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Summer 2024 Newsletter
Update from the Executive Director
Summertime is such a dichotomy of a season for everyone. It is a time for celebrating the culmination of hard work and the commitment to a goal. The culmination can be regarding the end of the educational journey, in government, it can be the ending of the fiscal year, for AmeriCorps, it can be completing the hours for a service year, and in volunteerism, it’s the season to recognize the winning community project for the Governor’s Hometown Award!
As much as it is a time of culmination, it is also a time of new beginnings. New service year for new members, new programs in AmeriCorps, new volunteer projects being implemented by individuals and communities, new commissioners joining Serve Illinois, and a new fiscal year in Illinois. Summertime is a time of ending and beginning, a time to rest and celebrate, and a time to plan for a new journey that speaks to your professional, educational, and civic ethos.
The Serve Illinois Commission would like to wish you a safe summer. One filled with reflection on what has been accomplished or one filled with great endeavors for the next phase you may be entering.
Yours in Service,
Andres J. Fernandez
Serve Illinois Executive Director
Update from the Executive Director
Summertime is such a dichotomy of a season for everyone. It is a time for celebrating the culmination of hard work and the commitment to a goal. The culmination can be regarding the end of the educational journey, in government, it can be the ending of the fiscal year, for AmeriCorps, it can be completing the hours for a service year, and in volunteerism, it’s the season to recognize the winning community project for the Governor’s Hometown Award!
As much as it is a time of culmination, it is also a time of new beginnings. New service year for new members, new programs in AmeriCorps, new volunteer projects being implemented by individuals and communities, new commissioners joining Serve Illinois, and a new fiscal year in Illinois. Summertime is a time of ending and beginning, a time to rest and celebrate, and a time to plan for a new journey that speaks to your professional, educational, and civic ethos.
The Serve Illinois Commission would like to wish you a safe summer. One filled with reflection on what has been accomplished or one filled with great endeavors for the next phase you may be entering.
Yours in Service,
Andres Fernandez
Serve Illinois Executive Director
Data Snapshot
Focus on Service
“AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism, awarded more than $2.8 million in federal funding to Native Nations and native-led nonprofit organizations providing healthcare education, weatherization and home repair services, legal assistance, academic coaching and employment training.
These investments continue AmeriCorps’ commitment to partnering with American Indian and Alaska Native tribes and tribal organizations. The grantees address critical issues to Native and Indigenous communities, leveraging a long history and culture of service. AmeriCorps has invested over $12 million in recent years to support Native Nations and tribal communities.
Native grantees will use the awards to build strong networks of AmeriCorps members and volunteers and develop community-based projects. This investment is part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s larger commitment to create lasting change in Indian Country by strengthening tribal communities through education and economic development.”
– AmeriCorps
Volunteer Spotlight
Michelle Yuen and Brandi Weyers - Volunteer Spotlight (June 7, 2024)
Crystal Flynn - Volunteer Spotlight (May 17, 2024)
Nominate a Volunteer!
Upcoming Events and Deadlines
AmeriCorps Member Recruitment Corner
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago
AmeriCorps members will serve as Youth Development Specialists who serve as program staff and work directly with club members. They will provide mentorship, and support in all the needed character, leadership, and emotional support areas utilizing and applying various Project Learn strategies and implementing various academic enrichment activities such as Summer Brain Gain, I am a Reader, and STEM. Through implementations in some of the programs just mentioned, the goal is that our club members will improve in key academic areas such as Science, Math, and Reading.
Potential members can contact Juan Roman at jroman@bgcc.org
Literacy Volunteers of Illinois
The VOCAL program places full, half, quarter, and minimum-time AmeriCorps members in adult literacy programs at community-based nonprofits and local government agencies, including through our Jump Start Program that recruits retired teachers, the Illinois Youth Centers in Chicago and Warrenville. Additionally, the program promotes volunteerism and education by recruiting high-school seniors to serve as VOCAL AmeriCorps members, committing to serve at-risk youth and adult ESL learners while earning their diplomas. VOCAL members placed across our host sites serve as tutors, volunteer coordinators,
workshop facilitators, and job search coaches, and are also involved with community outreach and volunteer engagement activities. VOCAL endeavors to increase the literacy and employability skills of 1,200+ economically-disadvantaged adults.
Potential members can contact Lizzy Lemieux, VOCAL AmeriCorps Program Coordinator at lvi@lvillinois.org
Western Illinois University
The Fellows Program in Community Development at Western Illinois University is a two-year graduate fellowship program for returned Peace Corps volunteers (RPCV) and AmeriCorps (AC) Alumni. The program provides RPCVs and AC Alumni an opportunity to pursue graduate studies with an emphasis on rural community development. As part of their degree program, Fellows build local capacity, mobilize people, and make sustainable progress in the communities they serve.
Potential members can contact pcf@wiu.edu or call 309-298-2706.
College students and alumni interested in employment opportunities, please visit: Handshake
Special Features
Juneteenth Breakfast
Juneteenth is often considered the longest-running African American holiday. It has also been called America's second Independence Day. Juneteenth falls on June 19 and is usually observed on the third Saturday in June. The holiday's name is a blending of the words "June" and "Nineteenth" as it was on June 19, 1865, when Major General Gordon Granger ordered the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Galveston, Texas after the end of the American Civil War had ended.
This year marks 30 years since the first Juneteenth celebration in Springfield, IL. To commemorate, community organizers set up a week-long celebration starting June 12 with a Juneteenth Talent Show and ending with The Annual Juneteenth Youth Breakfast June 19 at Lincoln Land Community College Trutter Center. The event, meant to highlight and celebrate youth entrepreneurs in the Springfield area, showcased many of the city's most talented young performers in honor of Juneteenth. Elected officials Illinois Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski and Springfield Ward 2 Alderman Shawn Gregory spoke about the significance of Juneteenth and what it means to the people of Illinois.
Serve Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service Volunteer Programs Coordinator for the Downstate Region Anthony Wanless attended to present Office of The Governor of Illinois Certificates of Appreciation to several of this year's outstanding volunteers. Chosen by Juneteenth, Inc. Founders Shymeka Gregory and Cherena Douglas for their dedication to their community and hard work throughout the year, award recipients were as follows:
Mike Williams-Community Volunteer
Mike Phelon-Community Volunteer
Faraji Martin-Community Volunteer
Ikeena Martin-Community Volunteer
Judaea Hopson-Juneteenth. Volunteer
Seth Gregory Sr.-Juneteenth Volunteer
Candace Silas-Community Volunteer
Juneteenth, Inc. was founded in 2020 by Shymeka Kerr-Gregory and Cherena Douglass to continue the Juneteenth Celebration in Springfield by expanding its efforts to eliminate racism through the education and celebration of Juneteenth. To assist with their cause, Juneteenth Inc. calls on the support of community and civic leaders to help recognize the past, realize our future, and reimagine the present.
On behalf of the IDHS- Serve Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service, thank you all for your dedication to service and hard work throughout the year to make this year's Juneteenth Celebration events in Springfield a huge success!
Sister Cities Conference
On Saturday, June 8, 2024, in the lovely village of Hoffman Estates, Volunteer Program Manager, Jacob Jenkins gave the keynote address at the Illinois Sister Cities Association Annual Conference.
The Illinois Sister Cities Association prides itself on being a leader. According to their website, "Today, Illinois is a leader in the Sister Cities movement. We have vibrant Sister City programs at the grassroots levels including the winners of state, national, and international awards."
This year's conference was co-hosted by the Hoffman Estates Sister Cities Committee, led by Lilian Mosier. The theme was "Connecting Cultures and Communities”, promoting the importance of organizations across Illinois making a difference in communities internationally. The conference’s focus was to inspire, motivate, and educate members of their respective chapters on the continuance of the Sister Cities International humanitarian mission and its importance.
The weekend also included a group tour of historical landmarks in the area, networking opportunities, workshops, and panel discussions. The activities introduced concepts that inspired new ideas to enhance various Illinois Sister Cities brands, outreach, and future marketing strategies.
The keynote address by Jacob Jenkins focused on "Knowing Your Big Why" and the "Power of Yes". Serve Illinois would like to congratulate the many wonderful volunteers from the winning Illinois Sister Cities of Hanover Park and Hoffman Estates. Thank you for the work you are doing both locally and globally to impact the lives of members of your community!
Don Grimes, Albion, IL Governor's Volunteer Service Award Presentation
On Wednesday, May 22, 2024, Serve Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service Downstate Volunteer Programs Coordinator Tony Wanless paid a special visit to The Hope Center in Albion, Illinois. The Hope Center is a non-profit, Christian-based organization focusing on the ever-changing needs of Edwards and surrounding counties. This visit was to present Donny Grimes from Edwards County with the Governor’s Volunteer Service Award for Outstanding Senior Volunteer for the Southern Region (Region 5).
Don worked for Southern Railway for many years and later for Champion Laboratories in Albion. Don has always been a hard worker and very generous. He would give you anything he had if you needed something or help you get it. Since retirement, he has worked at The Hope Center, helping people with food, clothing, and
household needs. In addition, he has provided transportation for people to appointments, the grocery store, or wherever they needed to go.
Don Grimes, his wife Rebecca, Steve Smith, Chaplain and Director of The Hope Center, Fisher Overstreet from Senator Terri Bryant/Representative Dave Severin’s office in Mount Vernon, and several other Hope Center volunteers were in attendance. After the award presentation, everyone went to Kay’s on Main in Albion for ice cream and to celebrate Don and his years of service to Albion and Edwards County.
Congratulations Don! We wish you all the best and hope you continue to spread your spirit of service to the community for years to come.
National Service Summit
IDHS-Serve Illinois hosted the 2024 Illinois National Service Summit on May 20, 2024, in Chicago. The summit celebrates our AmeriCorps members while introducing young adults to resources, information, and opportunities to prepare them for their next stage in life. The summit also serves as a convening of current and potential providers of National Service in Illinois.
This one-day, power-packed summit featured dynamic presenters, an alumni panel, networking opportunities, and a resource fair.
Over 130 individuals attended the summit, representing organizations from across the state, which included Casa Romero, Southside Long-Term Recovery Group, University of Chicago C4P, Girls Scouts of Northern Illinois, Boys and Girls Club of Chicago, JUMP, Lessie Bates, Illinois Justice Corps, Public Allies, Literacy Volunteers of Illinois, Gardeneers, Up2Us Sports, Herrin House of Hope, Above and Beyond Family Recovery Center, WIU Peace Corps, Linda & Bill Gantz Boys and Girls Club, Relay Graduate School of Education, Greater Chicago Food Depository, Chicago Hopes for Kids and Association House.
A total of four workshops were available to attendees with dynamic presentations, including:
- Reaching & Retaining Youth Requires a Youth Mindset: Tapping into the World of Youth Development, One Memory at a Time presented by Dr. Jarmese Sherrod and Janese Sherrod
- Cultural Competency Training: Understanding the Impact of Historical, Intergenerational, and Migratory Trauma on the Individual and Community by Dr. Pamela Fullerton
- Opportunities After AmeriCorps: Peace Corps service and fully funded Graduate School by KMC
Mission or Compassion? How to Show Up for the Mission and Your Team by Chante Gamby.
An alumni panel and networking opportunities were available to attendees to connect with others passionate about National Service. Public Allies alum Lillie Sellers and Cre Walls and City Year alum Aira Lheiz Aquino provided insightful information and touching stories about their time in AmeriCorps.
The resource fair included colleges and organizations that provided information throughout the day, including City Colleges of Chicago, Peace Corps, Chicago State University, Illinois Department of Mental Health, Illinois Department of Central Management Services, SIU School of Medicine - Behavioral Health Workforce Center, University of Chicago - Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice, University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy, National Civilian Community Corps, and Forest Preserve District of Cook County.
A special thank you for all presenters, resource fair participants, the alumni panel, and all who attended for making the 2024 Illinois National Service Summit a success!
We hope you can join us next year!
National Volunteer Month Fight Food Insecurity Challenge
This year IDHS-Serve IL as part of National Volunteer Month focused on food insecurity in Illinois by putting together a 100,000 Pound Challenge. Over 20 organizations participated in the challenge from across Illinois, which focused on raising awareness locally about food deserts and food insecurity.
Illinois residents collected 14,242 pounds, which were distributed to food banks, shelters, and those in need in vulnerable communities. Serve IL would like to highlight Angels on Assignment and Jefferson County for collecting over 8,000 pounds!
We would also like to thank Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois for participating in the challenge by collecting in all seven of their offices.
Other collection sites included:
- The Chief Cornerstone NFP INC
- University of Illinois Springfield
- Kankakee State’s Attorney JUMP
- Decatur Public Schools
- Family Service RSVP
- 21C Museum Hotel Chicago
- SaLT: Service and Learning Together
Westside Long Term Recovery Group Volunteer Workshop at Alderman Mitts's Office
April 20, 2024: Serve Illinois Volunteer Program Manager/Disaster Liaison, Jacob Jenkins and Upstate Volunteer Program Coordinator, Cecilia Maciel Martinez met with the Westside Long-Term Recovery Group at Alderman Mitt’s office for administrative volunteer training.
Volunteer Amit Bhatia was recognized with the Illinois Commission Volunteerism and Community Service Governor’s Certificate of Appreciation for serving as an Illinois Disaster Response Volunteer.
Alderman Mitts and Princess Shaw, Light Up Lawndale President, were recognized as Honorary AmeriCorps Members for their members for their exemplary service to the people in their communities and residents of the State of Illinois.
Thank you to Alderman Mitts, Light Up Lawndale, and the Westside Long-Tern Recovery Group for their outstanding work in helping the Westside recover!
Inspire Through Flowers
Inspire Through Flowers is an all-volunteer service organization dedicated to bringing hope, encouragement, and recognition to members of our community.
On April 25, 2025, they were recognized with the Illinois Commission Volunteerism and Community Service Governor’s Certificate of Appreciation for the donation of 35 bouquets to the Governor’s Volunteer Service Award
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