Is Your Organization Right for AmeriCorps?

The Virginia Department of Social Services' Office on Volunteerism and Community Service is accepting applications for AmeriCorps program funding. AmeriCorps is a national service network that provides part-and full-time service opportunities for participants to serve their communities. These members build the capacity of nonprofits to meet local environmental, educational, public safety, homeland security, or other human needs. Organizations interested in learning more about AmeriCorps and becoming a sponsoring organization can review informative presentations and take an online assessment to find out if they are eligible. An optional pre-proposal conference for potential candidates will be held in Richmond on Feb. 11. The deadline for sealed proposals is 5pm, March 12, 2009.

AmeriCorps' Economic Impact to Virginia is $7 Million

AmeriCorps members and the volunteers they recruited contributed more than $7 million to the Virginia economy (September 2007- August 2008). The 371 members in 17 programs across the Commonwealth, recruited 10,193 volunteers to address issues in education, the environment, homeland security and other human needs. The economic impact is based on the value of volunteer time for 2007 of $19.51 per hour as determined by the Virginia Employment Commission. The members and volunteers tutored 3,466 students in grades 1-12, served 1,542 disadvantaged children and youth, mentored 593 individuals, and assisted 48,489 individuals with human needs services. Read the full report.

 

2009 MLK Day Sets Record

More than 13,000 service projects took place across the country in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, Jan. 19. The number of service projects increased more than 160 percent over last year. Americans made it "a day on, not a day off" by delivering meals, refurbishing schools, reading to children, signing up mentors, and much more. In Virginia, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine and more than 20 students from the College of William and Mary helped build Habitat for Humanity homes in Petersburg. Get the full report on MLK Day 2009.

Call for Grant Reviewers

The Office on Volunteerism and Community Service is searching for representatives from nonprofits, local/state government agencies, volunteer organizations, community-based or faith-based organizations, and for-profit corporations to review AmeriCorps grant applications. We are seeking a mix of individuals with experience and/or knowledge of national or community service, faith-based and community-based organizations, grant writing, grant review, education, public safety, environment, homeland security, and/or other human needs. Take advantage of this opportunity to obtain valuable grant reviewing experience while showing your support of community service in Virginia. Apply now.

Get to Know Dr. Andrew D. Stelljes

 

Virginia Advisory Board on National and Community Service

Since Dr. Andrew D. Stelljes has served as the director of the Office of Student Volunteer Services at the College of William and Mary, the number of student hours dedicated to service has more than doubled. Also during his tenure, William and Mary has received the President's Award for Service with Distinction and three office programs have received a Points of Light Award.  As a researcher, Dr. Stelljes' work has focused on student development through service and his Engagement Model has been published in several journals. He also authored a book on the subject entitled "Service Learning and Community Engagement: Cognitive Developmental Long-term Social Concern." Dr. Stelljes currently teaches a course on "Education as a Social Concern" and partners with Teach for America. In the program, students volunteer in schools in rural and urban settings over breaks while they learn about challenges to academic achievement in class.  Previously, Dr. Stelljes has served for two years as the president of the Greater Williamsburg Association for Volunteer Administration. His community service involvement has included volunteering in Williamsburg-James City County Schools, in retirement centers, with the Phoenix Project in Petersburg, and in various localities such as New Orleans and Washington, D.C.  Dr. Stelljes has served in Latin America working with communities on housing, education and medical relief. He lives in Williamsburg with his wife, Amy, and their two children, Emma and Braden.

2-1-1 Virginia Celebrates Third Anniversary

Last year, 2-1-1 VIRGINIA helped more than 280,000 Virginians find answers to their questions. On February 11, 2009, 2-1-1 VIRGINIA will mark its third year as Virginia's easy to remember toll-free phone number connecting people with free information on available community services. 2-1-1 connects callers to experienced professionals who listen carefully to each situation and suggest sources of help using the largest database of health and human services in Virginia. This database is also available on the Web at www.211virginia.org.

Serve America Act is Introduced

Senators Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT) have introduced the "Serve America Act," a bill to expand national and community service opportunities for all Americans. The goal of the legislation is to encourage 175,000 more Americans to give a year of service to address specific national challenges such as strengthening our schools or increasing economic opportunities. Find out more.

Starbucks Launches National Volunteerism Effort

Starbucks has launched a national campaign to promote volunteerism. The coffee chain recently premiered a new Web site that will feature a searchable database for volunteer opportunities in order to connect millions of new volunteers to service. Dubbed the "I'm In!" campaign,  Starbucks will be investing in a massive promotional campaign to include free coffee for individuals who volunteer through the Web site. Learn more about the "Im In!" campaign.

New Bilingual Resource Directory of Health Information

The Central Virginia Health Planning Agency (CVHPA) has launched a free bilingual (Spanish/English) resource directory of health-related information. The directory includes information specific to heart disease and stroke, and a listing of local health care services throughout Virginia with bilingual staff or interpreter services. For additional information visit www.cvhpa.org. 

Notes from the Field: Virginia AmeriCorps in Action

• Adrienne Ward recalls an experience as a member of the Literacy Council of Northern Virginia's AmeriCorps program. "In one of my classes," she recalls, "I had a student who had just arrived from Romania and spoke no English. One day, she walked into the room and said with a huge smile and much gusto, 'I come to learn English!' To achieve that confidence was the most rewarding experience ever!"
• Elizabeth Shomo, an AmeriCorps member with Virginia Community Corps, recalls how she helped make Christmas special for one young boy. "An error had occurred and he wasn't included for a Christmas gift basket," she says. "I realized that his address was an Olde Forge address so I was able to help him as part of our Olde Forge Junction program. The look on his face when I told him that he was going to be getting Christmas gifts like everyone else was priceless."

Nonprofit Resources

• The U.S. Department of Labor's (DOL) Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (CFBCI) offers regularly updated documents available on the CFBCI Web site.
• More than half of health professionals polled for The Cameron Foundation's 2008 Health Needs Assessment said that the greatest health-related need in Central Virginia is the lack of financial resources to pay for health care.
• With so many social networking sites being used by nonprofits, management of these sites has become increasingly more difficult. Flock is handy browser which allows you to integrate all your social networking sites, feeds, and favorites in one place.

In the News

• "Innovations in Compassion: A Final Report to the Armies of Compassion" is a new report from the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives summarizing their efforts during the last eight years. View the report.
• "Students serve on MLK Day" - The Petersburg Progress-Index reports on MLK Day of Service projects completed by Pathways and William and Mary students. Read the story.
• "Helping live King's legacy" - The Richmond Times-Dispatch highlights some of the 70 MLK Day volunteer efforts in the Richmond area. Full article.
• "National Day of Service: The president-elect's call to action" - The Washington Post editorial comments on the new administration's "Call to Service." Read the editorial.
• "Students Serve with Governor on MLK Day" - The College of William & Mary featured an article detailing Governor Kaine's participation in an MLK Day service event. Check it out.