Serve Wisconsin announces $13.1 Million in federal funding for 31 Wisconsin AmeriCorps programs 

Serve Wisconsin proudly announces that Wisconsin received $13.1 million in grant funding from AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and community volunteerism, to support 31 programs and planning grants across the state.

"This funding will put 880 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.  

"The AmeriCorps members will continue and expand on the over 1.2 million hours of service by Wisconsin AmeriCorps members over the last two years, as they helped to tackle some of the toughest problems in Wisconsin, many of which were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic," Duffy continued. "During their service this year, these new AmeriCorps members will positively impact the lives of people throughout Wisconsin by addressing issues including 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 programs and planning grants receiving AmeriCorps funding for the 2022-2023 program year, please go this funding announcement - Serve Wisconsin Announces $13.1 Million in AmeriCorps Funding for Wisconsin.

Mayor Eric Genrich and community volunteers celebrate the launch of the Green Bay Conservation Corps

As a way to celebrate the launching of the new Green Bay Conservation Corps through service, roughly thirty adult volunteers and a dozen children joined together on August 19 to transplant sunflowers at the new JBS redevelopment by the Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center in Green Bay. The volunteers transplanted approximately 1,000 sunflowers into five beds across the site during the service project.

One of the volunteers on hand was Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich, who said, "It's a great way to kick things off by planting some sunflower seeds right here behind the Kroc Center." Mayor Genrich was instrumental in envisioning the creation of the Green Bay Conservation Corps, which the City of Green Bay manages. The AmeriCorps members serving with the program will complete conservation projects and engage the public in educational programming and volunteer service. They will address areas such as habitat restoration and preservation, trail maintenance and expansion, invasive species removal and native plant establishment, community garden upkeep, and access improvements in the city’s parks and other outdoor spaces.

Additional volunteers included Dr. Jeffery Rafn, President of Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC), Alder Bill Morgan, and representatives from the upcoming AmeriCorps members in their program and from Serve Wisconsin. The launch event was made possible through support from The Salvation Army, Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center, JBS Foods, NWTC, and the Green Bay Area Public Schools.

The first AmeriCorps members with the Green Bay Conservation Corps are excited to formally begin their service this September, with the opportunity for more people to still join their initial cohort of AmeriCorps members during this program year.

Press Release

• WLUK-TV FOX 11 - Green Bay launches Conservation Corps program by planting sunflowers

Serve Wisconsin Welcomes Two New Program Officers - 

Amy Fink and Olivia Rasmussen

Serve Wisconsin is happy to welcome two new staff members, Amy Fink and Olivia Rasmussen, who will serve as Program Officers for Wisconsin AmeriCorps programs. Olivia and Amy joined Serve Wisconsin on August 29. They both bring prior experience with AmeriCorps to their new positions.

Prior to starting at Serve Wisconsin, Amy Fink was the program director for UW-Eau Claire ECLIPSE. ECLIPSE AmeriCorps members provide one-on-one interventions to 3-5-year-old children at risk and/or from low-income families to help them grow in language, literacy, social interaction, and initiative skills. Before managing AmeriCorps members with ECLIPSE, Amy taught several different grades of elementary students for ten years. Originally from the Madison area, Amy has called Eau Claire home for the past 20 years. When Amy is out of the office, she can be found hiking, biking, swimming, coaching youth soccer, enjoying live music, and spending time with her husband and two daughters.

Before joining Serve Wisconsin, Olivia Rasmussen completed two service terms with AmeriCorps, where she found her passion for civic engagement. After completing her undergraduate studies, she served with City Year in Washington, D.C. as a Student Success Coach, working with 7th graders in an English classroom to strengthen her students' academic and social-emotional skills. Olivia also previously served with NCCAP AmeriCorps at the Wisconsin Institute for Public Policy & Service (WIPPS). She helped develop a Wausau community policing survey and a study on the barriers for Hmong caregivers of those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. When Olivia is out of the office, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, and trying new coffee shops. 

Thank You Alexis Matthews!

Serve Wisconsin would like to thank Alexis Matthews for all of her work and dedication to Serve Wisconsin and our state’s AmeriCorps programs over the last five years. Alexis will be continuing her journey with national service after leaving Serve Wisconsin this September for a position as the AmeriCorps Grants Specialist with Serve Kentucky.

Before joining Serve Wisconsin, Alexis had already taken several steps down her path with national service, having already served as both an AmeriCorps member and AmeriCorps program director. She first served as an AmeriCorps member for a year assisting individuals through the homeownership process with Habitat for Humanity in Jacksonville, Florida. Alexis later served as an AmeriCorps program director with Easterseals Wisconsin, helping to lead their members as they provided therapeutic recreation activities for individuals with disabilities and their families.

Since starting at Serve Wisconsin in August 2017, Alexis has taken on several roles supporting AmeriCorps members and programs throughout the state. She served as program officer for numerous AmeriCorps programs. She became the program officer for all of our planning grants to help guide them on the path to becoming an operational program. Alexis also organized many of our trainings and events, including the Opening Ceremony, New Program Boot Camp, AmeriCorps Grant Writing Workshop, and Program Directors Workshop. During the last two years, Alexis has also coordinated our AmeriCorps RFP process and grants management activities, guiding our programs, staff, and commissioners through the grant application process.

After leaving Serve Wisconsin, Alexis will continue supporting national service programs at Serve Kentucky as their AmeriCorps Grants Specialist.  Alexis’s last day with Serve Wisconsin will be on September 14, so be sure to reach out to her before then. We would like to wholeheartedly thank Alexis for her service and wish her the best of luck on this next step in her journey.

Service stories from Wisconsin volunteers

August episodes of The S-Files podcast

This month on The S-Files, we explored the service stories of two volunteers who were recognized for the difference they make for others as honorees at the 2022 Governor's Service Awards. Check out these episodes below and access all of the podcast episodes on The S-Files podcast series website.

Empowering Women and Connecting with Kids by Volunteering

In this episode of The S-Files, we explore the service done by Carol Schumacher, who was recognized at the 2022 Governor’s Service Awards as the Volunteer of the Year for East Central Wisconsin for her volunteer service with the Women's Empowerment Series in Fond du Lac. Carol discusses the multiple efforts she leads and the programs she assists as the Volunteer Director for the Women’s Empowerment Series, including their Volunteer Work Program and Dressing For Success. She also describes how she created and leads their puppeteer troupe called Positive Puppetry, which addresses feelings, communication, and other topics, helping children and others learn about these areas and open up about difficulties that they have faced. Listen to learn about the numerous ways that Carol has made a difference for the women and children participating in the programming provided by the Women’s Empowerment Series. 

(listen to the episode here)

Helping others by Providing Rides and Leadership with RSVP of Rock County

In this episode of The S-Files, we explore the AmeriCorps Seniors volunteer service done by Ed Hansen. He was honored this summer at the 2022 Governor’s Service Awards with the AmeriCorps Seniors Lifetime Impact Volunteer award for his years of impactful volunteer service with RSVP of Rock County. As part of this conversation, we also speak with their Seniors Volunteering for Seniors Coordinator, Patty Hansberry, about the impact that Ed has had through their program. Ed discusses his service as a volunteer driver with their Seniors Volunteering for Seniors program, as well as over several years on the RSVP of Rock County board, including his current role as its president. Ed and Patty also describe how the AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers with RSVP of Rock County were able to continue assisting people during the COVID-19 pandemic and how they hope to continue helping others in the future. Listen to learn about the numerous ways that Ed and other AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers with RSVP of Rock County have made a difference in their local community. (listen to the episode here)

Serve Wisconsin is hiring a Grants Specialist Advanced

Serve Wisconsin is excited to announce that we are looking for someone to join our staff and help us support AmeriCorps programs and members here in Wisconsin. We are looking for a dedicated individual to become our new Grants Specialist Advanced, who will coordinate our AmeriCorps RFP process and grants management activities and assist in monitoring and providing training to AmeriCorps programs.

Individuals can learn more and apply by September 6, 2022.

Links for position

• Application Link
• Full Position Description

Serve Wisconsin releases RFP for

2023-2024 AmeriCorps program grants

Serve Wisconsin has released its 2023-2024 AmeriCorps State Competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) for AmeriCorps Program Grants.

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

Organizations must submit a mandatory notification of intent to apply by September 19, and applications are due by October 4.

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-program-rfp.

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

AmeriCorps NCCC releases RFP for organizations interested in partnering to complete projects in their communities in 2023

AmeriCorps NCCC has released its Request for Proposal (RFP) for 2023 service dates for interested organizations to apply to have projects completed in their communities.

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.

Application dates to work with an NCCC AmeriCorps team are spread across the next several months, with deadlines based on the time of year the project would be completed. The first deadline for submitting a concept form is for November 1, which is for organizations interested in having a team in 2023 between March 3 and April 27. Information on the application process for this upcoming period or several other project windows next spring, summer, and fall are available in the 2023 NCCC RFP. 

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 government
• A representative of local labor

Those interested in serving are required to 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 potentially interested in serving on the board and have any questions, please contact Serve Wisconsin Executive Director Jeanne Duffy at jeanne.duffy@wisconsin.gov.