Volunteer Guest Submission By Chris Juhl, Volunteer Manager at the Science Center of Iowa Back in March, I wasn’t sure what I was getting the Science Center of Iowa (SCI) into when I suggested we apply for the Service Enterprise Initiative (SEI) cohort, but I … Continue reading Service Enterprise Initiative: Changing the perception of volunteer engagement
Volunteer Guest Submission By Brianne Sanchez, Des Moines University Community Relations Manager At Des Moines University, a graduate health sciences and medical school, we want our students to learn more than how to diagnose. We want to educate compassionate, culturally-competent health professionals who are … Continue reading Why a Med School values Volunteerism
“AmeriCorps is a great opportunity that has helped me get involved with my community. AmeriCorps has helped me get out of my comfort zone for the better, as well as given me the chance to meet wonderful people along the way.” Stephanie Alanis
Buena Vista County has approximately 50% of its youth fall into the category of “at risk” because of their economic means or because of their cultural membership. Stephanie leads our Clover Kids initiative, the K-3rd grade 4-H program, through Iowa State University Extension & Outreach – Buena Vista County. She has led 4 – 6 hours sessions of Clover Kids in 3 different locations of Buena Vista County. Through Clover Kids, Stephanie has been able to reach approximately 100 K-3rd graders with hands on STEM activities. She is employing the Pint Science curriculum through the Science Center of Iowa. Youth have had significant increases in their interest in Math and Science as a result of their participation in Clover Kids.
Stephanie has led a couple of different service initiatives in her 3 months of service. First, she has partnered with Key Club at Storm Lake High School to find volunteers to help with the delivery of Clover Kids at Storm Lake Elementary School. She has also been organizing a service project with TLC, our local canine shelter, that will offer a series of service opportunities with the kick off being Global Youth Service Day.
Beyond Stephanie’s AmeriCorps duties, she has been involved with many volunteer opportunities. In a formal setting, Stephanie volunteered with Key Club for elementary after-school programs and early dismissal educational events. She also is a very observant community member who contributes where needed. A couple of recent examples include Stephanie’s efforts to raise funds for the funeral expenses of a 4 year old child lost to a freak virus. She also noticed that the volunteer fire department had been spending a significant amount of time in training and delivered cookies to support their efforts.
Stephanie has a desire to continue her education and pursue a career in early childhood education. She has had experience in a classroom setting and has enjoyed the opportunity to explore informal education through 4-H. She is currently enrolled at Iowa Central Community College in Storm Lake and upon graduation, plans to complete her degree at Iowa State University. Stephanie is an active community contributor and will continue to serve her community in formal and informal ways when she sees a need she can fill. Youth, animals, and public service employees are all areas she is committed to serving.
Volunteer Iowa is excited to recognize the work Stephanie has been able to accomplish during her year of service. To recognize her service, Stephanie will receive a certificate signed by Governor Branstad and Lt. Governor Reynolds honoring her dedication and efforts towards bettering the lives of youth in the State of Iowa.
Help us tell the story of AmeriCorps in Iowa! You can nominate someone for AmeriCorps Member of the Month by filling out this short survey:http://ow.ly/X1uRp. Please share the link and help us recognize the AmeriCorps members who are getting things done for Iowa!
For over 60 years, the Cedar Rapids Public Library has been promoting literacy initiatives. The library has a long tradition in the community, but is also on the edge of something greater. With two world-class new libraries opening in 2013, the library is a vibrant community hub. With a new strategic plan that focuses on “Investing in Young Minds,” we are further developing our reading programs designed for K-12 students, including the summer reading program. Hannah’s goals as a VISTA member in our program include: increase the participation and completion rates in all programs, develop and implement systems to better track participant data, research the “reluctant reader” and design programs to engage these readers, expand on the volunteer opportunities for the reading programs, research potential opportunities for additional reading programs, and develop outreach initiatives to promote library programs and resources in schools with higher percentages of students eligible for free/reduced-price lunch.
Hannah’s position at the library is focused on K-12 education initiatives. Her goal has been to increase accessibility to library programs, materials, and resources for those in poverty. Hannah has developed a kids coding programs and expanded it to add a summer coding class. These programs have been entirely developed by Hannah; she has also done a thorough job of documenting her classes and even preparing a volunteer to take her place as the instructor. Hannah has also been very active in launching the Summer Dare program. She continued to work with the planning committee and has been active in promoting summer literacy programs to schools, daycares, and summer camps. Her work has allowed the library to reach over 3,000 youth. This May, Hannah connected with 11 local schools to coordinate promotion of the library’s Summer Dare program to almost 2,000 elementary students as part of the community’s Days of Caring event. Her work set the stage for community volunteers to present skits and information about the library’s summer reading and learning program and activities. Hannah has also worked with training staff and volunteers for the Summer Dare. She worked closely with the YA Librarian to produce video trainings to support the in-person trainings she’s conducting on the library’s new summer reading website. Finally, Hannah served on a committee to develop and host the 2016 Leaders in Volunteerism conference in Cedar Rapids. She helped develop the program for the day, run the registration table, and coordinated all of the catering. Over 35 volunteer managers from the area attended the conference.
Hannah has participated in community service events as part of MLK Day. She has also worked with other community volunteers with Day of Caring and the Summer Dare outreach programs. She also speaks positively and proactively about service and her AmeriCorps experience
After her term is completed at the library this July, Hannah will remain in the Cedar Rapids area working for a local theatre company. She has expressed interest in continuing to serve the community.
Volunteer Iowa is excited to recognize the work Hannah has been able to accomplish during her year of service. To recognize her service, Hannah will receive a certificate signed by Governor Branstad and Lt. Governor Reynolds honoring her dedication and efforts towards bettering the lives of youth in the State of Iowa.
Help us tell the story of AmeriCorps in Iowa! You can nominate someone for AmeriCorps Member of the Month by filling out this short survey:http://ow.ly/X1uRp. Please share the link and help us recognize the AmeriCorps members who are getting things done for Iowa!
October 7th 2016 is an incredible milestone for the nation as we surpass 1 million men and women who have joined AmeriCorps to make our country stronger. The National Swearing-in Day for AmeriCorps (October 7), is an opportunity to welcome new AmeriCorps members in a … Continue reading Celebrating One Million AmeriCorps Member Milestone
Hannah Buettner is being honored as the Volunteer Iowa AmeriCorps Member of the Month for September 2016.Thank you for the valued service you provided during your year of service (2015-2016) to the Cedar Rapids Public Library. Hannah’s story will follow…
Volunteer Iowa is excited to recognize the work Hannah has been able to accomplish during her year of service. To recognize her service, Hannah will receive a certificate signed by Governor Branstad and Lt. Governor Reynolds honoring her dedication and efforts towards bettering the lives of youth in the State of Iowa.
Help us tell the story of AmeriCorps in Iowa! You can nominate someone for AmeriCorps Member of the Month by filling out this short survey:http://ow.ly/X1uRp. Please share the link and help us recognize the AmeriCorps members who are getting things done for Iowa!
Volunteer Iowa is excited to honor Webspec Design, an Urbandale based team of web designers, software and web developers, project managers and digital marketing experts who have been working together as a team to support local nonprofits and charities in their area.
Although the staff at Webspec Design all enjoy volunteering for different organizations and causes on their own, they are also excited about volunteering as a company and participating in dsmHack’s annual “hackathon” for the second year in a row. DsmHack is a nonprofit that helps bring together designers, developers and innovators to help solve community needs with technology solutions over a 48-hour period. According to Alex Karei,
“At Webspec, we have an amazing team of highly talented and knowledgeable people who are excited to jump at the chance to bridge the need that dsmHack has identified between technology skills and local nonprofits. Being able to make a huge difference in the lives of local nonprofits in just 48 hours is nothing short of amazing (and fun)! Team members were able to make relationships with their neighbors and grow both as individuals and as a team while utilizing their skills to help improve the community. Webspec values bringing on individuals who are passionate about what they do every day, and that shows in both their 8-5 jobs and how they choose to spend their time otherwise. As a company and as individuals, we’re excited to continue to donate time to dsmHack for years to come.”
To learn more about the Give Back Iowa Challenge and other ways employer’s can promote the value of service and volunteering within their organizations, click here.
What’s your 50? Learn more about the Governor’s Call to Service, and to find volunteer opportunities statewide.
Can you nominate someone to be one of our 50 Faces of Volunteers? Fill out this quick spotlight form and help us recognize outstanding volunteers in Iowa.
Volunteer Iowa is excited to celebrate Senior Corps Week May 16 -20 by highlighting the amazing work Senior Corps volunteers are doing throughout Iowa. This week, we’re recognizing RSVP of Eastern Iowa & Western Illinois as our “50 Faces of Volunteers” spotlight. RSVP finds, develops and supports volunteer opportunities for people age 55+ throughout the Quad City region and in Knox and Warren counties
RSVP of Eastern Iowa & Western Illinois has 221 volunteers living in Iowa who have each recorded over 50 hours of service this year. Volunteers helped in food pantries, as tutors, as mentors, in hospitals, in disaster services, for the blood banks and participated in all kinds of community events. Together, these volunteers were able to provide over 47,319 hours of service! RSVP of Eastern Iowa & Western Illinois is doing a tremendous job recruiting and placing volunteers with organizations and agencies in need. They focus on matching needs with interests and are dedicated to making sure that their volunteers are recognized and valued. RSVP volunteers demonstrate a clear commitment to service and are supported by active, talented, and passionate coordinators at RSVP of Eastern Iowa & Western Illinois. Thank you for setting an excellent example, and thank you all for your service!
What’s your 50? Learn more about the Governor’s Call to Service, and to find volunteer opportunities statewide.
Can you nominate someone to be one of our 50 Faces of Volunteers? Fill out this quick spotlight form and help us recognize outstanding volunteers in Iowa.
For this week’s “50 Faces of Volunteers” feature, Volunteer Iowa is excited to highlight the great work of Katie Orlando, the Executive Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Iowa!
Katie moved to Iowa from New Hampshire after she accepted her current position as Executive Director. In order to get involved and meet new people in her community, she became a Big Sister with BBBS of Northwest Iowa, a member of the Waterloo Kiwanis Club, and a member of the Cedar Falls Lions Club. She took on leadership roles as a Board Member for Waterloo Kiwanis, Cedar Valley Jaycees, the Iowa Mentoring Partnership, and the Waterloo Historic Preservation Commission. On top of all of that, she still has quality time to spend with her Little, Kiana.
Since arriving in Waterloo, Katie has served over 1,137 hours in all of her roles. But she doesn’t stop there, she regularly gets others involved and volunteering. In March 2016, she registered BBBS of Northwest Iowa in the Give Back Iowa Challenge, an eight-week competition to engage Iowans in employer supported volunteering. To date, Katie and her employees have logged over 175 hours! Katie’s commitment to service and volunteerism is incredible. She is a true champion for organizations that improve the lives of Iowans.
Thank you for your service, Katie!
What’s your 50? Learn more about the Governor’s Call to Service, and to find volunteer opportunities statewide.
Can you nominate someone to be one of our 50 Faces of Volunteers? Fill out this quick spotlight form and help us recognize outstanding volunteers in Iowa.
Ozzie Ohl is a retired marketing consultant from Mason City, Iowa who is using his free time to give back to his community. This week, Volunteer Iowa is excited to honor all of the work he’s done for the Hawkeye Harvest Food Bank as our “What’s Your 50?” Volunteer.
This month, Ozzie will have accrued over 1,000 hours with Hawkeye Harvest Food Bank since he began volunteering with them in 2011. During this time, Ozzie has been able to raise over $317,000 for the food bank to relocate to a new, more convenient building, as well as purchase a new van. Because of this, the food bank is able to serve more families and now serves about 1,800 individuals a month. He also devotes his time as a public relations volunteer who spreads the important work that Hawkeye Harvest Food Bank does for the community, enabling them to gain more resources, volunteers and clients.
In addition to all his work with the food bank, Ozzie has helped raise funds for a new dog park, a sledding hill in southern Mason City, helped orchestrate efforts to install playground equipment in West Park, and was a vital part of the effort to make Mason City into a Blue Zones Community. Ozzie enjoys getting things done for his community and relishes the opportunity to work with others who share his passion for service. Ozzie is a perfect example of what it means to be a true advocate for his community, and for the state of Iowa.
Thank you for your service, Ozzie!
What’s your 50? Learn more about the Governor’s Call to Service, and to find volunteer opportunities statewide.
Can you nominate someone to be one of our 50 Faces of Volunteers? Fill out this quick spotlight form and help us recognize outstanding volunteers in Iowa.
Volunteer Iowa 