Oops! We had a typo!
In the Juneau Child Care article below we have corrected the Association for the Education of Young Children's abbreviation to AEYC. We also found and corrected some wonky links, we hope you enjoy this cleaned-up version.
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AmeriCorps Member Highlight: Caryn seeks to understand others through service, finds life-changing experience
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Caryn graduated with her master’s degree in library and information sciences from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in May of 2022. She wasn’t entirely sure of her direction after college, but she knew she had a strong desire to volunteer in meaningful work that extended beyond herself. She wanted to learn more about the world by living and serving a community in need. Through that lens, she found AmeriCorps and subsequently found her way to the Juneau AmeriCorps program.
Caryn believes seeking out service opportunities also lends itself to her belief that the health and happiness of one member of the community is the health and happiness of the entire community. Her cumulative exposure to service and volunteerism resonates with her belief that there are friendly people in the U.S. who want to and could provide both education and emotional support in their roles to those most in need. She is strong in her belief that what most people need, whether children or adults, is to be listened to. It is her greatest ambition in life to understand others and to be understood herself. Serving others is an opportunity to do this, to understand experiences beyond her own.
Under AmeriCorps, Caryn served at both Harborview and Gastineau Elementary School as an Early Literacy Support Assistant. In her own words she says:
“The students at Gastineau have shown a lot of appreciation for me being there. I feel like the most I can do for the students is listen sincerely to them when they tell me things and show interest in their thoughts, observations, and opinions. Many students call out my name in the hallway, run up to give me hugs, or want to hold my hand. Even students I have never worked with sometimes run up to me and give me a hug or say – “Hi, Miss Caryn!” So, I can tell that my presence in the school has meaning.”
In addition to her work within the Juneau School District, Caryn has generously given her time to become a head coach for the first Lego League robotics team and her experience was amazing. In conversations with Caryn, she has said that her entire AmeriCorps experience has been life-changing for her.
This amazing young woman will leave Juneau and the AmeriCorps program in August. She is returning to her home state of Texas for a while and just as she discovered AmeriCorps, she will discover her next opportunity and path in life.
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If you have any questions, or want more information about what it’s like to be a member, contact Juneau AmeriCorps at 907-463-1293. |
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Help Us Spread the Word – United Way is IGA's September Non-Profit of the Month |
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Save the Date! The entire month of September, Foodland IGA/Ace Hardware and Super Bear IGA have invited the United Way of Southeast Alaska to once again participate in its Round Up for Charity!
Customers will have an opportunity to round up their purchases to the nearest dollar. In 2021, shoppers donated over $4,700 with pennies at a time. This year, we hope you ca help us let shoppers know of the opportunity and help spread the word!
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Meet Lisa, Director of Juneau AmeriCorps |
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Lisa Bogert came out of retirement in 2022 to accept the position of Director of AmeriCorps through the United Way of Southeast Alaska. She retired from the State of Alaska following a 30-year career in social services with a focus on employment and job training, Welfare-to-Work, and Statewide Policy and Program Development. She concurrently retired from a twenty-five-year career as a Licensed Massage Therapist.
Lisa has helped many individuals throughout Southeast Alaska through her work. She has had the good fortune to travel some throughout the interior of this great state and has had many an adventure and made priceless memories. Her friends and colleagues treasure her hardworking, fun-loving, caring dedication she brings to everything that she does. She has a love for the outdoors and enjoys hiking with her dogs, biking, kayaking, cooking, and working in several art mediums in her free time.
Her favorite saying and daily reminder is to “just breathe.”
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United We Thrive Spotlight |
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We would like to draw your attention this month to United Way of Southeast Alaska’s Partner Agency, Southeast Alaska Food Bank. Southeast Alaska Food Bank’s purpose is to provide access to nutritious food for those who are without -- serving as a community bridge between those who want to help and those who are in need. This nonprofit is one of our most popular partners and impacts thousands of individuals in our community each month. You can designate your support to SEAFB via the Donations Page on our website.
United We Thrive! Thank you, Southeast Alaska Food Bank!
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The Current State of Philanthropy
A Letter from your United Way of Southeast Alaska Resource Development Director
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Hello, faithful readers!
The summer of 2023 is headed for its dog days, and the City of Juneau is teeming with visitors and seasonal workers. This year for me, our visitors cut a new picture, reflecting our world’s changing demographics, and I am reminded just how much change we all endured these past few years. Millennials have overtaken our beloved Baby-Boomers by sheer numbers, Gen X is staring right in the eyes of middle age, the Silent generation is now in its golden years, and Generation Z wants to save the world and doesn’t know where to begin.
The current state of philanthropy seems to me to be like the immolation of the Phoenix, with the wisdom of caring whispering between the generations, ready for its next incarnation.
I was struck to learn that members of our younger generations, with hearts full of hope and fear, are paralyzed in inaction. I place a call to all the older generations to share the legacy of giving.
Our future leaders need to be shown that their voices, their capabilities, their resources have the potential to transform the world we all live in. Teach our youth and young adults that lemonade-stand, dollar-a-day charitable acts truly shape the world that we live in, and dramatically improve the lives of our fellow humans.
The quote that paints the picture for me was made by Dan Pallotta, in which he said, “Philanthropy is the market for love.”
Shannon McCain
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Juneau Child Care Expansion and Start-up Grant Program Open for Letters of Interest Through July 28
The City and Borough of Juneau and the Southeast Alaska Association for the Education of Young Children are seeking letters of interest from individuals or organizations who would benefit from grant funding for needs related to the start-up or expansion of a licensed child care program in Juneau. This call for LOIs is open until July 28, for a round of awards to be made in 2023.
The Juneau Child Care Expansion and Start-up Program will provide grant funds for needs such as building repairs and/or renovations, new construction, furnishings and materials for classrooms, or other start-up costs. In 2023, the program intends to offer up to three financial awards totaling $120,000.
Current child care capacity in Juneau meets approximately 30% of the overall demand for services. The capacity shortage has had a negative impact on families, employers struggling to hire, and the community as a whole. CBJ is dedicating substantial local funding in an effort to increase the sustainability of high quality, safe, and welcoming environments for families and young children, providing monthly operating subsidies for licensed child care businesses as well as grant awards for start-up and expansion.
CBJ has contracted with the AEYC-SEA to administer the grant funds. AEYC-SEA will use these letters of interest to gauge interest within the community for this funding, and to provide equitable access to grant funds. Please note that an additional application process may be required depending on the overall level of interest.
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