March 10, 2017 | The Detroit News | Posted by Andrew Stein 
​At a time of deep partisan divide, we need more initiatives that cut across party lines and spur collaboration. We also need to invest in evidence-based, cost-effective, locally controlled strategies to improve student outcomes in Detroit’s public education system and build our city’s future workforce. City Year is a longstanding community service organization that has a demonstrated track record of advancing both of these goals, but unfortunately, potential cuts to federal funding may jeopardize its future.
This year, 71 young people from diverse backgrounds, ages 18-25, were selected from a competitive applicant pool to be City Year AmeriCorps members in Detroit, serving full time in seven public schools in the city. At each school, Ameri- Corps members serve 10+ hours, every day, providing academic and social emotional support to students. They specifically focus on improving student attendance, behavior and course performance in math and English, since students struggling in these areas are most at-risk of dropping out.


Follow this link to read the rest of the story: http://www.detroitnews.com/story/opinion/2017/03/10/column-case-city-year-detroit/98977544/

January 25, 2016 | MSU Extension | Posted by Brandon Schroeder

The Northeast Michigan Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative (NEMIGLSI), a place-based stewardship education network and partnership, gains a new set of helping hands through the Huron Pines AmeriCorps program. Olivia Rose, a recent Michigan State University graduate, joins as one of 30 Huron Pines AmeriCorps members newly serving with conservation stewardship agencies and organizations across Michigan this year.

Serving the NEMIGLSI network, Olivia will be supporting place-based stewardship education activities that facilitate school-community partnerships and support educators through sustained professional development. Most of all her service will help engage youth, through their learning, in environmental stewardship issues and projects that make a difference in communities across northern Michigan. In collaboration with MSU Extension and Michigan Sea Grant, Huron Pines is a leadership partner to the NEMIGLSI network and since 2009 they have placed AmeriCorps members annually in service of this education initiative. These members have been crucial in establishing and expanding this educational network of school and community partners which to date has connected more than 19,000 youth as valued partners in conservation in northeast Michigan communities.

Follow this link to the whole story, including an interview with Olivia: http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/msu_grad_to_work_with_youth_in_northeast_michigan_msg17_schroeder17
​ 

WMAC members and service learning students from Central Michigan University participated in a Garfield Park Neighborhood clean-up project for Global Youth Service Day.

Check out WZZM 13 for the video coverage. http://www.wzzm13.com/news/local/wyoming/glam-up-garfield-park-spring-cleaning-project-gets-youth-involved/137352821

Contact
Megan Lendman or Cassie Hall
West Michigan AmeriCorps Collaborative
wmacollaborative@gmail.com
www.wmacollaborative.org


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 4/14/2016                                 
 
#GlamUPGarfieldPark for Global Youth Service Day!
Grand Rapids, Michigan – From 9am to 4pm on Global Youth Service Day, April 16, 2016, more than 90 young people, local students and national service members will come together to beautify the Garfield Park Neighborhood and surrounding area through the #GlamUPGarfieldPark project developed by the West Michigan AmeriCorps Collaborative. Projects include construction and planting at Urban Roots’ community farm, painting and maintenance at In The Image, installing benches designed and built by students at YouthBuild Grand Rapids, and neighborhood street clean up and tree mulching with Grand Rapids Public Schools and Friends of Grand Rapids Parks.
About West Michigan AmeriCorps Collaborative
Each year, roughly 250 AmeriCorps members complete their national service in West Michigan. The West Michigan AmeriCorps Collaborative exists to support these AmeriCorps members during their service term by providing resources, opportunities for civic engagement, professional development, and collaboration among AmeriCorps programs in the area. The Collaborative also provides engaging projects for AmeriCorps members and local volunteers during National Days of Service, including Global Youth Service Day.
Global Youth Service Day is an international event celebrated in more than 100 countries around the world. The purpose is to encourage civic engagement among young people, and to honor the hard work they are doing in their communities. AmeriCorps members dedicate themselves to a full year of volunteer service, with most members completing more than 1,700 hours of volunteer work during their term. For Global Youth Service Day 2016, the West Michigan AmeriCorps Collaborative is bringing programs together from across the city to celebrate our members’ achievements by joining in community wide service projects.
About Urban Roots
Urban Roots is a start-up nonprofit with a mission “to cultivate durable and resilient communities, families, and ecosystems through urban agriculture”. 2016 marks the inaugural year for their community farm located at 1316 Madison St SE. This urban farm will provide summer employment opportunities for neighborhood young people and a meeting space for neighbors, as well as a source for fresh, affordable, local, organic produce. In addition to providing Community Supported Agriculture shares which may be purchased using Bridge Cards, and Urban Roots is planning to operate a small farm stand on the property through the growing season. Volunteers for Global Youth Service Day will be supporting Urban Roots by doing some light maintenance, building planting beds, trellis building, and potting up plants.
About In The Image
Located at 1823 S. Division Avenue, In The Image links new and gently used clothing, household goods, furniture, and appliances with people in need in our very own community. The organization operates the Free Store, which is open for personal shopping appointments Monday through Saturday. In The Image is in desperate need of help brightening up their exterior image to align with their mission to offer resources with integrity, respect, and grace. Volunteers will help refresh the interior and exterior of the blue and tan building as they install benches for shoppers designed and constructed by students at YouthBuild Grand Rapids, install trash bins to help keep the property neat, create signage in the Free Store for shoppers to find what they are looking for, and complete interior painting projects.
About YouthBuild Grand Rapids
YouthBuild Grand Rapids is a seven-month program for low income young adults ages 18-24 that offers GED/High School diploma completion, vocational training, life skills development, and opportunities for personal growth. Since its inception, YouthBuild Grand Rapids has graduated 4 cohorts of students at a 70% graduation rate. To ensure their success is sustained, graduates are offered GED assistance, job coaching, resume building, job placement, interview etiquette, and leadership development. Those who wish to continue with higher education are given college enrollment assistance. To celebrate Global Youth Service Day, the students of YouthBuild worked with their construction instructor to design and build 4 benches that will be installed at In The Image.
About Friends of Grand Rapids Parks
The City of Grand Rapids currently owns 74 parks totaling approximately 1,210 acres of land. That is a lot of green space for a city to maintain. Through the Friends of Grand Rapids Parks, the city connects with volunteers, neighborhood leaders, and community partners to achieve their goal of protecting, enhancing, and expanding our community parks and public spaces. This Global Youth Service Day, the West Michigan AmeriCorps Collaborative is working with the Garfield Park Lodge and Grand Rapids Public Schools to complete spring mulching projects throughout our green space. Volunteers will follow important techniques to ensure proper rainwater drainage and tree-growth support.
How to get involved
Community members who wish to get involved on Global Youth Service Day will be able to visit our volunteer hub at In The Image, 1823 S. Division Avenue. West Michigan AmeriCorps Collaborative team members will be on hand to provide trash bags and plastic gloves for neighborhood street clean up.
 
###

​www.canr.msu.edu/news/americorps_members_are_getting_things_done_for_michigan_4_h

Christine Mwangi, Americorps VISTA member, stands with a part of her presentation on Dec. 3, 2015. Mwangi will be running a workshop for refugee women regarding menstrual hygiene and other health concerns beginning in January. (Anya Rath | MLive.com)

For the full article visit: http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2015/12/refugee_menstrual_health.html