During the 2019-2020 program year, AmeriCorps members with Wisconsin DPI Farm to School provided nutrition education to over 5,000 students from nearly 90 schools across the state.

The AmeriCorps members supported numerous school garden projects, coordinated with school foodservice directors to expand procurement of locally grown foods for school meal programs, and worked with over 100 farmers to bring local foods into schools for student tastings and meal programs.

The AmeriCorps members found creative solutions to serve their students during the COVID-19 pandemic. These included adapting to create digital lessons, recordings of healthy recipe demonstrations, virtual farm tours, home gardening activities, and other resources, as well as supporting student meal programs that continued to provide meals to their students during virtual education.

The 2019-2020 AmeriCorps Farm to School Program Impact Report highlights these impacts and more.

To learn more about AmeriCorps and the Farm to School program visit their program website.

Spreading Joy through Toys

To help spread holiday cheer in the local community, Partners for After School Success (PASS) AmeriCorps member Sydney Lawson guided the Panther Pack Club members through conducting a toy drive this holiday season.

The idea for the toy drive came from one of the Panther Pack Club students at Patrick Marsh Middle School (PMMS), with each of the students helping with various aspects of the project. The students worked to determine the details for the project and created promotional flyers for the toy drive. Collection bins were placed at The Boys and Girls Club of Sun Prairie and at PMMS. Nearly 100 toys were donated to provide to those in need in the community. Once the toys were collected, Sydney distributed the toys throughout three neighborhoods with the help of her supervisor and another PMMS staff member.

Sydney reflected that the project was a great success for the students, explaining that "the Panther Pack Club members were really excited about this event because they love helping the community, and it was a project they came up with and constructed all on their own, so it was really special. Overall, it was an incredible experience for everyone involved, and we are so happy it was such a success. The Sun Prairie Community really stepped it up and were so generous this holiday season."

For more detail about the project, you can read Sydney’s reflection on the toy drive entitled Spreading Joy through Toys

MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service, encouraging everyone in America to volunteer and improve their community.

Dr. King’s values are the driving force behind this day of service, and this year, January 18, 2021, was no different for the AmeriCorps members with College Possible Milwaukee. Their day started by reflecting on MLK’s values and quotes as a reminder of why this day is so important, including “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” College Possible Milwaukee AmeriCorps members and staff held this ideal in their minds throughout the day.

Taking into account the need to serve responsibly during the COVID-19 pandemic, College Possible Milwaukee staff and AmeriCorps members participated in volunteer opportunities safely from their neighborhoods and homes. The service opportunities included cleaning up litter around neighborhoods, making how-to videos for Advocates of Ozaukee, writing letters of encouragement for Jewish Family Services, and additional activities done in partnership with Luther Manor to benefit the Milwaukee community.

After a short lunch break, they came together virtually for a mindful and thought-provoking reflection on the day, including the reading of MLK quotes and examining how their service reflected the values reflected in his words. They held discussions that involved the challenges that some of the populations they serve face today, as well as how the pandemic exacerbates these challenges.

They reflected on how in our ever-changing world, it is important to take time to appreciate the progress made while acknowledging that there is still an opportunity for growth and improvement. One of their AmeriCorps members reflected that “when presented with injustice and inequity, my mind scales so quickly to validating pain and hurt and also how to innovate and redesign. Service requires you to both be hopeful and critical in equal measure.” Through days of service, College Possible Milwaukee chooses to reflect and focus on what progress can be made in the Milwaukee community, specifically in the neighborhoods of the scholars they serve.

AmeriCorps members and volunteers throughout the country annually participate in the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. The following is a reflection by Annika Osell, who is serving as an AmeriCorps member with Marshfield Clinic Health System AmeriCorps Volunteer Wisconsin at the Cassandra Voss Center at St. Norbert College about her part in efforts to make this Day of Service possible in her community.

While a traditional MLK Day of Service was not feasible for the St. Norbert College community due to restrictions surrounding COVID-19, AmeriCorps Member, Annika and the St. Norbert College MLK Day Planning Committee wasted no time in creating an alternative plan to honor the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The vision for the day quickly shifted to follow the call of The King Center, to join in a worldwide, educational Beloved Community Teach-In event.

Plans for the St. Norbert College MLK Day 2021: Beloved Community Teach-In on January 18, began to emerge in the fall of 2020. Throughout her second term of service with Volunteer Wisconsin, Annika has been serving remotely, and she has become well-versed in various technological operations that allowed her to take a leadership role in the planning of the Beloved Community Teach-In.

As a part of the planning committee and the technology and registration subcommittees, Annika began to formulate processes to allow for students, faculty, staff, and alumni of St. Norbert College to engage in a virtual campus-wide day of learning. The virtual nature of this day of learning allowed for members of the St. Norbert College community to engage in ways that might not have otherwise been possible.

The day began with an opening address by St. Norbert College President Brian Bruess, followed by a series of smaller sessions led by faculty and staff focused on topics celebrating the life of Dr. King and how we can honor his legacy by becoming more actively anti-racist. A highlight of the day was the featured keynote conversation, "The Three-Dimensional King: The Memory, the Man and the Movement," facilitated by Dr. Saida Grundy, Assistant Professor of Sociology, African-American Studies and Women’s and Gender Studies at Boston University. This conversation and other sessions can be viewed by visiting the St. Norbert College MLK Day website.

Overall, the MLK Day 2021: Beloved Community Teach-In engaged over 350 members of the St. Norbert College community in a day focused on a variety of issues related to social and racial justice. Although a traditional day of service was impossible due to the reality of remote work and study, this opportunity brought the St. Norbert College community together to learn, celebrate, and commit to continuing the hard work and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The AmeriCorps members serving with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee (BGCGM) found multiple ways to make a difference by serving during the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service

The AmeriCorps members with BGCGM ClubCorps and BGCGM AmeriCorps Academic & Career Planning started their day of service with a citizenship training activity and then completed three projects to help others in their community.

The BGCGM AmeriCorps members:  

AmeriCorps members and volunteers throughout the country annually participate in the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. The following is a reflection by Maggie Prokosch, who is serving as the AmeriCorps Camp Outreach Liaison with Easterseals Wisconsin.

In the words of Dr. King, “Everybody can be great because everybody can serve.”

Dr. King spoke of service, community, empowerment, and nonviolence. So, in honor of his words, each year, people of all ages, races, and backgrounds come together to serve and contribute to make a difference. Completing service on MLK Day is part of a nationwide day of volunteerism.

On January 18, our AmeriCorps team had the opportunity to meet, in accordance with CDC and local safety protocols. Our members used their creativity skills to make puzzles that featured the camp trail map and other camp scenery. We know these puzzles will be greatly enjoyed and cherished by campers at both camps, Respite and Wawbeek!

We also want to give a huge thank you to Susan Gold from Talking Health Out Loud, who gave our team an informative presentation about her organization that supports Tanzanian women and their newborn babies. Our AmeriCorps members had the opportunity to decorate onesies that will go directly to the hands of a mothers in Tanzania in hopes to provide comfort and strength. Susan said, “If you help one, you help us all.”

We are proud to have a team of members who were eager to get involved and contribute their time and skills to make a difference. We believe that these projects have moved our communities closer to Dr. King’s vision.

Serve Wisconsin has reopened the application period for funds to increase both the number and capacity of existing Community/Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters VOAD/COADs in the Wisconsin Emergency Management's Northwest Region and Northeast Region through February 22, 2021. These funds are available through a grant that Serve Wisconsin received from the AmeriCorps Volunteer Generation Fund (VGF) to help strengthen local communities in preparedness, response, and recovery to disasters.

Grant funds will be utilized to support regional VOAD/COAD coordinators, placed strategically throughout the six Wisconsin Emergency Management (WEM) Regions at various organizations, with funds not to exceed $30,000 per region during this funding cycle. These funds are intended to be utilized to support staff salaries and benefits. Other approved expenses such as training and exercises are not included in this amount, but they can be reimbursed separately through Serve Wisconsin.

Organizations interested in applying for funding in the Northwest and Northeast regions should complete this VOAD/COAD Coordinator Funding Application by February 22, 2021:

Organizations supporting regional VOAD/COAD coordinators will:

Addition information on this initiative is available on the Disaster Services section of the Serve Wisconsin website.

AmeriCorps, formerly known as the Corporation for National and Community Service, released a Notice of Funding Opportunity this fall to expand the scope of Foster Grandparents Programs (FGP) throughout the nation, including the opportunity to expand service in 42 Wisconsin counties, with applications due by 5:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, February 3. Application information is available at this webpage for the FGP competition.

The AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent Program provides a way for volunteers age 55 and over to stay active by serving children and youth in their communities, serving as tutors and mentors to children and youth with special or exceptional needs, or who would benefit from the one-one-one attention a AmeriCorps Seniors volunteer can provide. AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers serve an average of 20 hours per week in schools, hospitals, drug treatment centers, correctional institutions, and childcare centers. Among other activities, they review schoolwork, reinforce values, teach parenting skills to young parents, and care for premature infants and children with disabilities.

Foster Grandparent programs can be managed by nonprofit organizations, local and state governments, institutions of higher education, and Native American tribes. Those interested in learning more about the application process can access the AmeriCorps webpage on the Foster Grandparents Expansion Sponsor Competition.

AmeriCorps Seniors will host a series of technical assistance calls in January to provide information and answer questions about the FGP funding opportunity, performance measures, budget development, and eGrants, with call dates and times can be found at this webpage for the FGP competition. Organizations will need to register in advance on the website, with session recordings, slides, and transcripts posted on the website afterwards for those unable to attend live or that would like to review the information afterward. Those with questions at any time during the application period can send an email to 2021FGPSCP@cns.gov.

Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Calumet, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Douglas, Dunn, Florence, Forest, Iron, Jefferson, Kenosha, Kewaunee, Langlade, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pierce, Polk, Price, Racine, Rock, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan,

St. Croix, Vilas, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Wood

For nonprofit organizations and government agencies interested in working with an AmeriCorps NCCC during the latter part of next spring, the next deadline for submitting a concept form is March 1, which is for organizations interested in having a team in 2021 either between July 12 and September 11 or between August 13 and October 14. Information on the application process for this upcoming period or for several other project windows next spring, summer, and fall are available in their Request for Proposal (RFP) for 2021 service dates.

To learn more about AmeriCorps or if you are ready to join and have questions about which program is right for you, contact us! We are happy to answer your questions and help you explore the different opportunities available. Program information is also available on our Serve Wisconsin website.

Please email us at wiamericorps@gmail.com or call (608) 492-2928.

Those interested in serving are required to complete an application to the governor for the appointment. The online application for applying for a board position can be found HERE, with additional information on the application process found at Apply to Serve - Governor Tony Evers. If you are potentially interested in serving on the board and have any questions, please contact Serve Wisconsin Executive Director Jeanne Duffy at jeanne.duffy@wisconsin.gov.