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Spring 2023 Newsletter
Update from the Chair
Happy Spring! As Illinois enters our beautiful spring, I am very excited for the Serve Illinois Commission to welcome our new Executive Director, Andres Fernandez. Andres has been part of the commission since 2021. It has been a pleasure to work with him as a commissioner and I look forward to his leadership and vision as our new ED. With his hiring and a number of new additions to the staff, the Serve Illinois Commission is prepared to continue our mission of supporting and building a culture of community engagement and volunteerism throughout Illinois. All of the staff and commissioners engaged in this work are some of the most dedicated and thoughtful individuals I’ve had the privilege to work with. I am incredibly grateful to be a part of this growing team!
The next few months are busy ones for volunteerism. The Governor’s Hometown Awards in Springfield on April 27th, the Service Summit virtually on May 19th, and the Points of Light Conference in Chicago June 14th-16th are just a few of the opportunities where the Commission hopes to connect with volunteers, nonprofits, and supporters. Come by and say hello if you see us out and about!
As always, if the Commission can support your service in any way, please reachout.
Yours in Service,
Natalie Furlett
Serve Illinois Commission Chair
Update from the Chair
Happy Spring! As Illinois enters our beautiful spring, I am very excited for the Serve Illinois Commission to welcome our new Executive Director, Andres Fernandez.
Andres has been part of the commission since 2021. It has been a pleasure to work with him as a commissioner and I look forward to his leadership and vision as our new ED. With his hiring and a number of new additions to the staff, the Serve Illinois Commission is prepared to continue our mission of supporting and building a culture of community engagement and volunteerism throughout Illinois. All of the staff and commissioners engaged in this work are some of the most dedicated and thoughtful individuals I’ve had the privilege to work with. I am incredibly grateful to be a part of this growing team!
The next few months are busy ones for volunteerism. The Governor’s Hometown Awards in Springfield on April 27th, the Service Summit virtually on May 19th, and the Points of Light Conference in Chicago June 14th-16th are just a few of the opportunities where the Commission hopes to connect with volunteers, nonprofits, and supporters. Come by and say hello if you see us out and about!
As always, if the Commission can support your service in any way, please reachout.
Yours in Service,
Natalie Furlett
Serve Illinois Commission Chair
Illinois AmeriCorps Program Snapshot
Focus on Service
Volunteer Spotlight
Rosa Pineda Lopez - Volunteer of the Week (May 2nd, 2023)
Rosa is a Fellow (2nd Year Ally) with Public Allies Chicago. Rosa supports teachers and partners at Chicago Public Schools. Rosa is developing a system and manual for guiding new vendors through the vendor process, purchasing process, and invoicing requirements at CPS. The infographic Rosa made helped train approximately 30 teachers on the procurement and purchasing process. We asked Rosa to share more about herself and her work.
What are three strengths you bring to your team?
1. I am able to give gentle reminders to the team that CPS Students are people too. All of them come from different walks of life and not
everyone has the same privileges. It's important to remind the team, vendors, and partners that CPS students sometimes do come from low income households. The expectations that these students have are very different from their other counterparts. Sometimes they have jobs, home expectations, or children. Also bringing in some much needed cultural awareness.
2. Being a former teacher. I am able to bring a perspective of what students' immediate concerns/needs are. Students would share their feelings and thoughts about social justice, their neighborhoods, and what they need to succeed in their education pathways.
3. Being a CPS parent. I can share how it feels on the other side of the issue. There is a lack of resources, school counselors, and information for parents. There is always that gentle reminder of systemic oppression that black and brown citizens of Chicago must go through. How that affects us and our children.
Share more about work you are doing:
o Traveling to CPS High Schools with Career and Technical Education (CTE) Programs to support our partner demonstration and presentations.
o Building relationships with the CTE teachers and providing support.
o Visiting partner sites including Lurie Children’s Hospital and Rush.
o Developing a CTE Summer Internship Handbook to help the teachers, vendors and partners and will include a how- to -soft skills, program expectations and resources.
o Creating visual resources for teachers and vendors to support communications efforts.
What are 2-3 leadership qualities you possess?
Rosa: It's so important to be able to follow as you are able to lead. I do not like being a leader but I will step up when it's needed. I lead with intention and understanding. I stay as the most authentic version of myself I can be. It's more important to guide and inspire than to boss people around and expect them to do as you like because you said so. I am also meticulous and stick to guidelines and deadlines.
Rosa’s supervisor shares that: “Rosa is a true asset and is doing a wonderful job…She's created a phenomenal graphic that will be used by the vendors and teachers…I am glad Rosa is our PA. She's already adored by other staff members and I can see why. She's very thorough, dedicated, and thoughtful.”
Jorge Reynoso - Volunteer Spotlight (March 28th, 2023)
When Jorge Reynoso came to Public Allies Chicago (PAC) he was looking for an opportunity to engage with the community. His desire was to work with and use his filming skills to tell the stories of communities in Chicago. In terms of skills, he was looking to develop more communication skills and to challenge himself to be more social after having gotten feedback on being reserved in conversation. Despite not having gotten to work with the organization that was his first choice, Jorge never wavered in his positive attitude and excitement towards his leadership journey with us.
One of the most fulfilling and challenging dynamics of his service with us has been having complete ownership of our 30th year anniversary video project. This project entailed capturing the stories of alumni that have served in the Chicago site at some point. Prior to this point, Jorge was used to having someone else leading an initiative and taking direction from there. Driving this initiative was a mindset shift, but has been rewarding and demonstrated to him what he’s capable of. Throughout this process, Jorge has engaged with several stakeholders at PAC across various platforms and has expanded his network. Our stakeholders include current allies (apprentices who serve in our program), alumni, staff, and partner nonprofits. I’ve watched him lead an ice breaker in team meetings, present his work to us, take excellent photos documenting events, and work to feature his fellow allies at their placement sites. Jorge had the following to say about his experience when asked what has had a positive impact on him during his Ally experience:
“The staff that has supervised me in any capacity. It’s been helpful having them to support me nonjudgmentally throughout my experience. Knowing I can go to someone to check in and get support is a good feeling.”
Donna Wellman - Volunteer of the Week (February 6th, 2023)
Donna Wellman, who is 88 years old has been volunteering at Teen Turf for 15 years. She bakes homemade cookies for the children in our free afterschool homework program. She talks to all the kids, who range from 9 and up, when she hands them a cookie during meal time. She always has a smile for the kids and has quite a bond with them. She supports our fundraising events and dances as well.
To view Teen Turf's Facebook, click here!
Nominate a Volunteer!
Email the Following Information to DHS.ServeIllinois@Illinois.gov:
- Nominator Name
- Nominee Name
- Nominee Address
- Picture of Nominee
- Description of Nominee's Volunteer Activities
Volunteer Opportunities
To have your volunteer opportunities added to our website, please email your volunteer opportunities to DHS.ServeIllinois@illinois.gov with "Volunteer Opportunity" in the subject line.
Upcoming Events and Deadlines
AmeriCorps Member Recruitment Corner
Association House of Chicago
Association House of Chicago is a 124-year-old nonprofit organization dedicated to providing high-quality services to underserved children, adults, and families in areas of high economic hardship throughout
the city. Using a trauma-informed, culturally responsive service model, we fill the gaps that leave individuals and families struggling. Association House serves thousands of community members each year through 30+ direct services categorized into distinct service divisions that work collaboratively to meet the varied needs of those we serve: Association House High School, Behavioral Health, Child Welfare, Community Health and Workforce Development.
Potential members can contact Community Health Coordinator Enrique Galarza at egalarza@associationhouse.org or call 773-772-7170 Ext. 3208.
To learn more, visit Association House of Chicago's website and LinkedIn.
City of Peoria
PeoriaCorps is a six-month, earn to learn program. PeoriaCorps is an AmeriCorps program that services the Peoria community by maintaining Green Infrastructure sites around the City. PeoriaCorps is a unique opportunity for young adults in the Peoria Area to serve their community, build workforce employability skills, obtain industry recognized credentialing, all while earning a biweekly living allowance and additional incentives for their service; Additional benefits of the program include support in overcoming barriers to employment and a vast array of career exploration opportunities.
Potential members can contact the PeoriaCorps office at 309-494-8844 or emailing the PeoriaCorps Program Director at aohlrogge@peoriagov.org
To learn more, visit PeoriaCorps' website and career page.
Boys & Girls Club of Livingston County
AmeriCorps Project Learn provides evidence-based academic enrichment support to youth at Boys & Girls Club of Livingston County, Union League Boys & Girls Club and Boys & Girls Club of Elgin. Members are responsible for improved academic engagement and/or
social-emotional skill development for 350 youth ages 7-13 as defined by factors to include school & Club attendance, school connectedness & expectations of academic success.
Potential members can contact Jordan Hornickel at jhornickel@bgclivingston.org or
call 815-842-3089.
To learn more, visit Boys & Girls Club of Livingston County's website.
Special Features
Black History Month
On February 26, 2023, Serve Illinois Volunteer Program Coordinator Jacob Jenkins attended the 113th Anniversary Charter Day Celebration Cohosted by the Theta Chapter and Theta Chapter Alumni Association, where he awarded eight individuals for their ongoing volunteerism efforts. The Theta Chapter is the first Black Greek Lettered Organization chapter to be chartered, established in Illinois on February 21, 1910. Volunteerism projects that the Theta Chapter and Theta Chapter Alumni
Association have been continuously involved in include voter’s education and registration drives, mentoring high school students on navigating higher education, and breast cancer awareness.
Women's History Month
In March, Serve Illinois had the opportunity to visit the St. Florian Parish in Hegewisch to recognize the outstanding volunteerism efforts with their food pantry. This food pantry has been helping the community for over 25 years, and volunteers meet weekly to feed the surrounding neighborhoods. For Women's History Month, we also want to recognize Joan Gibbons (pictured on far left), food pantry organizer, for her ongoing
commitment of over 10 years in ensuring the food pantry runs smoothly.
Peace Warriors
Serve Illinois had the opportunity to visit students from East St. Louis Senior High and Gordon Bush Alternative School. These amazing students are part of a special group of individuals called Peace Warriors. Their vision is to equip the students of East St. Louis District 189 with the necessary tools to
confront the forces of violence and injustice within their families, school, and community at large. They believe firmly in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s ideas of non-violence and the beloved community. The Peace Warriors were recognized with the Governor's Certificates of Appreciation for the wonderful work they are doing to promote peace in a community that has historically been ravished by poverty and violence.
AmeriCorps Week - Southwestern Illinois College
Belleville AmeriCorps at Southwestern Illinois College celebrated AmeriCorps Week 2023 in a number of ways! First, we highlighted our Mighty Members and a select number of our Amazing Alums all week on social media—Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn. Each highlight included a brief biography; how AmeriCorps impacted their lives; and what they are doing today!
Second, our Mighty Members created “About Me” poster boards to display in the schools in which they are tutoring in order to draw attention to AmeriCorps and the good work that our Members perform; and the principals in those schools acknowledged our Members all week on the schools’ morning announcements.
Finally, we wrapped up AmeriCorps Week with a service project at the historic Mount Hope Cemetery in Belleville, Illinois. Mount Hope Cemetery has been in receivership for several years. One consequence of this is that the cemetery does not receive the care that most cemeteries receive. Belleville AmeriCorps, in conjunction with the City of Belleville, has taken it upon itself to help with the upkeep of this historic cemetery. This includes reaching out to civic-minded citizens to help us with the clean-up. On the cold, blustery morning of Saturday, March 18th, 70 civic-minded citizens participated in the cemetery clean-up, including national honor students from Belleville West High School; members of Belleville East High School’s Men’s Volleyball Team; military personnel and their families from Scott Airforce Base; personnel from the St. Clair County Office on Aging; several citizen volunteers; in addition to our AmeriCorps Members, AmeriCorps Alums, friends, and families.
Governor's Volunteer Service Awards Ceremony
On April 27th, 2023, 15 out of the 20 winners were recognized at the 13th Annual Governor's Volunteer Service Awards, which took place at the Hoogland Center for the Arts in Springfield, IL. These awards recognize individual volunteers through a statewide award program to highlight the importance of volunteerism and community service in the State of Illinois. Winners and their
loved ones enjoyed a meal, musical entertainment, and received a special congratulatory video message from Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton. Congratulations to the 2022 Governor's Volunteer Service Award winners!
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