CalSERVES Makes a Difference: Taylor Mountain

This is the third post in a series of 4 in which we will be highlighting the amazing efforts of CalSERVES Programs in their Make a Difference Day projects. Each project involved a host of AmeriCorps members and volunteers and provided needed services to the communities in which are programs are hosted.

With only a small team on Make a Difference Day, Taylor Mountain had the challenge of accomplishing some big projects! We all worked really hard together and had great communication and spirit. We never lost sight of our goal that day, to get the garden ready for new planting. We worked while laughing, talking and sometimes just quietly getting the job done. We took out most of the weeds that were around our classrooms, as well as pruning the rose bush that the principal had requested. Because of the much-needed trim, we found a fire hydrant and memorial plaque!

 
We also cleared all of the unruly plants and bushes that were growing next to our classroom and the back area near our shed. This area was so out of control that we accumulated ten whole garbage bags of weeds and overgrown plants! The garden area was shaped up and cleared, making way for the plants and harvest. In the end, Taylor Mountain looked more presentable and clean. A couple teachers who were working in their classrooms encouraged us as we were working; it was really nice to hear. We ended the day proud of the work that we accomplished, and left with a tired but happy attitude –we knew that we made a difference that day.

By Yesenia Garcia,  Taylor Mountain AmeriCorps Team Leader

CalSERVES Makes a Difference:

This is the second post in a series of 4 in which we will be highlighting the amazing efforts of CalSERVES Programs in their Make a Difference Day projects. Each project involved a host of AmeriCorps members and volunteers and provided needed services to the communities in which are programs are hosted.

As the sun rose over sleepy Wright Charter School, it found AmeriCorps members rising too- to the occasion that is! They stood shivering in their sweatshirts and coffee mugs staring over a patch – nay, a boundless field – of weeds that needed to be disposed of. It wouldn’t be an easy job, nor a clean one, but the members knew it was up to them to do it…for America.

Fueled on by the inspiring lyrics of TLC and the Spice girls, the sun watched as KC Balagey, Rebecca Stewart, Augustine Stav, Emily Thiebold, and Megan Waring battled against the weeds that threatened the beauty of their beloved tutoring site. Their fearless leader, Taylor Ford, fought through a torn ACL to weed, rake, and hoe alongside them. Throughout the day, AmeriCorps Leads, Elizabeth Sheffer and Chris Rogers, stopped by to journalize the event. When their arms began to feel weak and no one wanted to see another dandelion again, CalSERVES Counselor, Clare McGuire, joined them-working her hands to shreds. Lauren Loeffler, Site Supervisor of Kawana, appeared picking up her own shovel. Alongside her was Wally, the faithful dog, who lifted everyone’s morale to continue the grueling work of beautifying a forgotten plot.

The hero of the day would have to be Auggie Stav, who worked tirelessly to clear more then his share of stubborn weeds. His hard work and dedication to the project was extremely appreciated and it is doubtful it would have been half as successful without him. 

At the end of the day of service, everyone was sweaty, covered in dirt, and sore. However, twelve wheelbarrows full of weeds had been exported to compost piles. The place looked tidier, healthier, and significantly emptier- ready for new seedlings to grow.

 
The day was an overall success with the only causalities being exhaustion and slight sunburn. Wright (and America) was left having taken a slight step forward to becoming their best selves and making a difference for this school on this day.

Also, we saw a mouse.

By Megan Waring, Wright Charter AmeriCorps Team Leader

CalSERVES Makes a Difference: RL Stevens

Over the next 4 days, we will be highlighting the amazing efforts of CalSERVES Programs in their Make a Difference Day projects. Each project involved a host of AmeriCorps members and volunteers and provided needed services to the communities in which are programs are hosted.

There is work to do at RL Stevens!

  When it came to the planning of Make a Difference Day 2013 at RL Stevens, there was a lot to be done! Old rotting raised garden beds needed replacing, a fading map of the world on the blacktop needed repainting, and garden beds throughout the school were in desperate need of mulch. With a few generous donations, we gathered the materials for the two projects we chose to focus on: the raised garden beds and the overall need for mulch. Our Make a Difference Day began a day early when first thing Friday morning 10 cubic yards of steaming mulch was dumped in our parking lot. We knew we had our work cut out for us Saturday morning. Carrying tools borrowed from the Santa Rosa Tool Library and fueled by coffee donated by Starbucks, we got to work.

 Craig Jacques led the battle against the old raised beds in the garden. He was joined by Christian Andersen – the 6th grade teacher at RL Stevens, Jesus Guerrero, and Sean Fitzgerald. They removed old beds, broke up the existing dirt with pick axes and build new raised beds!

Margo Addison, a teacher and Literacy Specialist at RL, gets to work with mulch!

Mulch, mulch, mulch everywhere! It was truly mulch madness. The RL mulch team included Emily Chambers, Gaspar Oregon, Rachel Dillin, Ana Hernandez, and Carmen Wandel. We were joined by our principal - Lori Pola Hoard, our literacy specialist - Margo Addison, and Melissa Moore. We had 10 yards of mulch to spread throughout the school. Luckily our numbers doubled with the addition of Meadow View tutors Zack Edwards, Brenda Diaz, Corie Emery, Jena Preston and their tireless leader NightSnow Vogt!

New garden beds.

After four hours of hard work we still weren't done, as our numbers began to dwindle those remaining really picked up the pace to finish what we had started. Sweaty and dirty, the last people standing Emily, Craig, Ana, and Jesus went home tired but feeling accomplished!

By Emily Chambers, RL Stevens Elementary AmeriCorps Team Leader

Volunteer Success with AmeriCorps

A team of CalSERVES AmeriCorps members from across the After School, VIP, and CalPREP programs teamed up on Make A Difference Day, and partook in an eagerly anticipated milestone for one of our local nonprofit partners.

 On this day, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Santa Rosa held the grand opening of ReStyle Marketplace, a new thrift store. ReStyle Marketplace is Catholic Charities’ first-ever social enterprise, and is run almost entirely by volunteers. All revenue made from the store will directly pour into all of Catholic Charities programs, from feeding the hungry to caring for the homeless and more. Customers can shop, knowing whatever money they spent, would directly go to help those who are in need.

The AmeriCorps members each helped to ensure this event was a success. Members helped in all aspects of the event, from helping organize volunteers, to helping store customers, to outreaching to the community, and even leading the Hub Bub Club (a live band!) throughout local shops and the event. The parking lot overflowed with vehicles, the store’s lines went out the doors, and customers were nearly shoulder to shoulder outside and inside of the store.

Our AmeriCorps members worked hard while being animated and focused. Over 1300 people stepped into ReStyle Marketplace that day. But let’s push the numbers aside for a bit. THE most important success of this day was that AmeriCorps members helped implement Catholic Charities’ vision of the store by exemplifying to over 1300 people that a group of volunteers, regardless of backgrounds or ages, can get together and work purely for the success of a good cause.

By Shemea Hammond,
AmeriCorps VIP Fellow at Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Santa Rosa

Hundreds of CalSERVES AmeriCorps Members from Across California Gear Up for Our Annual Conference

 In the last month, hundreds of AmeriCorps members across our Volunteer Infrastructure Project (VIP), CalPREP, and After School programs have taken the first big step into their yearlong AmeriCorps pledge by immersing themselves in service. Our members serve in diverse capacities across California, from building capacity of nonprofits behind the scenes to tutoring small groups of students in specialized subject areas. No matter their role, all of our AmeriCorps members are untied in their passion for serving our state’s children and families through National Service commitments.

It’s my pleasure to announce that for first the first time, members from across all three of our AmeriCorps programs will come together in Rohnert Park for the CalSERVES AmeriCorps Conference. We’re thrilled about this opportunity to connect our inspiring corps of individuals and can’t wait to see the passion for community service that this event will spark in our dedicated team.

In addition to the opportunity to network with and learn from participants in other programs, each of our AmeriCorps members will receive high-quality training in their area of specialty. After School Service Scholars can look forward to training in behavior management best practices and in their primary subject area (Healthy Behaviors, Literacy, or STEM) from field experts. Instructors in the After School conference track include seasoned CalSERVES staff members and some of our favorite trainers, like David Chosa and Francesca Soriano-Hersh.

VIP and CalPREP fellows will have the opportunity to receive training from some of the best in the field of volunteer management. We’re excited to have experts from OneOC, the Sonoma County Family YMCA, and our event partner, the Volunteer Center of Sonoma County, lead workshops in volunteer management topics from the “Elements of Volunteerism” to the building of business partnerships for volunteering. CalPREP Fellows – who are focusing their service year on building college-readiness mentoring programs – will also receive training in our research-based mentoring curriculum.

As the hub for nonprofits in Sonoma County, the Volunteer Center is excited to support our event by sharing its expertise and understanding of nonprofit and volunteer management with our AmeriCorps team! We’re incredibly grateful for their partnership and for providing educational support through multiple presentations over the 4-day conference.

Lauren Serpa, CalSERVES Volunteer Program Coordinator

Celebrating 15 Years of Passion, Potential, and Power

On May 10, the CalSERVES family had the privilege of commemorating our 15 year anniversary at the Arlene Francis Center in Santa Rosa.  Over 100 current AmeriCorps members and staff, AmeriCorps alumni, and community supporters came to celebrate the program’s history and to welcome its future. The energy in the room was tangible as our guests caught up with each other and shared their passion for CalSERVES.

Welcome to the Alumi Club!

It has taken the service and dedication of thousands of AmeriCorps members and staff to make our work possible over these past 15 years.  We're incredibly thankful to all who have given their time to CalSERVES, and especially grateful to the founding group that made it all possible.

Having a great time!

 At the event, we presented the CalSERVES Community Partner Founder Award to three women who helped spark the program 15 years ago: Margo Addison, Ellen Desmond, and Emma Charlebois. We also presented Kathy Chosa with the Passion, Potential, Power award in recognition for her many years of service on staff and as an AmeriCorps member during the first program year.  Last but not least, we were proud to honor our fearless leader Julie McClure, whose passion for serving students and families has and continues to empower and inspire us all to make a difference.

Julie McClure and Award Recipients.

by Sara Sitch, CalSERVES Program Manager

Join the AmeriCorps Team!

CalSERVES recruitment is in high gear for the 2013-2014 school year! We have all kinds of positions (hands on with kids, leadership roles, volunteer programs), and different schedules (full-time or part-time). There are plenty of ways to be involved and serve the community!

AmeriCorps Service Scholars

Service Scholars serve part time, 25 hours a week, providing small group tutoring to kids in the After School Program. Each Scholar specializes either Literacy (Reading and Writing), STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), or Healthy Behaviors (Nutrition and Physical Education). They plan and implement lessons for students with the goal of helping them be successful in academics and in life. These Service Scholars form close bonds with their students, and provide support and mentoring.

Learn more about the position and apply by visiting the CalSERVES Website.

AmeriCorps Leaders

There are several full time (42+ hours a week) leadership positions available in CalSERVES. We have Service Scholar leaders at each of our After School Sites who oversee the tutoring programs and provide leadership and support to the Service Scholars. There are also Regional Leaders for the After School programs who are involved in supporting several programs. There are also Content Leaders - folks who specialize in our Content Areas (Literacy, STEM, Healthy Behaviors) that help train tutors and support the development of resources for their specific areas.

Learn more about these positions and apply by visiting the CalSERVES Website.

Volunteer Programs AmeriCorps Leaders

CalSERVES runs statewide volunteer programs. We have opportinties to engage in community service all throughout California. These positions are full time (42+ hours a week).
Learn more about these positions and apply by visiting the CalSERVES Website.

Benefits for AmeriCorps Service

You might have heard about some of the benefits of AmeriCorps Service - an Education Award ($5,550.00 for a full time member) at the completion of service, a living stipend while you serve, extensive training, Alumni support and services... Learn more about the benefits to you by visiting the CalSERVES Website- Benefits of Service.

Questions?

What is AmeriCorps? Who is eligible to serve in AmeriCorps? Can I defer student loans while I serve? Find the answers to these questions and more on the CalSERVES Website - FAQ's about Service.

Can't find the answer on our website? Contact our friendly staff at americorps@calserves.org!

Employment

CalSERVES is also hiring staff for office positions and After School Classroom Leaders. Learn more about these opportunities on the CalSERVES Website - Employment.