Meet Raven 1

noreply@blogger.com (AmeriCorps NCCC) — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 20:30:00 +0000

This year, the NCCC Blog will include posts by NCCC partners, project sponsors, various program initiatives, alumni and teams from across the country at all five NCCC campuses.

The NCCC Atlantic Region campus will be the primary campus featured throughout the year. The NCCC Atlantic Region campus is currently located in Perry Point, MD with over 150 members in service.

At this time, members assigned to the Atlantic Region campus are assigned to teams and units with animal names. Right now, the Atlantic Region has three units named Buffalo, Moose and Raven. For class 18 there are four Buffalo teams, five Moose teams and five Raven teams for a total of 14 NCCC Atlantic Region teams serving this year.

The featured team for the Atlantic Region campus for the NCCC Blog is the Raven 1 team. The Atlantic Region will also feature teams Buffalo 4 and Moose 5 at least once a month and other special posts throughout the year from the campus.

So now – meet Raven 1

Raven 1 started NCCC in February 2012. After completing four weeks of Corps Training Institute (CTI) they recently deployed to their first project in Wilmington, Delaware. The 11 members of the team come from 10 different states. Get a feel for the fun to come this year by watching their team introduction video:

A Step Forward with FEMA Corps, a Corps Member’s Perspective from the Front Row

noreply@blogger.com (AmeriCorps NCCC) — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 19:07:00 +0000

The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) and the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently announced an innovative partnership to establish a FEMA-devoted unit of service corps members within AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC). FEMA Corps formalizes a longstanding partnership between AmeriCorps NCCC and FEMA.

FEMA Corps will create a new unit of the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) whose members will be devoted solely to FEMA disaster preparedness, response, and recovery efforts.

The new partnership will eventually provide for a full service corps of 1,600 members annually who will be an additional workforce in support of FEMA’s current disaster reserve workforce.

NCCC campuses in Vicksburg, Mississippi and Vinton, Iowa will be the first campuses to start the new 480 FEMA Corps members in the summer of 2012.

Anaisa (L) at FEMA Corps Announcement with Acting CNCS CEO Robert Velasco

On Tuesday, March 13, 2012, Anaisa, 20, from Silver City, New Mexico stood in the front row with her AmeriCorps NCCC team, Moose 2, during the historic FEMA Corps announcement in Washington, DC.

“I felt like the face of AmeriCorps NCCC and not just in the background somewhere,” says Anaisa about the press conference experience.

Reflecting back on her experience , Anaisa says, “the press conference room wasn’t that big, but with big named media outlets like CNN asking questions from the second row, the room felt much bigger.”

Anaisa and her teammates met a variety of AmeriCorps and FEMA officials, including the Acting CEO of the Corporation for National & Community Service, Robert Velasco, II, FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate and Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano.

"She’s a good person, a good political figure and very down to Earth," Anaisa said of Secretary Napolitano. Anaisa said it was an honor to stand beside the secretary because she has been a role model for her as a strong political figure and woman.

Anaisa, perhaps not fully realizing she is a role model and has helped two federal agencies highlight a big change, says “one day, I hope to be some sort of role model for someone else, or help someone make a change somewhere.”

Anaisa shakes hands with CNCS Acting CEO Robert Velasco

“I think it (the FEMA Corps) is a good idea to get young people involved, because they are the voice of the future,” Anaisa said.

Overall, Anaisa is both a bit excited and a bit anxious about the new partnership. She is excited about what it can do for the country and in particular young people.

“I’m interested in signing up for it” she said. “It’s a step forward.”

If you are interested to apply for the new FEMA Corps, to be considered you must first apply with NCCC here .

The Segal Fellowship: How My Wending Path in National Service Led to DC

noreply@blogger.com (AmeriCorps NCCC) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 00:04:00 +0000

Today's blog post comes from Will, a three time AmeriCorps Alum with the Breakthrough Collaborative, Teach for America, and Hands On Mississippi as a VISTA. Most recently, he served as the Eli Segal Fellow at the Corporation for National and Community Service. After his fellowship concluded, he was hired by CNCS and currently serves as the Partnerships and Field Operations Officer for the CNCS Disaster Services Unit.

The CNCS Eli Segal Fellowship is recruiting now! Click Here to Apply If you are an AmeriCorps Alum who has served in the past three years, you should absolutely consider applying for this tremendous opportunity. The deadline is February 27, 2012. Will will be hosting a Q&A call for all those interested in applying on February 17, at 1pm EST, Toll-Free Number: 888-324-3916, Participant Passcode: 8802097. For more information about the Eli Segal Program, click here.

AmeriCorps has never failed to present me with abundant opportunities and transformational change.
I was an eighteen year old, fresh out of my high school graduation gown, with the vague notion that I enjoyed working with children, when I was buried in an avalanche of good fortune faster than I could hold my breath. I was accepted to become an AmeriCorps member with the Breakthrough Collaborative in Cambridge, Massachusetts and was assigned a classroom of middle school students to teach Anatomy and Forensics. Days into training, I had forgotten I had even attended high school and was fretting about whether my lesson plans would cater to the multiple intelligences of my students, and whether I’d have enough fetal pigs for my class to run a proper dissection laboratory. I began to refer to myself as a teacher with pride that summer, and nothing since has ever been the same.

Will as a Breakthrough Collaborative teacher

The gifted poet Marge Piercy once openly admired in her work “To be of use”,

The people I love the best

jump into work head first

without dallying in the shallows

and swim off with sure strokes almost out of sight.

Years after my first foray into service, I yearned once again to seek new challenge and opportunity and to be among people who jump into work head first without dallying in the shallows. AmeriCorps offered me that chance through Teach for America, where I trained to teach science in Watts, California, and then went on to teach special education in St. Louis, Missouri. Within hours, the thought that I had ever called myself a teacher at eighteen years old literally made me sick. THIS was teaching, and for two years I became so deeply engrossed in the phonetic abilities of my 10 students that I began getting confused myself and pronounced R-words with a St. Louis diction (tutorial: here = hur; there = thur; air = ur)

Ms. Piercy went on,

I love people who harness themselves, an ox to a heavy cart,

who pull like water buffalo, with massive patience

Education, perhaps, wasn’t my calling, but along the way, AmeriCorps instilled in me a massive patience, a tool that I consider crucial, and a characteristic that has served me well ever since. Notably so in my subsequent job as a bartender in Seattle, Washington. Often referred to as the “other national service”, restaurant work was child’s play compared to the classroom, and petulant patrons were laughably harmless compared to the mock tragedies and high drama that string together a middle school student’s life.

Will the cook

Ms. Piercy continued,

I want to be with people who submerge

in the task, who go into the fields to harvest

and work in a row and pass the bags along,

who stand in the line and haul in their places,

AmeriCorps has a knack for putting people in over their heads. Not in a bad way, but in a healthy and instructive forum that allows the daring citizen-volunteer to test the boundaries of their own abilities and forge new ones along the way.

Will wiith AmeriCorps VISTA members

I had never endured a disaster a before, neither had I sifted debris, or framed a house. But witnessing the aftermath of hurricane Katrina unfold in the news, I knew that I could be of use. I quit my job in Seattle and drove to Biloxi, Mississippi where I sought people who submerge in the task. I joined AmeriCorps again, alongside an army of other volunteers hell bent on rebuilding the Gulf. Four years passed, and with our noses constantly sniffing out the next home to rebuild, my fellow Katrina volunteers and I stuck around, transferred our licenses, and made the regrowth of the Gulf Coast our lives.

Katrina Recovery

Ms. Piercy concluded,

The work of the world is common as mud.

Botched, it smears the hands, crumbles to dust.

But the thing worth doing well done

has a shape that satisfies, clean and evident.

Greek amphoras for wine or oil,

Hopi vases that held corn, are put in museum

but you know they were made to be used.

The pitcher cries for water to carry

and a person for work that is real.

There is honor in all work, but nothing has been more satisfying than the service that AmeriCorps had enabled me to embark upon. I knew that I wanted to continue on this path by helping to grow AmeriCorps at a national level, and when I heard about the Eli Segal Fellowship at the Corporation for National Service (CNCS) headquarters in DC, I knew it was my chance. The Fellowship is named after the late Eli Segal, the first CEO of CNCS, and its purpose is to all allow AmeriCorps Alums to help advance the mission and strategic goals of National Service in the United States.

Soon after I was accepted, I was sitting in a restaurant in DC across from John Gomperts, the Director of AmeriCorps, planning in which National Service initiatives I wanted participate. After so many years in the field, discussing high level programming with potential impact to the whole National Service movement was a dream come true. My service as a Segal fellow was broad in scope and allowed me to work across many departments at CNCS on projects as varies as overhauling the AmeriCorps member experience to disaster deployment in Joplin, Missouri coordinating response operations following a May 2011 tornado.

Just as Marge Piercy, I crave work that is real. I had assumed that once I left the field to begin more policy-centric work in DC that I would need to sacrifice that to continue serving a program that I love. Thankfully, I was completely mistaken, and if anything, my service to our country has made the work I do now with CNCS feel even more connected, real, and sweet, by enabling others to serve as I once did.

~Will

The Eli Segal Fellowship at CNCS is recruiting now! Click Here to Apply If you are an AmeriCorps Alum who has served in the past three years, you should absolutely consider applying for this tremendous opportunity. The deadline is February 27, 2012. I will be hosting a Q&A call for all those interested in applying on February 17, at 1pm EST, Toll-Free Number: 888-324-3916, Participant Passcode: 8802097. I hope that you will be able to join me!

Serving in Joplin, MO

noreply@blogger.com (AmeriCorps NCCC) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:28:00 +0000

Meg B. is a current AmeriCorps NCCC member serving with team Earth 4 at the Southwest Region Campus.

When I found out that for Round 2 my team would be serving in Joplin, Missouri, which was hit by a devastating tornado at the end of May 2011, my immediate reaction was excitement coupled with nervousness. The main reason I decided to apply for AmeriCorps NCCC was to help the communities in our nation that needed it most, and being assigned to Joplin, I knew this was the case. After being in Joplin for just over a week, I have already been able to witness the strong sense of commitment and resilience this city contains, as well as a truly amazing spirit that runs throughout the entire community.

Earth 4 explores what the community named the "Volunteer House". This house was donated to the city by the family who once lived there and serves as a reminder of the miracle of the human spirit displayed after the storm.

For the next two months, my team, “Earth 4”, will be assisting the newly established non-profit organization Rebuild Joplin. Rebuild Joplin exists to ensure that resources of all kinds are effectively leveraged to holistically address the post-tornado needs in the Joplin community and create a brighter, more vibrant future for its residents and families.

We are working directly with the staff of Rebuild Joplin and will complete the following tasks in order to assess and fulfill the needs of the community. The team will be responsible for volunteer and logistical coordination, construction, and resource management and will strategize to recruit volunteers on both the local and national level. In addition, we will assess information about identified homeowners’ ongoing needs and subsequently lead volunteers in the rebuilding of these homes.

Amanda, Rebuild Joplin’s volunteer coordinator and our supervisor, expressed her enthusiasm about working directly with us for the next two months. "We are very excited to have the Earth 4 AmeriCorps NCCC team with us assisting our office as we begin to manage the volunteers and construction efforts to rebuild Joplin. The team will initially help us hit the ground running by completing various tasks to get our office organized. I am looking forward to getting to know them better as we begin construction for the many individuals in our community who need help getting back into their homes.”

My team and I are incredibly grateful to be a part of rebuilding Joplin into the bigger, better and stronger community we know it will be.

~Meg

In a related story, AmeriCorps members, like Meg, were recently honored by the Missouri House of Representatives, who passed a resolution honoring AmeriCorps members from across the country who have played an indispensable role in helping the city of Joplin recover from the devastating tornado that struck the city on May 22, 2011.
To read more, go here.

Bringing AmeriCorps NCCC to Oregon

noreply@blogger.com (AmeriCorps NCCC) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:03:00 +0000

The AmeriCorps NCCC blog continues with its guest bloggers during the month of January.

Today's post comes from Amy, an AmeriCorps NCCC Alum, who currently serves as the Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator for the Johnson Creek Watershed Council.

Amy is pictured here during a Veteran's Day Parade (second from left)

As a NCCC Class XII Alum (Charleston, SC campus), I understand the incredible impact and quality of work an AmeriCorps NCCC team can bring to an organization. I currently run the volunteer program at a small place-based environmental nonprofit called the Johnson Creek Watershed Council in Portland. Thoughts of bringing a team to Oregon had stayed with me since I graduated from the program in 2006. I said to myself, “Well go for it then!”

After building a new partnership with the Salvation Army’s Camp Kuratli, I had all the pieces in place for a successful host application and NCCC team Green 2 arrived on January 10, 2012.

Looking back at how rewarding and educational my NCCC experience was, I knew that bringing a team here to help my organization’s mission would also enable me to help facilitate this learning process for Green 2.

AmeriCorps NCCC helped shape my career – it affirmed my intense interest in community service and exposed me to the kinds of professions I could do to continue working with other volunteers. The AmeriCorps NCCC experience is a rich training ground for Volunteer Coordinators. It gave me many of the insights and skills I use in my career today, communicating and working with volunteers.

Invasive species removal and native tree and shrub planting (over 20,000) is the name of the game for Green 2 while they’re in Oregon. I hope I can help them reflect internally on this project and the job we’ve given them. It might inspire them to pursue professions in Natural Resource Management or Volunteer Coordination – like me.

Thank you Green 2 and AmeriCorps NCCC!

~Amy

Raising the Bar: Not only to serve but to lead

noreply@blogger.com (AmeriCorps NCCC) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:29:00 +0000

The NCCC Blog continues its month of guest bloggers. Today's guest blogger is Taft, 25, from Atlanta, GA, who is a new team leader at the Atlantic Region campus.

Imagine that a NCCC team has helped your community during a natural disaster. You then join NCCC and, within the first two weeks of NCCC training, you meet and serve alongside the President of the United States.

I have eagerly anticipated the day I could serve as a Member in the AmeriCorps NCCC. I feel a deep debt of gratitude to NCCC for helping my fire department find the strength and capability to complete the daunting task of creating a fire buffer around Crown King, Arizona in 2007.

On Monday January 16, the national Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, I found myself standing behind President Obama wearing an NCCC uniform. Only a week and a half into NCCC training, and I’ve already raised the bar for the proudest day of my life!

Monday morning was a whirlwind of waiting, being moved around, being shuffled in and out of crowds and going through security checkpoints. I don’t remember exactly how it happened, but I found myself standing in front of a crowd of volunteers with fellow NCCC Members Casey and Toby.

We stood along a wall while speakers took turns addressing the crowd. I had been told that the President was going to speak, and I knew that a photo opportunity was planned, but nothing could have prepared me for the moment he stepped into the room with his family and shook our hands one by one. He then stood ten feet directly in front of me and delivered a speech that I will never forget.

“There isn’t anyone who can’t serve … nobody who can’t help somebody else,” said President Obama.

Those words will follow me for as long as I live.

There is a phrase that I have heard repeatedly from several facilitators during the NCCC training. The facilitators keep saying, “I can’t do what you (NCCC Members) do.”

Nonsense.

It is my new ambition to spend my life helping people find that strength just like NCCC helped me find it in the Bradshaw Mountains of Arizona. I will carry this commitment with me this year and beyond. Each of us is engaged in a struggle for life. All of us are strong. Everyone has the capacity not only to serve, but to lead.

~Taft

NCCC Atlantic Region Class 18 Team Leaders (L to R: Patrick, Casey, Brooke, Tiffancy, Taft, Toby)

You too can serve and lead. NCCC is currently accepting Team Leader applications until March 1, 2012 for the fall 2012. Consider applying as a Team Leader. For more information about applying for a Team Leader position go here

Top Ten Things I Miss From AmeriCorps NCCC

noreply@blogger.com (AmeriCorps NCCC) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:58:00 +0000

The NCCC Blog will be hosting guest bloggers during the month of January, 2012. We will be back with a brand new team blog in February.

Today’s guest blogger is Heather, who was a corps member of AmeriCorps Class XVI at the Southwest Region Campus in Denver, CO. She currently resides in Maine where she spends most of her time skiing and baking.

Top Ten Things I Miss From AmeriCorps NCCC

1. Buying food in bulk from Sam’s Club and Costco

2. Transition week antics

3. Living in Denver

4. Hearing ‘Who Dat’ everywhere in New Orleans

5. Operating heavy machinery like a pro

6. Hiking giant mountains

7. Unusual and interesting daily projects

8. Being able to say, “oh yeah, I’ve been there!”

9. ISP at the New Orlean’s Zoo

10. My family

~Heather

Heather serves as a member of the AmeriCorps NCCC Alumni Leadership Council. The AmeriCorps NCCC Alumni Leadership Council was recently established to increase NCCC's alumni engagement. The council currently consists of 11 members including 2 alums representing each region and 1 Chair. Alums are currently spear-heading committees related to new member recruitment, building relationships with project sponsors, fundraising, national days of service days, and 20th Anniversary planning. For more information or to become involved as a regional rep, please contact ncccalums@gmail.com.

noreply@blogger.com (AmeriCorps NCCC) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 23:33:00 +0000

The NCCC Blog will be hosting guest bloggers during the month of January, 2012. We will be back with a brand new team blog in February.

Today’s guest blogger is Joe, an AmeriCorps NCCC Alum. He served as a Corps Members in Class XVI and a Team Leader in Class XVII, both at the Southwest Region campus in Denver, Colorado. Joe currently serves as the Development Officer-Annual Giving for the Edmundite Missions, headquartered in Selma, Alabama and serving rural Alabama and New Orleans, LA (http://www.edmunditemissions.org/).

Selma Water tower

Working at a non-profit in rural Alabama creates a Christmas season that even Santa himself would find stressful. Our direct mail campaign is going at full force, our non-stop food kitchen is serving upwards of 500 meals every single day, parties are being thrown for our senior adults and kids, and, all the while, our meals on wheels program is still going and growing and, as the head of the Donor Relations Department, plans must be made for the New Year and meetings must be kept with my boss.

Mass delivery of groceries to rural poor families

It’s easy to begin fearing for the hair that’s left on my head when this stress combines with the stress we all find when preparing for the holidays. However, I never wonder if I CAN accomplish all the tasks in front of me every day. I know I can get all these things done because of the skills I learned during two years of service with AmeriCorps*NCCC.

More important than the skills I learned that I use every day to help the Edmundite Missions, AmeriCorps*NCCC taught me to become part of a community in order to learn how to help.

People usually don't believe that this kind of poverty is in the U.S. I work with it everyday
The fact that 56% of the children in Selma, Alabama live in poverty is startling enough for anyone to want to help, but NCCC prepared me to learn names and faces and search for answers in the community.

The fact that more than 65% of all residents in Dallas County are food insecure (not sure where their next meal is coming from) could easily overwhelm anyone looking to help a community from the outside.

This is a picture of me with an elderly lady that receives our assistance in every way we offer it, including our Bosco meals on wheels. We also provide her with utility assistance and clothing. I got out of the office one day to help with the delivery and her gratitude nearly brought me to tears. She wouldn't stop hugging me and telling me that without us, she wouldn't make it. This picture means a lot to me.

But when you view a community the way the NCCC experience allows, it becomes in a big way your community. It’s not about feeding these poor people; it’s about feeding my neighbors. I love my job and I love helping the people of rural Alabama through fundraising and the dozen other tasks I do every day. And when I’m seeing the results of all that “paper pushing”, I feel like that "A" should still be proudly displayed on my sleeve.

I owe AmeriCorps NCCC so much. I am proud to have been selected to serve as a Southern Region representative to the AmeriCorps NCCC Alumni Leadership Council. Through the next few months, I look forward to working hard with the rest of the LC to connect the fantastic alumni across the nation to the program we all love and the communities that program serves. As a proud alumnus, I must say it is truly a great time to be a member of the NCCC family!

~Joe

Joe serves as a member of the AmeriCorps NCCC Alumni Leadership Council. The AmeriCorps NCCC Alumni Leadership Council was recently established to increase NCCC's alumni engagement. The council currently consists of 11 members including 2 alums representing each region and 1 Chair. Alums are currently spear-heading committees related to new member recruitment, building relationships with project sponsors, fundraising, national days of service days, and 20th Anniversary planning. For more information or to become involved as a regional rep, please contact ncccalums@gmail.com.

An Open Letter to our Readers

noreply@blogger.com (AmeriCorps NCCC) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 23:24:00 +0000

The time has come. Maple 4 is graduating November 17, 2011. This means no more projects, no more briefings, no more van rides and especially no more PT.

The team has completed over 16,000 hours of community service work in Infrastructure Improvement, Environmental Stewardship and Conservation, Urban and Rural Development, Energy Conservation, and Natural and Other Disaster Relief. The team created a quarter mile and maintained three miles of trail in Cincinnati, OH. They provided park maintenance to four parks in Vinton, IA. When the team went to Marquette, MI they worked with over 100 children under 17 and improved a day care in order to be state accredited. In Minot, ND they helped 31 homeowners recover some part of their homes that were flooded in June 2011.

This is just from one team. There are 18 other teams in the North Central Region that served at the same time in Class 17 and many more across the country.

We really enjoyed working on the blog. We hope that you enjoyed reading it. We hope that it gave an intimate insight into an AmeriCorps NCCC team.

With Love,

Maple 4