Russ Mawby Signature Service Projects

Michigan’s AmeriCorps members make big impact at Russ Mawby Signature Service Projects across the state

On May 17 and 18, hundreds of AmeriCorps members and volunteers gathered to serve five regions across the state for the 2024 Michigan’s AmeriCorps Russ Mawby Signature Service Projects.

Dr. Russell “Russ” Mawby was a tremendous advocate for youth and volunteer service during his life. Dr. Mawby led the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in Battle Creek for over three decades and was instrumental in the series of meetings that eventually led to the creation of the Michigan Community Service Commission. The Michigan’s AmeriCorps Russ Mawby Signature Service Project was created in honor of his service. Dr. Mawby passed away in October of 2017.

In partnership with the Michigan Community Service Commission, Michigan’s AmeriCorps programs hosted five regional project that took place in Alto, Grayling, Lansing, Flint, and Detroit.

West Michigan RMSSP

In West Michigan, AmeriCorps programs partnered with the Boys and Girls Club of West Michigan on May 17 to host a project at Camp O’Malley in Alto. The camp has been closed since the COVID-19 pandemic, but is re-opening its door to day-campers this summer. Both outdoor and indoor spaces needed to be cleaned up and prepped to host children and youth for the summer.

A total of 100 AmeriCorps members and additional volunteers collaborated to accomplish the following:

• Raked 99 tarps of leaves
• Mulched a playground, climbing area, and patio
• Cut down 25 trees
• Re-sanded one volleyball court
• Pulled 31 trash cans of weeds
• Gathered 13 garbage bags of loose sticks
• Collected 25 bags and five wheelbarrows of trash
• Organized 47 supply containers
• Swept and mopped five assembly rooms, four camper cabins, the nurse cabin and a shed
• Cleaned two bathrooms
• Power-washed 10 benches
• Painted one wall
• Broke down 50 boxes

Northern Michigan RMSSP

Huron Pines hosted the Northern Michigan project on May 17 in Grayling with the goal of their project to benefit the community in a variety of ways, including enhancing recreational opportunities and beautifying public spaces.

Kai Garcia, an AmeriCorps member currently serving with Huron Pines, took part in the northern Michigan project, where he assisted at the fish hatchery, helping to paint structures and beautify outdoor spaces.

Garcia said it “always feels good to give back” and that he was proud to get “get things done,” which references a phrase from the AmeriCorps pledge.

“Hopefully it encourages more people to get out and about in the natural world because it is really important for conservation and for people’s mental health,” Garcia stated. “There’s a lot of reasons why it’s great to get out in nature.”

With 77 total volunteers, the project accomplished many goals, including:

• At the Grayling School Forest, volunteers helped build a single-track trail system to help give community members additional outdoor recreational space.
• At Grayling Elementary, the team mulched the flower beds, worked on the raised garden beds, and disposed of fallen leaves.
• At Grayling Community Garden, volunteers prepared the community garden, installed chicken wire, and laid down weed-barrier fabric.
• At Crawford County Commission on Aging, volunteers planted native plants and installed weed-barrier fabric.
• At Grayling Fish Hatchery, volunteers painted benches, signs, picnic tables, and a large bridge.

In total, volunteers:

• Painted two picnic tables, one sign, four utility posts and a bridge
• Removed 20 cubic yards of trash and debris from public lands
• Planted five flats of plants
• Seeded over 600 square feet of native seeds
• Built one mile of trail

Mid-Michigan RMSSP

At the Mid-Michigan project on May 17, 82 AmeriCorps members gathered at Fenner Nature Center in Lansing to help prepare outdoor spaces for the public to enjoy.

During their project, members and volunteers accomplished the following: 

• Spread 10 cubic yards of mulch over a quarter mile of trail
• Removed 1,100 lbs. of weeds and invasive species
• Prepared learning materials for children’s camps 

Southeast Michigan RMSSP

In Southeast Michigan, 257 members and volunteers convened on May 18 at Rouge Park in Detroit to help clean up and beautify the park. AmeriCorps programs partnered with Friends of the Rouge during their Rouge Park Appreciation Day, and divided up participants to cover four main areas: trash cleanup, invasive species removal, planting and landscaping, and metal fishing.

Through their four major efforts, participants accomplished the following:

• Collected 40 bags of trash and a box of glass
• Removed 21 bags of garlic mustard and 10 bags of other invasive species, while also creating 109 garlic mustard pesto kits
• Planted 14 flats of annuals, weeded and mulched planting areas, and improved the wood chip path
• Removed 800 lbs. of metal from the park

Flint RMSSP

Michigan's AmeriCorps members in Flint served by conducting a community cleanup and continued with a resource fair at Latinx Technology and Community Center.

The Michigan Community Service Commission and Michigan’s AmeriCorps would like to thank all AmeriCorps members, partners and volunteers for their service.

We are celebrating the AmeriCorps 30th anniversary all year long. For the past three decades, millions of Americans have worn the "A."  AmeriCorps continues to make a difference in communities and demonstrate that service is not a moment - it’s a movement. We're looking to celebrate by sharing the service stories of Michigan's AmeriCorps members. If you're interested, use the link to submit a video of you telling your service story! http://MICommunityService.memfox.io/wvnucm