2021-22 AmeriCorps Formula Grant Process - The Virginia Department of Social Services has posted in eVA the 2021-22 AmeriCorps State Formula Request for Applications (CVS-21-047) to solicit applications for AmeriCorps funding. You may access the link here:  

Applications are due in eGrants and additional documentation to be sent to  americorpsinfo@dss.virginia.gov  by 11:59 PM, January 20, 2021.  

There is an Optional Pre-Application Conference Call on Thursday January 07, 2021 from 1:30-3:00pm. Applicants must call the following conference number: (US) +1 319-435-1134 PIN: 933 452 454# and/or connect to the presentation at https://meet.google.com/rnn-qimb-run . The purpose of the conference is to give prospective applicants an opportunity to present questions and obtain clarification on any section of this RFA.

All inquiries for information must be directed to: Danilo S. Vasquez, Sr. Contract Officer, Email:  danilo.vasquez@dss.virginia.gov ; Phone: 804-726-7185. For additional resources on how to submit a strong AmeriCorps application, visit the AmeriCorps Resource Portal. Under the Grantmaking Header under Resources you will find materials presented at all of the recent Outreach events including the recordings and presentations to help get you started.

Boxerwood Education Association (BEA) in Lexington is taking on a planning grant to design an AmeriCorps program to meet the needs of youth development and environmental education nonprofits in Rockbridge County, Buena Vista, and Lexington. BEA plans to design a model that addresses community needs by placing local young adult AmeriCorps members with community-based organizations focused on the mutually reinforcing areas of education and environmental stewardship. In this near-peer model, the program hopes to engage young adults as members to help rural youth learn and grow by providing additional academic and whole-child support. Members will deliver these outcomes by providing (with partners) high-quality outdoor learning, environmental service-learning and outdoor recreation programs for children preK - HS, as well as school-based enrichment, tutoring, and environmental service-learning.

City of Richmond returns to the Virginia AmeriCorps portfolio maintaining existing partnerships and services focusing on opioid recovery. They will expand their program to include workforce development services for community members disproportionately affected by the economic impact of COVID-19. AmeriCorps members will serve across a multitude of sites within City departments to provide services for community members to develop improved soft skills, hard skills experience (including certifications), career coaching, and employment support.

The College of Engineering at Virginia Tech will engage 15 AmeriCorps members in activities to support the STEM education needs of students in rural communities affected by COVID-19. Building off the success of student activities and partnerships with teachers through the VT PEERS project, members will help design and assemble hands-on engineering activity kits and virtual tutorials which can be distributed by teachers and completed by middle and high school youth either at schools or at home. Over the course of the next year, AmeriCorps members will develop, share, and support the use of virtual activities via #GoOpenVA and work with teachers for in-school troubleshooting, continuing to support rural youth's improved understanding of engineering skills and careers. The learning activities will be designed to help rural youth (1) see engineering in everyday life; (2) maintain and expand situational interest; and (3) integrate with individual and community values and individual identities. Further, by working with Virginia Tech students serving as AmeriCorps members the Virginia Tech students can serve as exemplars of the diversity of people who pursue engineering careers and the range of disciplines and future job possibilities engineers can pursue.

Timesheet Reminders - A quick reminder of VSC policies for member timesheets:

2020 Virginia National Service Awards - Congratulations to the winners of the 2020 National Service Awards! Programs and organizations nominated outstanding AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors members/volunteers who have made extraordinary contributions. The announcement of these winners was postponed due to COVID-19, but we are excited to announce the the following individuals have been named winners of these awards:

These amazing individuals will be highlighted on VirginiaService.virginia.gov in January and will also be honored at he 2021 Virginia Volunteerism Conference in May. The 2021 Virginia National Service Awards nomination period will kick off in late February and will be due in April. The winners from these nominations will also be honored at the 2021 Virginia Volunteerism Conference. Stay tuned for more information!

AmeriCorps Member Helps Program Win Lenovo Award - The Boys and Girls Club of Greater Lynchburg recently received an award from Lenovo as a result of efforts by AmeriCorps member Kim Perez. Kim, a second-year member and Academic Success Program Leader, has been busy helping students and parents through virtual learning (helping with classwork, parent/teacher meetings, homework, continued learning activities, and STEM and Digital Literacy Programs). The Boys & Girls Club of America in partnership with Levono asked the youth to design an app for kids their age.  Kim worked with the students to create "The Tea," a social media safe space app. The youth designed it as a safe space only for kids to play games, connect, learn, and code. The design, coding, and purpose of the app provided an opportunity for the youth to flex their tech skills and imagination. Due to the work of the youth along with the support of Kim, the Club was awarded $5,000 and the two youth received tablets by Lenovo!

MLK Day Service Project Plans - The Virginia Service Commission needs to know what you're program is planning for the MLK Day of Service, January 18th. You should have already identified a project and enlisted the help of your members to carry it out. Please keep in mind that any project you have planned should meet COVID-19 safety restrictions. If you have planned an in-person event, make sure that group sizes are at a minimum, social distancing is adequate, and masks are worn. There are countless ways your members can serve safely. For additional ideas check out the following:

Please email patricia.doyle@dss.virginia.gov with your project details to include date(s), length of project in hours, number of members serving, description of project, and location of project (if applicable). Please let us know your plans no later than Friday, January 8, 2021, so that we can communicate to AmeriCorps, as well as to the Governor's Advisory Board.

Virginia Service Commission Additional Upcoming Major Events - VSC has confirmed several important upcoming events and training opportunities for 2021. Please save these dates on your calendars and stay tuned for more information as it is released over the coming weeks:

2021 Virginia Volunteerism Conference - Save the date for the 2021 Volunteerism Conference, May 11-13, 2021. This year, the Virginia Service Commission is planning a virtual event packed 2 1/2 days of workshops, speakers, and networking opportunities. The VSC will cover up to two (2) registrations per AmeriCorps program and scholarships will again be available. Stay tuned for more information on how and when to register for early bird registration.

Message from our New VISTA Leader Joining the Office on Volunteerism - "Hi! My name is Sasha Bronder, and I’m going to be serving as the VISTA Leader for next year. I am from Virginia Beach, but currently live in New Kent. I graduated from Roanoke College in 2019 with majors in Sociology and Religious Studies. While in college, I worked with my school’s Center for Civic Engagement to build partnerships with local non-profits. I then served as the VISTA member at Thrive Virginia, a Community Action Agency based in eastern Virginia. I loved the capacity-building work that I spent the last year doing, and I’m excited to help this year’s VISTAs have a successful and meaningful service term!"

Harris Wofford Joint Service Award - AmeriCorps and Peace Corps will bestow the honor of this award to individuals who have successfully completed both a full-time service term or its equivalent in AmeriCorps and also successfully completed service in Peace Corps or Peace Corps Response. Applications are reviewed annually. More Info