The red, white and blue balloons hovered high in the sky, and the music filled the air of Denver’s Capitol Hill Neighborhood.On Jan. 20, Metro Volunteers hosted the Barack Obama Inaugural Bash at the Church Nightclub.
Over 100 local residents came for the celebration, many dressed in Obama t-shirts, hats and flashing buttons.Live music added to the atmosphere, featuring performances from local bands such as Wendy Woo, Kristina Ingham and the Demon Funkies.
Barack Obama became officially sworn in as the 44th president of the United States at 12 noon eastern standard time on Jan. 20.Guests at this event said that they feel optimistic about Obama’s promises and the future of the country.
“I could not be more elated,” said Lindsay, who moved to the United States from Germany 12 years ago, “He’s youthful and he represents my ideals.”
As part of his plan for revitalizing America, Obama is encouraging citizens to commit to serving their communities this year.Metro Volunteers helped to facilitate this process by asking guests at this event to pledge to complete 10 hours of community service by the end of 2009.
“I think it’s always good to give back,” said Janet Kiyota from Ft. Lupton, Co., “I think there’s always a few places that need just a little bit of help.”Several guests responded to the pledge to serve, as well as Metro Volunteers Staff.
“We are living in a world where we need to be less selfish, and more selfless,” said Kellie Reddick from Texas.Michael Charbonneau, from Denver, volunteers at a homeless shelter where he helps students attain their GED.
“It makes my week when someone gets their GED,” said Charbonneau.Metro Volunteers will now help those who have pledged to volunteer find a location that fits their interests.
“I find it rewarding to volunteer, not to be a spectator, but to be a part of it,” said Lindsay.Overall, the guests at the event left feeling a sense of excitement and enthusiasm over seeing Obama’s inauguration.
Reddick said, “I think we made history today. We celebrated Martin Luther King, Jr. Day yesterday, and his dream is coming into affect today.”
On MLK Day, hundreds of Kaiser Permanente physicians, nurses, security guards, and other staff volunteered their time to provide health services to the uninsured. As the numbers below illustrate, the Health Fair was a huge success!
Service in Numbers*: • Over 300 volunteers • Over 600 families attended the health fair • Over 1,200 individuals received health services; by the end of the fair it may be as many as 1,500 • 275 women received screening services including pap tests and pelvic exams • Over 180 children received a physical check-up and health screening • 100 vision screenings performed • 470 immunizations administered • 500 diabetes and cholesterol tests performed • Over 340 dental screenings and services provided for children and adults • 30 mammography screenings were completed; 50 additional mammography exams were scheduled *(approximate estimates as of 3 pm Monday, January 19, 2009)
President-Elect Barack Obama released a video today highlighting the many ways to get involved with the Inauguration events, one of the ways is to serve your community this coming weekend in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s legacy.
Yesterday, Stephen Goldsmith, chairman of the board of the Corporation for National and Community Service and former Mayor of Indianapolis, and Harris Wofford, former U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania and CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service from 1995 to 2001, contributed an op-ed calling for a "Service Stimulus Package." This article appeared in the Miami Herald (FL), Fort Worth Star Telegram (TX), The Record (NJ) and other newspapers.
This article includes a ton of pertinent information about how service should, and will be, a part of the solution to the current economic recession.
Here are some of the highlights:
"As the government seeks to deal with the economic crisis and relieve the distress felt by millions of families, we should not overlook the great American tradition of service."
"Lawmakers who will soon consider a financial stimulus package should also consider a 'service stimulus.' Repairing the roads and bridges of our physical infrastructure is urgently needed, but we also need to expand our civic infrastructure dramatically."
"Here are a few examples of what 'We the People' can do right now and in the year ahead:
We can help children in danger of dropping out of school by volunteering as tutors and mentors.
Skilled professionals (lawyers, accountants, et al.) can go door to door in distressed communities to assist families facing mortgage foreclosure.
Volunteers can support displaced families and children by helping them transition from homeless shelters to more permanent housing.
Since financial stress and unemployment can lead to substance abuse, psychological despair and homelessness, community assistance centers and shelters will need many new volunteers and basic supplies."
I just received a message from Voices of Service last night with the following message; essentially saying that we must all act now to ensure that funding for AmeriCorps programs is not cut in 2009:
Voices for National Service has learned that funding for AmeriCorps programs for 2009 is in jeopardy, and it is imperative that national service supporters contact their Members of Congress TODAY to intercede with Appropriators.
Action Item - Call Your Member of Congress: Please call your Members of Congress immediately and ask them to protect AmeriCorps funding so that programs can deliver much needed services to communities across the country. Below is information on how to contact your Members of Congress and talking points for your use. We have also listed the Appropriators in the House and Senate. We especially need individuals residing or serving in Appropriators’ districts to reach out directly to them. If you do not reside or serve in an Appropriators district, please call your Members of Congress and ask them to weigh in with Appropriators.
To connect to your legislators in the Senate dial the Senate switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask them to connect you. To connect to your legislators in the House dial the switchboard at (202) 225-3121 ask them to connect you.
Background Information: At this very moment, congressional appropriators are in final negotiations on an comprehensive FY2009 funding bill. They expect to finish negotiating the details this week. It has recently been brought to our attention that AmeriCorps State and National and the National Service Trust require a combined appropriation of $420.3 million to sustain the same level of service communities have relied upon in 2008. This figure is $41 million above last year’s appropriations and $14.1 million above the Administration’s original request submitted to Congress in February.
We understand this is a significant increase over last year’s appropriation, but due to a perfect storm of conditions, that includes a significant administrative change at the Corporation, this increase is necessary to sustain the present field of programs and members. Level funding for AmeriCorps will not allow the same number of Americans to serve in 2009 as participated in 2008 due to a number of programmatic factors including: changes in AmeriCorps grant-making from two year to one year funding, the need to transfer funds from programs to the National Service Trust to cover AmeriCorps education awards, and increased support for disaster response and recovery in the Gulf region.
The next 24 hours are critical, as the Appropriations Committee is making decisions on the fiscal 2009 funding bills right now. We need our legislators to weigh in and ask that the appropriation be increased to avoid devastating program cuts. The brunt of the impact would likely fall on programs that are recompeting for funds. Under the present funding assumptions (i.e. 2008 funding levels), the pool of funds available to state competitive programs could be $20 million, 50% less than what is needed.
Talking Points: 1. Right now Congressional appropriators are negotiating fiscal year 2009 funding levels for AmeriCorps. 2. We’ve been told that AmeriCorps State and National and the National Service Trust need a combined appropriation of $420.3 million to sustain AmeriCorps programs that are delivering much needed service to communities. This is $41 million above the fiscal year 2008 appropriation. 3. We understand that this is a significant increase, but due to congressionally-mandated administrative changes at the Corporation for National and Community Service, the additional funds are needed to simply sustain the same level of service in 2009. This additional funding would not grow the program, just sustain it. 4. AmeriCorps grantees engage 75,000 Americans in providing important services through thousands of nonprofit community-based organizations, schools, land management agencies, and other groups that are meeting critical needs. Many of these organizations are already struggling with the recent economic downturn, and a cut in AmeriCorps would further reduce their ability to serve people in need. 5. A significant reduction in the federal appropriation will force groups to cut back or eliminate services to communities, and deprive thousands of young people the opportunity to serve their country and earn education awards to pursue their dreams of higher education. This is not the time to cut services to those in need and limit opportunities for young people to earn stipends and educational opportunities for their service. 6. An increased appropriation for AmeriCorps is urgently needed to prevent the collapse of our programs. 7. Your Congressperson should instruct the Appropriations Committee to increase the FY09 allocation for AmeriCorps.
This past Saturday, November 22, over 100 community members and their families came together to participate in National Family Volunteer Day. These families contributed their time, and in many cases food donations, to four nonprofits in metropolitan Denver. At Have a Heart, 25 family volunteers came together to help serve 3,000 people who were picking up food boxes and donated clothing items. At Project Angel Heart, 25 family volunteers decorated bags that will e used to deliver food to terminally ill and homebound individuals throughout metropolitan Denver. At Starlight Children’s Foundation, 40 volunteers from McKenna, Long and Aldridge LLP assembled backpacks filled with fun activities for hospitalized children in Denver. At Family Tree, Miller Coors employees and their families donated food items and volunteered to help over 40 families receive food boxes.
Family Volunteer Day is a hands-on experience that teaches children the values of kindness, compassion, community responsibility and good citizenship. Family volunteering strengthens family communication and bonds, allows family members to be role models, builds shared memories, increases commitment to volunteering and community, and provides for quality time together as a family.
Washington DC – Nicola O. Goren, an 11-year veteran of the Corporation for National and Community Service, will lead the agency through a transition that will include laying a foundation for the incoming Administration’s service plans.
Goren, who served as the agency’s Chief of Staff for the past two years, begins her tenure as Acting CEO at a time of strong momentum and opportunity for the agency and the larger service and volunteer movement. Goren will lead the agency that administers AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, and Learn and Serve America until a new CEO is appointed by President Obama and confirmed by the Senate.
“Service and volunteering make a difference in the lives of millions of Americans every day,” said Goren. “I am deeply honored and excited to work with our extraordinary board, staff, and grantees to support our programs, prepare for the transition, and seize the growing momentum for service in America.”
Goren said two forces are converging to make this an opportune time for national service and volunteering. First, the economic downturn has threatened our civic infrastructure and put more Americans in need of services that the voluntary sector can provide. Second, this increasing demand comes at the same time as service is gaining unprecedented levels of support across government, business, nonprofit, and education sectors.
From the expansion of corporate social responsibility programs and the embrace of service-learning on college campuses to the introduction of several bipartisan national service bills in Congress and the comprehensive service agenda of President-elect Obama, service is increasingly being seen as a solution to social challenges. “The Corporation has never been stronger, more efficient, and better positioned than it is today, and we are ready to work with the incoming Administration to take national service to the next level of success and impact,” said Goren. In a message to grantees, Goren said her priorities will be to focus on the core work of the agency, ensure a smooth transition, and strengthen the service infrastructure.
The agency has been preparing for the transition for several months. The Corporation’s bipartisan board of directors will also play a key role in the transition. “We are incredibly fortunate to have such as strong board and their leadership and insights will be especially valuable in the transition. Our board is a model of how people from different parties can work together to get things done.”
Board Chairman and former Indianapolis Mayor Stephen Goldsmith also noted the convergence of need and support for national service in welcoming Goren to her new role. “The Corporation is well-respected, high performing and it enjoys bipartisan support. The national service and volunteering agenda also benefit from strong momentum and increasing public awareness. Nicky has the experience, judgment, and ability to ensure that we extend the gains we’ve made and bridge the organization as it prepares for a new CEO to be appointed in the next administration.”
Prior to serving as Chief of Staff, Goren worked in the Corporation’s Office of General Counsel for eight-and-a-half years as Associate General Counsel, where she led the AmeriCorps rulemaking effort and other major projects. Before coming to the Corporation in 1998, Goren spent five years in the legislative branch, working first with the Congressional Budget Office and then with the Office of Compliance. She is a graduate of Cornell Law School and Brandeis University. Goren resides in the District of Columbia with her husband and two sons.
The Corporation for National and Community Service improves lives, strengthens communities, and fosters civic engagement through service and volunteering. Each year the Corporation engages more than four million Americans of all ages and backgrounds in service to meet local needs through its Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America programs. For more information, visit www.NationalService.gov.
Article written by: Bryan Giovannetti 
