250 AmeriCorps Members to Serve Kalamazoo's Northside Neighborhood

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.  This year's project has been designated as Michigan's 2010 AmeriCorps Week closing event. AmeriCorps Week is a nationwide recruitment and recognition event designed to bring more Americans into service, salute AmeriCorps members and alums for their powerful impact, and thank the community partners who make AmeriCorps possible.  

AmeriCorps Week provides an opportunity for AmeriCorps members, alums, grantees, program partners, and friends to shine a spotlight on the work done by members in communities across the country and to motivate more Americans to join AmeriCorps or volunteer in their communities. 

"We are honored to host the Signature Service Project and excited to have the opportunity to showcase the rich assets of our strong and vibrant community," said Don Jones, executive director, Kalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity. "Habitat thrives through community partnerships. Our AmeriCorps visitors will expand our partnerships with agencies, volunteers, and neighbors to make a positive impact on our north side community." The 2010 Signature Service Project is a partnership between the Michigan Community Service Commission, Habitat for Humanity of Michigan, and Kalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity.  The Project is an annual event that serves a different community each year.  Participants are part of Michigan's AmeriCorps, a program of the Michigan Community Service Commission.  The Michigan Community Service Commission is the state's lead agency on service and volunteerism.  Also on hand to support the event will be the project's namesake, Dr. Russell G. Mawby, and Kalamazoo's Mayor Bobby Hopewell. 

"When you see AmeriCorps members in action during the annual Signature Service Project and serving communities throughout Michigan, it's a powerful demonstration of how we can use service as a strategy to address our state's toughest challenges," said Paula Kaiser Van Dam, Executive Director of the Michigan Community Service Commission.  "At a time when organizations are struggling to meet increased needs, AmeriCorps helps fill the gap and tackle critical community issues."

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY

      WHEN:

Friday, May 14 from 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
                     Saturday, May 15 from 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.     WHERE:

Kalamazoo, MI 49007 Counting to One Ministries Building
1221 North Westnedge Ave.
AmeriCorps members will assist with various service projects at multiple locations, including Christian Life Center, Ecumenical Senior Center, Kalamazoo River, New Genesis, and others. WHAT:       

BACKGROUND

This year's project has been designated as Michigan's 2010 AmeriCorps Week closing event. AmeriCorps Week is a nationwide recruitment and recognition event designed to bring more Americans into service, salute AmeriCorps members and alums for their powerful impact, and thank the community partners who make AmeriCorps possible. AmeriCorps Week provides an opportunity for AmeriCorps members, alums, grantees, program partners, and friends to shine a spotlight on the work done by members in communities across the country - and to motivate more Americans to join AmeriCorps or volunteer in their communities.     By the end of the second day, many projects are completed, visibly demonstrating the impact of AmeriCorps members in action. The Russ Mawby Signature Service Project is an annual event where AmeriCorps members from all around the state join together for two days of training, teambuilding, and service.

is often described as the domestic Peace Corps.  Individuals, called members, take on the challenges facing communities by serving within nonprofit organizations, schools, and other agencies throughout the state.  Michigan's AmeriCorps

Michigan's AmeriCorps, administered by the Michigan Community Service Commission, currently has 19 AmeriCorps programs and engages more than 1,200 members 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 over 110,000 students, citizens, and volunteers.

AmeriCorps members are serving directly in Kalamazoo, with the following programs/locations:

• Michigan Service Scholars at Kalamazoo College and Western Michigan University
• Together We Prepare AmeriCorps at American Red Cross of Greater Kalamazoo
• 4-H Mentor Michigan Initiative at Big Brothers Big Sisters - A Community of caring and New Genesis Education Center

  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.   Mentor Michigan and the Governor's Service Awards are also premier programs of the MCSC.  These funds support 19 AmeriCorps programs and 20 Learn and Serve programs. In 2009-2010, the MCSC will grant more than $8.5 million in federal and state funds to local communities for volunteer programs and activities.

Kalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity (KVHH) works with 1,500 volunteers each year to build eight homes in greater Kalamazoo. KVHH began in 1983 and is one of more than 1,900 U.S. affiliates of Habitat for Humanity International. There are 73 Habitat affiliates in Michigan alone. Habitat for Humanity builds in all 50 U.S. states and 100 other countries. For more information about how you can help build or buy a Habitat home, contact the KVHH office at (269) 344-2443 or visit the KVHH website:  www.habitatkalamazoo.org .