Become a citizen co-sponsor of the Serve America Act

Help pass the Serve America Act by becoming a Citizen Co-Sponsor at http://www.bethechangeaction.org/servicenation/take_action/cosponsor. For more information about the Serve America Act and to hear Senator Hatch's thoughts, cut and paste http://www.bethechangeinc.org/changewire/2009/03/11/help/ into your browser for Service Nation's Changewire blog and YouTube update.

VISTA In-Service Training opportunity this March

Greetings! The PWC VISTA Project is happy to announce Continued Development In-Service Training for those VISTAs who began service in December 2008. If someone can suggest how to successfully hyperlink in these posts, I would be most obliged. In the meantime, click on over to our website for Continued Development (http://www.ingham.org/ce/CD/continued_development.htm) or PSO information ( http://www.ingham.org/ce/CD/pso.htm) for the training content and agenda. To summarize, workshops will include: building public awareness campaigns, community networking and poverty alleviation. Please call (517) 887-4594 with questions.

June PSO, come on board....

During the summer, the PWC VISTA Project has the opportunity to bring on six new VISTA members. We have the first opening for a VISTA at Gateway Community Services (see job description) begining in June. Please have application paperwork to me by the first week of May. Log onto the PWC VISTA homepage at http://www.ingham.org/ce/CD/home.htm and follow the links to other opportunities.

Yes We Did!

The PWC VISTAs helped usher in a new era on January 19th, MLK, Jr. Day, with a new President to follow, strengthened committment to service and fresh hope. As President Obama says, "Yes we can!" - and we did. The VISTAs and other volunteers served the day away at South Lansing Community Development Association (SLCDA) (http://www.slcda.org/) completing their goal of strengthening future farm markets with advertising equipment, but also washing and painting the church SLCDA's staff is housed in. In the Spring, VISTAs will embark on step two of this project's goal in linking local people with local food in one of Lansing's food deserts. When the weather warms, the Project will assemble this fresh equipment and assist with further set-up. Check out http://www.ingham.org/ce/CD/home.htm and http://www.slcda.org/ for further details in the coming weeks.

MLK Day: Healthy Environment Supporting Healthy Lifestyles

For the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service (1/19/09) PWC VISTAs in partnership with the South Lansing Community Development Association, Grace United Methodist Church and the MI Department of Community Mental Health will be sewing and painting flags along with assembling and painting sandwich boards for local gardener and farm merchants to use at the Benjamin Davis Farm Market (Lansing, MI) in the Spring. This educational farm market event will help provide healthy food access in food deserts as part of the Environmental Change to Support Health initiative funded by Food Stamp Nutrition Education and the Michigan Nutrition Network. PWC AmeriCorps VISTAs will "Make it a Day On... Not a Day Off"!

13 is our Lucky Number!

Hello All!

We have exciting news: All 13 of our VISTAs openings have been filled. The PWC VISTAs will now serve at: Haven House, South Lansing Community Development Association, South Side Community Coalition, Greater Lansing Homeless Resolution Network, NorthWest Initiatives, Reach Studio Art Center, Christian Services/LOVE INC, Refugee Development Center, North Neighborhood Center, The Garden Project, Franklin Street Community Housing Corporation, New Life Program and Old Town Commerical Association to help build capacity.

New VISTAs will be attending Pre-Service Orientation in Chicago December 2nd through the 5th and attend the swearing-in ceremony.

Our website (http://www.ingham.org/ce/CD/home.htm) reflects these updates. Please check out the Current VISTAs page to learn about our new additions and what their doing in each organization.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and Happy Holidays!

ServiceNation

On September 11th and 12th, 2008 a movement began to inspire America: ServiceNation. By 2020, we hope to have 100 million citizens serving their nation in schools, workplaces and faith-based community organizations. Proudly, our Governor Granholm signed the pledge: a Declaration of Service, as the first Governor followed by NY and CA. This is an opportunity for citizens to unite around common causes and take responsibility for their future.

"This campaign now focuses on building a national grassroots movement aimed at inspiring widespread public support for increasing voluntary community and national service opportunities, solving problems with proven service strategies, and elevating service as a core ideal of civic engagement. ServiceNation encourages all Americans to step forward and take the lead in bridging our divides, strengthening our communities, and building a more vibrant democracy" (bethechange.org, 2008).

If you're interested in learning more please go to http://bethechangeinc.org/servicenation or to sign the pledge click on http://bethechangeaction.org/servicenation/take_action/declaration

Let's make this happen.To hear more from ServiceNation, check out their ChangeWire: news and notes from the world of social change at http://www.bethechangeinc.org/changewire/