This week, we will feature blog posts from four of the participants, where they discuss their service and how much it has shaped their lives. Today’s blog post, the fourth and final one in our series, is from Art.

Q:  Tell us about one particular incident or anecdote about your service that exemplifies what AmeriCorps means to you.

A:  To me, AmeriCorps signifies responsibility, change and empowerment. During my service in the Rio Grande Valley, I assisted Spanish-speaking adults in the evening ESL classes at Valley View High School. The desire they had to better themselves by learning English and their willingness to receive my assistance as a bilingual high school senior made the experience extremely fulfilling for me. My grandfather was a farm worker (campesino) in South Texas during the early 40s and worked extremely hard to better our family’s situation, eventually being granted his citizenship. He never learned English, but his unceasing effort to work and assist others in the community stays with me. It opened doors for me that I would not have had opened otherwise. Having the opportunity through AmeriCorps to help Hispanic adults wanting to better their situation by learning English was, for me, a powerful anecdote of change and empowerment. There was a compelling desire in me to help them reach their goals.   The desire was in them; the program allowed me to get that much closer to their experience and lend a supporting hand.

Q:  What did your friends and family say when you decided to join AmeriCorps? What about after your service was complete?

A:  My parents were very proud and excited about the opportunity, especially because it connected a service component with an educational stipend. Being the first generation in my immediate family to attend college in the U.S., it meant a lot. After completing the program, both my parents and teachers were excited. Both my twin brother and I participated and completed the program. The next year, our youngest brother also participated in the program, made a difference in the community and used his educational stipend to pay for his education at The University of Texas at Austin.  So you could say that we had a family of AmeriCorps alumni—all three of us boys went through the program, graduated from high school in the top 10 percent and were accepted to UT-Austin. My grandfather was so very proud.

Q:  In your application, you mentioned that AmeriCorps has inspired you to “still [serve] others in various capacities,” including as a board member of the OneStar National Service Commission. How else has your AmeriCorps experience influenced your professional life and decisions?

A: My AmeriCorps experience exposed me to the joys of helping others and developed in me an appreciation for a life of service. It influenced my decision to volunteer for several years at an organization in Austin; their mission was to serve low-income children through the arts, media and sports. I eventually became part of the Rosebuds Inc. board and helped make strategic decisions to improve the program, consequently improving the lives of children with great needs in a select apartment complex in Austin.

Q:  How has AmeriCorps changed your perspective of your community?

A:  My AmeriCorps experience solidified in my brothers and me an appreciation for a life of service. My community became anyone with a need that I could help address, regardless of the location. It has become a part of who I am, not a location-specific endeavor. Since my service, I have traveled to Argentina and Indonesia in mission service trips to help people in need. There are no boundaries to my community; the world is an open field ready to be touched. AmeriCorps was an empowering experience for me in developing that mindset, as it allowed me to help a diverse set of people in many ways.

Q:  What advice do you have for people who are considering joining AmeriCorps?

A:  I would advise anyone considering joining AmeriCorps to take the step. Jump in and take the challenge! There is so much to do out there, and so many ways in which you can make a difference. Try them all and grow as a person in the process. You will thank yourself years later. I know my brothers and I have, many a time.

This week, we will feature blog posts from four of the participants, where they discuss their service and how much it has shaped their lives. Today’s blog post, the third in our series, is from Max.

Q: Tell us about one particular incident or anecdote about your service that exemplifies what AmeriCorps means to you.

A: I was raised in a low-income family. I understand the added obstacles and adversity that poverty can bring. I found AmeriCorps through College Forward, a program designed to end generational poverty through education. Helping students that are in the same situations I was in makes me feel that I’m breaking the cycle and improving our nation, one generation at a time.

Q: What did your friends and family say when you decided to join AmeriCorps? What about after your service was complete?

A: My family has been very supportive and understand that this is something I must do for myself and my community. My friends have learned more about it, and some have decided to join themselves. It’s a great opportunity.

Q: At the end of your application, you mention wanting to “become a school counselor for communities such as the one [you] grew up in.” Are you still pursuing that goal? How else has AmeriCorps influenced your professional life and decisions?

A: My professional goal has been to help underprivileged students gain access to and succeed in college. College Forward has given me the opportunity to gain experience and better understand the root causes that make this program necessary. I know now that I want to continue to serve this cause, and am actively researching the best way to do so.

Q: Tell us about being a College Coach. What activities do you do to help students get ready for college? How does your work impact their work?

A: As a College Coach, I guide high school seniors through the college application process. Most of these students do not have the benefit of having parents or siblings who have gone through the process. We help them research colleges to find the right fit for them. We ensure that they apply for financial aid and scholarships. We also guide them through activities that help them understand financial aid, time and money management, study tips and tricks, dealing with roommates, college course schedules and more. It is important for them to begin thinking about these things so that they cannot only gain admission to college, but also be successful there and graduate as well.

Q: What advice do you have for people who are considering joining AmeriCorps?

A: AmeriCorps is a great opportunity to make a difference in your community and in yourself. You help people make the best of their lives and you gain an experience that will stay with you forever.

This week, we will feature blog posts from four of the participants, where they discuss their service and how much it has shaped their lives. Today’s blog post, the second in our series, is from Sarita.

Q: Tell us about one particular incident or anecdote about your service that exemplifies what AmeriCorps means to you.

A: Well, the incident that really brought home what AmeriCorps means to me happened after my service years. I taught a community service class for ninth through twelfth graders. I was trying to teach them the importance of being involved in their communities. I had great students, but some of our service opportunities were not very appealing to my younger students. We went to the MLK Day march in San Antonio—the largest march in the nation. When we got there, we were greeted by a group of teens. They were very nice and told us all about their program, AmeriCorps. My kids were thrilled to meet other young people who were out there doing community service by choice. These AmeriCorps members were passionate, outgoing and cool—people my students could relate to, and look up to. My students went online and looked up AmeriCorps and how to join when we got back to the classroom. They were so excited. It was then that it all came together for me. Through my service, and continued service, I have been able to inspire students to become concerned, involved citizens. There was a fire lit that day. I think that’s what AmeriCorps is about—not only identifying a need and responding to it, but inspiring others to become involved as well.

Q:  What did your friends and family say when you decided to join AmeriCorps? What about after your service was complete?

A: My family was supportive. They knew I was scared. But I was doing something that was mutually beneficial for both me and the program with which I served. I received training and experience, so I think they all saw that this was something that was helping me to become a professional, productive member of society. After my service was complete, my family has continued to support my efforts to give back to the community. They know that my heart is in the right place, and that I am doing what makes me happy.

Q:  In your application, you mentioned that you teach community service classes. How does your AmeriCorps experience positively impact your classroom today? How do your students respond?

A:  Most AmeriCorps members I have introduced to my students are young. They tend to be expressive in their clothing and style. They also tend to be college students. These traits are appealing to my high school students. The AmeriCorps members also understand the negative stereotypes people associate with teenagers with dyed hair, piercings, tattoos, etcetera. They all seem to strive to change those stereotypes, which my students appreciate. My students can see, in me and in AmeriCorps members, that you don’t have to conform or only be concerned with money. You can be yourself and be passionate about your ideas and beliefs. You can help shape the community you live in and not just let things happen to you; but rather, to make things happen for you. I think this motivates them in a positive way.

Q:  You mentioned that you met “some of the most generous and caring people through the program.” How did they influence your AmeriCorps service experience? Do you keep in touch with them through any AmeriCorps alumni networking initiatives?

A:  I keep in touch with some members and co-workers from the nonprofits with which I served. You know, AmeriCorps is a great networking tool. I use my contacts to get information about service opportunities. The people I served with influenced me positively because the group was so diverse. I was able to learn about other cultures, races, income levels, families and experiences. It was amazing. I would have never been exposed to so much without being a member. In addition, my students are in a transitional period in their lives. They are looking at colleges, apartments, jobs and cars for the first time. Since I now know many people in different geographic regions, I can tap into those resources to aid my students in their decision-making processes.

Q:  What advice do you have for people who are considering joining AmeriCorps?

A:  Just do it! You will be scared, nervous, anxious and all of the above. But it will work out and be an experience you will remember for the rest of your life. I actually had the AmeriCorps logo tattooed on my leg for my birthday during my first year; I know it is something I will cherish for the rest of my life. I am, and always will be, part of a group of people who can say they have served their community. I have made a difference. I didn’t just gripe, complain and do nothing; I got out there and made things happen. I can’t explain in words how good this program makes you feel inside. It keeps your passion going. It makes you a better person and gives you much-needed perspective. It is something to believe in. It will restore your faith in humankind.

This week, we will feature blog posts from four of the participants, where they discuss their service and how much it has shaped their lives. Today’s blog post is from Jamilah.

My AmeriCorps term of service was performed in my hometown of Waco through the Communities in Schools-Heart of Texas agency. This AmeriCorps*State program consists of a group of members who perform their service at various schools and community agencies that are linked to the Communities in Schools programming. I was placed at the Family Abuse Center domestic violence shelter, and I worked with both adults and children as they planned for their new lives free from abuse. Some of my many activities included answering crisis hotline calls, helping residents gain access to local resources, offering group activities for children, facilitating violence prevention groups in local schools and participating in community education presentations about the services provided at the shelter. This was a great introduction to working with the issue of family violence in the nonprofit sector, and it gave me a jump-start into a career of public service.

Immediately after completing my term, I moved to Corpus Christi to take a job as a social worker. I landed a position as a victim advocate at Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, a nonprofit organization that offers free legal services and prioritizes cases with a history of domestic violence. I love serving my clients who are in the process of ending an abusive relationship, and it is thanks to AmeriCorps that I was prepared to begin doing this kind of work.

When I decided to apply to become an AmeriCorps member, family and friends encouraged me to seek a full-time job in a traditional employment setting instead. They had reservations about my decision to become a full-time volunteer, probably because they were not familiar with the idea and benefits of devoting a year to public service. I appreciated the encouragement of one fellow classmate, who told me she thought it takes more courage to participate in AmeriCorps than to seek traditional work. It was nice to be validated by at least one person, and eventually I gained the support of my family once they realized my dedication to the program.

I remained committed throughout the term of service and therefore have many memories of the entire experience. The most memorable aspect is the daily interaction I had with residents of the shelter. I quickly learned how domestic violence affects such a wide variety of people. Here are just a few phrases that describe some of the many residents I encountered: quiet, social, excited about change, playful, scared of the unknown, vulnerable, working professional, newlywed, first-time mom, grandmother and even a former female wrestler. Each resident had a unique story, and it was an honor to earn their trust as we worked together to plan a brighter future for them.

I was fortunate as a full-time volunteer to not only interact with shelter residents, but also to network with other service providers by attending various community meetings. I participated in meetings of the local Domestic Violence Response Team, Human Trafficking Coalition and the Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition, among others. I was also fortunate to have plenty of ongoing training throughout the entire term. In addition to the weekly AmeriCorps group trainings, we attended monthly staff training with employees of Communities in Schools. I also participated in regular staff and volunteer training of the Family Abuse Center, including specialized trainings provided by the Texas Council on Family Violence. With all of the day-to-day shelter activities, community meetings and trainings, it was not difficult to fulfill the 1,700-hour requirement for my term of service.

During this very active and busy year of ongoing activities, some one-time special events also occurred. I remember the enjoyment of engaging shelter residents in art projects that were displayed at a local ceremony remembering victims and honoring survivors of domestic violence. The children were enthusiastic about getting their hands messy with paint, and the adults were very open to sharing their thoughts and feelings via painted images on a large canvas. I was pleased to facilitate the opportunity for them to express themselves and have a sense of pride in the finished product.

A few months later, I also took pride in participating in the planning and implementation of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service for 2008. This day of citywide community engagement and service learning brought youth and adults together in a large-scale service project. On the morning of this national service day, I had the pleasure of representing AmeriCorps on a local television news broadcast, reminding the public to make this federal holiday “a day on, not a day off.”

At the conclusion of the term, our AmeriCorps group had a graduation ceremony in which we were presented with proclamations from the mayor, officially recognizing AmeriCorps Graduation Day in Waco. As the group representative, I gave a speech about our overall experiences, the variety of service activities we had performed throughout the year and the difference we had made in many areas of our community. I explained the concept of civic engagement and the importance of recognizing one’s own potential to positively impact our community, society and world. I went on to honestly state that I felt the phrase “making a difference” was not sufficient to express our AmeriCorps experience as a group. It seemed too cliché, overused and vague considering the level of commitment we each had to AmeriCorps, demonstrated by the extent of projects we completed in just one year’s time. In reviewing a list of these projects, I found a better phrase to reflect our accomplishments: “getting things done.” This phrase is derived directly from the AmeriCorps pledge, and I believe it best exemplifies how we took a pledge from words to actions.

Speaking of the AmeriCorps pledge, I now like to keep mine visibly hung on my office wall, along with my Certificate of National Service. They are both framed and placed right alongside my bachelor’s degree, as a reminder to “carry this commitment with me this year and beyond.”

To anyone considering becoming an AmeriCorps member, I suggest absorbing as much information as possible from Americorps.gov, alumni or current members in your area and the program coordinator of your specific program of interest. Also ask yourself if you’re ready to make a commitment to “getting things done” for your community, because AmeriCorps’ unique service opportunities require a genuine interest in the concept of service. Take your time to consider if this is a good choice for you. If so, I welcome you to join the AmeriCorps network by beginning the application process.

After completing my term of service, I relocated from Waco to a south Texas city with very limited AmeriCorps opportunities. Therefore, I connected with the nearest AmeriCorps Alumni Network, which is in Austin. I’m sure that I will search for Alums in any future US city that I live in. As a social worker, it is common to network with community agencies; and I’ve found myself imagining how each agency could be enhanced if it would include an AmeriCorps member in its program. Clearly, I’m biased, as I think that every agency should want an AmeriCorps member! I’ve had the pleasure of meeting two important stakeholders in my new community, with whom I hope to talk more in the future about what AmeriCorps could do for the region. Both the Executive Director of the regional volunteer center and the Director of Volunteer Services for the city both seemed open to future discussions with me.

I’ve taken an interest in learning more about volunteerism in general, and I am forever grateful to AmeriCorps for helping stimulate this interest. Hopefully one day, I’ll be able to complete a second term as an AmeriCorps*VISTA volunteer. I’m keeping my eyes wide open for that chance!

Every week is National Volunteer Week at the Volunteer Center of North Texas (VCNT). With more than 1,400 member agencies across North Texas, we play matchmaker every week to citizens looking for ways to serve in their community.

No matter what your age may be, or why you are choosing to serve, volunteering is one of the most important things a human being can do. By taking the time to serve someone else, a volunteer helps to provide basic needs to others and to their community. These acts of service pave the way for positive change in relationships, homes, neighborhoods and communities.

Volunteering can be performed in different ways and does not always have to involve a long-term commitment. Due to the busy schedules of people today, the VCNT finds that more and more groups want to volunteer through a short- term project, typically on a weekend. When an individual inquires about volunteering, we guide them towards the best opportunity that fits their desire and focus. Utilizing HandsOnNorthTexas.org as the online outlet for finding volunteer opportunities throughout the North Texas region, more than 79,500 referrals are provided annually. The VCNT also reaches out to the next generation through Youth Volunteer Corps of North Texas, sponsored by State Farm Companies Foundation. Youth Volunteer Corps of North Texas is a civic engagement and leadership development program that promotes service learning for students in middle school and high school.

While volunteering is critical and important, so is recognizing them. Volunteers give their time, energy and skills to tasks that usually would not be completed without them. They are critical to moving the missions of our organizations forward. The very least we must do to sustain the efforts of volunteers is to take the time and recognize their achievements. At the VCNT, we recognize our volunteers in several ways. From a random hug and “Thank you” in the hallway, to putting on our cowboy hats, belt buckles and spurs so that we can celebrate them with a Lone Star Salute!, our tri-county event honoring volunteers who served in their community the previous year. Our first Lone Star Salute! of 2010 will take place during National Volunteer Week on Thursday, April 22, 2010, at the Plano Centre in Collin County. We will hold Lone Star Salute! events for Tarrant and Dallas County residents later this year.

In addition to holding Lone Star Salute!, we will also be celebrating National Volunteer Week through our Student Engagement Department’s promotion of Global Youth Service Day on Saturday, April 24, 2010. Global Youth Service Day is the largest service event in the world, engaging millions of youth in more than 100 countries. With more than a dozen Global Youth Service Day projects occurring throughout the North Texas region, there are plenty of opportunities for volunteers to engage in service!

Because of volunteers, children are mentored and nurtured, the hungry are fed, those in pain have a shoulder to cry on and communities that once were broken begin to be healed. Volunteers recognize that it is not a choice to give back to their communities, but rather a civic responsibility. With this attitude, join others during National Volunteer Week to create positive change in your community.

So much depends upon volunteers—each of them. Every day, volunteers help to provide social services to Texans. They are a crucial part of nonprofits’ efforts to solve community challenges. If there were no volunteers, the world—our world, yours and mine—would be a very different place.

Because of volunteers, many crucial social services are provided, including food delivery, student tutoring, self-sufficiency programs for the homeless, college application assistance, health and wellness information and so much more. Because of volunteers, people receive assistance in rebuilding their lives. Volunteers engage in many different activities, depending on the organization they work with; but they all have that in common—they help to rebuild lives.

Because of volunteers, 556.6 million hours of service were given by 4.1 million Texans from September 2007 to September 2008. Roughly 23% of Texans—nearly one in four people—chose to help fellow Texans by volunteering¹.

Here is our challenge to you: Imagine a world in which you are volunteering. What will you do? Who do you want to help? Which lives will you help rebuild?

National Volunteer Week is April 18-24, 2010. Will you join your fellow 4.1 million Texans and be a part of changing your community for the better? Your local volunteer center can help you find the right opportunity, as can the following online volunteering resources:

• Volunteer Match.
• ServeNet.org.
• 1-800-Volunteer.
• Serve.gov.
• DoSomething.org.
• Idealist.org.

Imagine what can be done because you are a volunteer. Then, make it happen.

¹ These statistics can be found in the Corporation for National and Community Service’s “Volunteering in America” report.

Teisha-Vonique Hood and Jon Bon Jovi

We just got this amazing story from Teisha-Vonique Hood, an AmeriCorps*Texas member with Central Dallas Ministries and a member of the AmeriCorps*Texas Leadership Council. She told us about her experience promoting national service at a Jon Bon Jovi concert, and about snapping an “I AM AmeriCorps” photo with him!

Volunteers from AmeriCorps, Senior Corps and Corporation for National and Community Service distributed hundreds of Soul Foundation/JBJ Fan Site photocards and Serve.gov information cards throughout the American Airlines Center. One “hot spot” for distribution was the area where women departed restrooms and met their waiting guests outside. There, one woman to stop by the United We Serve table and learn how her organization can better assist underserved youth. As a result, our organizations are planning future collaborations. Concertgoers could also contribute to Soul Foundation (Jon Bon Jovi’s nonprofit) by purchasing “One Soul At A Time” t-shirts with all proceeds benefitting the organization, or by texting a donation. The service message was continuous throughout the arena, including in videos shown on monitors throughout the arena—even in the bathrooms! It was definitely evident how Bon Jovi is dedicated to service.

Yesterday, I was asked by my colleagues at Central Dallas Ministries (CDM) AmeriCorps to join them at their latest housing development project downtown during Jon Bon Jovi’s visit. I made sure to wear my “United We Serve” t-shirt from Saturday evening in hopes he would recognize it. Boy, did he ever. However, our AmeriCorps director had an additional mission: capture an image of Jon with the “I AM AmeriCorps” sign to show his dedication to service.

Part One

Jon finished his meetings in the morning with the CDM CEO and other partners, then proceeded to walk down a hallway for a television interview. As he walked back, he started smiling and waving slyly to rejoin members of his crew. I thought for a moment, “He surely is not waving at me?!?” As I checked around no one else was returning his wave, so I half-heartedly waved back. After his brief meeting, he walked towards the elevator, where my colleagues and I were positioned, and began to get on the elevator. But before he stepped on the elevator, he outstretched his hand to me, between two CDM employees engaged in conversation. I paused for a moment and had to look at his hand, look back up at him, then look at his hand, again thinking, “He surely is not outstretching his hand for me?!?!” Indeed, that gesture was directed to me. When I returned the handshake, he made sure to note, “I love your shirt.”

Part Two

My colleagues and I went to the first floor near the exit to try to capture the photo we desired before Jon’s departure. Prior to his return from the tour, we asked his crew if it would be possible to take a quick photo with him, and were kindly declined due to his tight schedule that day. As he walked towards the exit doors, we all positioned ourselves to capture a quick image, but our views were obstructed from his crew. We looked on patiently as they each offered their goodbyes, but I wasn’t defeated. I looked for an opportunity and found it in a five-second window when Jon already said his goodbyes and was waiting for his crew to complete theirs. I then walked around his crew, approached Jon directly with the “I AM AmeriCorps” sign and asked to capture a photo with him. The attached is the resulting image. To note, he was so kind to take the photo but even more gracious by repeatedly asking “Did you get the shot? Is it all right?” Mission accomplished.

We raked and bagged leaves at LifeWorks’ Transitional Housing Center.

Here at OneStar, we recognize the importance of service as a strategy to tackle community challenges. We also recognize the value of collaboration, and the importance of strong working partnerships to help strengthen the nonprofit sector. So every few months, OneStar employees get together with two of our national service partners—the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) State Office, and Texas Center for Service Learning—for a day of volunteering and discussions.

Our most recent meeting was Friday, March 12, 2010. We spent the morning at LifeWorks, an Austin nonprofit that provides counseling, education and housing services to youth and families. We raked leaves, planted bushes, scrubbed doors and cleaned out rooftop gutters at their Transitional Living Services facility, which provides housing and case management to young adults who have aged-out of the foster care system. We truly enjoyed working on the facility, making it more welcoming for its residents. Thanks go out to Susan Akin, Steve Bewsey, Mitch Weynand and all the LifeWorks staff and residents, who made us feel so welcome during our project.

In the afternoon, our partners and several OneStar staff members listened to a fantastic presentation from Fred Lugo, Director of Travis County Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), and Graham Duncan, a Travis County RSVP volunteer. Their program connects people ages 55 and over with volunteer opportunities that utilize their skills and their interests. They discussed the program’s success, stressing the importance of effectively matching volunteers to the right opportunities while also offering volunteer recognition events. Their program has around 1,100 volunteers at any given time, which they credit to positive word-of-mouth referrals.

After the Travis County RSVP presentation, three representatives from College Forward spoke: Emily Steinberg, Associate Director; Adriana Gomez, AmeriCorps*VISTA leader; and Max Arzola, AmeriCorps*State member. Steinberg talked about the origins of College Forward, and how much of their program’s success can be attributed to its unique collaboration between AmeriCorps*State and AmeriCorps*VISTA members. With 99% of its participants getting into college—a full 100% of those who have applied were admitted to four-year schools—College Forward is having tremendous social impact in the Central Texas region.

We’d like to thank everyone from Travis County RSVP and College Forward who took the time to meet with us in the afternoon. We learned a tremendous amount during both our service project and our afternoon presentations. We truly appreciated the opportunity to celebrate our partners’ successes while also getting involved and helping directly!

(Go here to view more pictures from our service project on Facebook!)

• Amarillo Independent School District (ISD) / Amarillo ISD AmeriCorps: Each AmeriCorps member planned lessons on the ideals of Dr. King, and presented them to groups of elementary school students.
• AVANCE, Inc. – El Paso Chapter / AVANCE – El Paso AmeriCorps: The AmeriCorps members partnered with the local Children’s Health Insurance Program office to reach out to and educate local parents on health insurance options for their children.
• Catholic Charities of Central Texas / CCCTX-ESDR AmeriCorps Case Management: Worked with Keep Austin Housed AmeriCorps Program and LifeWorks at the MLK Day of Wellness distributing shoes, coats, socks, meals, hair cuts, massages, hearing exams, referrals to services and more.
• Casa De Amigos of Midland / STARS: The program held a Senior Fair, where they presented information to seniors on healthy living, general well-being and exercise.
• Central Dallas Ministries (CDM) / N2 Texas Corps: AmeriCorps members held several projects, including repairing two homes with bcWorkshop and former Dallas Cowboys running back and 2010 Hall of Fame candidate Emmitt Smith; preparing meals for the homeless at SoupMobile; organizing the children’s library at Roseland Community Center; sorting CDM thrift store items; creating welcome bags for CityWalk@Akard’s new residents; and reflecting on Dr. King’s service.
• Communities In Schools of Central Texas / CIS of Central Texas AmeriCorps: AmeriCorps members made 50 hats for terminally and chronically ill children through Happy Hats, adding a positive note to each hat. In addition, the members marched in Austin’s MLK Day march and rally.
• City Year, Inc. / City Year San Antonio: Members participated in the city’s MLK Day march.
• College Forward / College Forward Partnership for Higher Education: AmeriCorps members held five projects: working in The Caring Place’s food bank and thrift store; beautifying Copperfield Nature Trails; cleaning Guerrero Park; volunteering and playing with children at the Greater San Marcos Youth Council shelter; and cleaning and interacting with residents at the Southside Community Center shelter.
• Communities In Schools – Dallas Region / CIS – Dallas Region AmeriCorps Program: Members met and discussed why Dr. King was important, the difference he made and how to put his spirit into action at schools and in their community.
• Easter Seals Central Texas / ASSET*AmeriCorps: Members surveyed 13 apartment complexes for accessibility features; AmeriCorps*VISTA members will upload this data into the Access Texas Housing Web site. Members also repaired the wheelchair ramp and fence at an Accessible Housing Austin!-managed house. In addition, member Phillip C. earned a Certificate of Appreciation for his assistance with an MLK Day event at the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
• Front Steps / Keep Austin Housed AmeriCorps Program: Along with members from Catholic Charities and Goodwill, Front Steps’ AmeriCorps members hosted the annual MLK Day of Wellness, a four-hour homeless resource fair that gave shoes, socks, coats, backpacks, hygiene kits and various donated items to over 400 homeless individuals. They also provided foot care, eye exams, haircuts, massages, STD screenings, mini-case management sessions and information on accessing service providers.
• Goodwill Industries of Central East Texas / TMC MentorCorps: Members gathered and distributed children’s books. They also participated in the 18th Annual MLK Commemorative March. In addition, they attended a banquet that honored mentors from different organizations from their community.
• Harris County Department of Education / CASE AmeriCorps Kids’ Day Project: Members distributed AmeriCorps information at Houston’s MLK Day parade. In addition, members discussed the “I Have A Dream” speech and did an activity with children at the Jewish Community Center.
• Jumpstart for Young Children, Inc. / Jumpstart Texas / Dallas: Members organized a canned food drive and donated the collected food to a local nonprofit and fellow AmeriCorps program, Central Dallas Ministries.
• Jumpstart for Young Children, Inc. / Jumpstart Texas / Lubbock: Members worked on several projects: cleaning rooms at the Ronald McDonald House; gathering care package supplies to send to troops deployed overseas; playing Loteria and talking with a retirement community’s members; and beautifying a preschool and elementary school.
• National Association of Community Health Centers / Community HealthCorp – Texas / Brownsville Community Health Center (BCHC): Members served food at the Good Neighbor Settlement House. They also gave free blood pressure checks and information about BCHC services at the Ozanam Center, a homeless shelter and services center.
• National Association of Community Health Centers / Community HealthCorp – Texas / Valley Primary Care Network: Members visited a local nursing home, where they spoke to the residents about MLK Day, sang songs from MLK’s protest in Selma and recorded the residents describing their experiences with the civil rights movement.
• Project Transformation / Project Transformation AmeriCorps: Community volunteers, staff, AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps alumni sorted book donations and organized a library at Wesley Rankin Community Center. The book donations were form from Barnes and Noble, which distributed 2,000 books to Project Transformation over Christmas.
• Schulenburg Weimar In Focus Together Inc. / SWIFT AmeriCorps: Members conducted a food drive at grocery stores in Schulenburg and Weimar, then sorted and delivered the donations to the Weimar Community Food Pantry and the Schulenburg Area Food Pantry.
• Texas A&M International University / TAMIU ADELANTE: AmeriCorps members from Laredo, Eagle Pass, Del Rio, Carrizo Springs, Crystal City, Cotulla, Zapata, Hebbronville, San Diego, Benavides and Edinburg provided educational activities on Dr. King’s actions, moments and events for students in third through seventh grade.
• Texas A&M University / TAMU Colonias AmeriCorps Disaster Recovery and Preparedness / Del Rio: Members distributed food to parents while children learned about Dr. King through coloring books and storytelling.
• Texas A&M University / TAMU Colonias AmeriCorps Disaster Recovery and Preparedness / Eagle Pass: Members created coloring books of Dr. King and distributed them to Seco Mines Head Start, They also read to children and taught them about Dr. King.
• Texas A&M University / TAMU Colonias AmeriCorps Disaster Recovery and Preparedness / Laredo: In Webb County, AmeriCorps members distributed handmade blankets, clothing, toys and food baskets to 20 families living in colonias. Members raised the money for blanket fabric and sewing supplies and hand made these beautiful, warm blankets for the children and adults.
• Texas A&M University / TAMU Colonias AmeriCorps Disaster Recovery and Preparedness / Lower Rio Grande Valley: Members and volunteers canvassed the colonias, speaking to over 1,800 people about the 2010 Census and how it impacts communities.
• Texas A&M University / TAMU Colonias AmeriCorps Disaster Recovery and Preparedness / Western Rio Grande Project: Members developed an emergency goods response system that will help provide essential food, hygiene products and household items to families after a disaster. The project was launched in Fort Hancock and may be expanded to Canutillo and Socorro. In addition, materials were gathered to help 12 families.
• Texas A&M University / TAMU Colonias AmeriCorps Disaster Recovery and Preparedness / Zapata County: Members visited a nursing home, where they talked to the residents and shared diabetes management information with them.
• Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board / Collegiate G-Force / Texas A&M University – Kingsville: AmeriCorps members held educational arts and crafts project with the children at three Kingsville Housing Authority housing developments. The members led the children in learning about Dr. King as well as African-American inventors Garrett A. Morgan and George Washington Carver.
• Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board / Collegiate G-Force / Texas State University: In the morning, members volunteered at the Greater San Marcos Youth Council Emergency Shelter, where they prepared breakfast and lunch for residents and played with children. In addition, members adopted and cleaned a San Marcos park; they will continue beautifying the park throughout the year.
• Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board / Collegiate G-Force / University of North Texas: AmeriCorps mentors cleaned the interior and exterior of an adult day care center in Lewisville, preparing the facility for its opening next month.
• Travis County Department of Human Services / Travis County CAPITAL AmeriCorps Project: Along with Waste Management, members worked on trail clearing, mulching and Chimney Swift tower installation on a wildlife trail.
• United Way of El Paso County / HIPPY El Paso: Members divided up and worked on three different projects: cleaning and repairing a house for a local family; sorting food for a local food drive; and cleaning out the Westside Animal Shelter’s storage room and animal play area.
• United Way of El Paso County / Ready for Disasters: Along with HIPPY El Paso and AmeriCorps NCLR Centro de Salud Familiar La Fe sorted canned goods and distributed them to the Salvation Army, the Opportunity Center for the Homeless, the El Paso Rescue Mission, the Center Against Family Violence and additional organizations.
• University of North Texas / Texas HIPPYCorps: Members sorted cans and perishable foods for the North Texas Food Bank.
• The University of Texas at Austin – Charles A. Dana Center / ACE AmeriCorps: Members cleaned the Austin Groups for the Elderly headquarters, beautifying a historical building while also organizing the materials of a nonprofit that provides classes, fun activities and free rides to Austin-area senior citizens.

Many of our grantees submitted service project photos to us. Visit our MLK Day album on Facebook to view them!

AmeriCorps members and College Forward participants volunteered together this MLK Day. (Courtesy of College Forward.)

Nicole Watson, Strategic Communications Specialist at OneStar Foundation, is one of millions of people volunteered on Martin Luther King Jr. Day this year. She talked with the OneStar Blog about her experience, and about the importance of volunteering as a youth.

Why did you choose to volunteer on Martin Luther King Jr. Day?

The main reason I decided to volunteer was to give back to my community on a day that commemorated a leader who passionately believed in making our nation a better place.

How did the service project you participated in impact your community?

I participated in United Way Capital Area’s 2010 Martin Luther King Day of Service on Saturday, January 16, 2010. United Way convened about 700 volunteers to work with local organizations that hosted MLK Day service projects throughout the Austin community. The day started with a kick-off ceremony at Huston-Tillotson University, featuring a keynote speech from Dr. Richard Reddick, a professor at The University of Texas at Austin, and a moving performance from The Cipher – Austin’s Hip-Hop Project. After the kick-off ceremony, people went to the location of their projects.

The project I worked on was with College Forward, a program that works with economically disadvantaged high school students who are transitioning to college. We joined the Copperfield Neighborhood Association to clean up the Copperfield Nature Trail in north Austin. Along with the neighborhood’s residents, staff members, volunteers and College Forward students removed two truckloads of litter and three flatbed trailer loads of underbrush.

How did your service project celebrate Dr. King’s legacy?

I think that the project I served in celebrated Dr. King’s legacy by reminding me how important it is to participate in making my community a better place. The project helped ensure that the trail was accessible for residents and visitors to enjoy the trails, ponds and greenbelt with friends and family.

College Forward participants cleaned up the Copperfield Nature Trail on MLK Day. (Courtesy of College Forward.)

What did you learn from participating in your service project? How has it influenced you?

I learned two things during my MLK Day service project:

1) Our group effort had impact. Due to the size of our group, we were able to accomplish more tasks involved with maintaining the trails than the residents could have done alone. This demonstrated the amount of impact a dedicated group can have.

2) The importance of instilling an ethic of community service at a young age. I was already familiar with College Forward through their involvement with AmeriCorps*Texas, but after getting involved on a personal level, I was inspired when I saw how involved the students were. I was unaware that, as part of their high school programs, students are required to complete community service hours. I think this is very important because for me, my community service involvement started at a young age and I have held on to it as an adult. I still remember volunteering with my mother when I was a child; those experiences have positively affected my life and my choices.