Fall 2024 Newsletter

local challenges. In partnership with nonprofit partners, we deliver our nationally recognized, values-driven, results-led apprenticeship to advance our mission to create a just and equitable society and the diverse leadership to sustain it.

With Michelle Obama as its founder, it has been 31 years since Public Allies Chicago launched a community-based asset model that changed how emerging civic leaders are developed and engage with Chicago communities. With Mark Payne and Bianca Cotton, two Black Public Allies program alumni at the helm, Public Allies Chicago is focused on imparting knowledge and opportunities to Allies centered around Asset Based Community Development (ABCD), and how building upon assets can fuel the next 30 years of Public Allies.

Public Allies Chicago’s leadership understands that Chicago is rooted and grounded in community and is recruiting Allies from communities that may have been overlooked. These diverse community members have overlayed this asset-based leadership approach in community-based institutions, local and national government, health care systems, and philanthropy; resulting in racially inclusive practices, community-focused problem solving, and a long-standing, anti-racist network of 10,000 changemakers committed to social justice and equity.

Potential members can contact AJ Owusu at ajo@publicallies.org

exciting opportunity for AmeriCorps Members to team up with Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana as a Community Troop Experience Member. AmeriCorps members will partner with community organizations aligned with GSGCNWI to recruit and lead Girl Scout troops within those communities. You will plan weekly meetings for each troop, facilitate and plan for any additional troop activities or field trips. AmeriCorps members will also recruit and train adult volunteers to foster long-term interest and buy-in to the Girl Scout program within the communities that they serve.  At the end of the first program year, the AmeriCorps members will be responsible for assisting Girl Scouts of GCNWI to alleviate poverty by expanding health education while prioritizing investment in the most underserved individuals and communities in Chicago and Northwest Indiana. During these initial meetings, facilitators or VISTA members will provide Girl Scout programming to new girl members while identifying, nurturing, and mentoring potential volunteer leaders. When a volunteer cannot be recruited for many reasons such as, parents working more than one job or school communities not having good parent engagement. State and National members step up to deliver in/out of school programming for girls and families most in need.

Potential members can contact Jessica Hickman at JHickman@girlscoutsgcnwi.org    

Potential members can contact Jay Stokes at AmeriCorps@swic.edu or call 618-641-5711

College students and alumni interested in employment opportunities, please visit: Handshake

Singers Aria Brown, Davin Colobong, and the Leo High School Choir inaugurated shifts with renditions of “America the Beautiful” along with a Veteran-led moment of silence in remembrance of those lost 23 years ago.

The initial meal-packing goal was 500,000. We are proud to announce that 528,000 meals were packed, breaking another record for Chicago!

Station has become a popular reprieve for fairgoers. The Twinkle Tunnel, foam pit, and stuffed animal petting zoo were among this year’s most appreciated aspects, along with a separate section, complete with changing tables and curtained-off nooks that allowed parents with young children to get out of the heat and away from the hustle and bustle of the fair to feed or change their youngsters and avoid public restrooms.

Over 60 volunteers participated in helping to facilitate this year’s sensory-friendly experience, direct fairgoers where to go, and make them feel welcome. DHS - Serve Illinois and State Fair officials would especially like to thank the teams from UIC’s Division of Specialized Care for Children, EnRich at Richland Community College, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Illinois, Youth with a Positive Direction from Decatur, and several returning volunteers who helped this year to make The Illinois State Fair a positive experience for all.

Formerly Kid's Korner in the Emerson Building, The Sensory Station was open all 11 days of the fair from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. 

County communities. Will County Habitat for Humanity envisions a world where everyone has a decent place to live, driven by their mission to bring people together to build homes, communities, and hope. AmeriCorps members of the NCCC program constructed new affordable homes, renovations, and repairs.

AmeriCorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps) is a full-time, team-based residential service program that strives to strengthen communities by engaging young adults ages 18-24 in national and community service. NCCC members are assigned to one of four regional campuses into teams of around 10 members. These teams complete 3-7 service projects that last 6-8 weeks in length, addressing the critical needs of communities throughout the United States over a 10-month service term. These critical needs are related to natural and other disasters, infrastructure improvement, environmental stewardship and conservation, and urban and rural development. In addition, AmeriCorps NCCC supports two service tracks: FEMA Corps, where members are solely dedicated to disaster preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery work; and Forest Corps, where members focus on wildland fire prevention, reforestation, environmental conservation, and resource management.

These programs are administered by AmeriCorps, a federal agency that engages millions of Americans in service through its AmeriCorps and Senior Corps programs and leads the nation's volunteering and service efforts.

On behalf of the IDHS-Serve Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service, congratulations to NCCC Team Oak 8 for their outstanding work!

The ceremony honoring finalists and the winner was held at Erin’s Pavillion in Springfield Wednesday evening, following presentations by finalists at the Illinois State Fair earlier in the day. ​

The winner of the Governor’s Cup was the City of Edwardsville's Challenger Baseball. All four communities were also given a highway sign that will be installed later this year.

“Illinois is so lucky to have some of the most generous and compassionate people. I am grateful to honor these Illinoisans whose contributions have bettered our communities – with focuses on youth and more equitable and healthy futures for everyone in our great state,” said Dulce M. Quintero, IDHS Secretary Designate.

“Serve Illinois brings representatives from communities across Illinois together to celebrate the true meaning of the Governor’s Hometown Awards call to collective action. Each project strives to raise the quality of life for their residents which is a building block for better outcomes in their lived experience in Illinois and community,” said Andres J. Fernandez, Serve Illinois Executive Director.

Now in its sixteenth year with Serve Illinois, the Governor’s Hometown Awards continue to bolster the commission’s mission to improve Illinois communities by enhancing volunteerism and instilling an ethic of service throughout the state. ​

Volunteers continue to step up each year to serve unmet needs in their communities and recognition of these community service projects is essential. ​ ​ 

strategies to bridge divides, foster collaboration, and harness the collective power of a volunteer force. From “Boomers to Zoomers”, the conference’s goal was to understand how to create a culture where every individual feels valued, engaged, and empowered to make a lasting impact. 

The morning and afternoon sessions were broken into three unique workshops each in which presenters who had firsthand knowledge of volunteer recruitment, engagement, and management, and were able to present a specific topic and need volunteer managers may likely encounter. 

IDHS-Serve Illinois Upstate Volunteer Programs Coordinator, Cecilia Maciel Martinez, and Downstate Volunteer Programs Coordinator, Anthony Wanless, presented on Creating Micro-volunteerism Opportunities for a diverse volunteer pool, and IDHS-Serve Illinois AmeriCorps Program Manager, Kristen Bethke, presented on AmeriCorps 101.

The conference concluded with a panel discussion entitled “Generational Voices: Bridging Perspectives in Volunteerism”, where members representing various generations were present to answer questions from the audience and give their take on volunteering from a generational perspective.

of Mt. Vernon and Jefferson County collected over 9,000 pounds. of non-perishable food items, most of which they shared among other non-profit organizations in the region who would go on to distribute it to those who were most in need.

On June 25, 2024 Volunteer Programs Coordinators for the Upstate and Downstate regions, Cecilia Maciel Martinez and Anthony Wanless made a special trip to Mt. Vernon to recognize over forty individual volunteers and groups that made this possible by presenting them with Office of the Governor Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service Certificate of Appreciation. Among those recognized were several representatives from District 80 Schools, The City of Mt. Vernon, Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce, Waltonville School District 1, and the Village of Bluford.

A spokesperson for Angels on Assignment and Thrift Store Manager, Lynn Lenker, and several others including Senator Terri Bryant, Representative Dave Severin, Mayor Mike Bullard, Mayor Michelle McKinney, Mayor John Lewis, David Keen, and Debbie Jones were named Honorary AmeriCorps Members in honor of AmeriCorps’ 30th anniversary celebration. Honorees took the AmeriCorps Pledge promising to “get things done” for all those in need throughout the region and the state.

On behalf of the IDHS-Serve Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service, thank you all for your dedication to service and hard work in making the Fight Food Insecurity in Illinois Challenge a huge success!

residents have requested assistance for damages in their homes.

The NCCC team met with Westside residents daily to learn about their needs and assist them with any paperwork. Thanks to this team, several residents on the Westside are finally receiving the help they need.

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To be added to our newsblast, please email DHS.ServeIllinois@Illinois.gov with "Newsblast" in the subject line.