Serve Wisconsin Announces $14.8 Million in federal funding for 27 Wisconsin AmeriCorps programs 

Serve Wisconsin proudly announces that Wisconsin received $14.8 million in grant funding from AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and community volunteerism, to support 27 programs across the state.

"This funding will put 936 AmeriCorps members on the ground at over 200 service sites throughout the state to help make a difference and improve the lives of people across Wisconsin," said Jeanne Duffy, Executive Director of Serve Wisconsin.  

"As AmeriCorps prepares to celebrate the 30th anniversary of its creation this September, we look forward to these AmeriCorps members continuing and expanding the service legacy of those that have served before them. They will build upon the previous service of over 31,000 Wisconsin AmeriCorps members, whose combined efforts amount to an astonishing 46 million service hours and have undeniably and positively shaped the lives of Wisconsin's citizens," Duffy continued. "Throughout their service, these new AmeriCorps members will help tackle some of our toughest problems by addressing the achievement gap and educational challenges, public health and healthcare access, opioid and substance abuse, economic opportunity and housing availability, conservation and environmental sustainability, and other concerns impacting communities across the state."

For a description of each of the 27 programs receiving AmeriCorps funding for the 2023-2024 program year, please go this funding announcement - Serve Wisconsin Announces $14.8 Million in AmeriCorps Funding for Wisconsin.

Green Bay Conservation Corps brings community together to build rain garden in Navarino Park

This August, the AmeriCorps members with the Green Bay Conservation Corps (GBCC) completed a rain garden in Navarino Park as part of a multi-organizational effort mobilizing community volunteers. This project started with concerned community members in the Navarino Neighborhood Association looking to reduce the standing water that would accumulate on one side of the park. In support of the effort, the Brown County United Way provided a grant to fund the plants to create a rain garden.

Vital parts of the planning for the project were led by two Green Bay Conservation Corps AmeriCorps members. They were able to use their specific academic studies to help design the project. Ciara Urbanek took the lead in designing the rain garden, building upon her current engineering studies and working with Green Bay’s Park Engineer to

create the design. Lindsey Kurtz created the planting plan for the rain garden by using knowledge gained from her Landscape Architect degree.

The project started with the Green Bay Conservation Corps AmeriCorps members removing 3,000 square feet of turf grass and regrading the area to increase groundwater infiltration. After this was completed, GBCC AmeriCorps members and local volunteers planted over 1,200 plants and shrubs to complement the rain garden.



Overall, this project brought many partners together with one goal – improving the park for the community.

DPI Farm to School AmeriCorps members help teach “Here We Grow Together” this summer for students in the Howard Suamico School District

This summer, the four AmeriCorps members serving at the Howard Suamico School District with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction AmeriCorps Farm to School program helped lead summer school classes for elementary and middle school students. David Lee Schneider, Erika Kundinger, Anna Kopf, and Emily Scheild helped teach a course entitled “Here We Grow Together” in collaboration with two teachers and the Howard Suamico School District Nutrition Department. The Farm to School members helped teach two, three-week courses encompassing agriculture, nutrition, and gardening.

The “Here We Grow Together” class was held at Bay Port High School and outside in a variety of different garden locations. One of these locations was Inspiration Acres, an open 10-acre field located directly in front of the high school that contains an outdoor classroom under the trees and ample land to be used for gardening with students. The Farm to School AmeriCorps members also helped the students utilize the school garden near the FFA blue building and the hoophouse behind the high school.

As part of the course, the students were responsible for helping to maintain the gardens by planting, weeding, watering, picking rocks, and building fences. This summer, the Farm to School AmeriCorps members helped the students grow various crops, including tomatoes, corn, potatoes, radishes, onions, sunflowers, and pumpkins. Each day, students were also taught various nutrition lessons that focused on understanding where food comes from, how food is produced and grown, the five food groups, and how to build healthy habits, including diet and daily exercise.

For more information on the courses this summer, check out these reports put together by the four Farm to School members:

• “Here We Grow Together” - Session 1 - June 2023
• “Here We Grow Together” - Session 2 - July 2023

MCHS Recovery Corps members receive training to become Certified Peer Specialists

The AmeriCorps members with Marshfield Clinic Health System (MCHS) AmeriCorps - Recovery Corps serve as recovery coaches, with a focus on helping to reduce prescription drug, opioid, and other substance use disorders through one-on-one contact, outreach phone calls, and community education in the northcentral Wisconsin region served by the HOPE Consortium. A key aspect of the program’s approach is to leverage the voices of AmeriCorps members who have lived experience with substance abuse disorders to provide this support as recovery coaches.

This summer, 15 AmeriCorps members with MCHS Recovery Corps had the opportunity to bolster their knowledge and obtain Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) training. Following their 36 hours of training, these members can take the Wisconsin CPS test this September to become licensed Certified Peer Specialists. The members will gain additional skills to assist others by completing this process. They will also make themselves more marketable when seeking employment in these fields following their service with MCHS Recovery Corps.

Serve Wisconsin releases Request for Proposals (RFP) for 2024-2025 AmeriCorps Program Grants

Serve Wisconsin has released the 2024-2025 AmeriCorps State Competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) for AmeriCorps Program Grants!

Nonprofit-organizations, state and local units of government, institutions of higher education, faith-based organizations, and Indian Tribes looking to address a community need through AmeriCorps programming are encouraged to submit a proposal.

Organizations will need to submit a mandatory notification of intent to apply form by September 21 and applications are due by October 10.

Links to the RFP, the Notification of Intent links, technical assistance, and other resources are available on the Serve Wisconsin website at https://www.servewisconsin.wi.gov/americorps-competitive-program-rfp

Please direct any questions regarding the RFP process or application to servewisconsin@wisconsin.gov.

Service story from AmeriCorps member with

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee - ClubCorps

August episode of The S-Files podcast

This month on The S-Files, we explored the service story of AmeriCorps member Kara Jorgensen, serving this year with Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee - ClubCorps. Check out the episode below and access all the episodes on The S-Files podcast series website.

Finding a Spirit for Service at Camp with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps member Kara Jorgensen, who completed serving her second AmeriCorps term with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee (BGCGM) - ClubCorps this August. Kara discusses the different roles she has undertaken supporting youth at Camp Whitcomb/Mason during her first term last summer and her yearlong term that concludes this summer. She describes her experience guiding youth on the new challenge course that opened at camp this spring, including training them in safety during ground school and supporting them as they take on the 22 elements up on the course, including 18 high ropes elements, climbing walls, and the zip line. She also shares the joy she has found helping the campers during her AmeriCorps service and the skills and experiences she will carry forward. Listen in to learn about how Kara received her “camp name” as “Spirit” and how the magical experience she has had serving at camp has led to her continuing with a third AmeriCorps term over the next year. (listen to the episode here) 

Volunteer on 9/11 Day of Service

September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance (9/11 Day) is a chance to help others in tribute to those killed and injured on September 11, 2001, first responders, and the countless others who serve to defend the nation’s freedom at home and around the globe.

To honor those we lost and the heroes who helped us persevere, join AmeriCorps and 911Day.org to unite in service and do good. On September 11, National Day of Service and Remembrance, Americans of all ages and backgrounds cross divides, differences, and ideologies to serve with neighbors and strangers alike to build essential bridges in their communities.

For those interested in either volunteering or creating a 9/11 Day project that others can join, please use the information below to help add your act of service to this effort.

Find a Volunteer Opportunity

• Use the AmeriCorps Volunteer Search to find an opportunity near you. For volunteer opportunities for September 11, please enter #911 in the search box.
• You can also search for local projects through the Volunteer Wisconsin website

Create a project for others to join

• You can create a free project listing through one of these three organizations Idealist, JustServe, or VolunteerMatch, making sure to use #911 in the title of the project for it to be discoverable in search results for 9/11 Day

Deadline for NCCC AmeriCorps Concept Papers is November 1 for Projects in February-April 2024

The deadline for submitting a concept form is November 1 for nonprofit organizations and government agencies interested in working with an AmeriCorps NCCC team between February 29 and April 25, 2024. Information on the application process for this upcoming period or for late spring, summer, and fall 2004 is available in their Request for Proposal (RFP) for 2024 service dates.

AmeriCorps NCCC teams are 18-24 year-olds traveling regionally to help communities meet their critical needs by completing projects that typically last 6-8 weeks. NCCC partners with a variety of nonprofit organizations, government entities (federal, state, or local), educational institutions, neighborhood associations, Native American Tribal Councils, and community-based or faith-based organizations to complete projects that address compelling community needs. These projects address five main service areas: natural and other disasters, energy conservation, environmental stewardship and conservation, infrastructure improvement, and urban and rural development.

As an example, the Aspen 2 AmeriCorps NCCC team partnered with Pringle Nature Center and the Kenosha County Division of Parks in May-June 2023 to construct three new features in the nature playground and improve the accessibility of the nature playground and park trails to wheelchair users. Additionally, the Oak 2 AmeriCorps NCCC team partnered with Ozaukee County Planning and Parks Department in May-June 2023

to assist with management and improvement needs within the Ozaukee County Park System and habitat restoration areas by planting trees, removing invasive species, trail construction and maintenance, native prairie and wetland seeding, and completing environmental monitoring projects.

For those interested in taking an active role in promoting national service and volunteerism in Wisconsin, the Wisconsin National and Community Service Board has a current or pending vacancy for board members for the following appointment type:

• A representative of business
• A representative of local labor
• A service program representative between the ages of 16 and 25

Those interested in serving must complete an application to the governor for the appointment. The online application 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 interested in serving on the board and have any questions, please contact Serve Wisconsin Executive Director Jeanne Duffy at jeanne.duffy@wisconsin.gov.

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