AmeriCorps: Serving to Learn/ Learning to Serve

1. AmeriCorps:Serving to Learn/ Learning to Serve Geraldine E. Stirtz, M.Ed. Director, UNK Office for Service-Learning (OSL) Traci D. Schellhase, M.S. UNK Academic & Career Advisor

2. Meaning of Service • Reflections from authors: • Service can be an attitude, a relationship, and a way of being in the world. “We can help through what we do. But at the deepest level we help through who we are.” (Dass & Gorman, 1985, p227) • “Another reason many people engage in service is their recognition of responsibility as an essential aspect of life in a democracy…participation is not only a right but an obligation.” (R.Wade, 1997) Geraldine Stirtz, Director, UNK Office for Service-Learning, stirtzg@unk.edu

3. Why Serve? Our democracy is changing! • AmeriCorps developed to provide opportunities for citizens of all ages to serve • Educational institutions are recognizing the value of service • to the students as well as the community • Employers are seeking employees with service experiences because… • Service… engages people in the lives of others • …helps in building relationships • …strengthens communities • …promotes life-long civic engagement • once involved, individuals stay involved Geraldine Stirtz, Director, UNK Office for Service-Learning, stirtzg@unk.edu

4. Corporation for National and Community Service • Provides Major Federal funding support • Encourages the use of service-learning to enhance and strengthen the base of National volunteer efforts • UNK Rural Corps Project one of many supported throughout the US • ServeNebraska, funded by the Corporation, provides statewide grants and encourages training in service-learning to enhance the meaning of service for participants. Geraldine Stirtz, Director, UNK Office for Service-Learning, stirtzg@unk.edu

5. Rural Corps Project Office for Service-Learning Goal: • “Build a Corps of Engaged Citizens in South Central Nebraska • Past year - 15 Varied Host Sites • opportunities for citizens 18 and older • Receive stipend, an education award, based on hours served & position size • Full, Half, Reduced Half, Quarter, Minimum Time slots • 13-25 Members-70+ enrolled, past 4 years Geraldine Stirtz, Director, UNK Office for Service-Learning, stirtzg@unk.edu

6. Building Community Partnerships • Provide support for agencies and programs in the community • Sustainable partnerships previously established with Office for Service-Learning • Coaching, training for Supervisors very critical • Understanding AmeriCorps structure and purpose • Reporting challenges – measuring impact • Restricted Member’s Activities • Responsibilities to/for Members • Relationships • Community awareness-promotion • On-going training and support • Express/celebrate appreciation for partnerships Geraldine Stirtz, Director, UNK Office for Service-Learning, stirtzg@unk.edu

7. AmeriCorps Mission A program that helps Americans of all ages and backgrounds to engage in service that addresses the nation’s educational, public safety, environmental, and other human needs, with a goal to achieve direct and measurable results, encouraging all Americans to engage in service. Geraldine Stirtz, Director, UNK Office for Service-Learning, stirtzg@unk.edu

8. The National Service Network Programs & Partners Learn & Serve America Senior Corps Learn & Serve America State Ed Agencies (K-12) Higher Ed Institutions Community-based Orgs Tribes RSVP Sponsoring Agencies State Offices FosterGrandparents Sponsoring Agencies State Offices Presidential Freedom Scholarships HS Jrs/Sr Nat’l Demonstration Projects Nat’l Organizations Sponsoring Agencies Senior Companions Sponsoring Agencies State Offices Nat’l S-L Clearinghouse All S-L practitioners & researchers Nat’l L&S America T/TA Exchange All S-L practitioners AmeriCorps AState & National ANCCC AVISTA APromise Fellows Grants State Commissions Nat’l Organizations Tribes & Territories Tribes & Territories Grants VISTA Leaders HQ Sponsoring Agencies State Grants State Commissions Local Projects Sponsoring Agencies State Offices National, Regional & Local Projects SE Region Campus NE Region Campus Central Region Campus Western Region Campus Capital Region Campus National Direct Grants Nat’l Parent Organizations Ed Award Program Grants State Commissions Nat’l Organizations Tribes & Territories Nat’l Demonstration Projects HQ Nat’l Organizations Sponsoring Agencies Geraldine Stirtz, Director, UNK Office for Service-Learning, stirtzg@unk.edu

9. RuralCorps Host Sites • American Red Cross • Arc of Buffalo County • Kearney Community Learning Center (KCLC) • Kearney Public Schools (KPS) • Rowe Sanctuary • UNK Frank House Historical Museum • UNK Office for Service-Learning • Great Platte River Road Archway • Kearney Area Habitat for Humanity • United Way of the Kearney Area • Habitat for Humanity • Kearney Area Community Foundation Geraldine Stirtz, Director, UNK Office for Service-Learning, stirtzg@unk.edu

10. Member Responsibilities • Project/Program development • Educational • Community engagement • Fundraising • Secretarial work • Fulfilling previously paid positions Geraldine Stirtz, Director, UNK Office for Service-Learning, stirtzg@unk.edu

11. American Red Cross • US Army Veteran • Served a half-time and a full-time position • 2010 & 2011 grant years • Developed various community programs • Recruited individuals in rural communities • Accepted a full-time position in August 2012 Geraldine Stirtz, Director, UNK Office for Service-Learning, stirtzg@unk.edu

12. Rowe Sanctuary • Unemployed college graduate • Served 2 half-time positions • Developed educational curriculum for visitors and tour groups • “I grew up in the Scouts doing camping and that sort of thing. Working here seemed like a good fit, combining my love of the outdoors with environmental education.” Geraldine Stirtz, Director, UNK Office for Service-Learning, stirtzg@unk.edu

13. UNK Office of Service-Learning & Kearney Public Schools • Served one reduced half-time position, 2010 • Increased campus awareness of service-learning • Assisted with organization and preparation of monthly member meetings • Helped assist Program Director w/ training • Worked with small groups of ELL students Geraldine Stirtz, Director, UNK Office for Service-Learning, stirtzg@unk.edu

14. Geraldine Stirtz, Director, UNK Office for Service-Learning, stirtzg@unk.edu

15. Member Training-Team Building • Professional Development Training • Various topics • AmeriCorps/Corporation/ServeNebraska Overview • Service-Learning (OSL Director) • Career Planning & Resume Building (Career Services) • Conflict Management (Mediation Center) • Multicultural Awareness (Social Work Faculty) • Working with Persons with Disabilities (Arc Program) • Disaster Preparedness (Red Cross) • Member Projects • Reporting • Developed Reporting Forms Geraldine Stirtz, Director, UNK Office for Service-Learning, stirtzg@unk.edu

16. Marketing & Recruitment • Promoted on campus and in community • Posters in buildings & businesses • Brochures developed, printed, distributed at campus events • Email announcements in campus system • Flyers distributed to faculty asking to share • Student bulletins and campus paper information • Radio/TV conversations • Area newspaper stories Geraldine Stirtz, Director, UNK Office for Service-Learning, stirtzg@unk.edu

17. Q & A Time • Questions? • Contact stirtzg@unk.edu for assistance or additional information Program grant funds from the Corporation for National & Community Service Supported through ServeNebraska Geraldine Stirtz, Director, UNK Office for Service-Learning, stirtzg@unk.edu