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2019 Governor's Service Awards
On June 6, 2019, over 200 people gathered at the Monona Terrace in Madison to celebrate the service of 11 individuals and 2 programs honored with a 2019 Governor's Service Award. Governor Tony Evers presented the awards and stated that "Every day ordinary people roll-up their sleeves and help their community and neighbor. Not with the expectation of recognition or a paycheck but rather out of the kindness and generosity of their hearts. I want you know that your service and volunteerism sets an example for your friends and families and people across the State."
The honorees and the guests in attendance were welcomed by Jeanne Duffy, Executive Direrctor of Serve Wisconsin, who stated that "AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, and VISTA members and volunteers are making remarkable contributions to Wisconsin. This year's honorees are helping bridge the educational achievement gap, supporting people through recovery from opioid addiction, honoring veterans, providing transportation to our senior citizens, helping children and adults find housing and, perhaps most valuable of all, offering a listening ear and a strong desire to help."
The 2019 Governor's Service Awards were organized by Serve Wisconsin and the CNCS Wisconsin State Office. Serve Wisconsin manages AmeriCorps State programs and the CNCS Wisconsin State Office manages AmeriCorps VISTA and Senior Corps programs.
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Reflecting on the Impact of Recovery Corps
There has been a growing opioid and substance abuse crisis hitting our state and nation, and Marshfield Clinic Health System AmeriCorps Recovery Corps is addressing the problem head on. Recovery Corps members use their own lived experience of being in recovery, and having been impacted by substance abuse, in combination with the extensive training they receive to
help provide critical support to people in recovery.
Governor Evers recognized the personal and professional accomplishments of the AmeriCorps Recovery Corps members at the Governor's Service Awards on June 6, 2019. Becky Boquist, program manager for Recovery Corps had the following reflection on the powerful impact receiving the award had on her:
"While we were on stage having our picture taken, I was given the chance to study the audience. In the audience, I was able to recognize the mothers of some of the coaches. What I saw on those women's faces is something I will never forget. I have never before seen a more gripping look of gratitude and pride. More than the typical motherly pride, it struck me that I remember where their children were five years ago; and at that time, I'm sure they didn't know if their child was alive or dead each morning. To experience this contrast as those same children stood, beautifully, on stage with our Governor, was a moment I will never forget. I knew that Recovery Corps was helping its clients, I knew we were helping the coaches, and I've known we were providing our partners with a more capable work force. I didn't realize how much we were impacting whole families until I saw it on their faces. It was truly one of the best moments of my life. My heart is full."
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Celebration of Service at the
Lussier Family Heritage Center
Over fifty AmeriCorps members and program staff from the Madison area came together at the Lussier Family Heritage Center in Madison to celebrate their year of service with AmeriCorps. As part of the event, members had the opportunity to reflect on their service, hike the surrounding trails, participate in various games and competitions, and come together with other programs to celebrate their time with AmeriCorps.
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Elle Halo, AmeriCorps Member at Public Allies Milwaukee,
awarded 2019 Pride Award
Elle Halo, an AmeriCorps member at Public Allies Milwaukee, was recognized at PrideFest Milwaukee on June 7 with a 2019 Pride Award for being a "community health champion, activist, navigator, writer and performer, whose relentless fight for local transgender, non-binary and gender non-conforming people invokes the revolutionary spirit of Stonewall itself." Elle has been serving with AmeriCorps through Public Allies Milwaukee as a health navigator at Health Connections, Inc., which works to provide health care services for residents of the Greater Milwaukee area, with an emphasis on reaching vulnerable populations that often encounter barriers to accessing health care. In addition to this service, Elle is a member of multiple organizations and committees promoting greater equity and healthier lives.
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Welcome to Maggie O'Sullivan, our Marketing Specialist Intern
Maggie O'Sullivan, Serve Wisconsin's new Marketing Specialist Intern, is originally from Libertyville, Illinois and is a student at the University of Wisconsin- Madison. Maggie is a marketing major in the Grainger School of Business and just wrapped up her sophomore year. For the past seven years, Maggie has been a team leader for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, working on not only to raise money for medical research, but to raise awareness of Type 1 Diabetes. Additionally, she has managed the social media accounts and executed the marketing strategies for the Student Leadership Program and Marketing Committee at Alpha Phi at UW Madison. Maggie will be using these experiences during her internship with Serve Wisconsin, assisting with multiple outreach, communications, and event planning efforts.
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Serve Wisconsin is creating a Disaster Services Recovery Team
Serve Wisconsin is coordinating a Disaster Services Recovery Team that will be led by Team Rubicon. AmeriCorps members and program staff are encouraged to participate, as well as AmeriCorps alumni, Senior Corps staff and volunteers, and other national service participants. We will need at least 20 members to commit to serving on this initiative, with members of the team participating in the Patriot Exercises at Volk Field Air National Guard Base on July 13-14th. There will also be a flood clean-up from July 15-18th in the communities surrounding Volk Field. If you have questions regarding this effort or interest in participating on the Disaster Services Recovery Team, please contact Ruhamah Bauman at [email protected].
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Interesting in serving as a member of
the Wisconsin National and Community Service Board?
For those interested in taking an active role in promoting national service and volunteerism in Wisconsin, the Wisconsin National and Community Service Board currently has five vacancies for board members for the following appointment types:
- A representative of community-based agency
- A representative of local government
- A representative of local labor organizations in the State
- An individual between the ages of 16 and 25, inclusive, who is a participant or supervisor of a service program for school-aged youth, or of a campus-based or national service program
- An open seat where the individual would meet any of the slot descriptions in state statute for one of the other appointed members
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
https://evers.wi.gov/Pages/Application_Process.aspx
. If you are potentially interested in serving on the board and have any questions, please contact Serve Wisconsin Executive Director Jeanne Duffy at
[email protected]
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Become an AmeriCorps Member Today!
If you wish to engage in meaningful community service and acquire job skills, consider joining AmeriCorps!
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.
We look forward to speaking with you!
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Calendar: Upcoming Events and Key Dates
July
- July 17-18 - AmeriCorps Program Director Training (Lussier Family Heritage Center, Madison, WI)
- July 31 - Celebration of Service (Wausau, WI)
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See what's happening on our social sites:
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