CSC Giving Back: Janet Cheng and Joshua Schultz

On November 26, Pete Wentz of the Teen Choice Award winning and multi-platinum selling band Fall Out Boy, came out to the Santa Monica Red Cross. The purpose of his visit was to encourage the community to give blood. Wentz and friends were able to fill all available slots for donations on the rainy Wednesday afternoon through advertisements among his fan base on the Internet. Two of the 2008-2009 AmeriCorps members, Josh Schultz and Janet Cheng, donated their time and gave blood at Wentz's blood drive.

Civic Training Exercise I

Introduction
In AmeriCorps, citizenship can mean much more than memorizing names and dates from a history book or spending a Saturday cleaning up a vacant lot. What is citizenship really about, and how can it help you make a real and lasting difference in your own life and the life of your community?

I. Citizenship in Our Free Society
AmeriCorps encourages its members, and indeed all of America, to embrace a renewal and expansion of the idea of citizenship. At a basic level, citizenship means voting, obeying the law, and serving on juries. On another level, it means much more. Citizenship also means:

• Becoming informed about the critical issues facing our nation and its communities.
• Making a commitment to personal responsibility for the welfare of ourselves, our families, and our neighbors.
• Getting involved at the grassroots level to solve problems and build a better future for everyone.


II. Activity
Prior to answering the discussion questions in Part III, think about the following four questions List as many ideas as you can in response to these four questions to aid you in the next section:

1. What does an effective citizen need to know? (How laws are made, etc.)

2. What skills does an effective citizen need? (Speaking, etc.)

3. What attitudes (values, dispositions, and outlooks) does an effective citizen need? (Belief that one person can make a difference, etc.)

4. What does an effective citizen need to do? (Vote, etc.)

Feel free to discuss this with your fellow corps members, supervisors, or other volunteers/staff before delving into the discussion questions.


III. For Discussion
Please answer the following questions and post your answers in the comments section of the blog or email them to Greg. The first two members to submit answers will receive a prize. Also, the member with the most intriguing, unique, and/or thought provoking answers will win a prize.

1. What do you think are the three most important citizenship skills? Explain.

2. What do you think makes a good citizen?

3. What could AmeriCorps/AmeriCorps members do to encourage good citizenship?

Make A Difference Day 2008 Summary

National Make a Difference Day was Saturday, 10/25. Here's a list of what various Safe Corps sites participated in:

Volunteer Center of Silicon Valley, ARC of Santa Clara, and ARC of Palo Alto: Green Challenge Event: For part of our project for Saturday, AmeriCorps will be assisting Our City Forest with transplanting trees to get them ready to be planted. Volunteers will transplant 5 gallon trees into 15 gallon buckets. For this project, we will be having 2 shifts from 9-11am and 11-1pm. The space at the Tree Bank is a bit limited and we do have a Kiwanis Club that will be helping us out too. Other projects planned include a general litter pickup and some CFL distribution into the surrounding neighborhoods.

ARC of Ventura: Habitat for Humanity

ARC of Greater Los Angeles: Downtown Women’s CenterAssisting in making shower kits and Christmas gifts together- a CDE presentation to their clients and staff will follow.

ARC of Humboldt County: Humboldt is working with other AmeriCorps programs in the service area to help provide people power for local non-profit organizations and projects lacking resources. Josh will be leading a group at the Jacoby Creek Land Trust in forest ivy removal and land restoration. Michelle will be working with the Northern California Indian Development Council helping assemble Emergency Preparedness backpacks with 20 others.

ARC of Santa Monica: Shelter Operations

MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY 2008

Make A Difference Day is the most encompassing national day of helping others -- a celebration of neighbors helping neighbors. Make A Difference Day is an annual event that takes place on the fourth Saturday of every October. The next event is Saturday, October 25, 2008.

Millions have participated. In 2007, 3 million people cared enough about their communities to volunteer on that day, accomplishing thousands of projects in hundreds of towns.

Your project can be as large or as small as you wish! Look around your community and see what needs to be done. Or let the Idea Generator help you find a project idea to help your community.

Each Safe Corps members MUST participate in this day of service. Please send me a description of what you plan on doing. Also, please serve with other members in your area if possible!!!

More information about the day can be found at: http://www.usaweekend.com/diffday/index.html

Service Inclusion Event

After Hurricane Katrina many people with disabilities were left without medication, proper transportation, food, and water to survive. In event that a disaster strikes Los Angeles, California Safe Corps members want to prepare as many people as possible, especially people with disabilities, for a disaster. On Sept. 30, 2008 past and present California Safe Corps members from the Los Angeles and Santa Monica ARC Chapters hosted the Service Inclusion Network Meeting at the American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles.

With over thirty participants, Eliza Riley, a 2006-2007 CSC Alum, taught the necessary steps to tailor their preparation at their homes and workplaces for their individual needs. Participants not only received preparedness education, but CSC members guided participants and helped create individual take home disaster kits. Representatives from the following organizations attended the event:

Beyond Elite
Westside Regional Center
City of Commerce Urban Literacy Program
Volunteer Center of Los Angeles
Community Senior Service of Claremont
El Rancho Unified School District
Mariposa Endeavors
Easter Seals
Advantage Day Program
LA Works
Options for Life
Disability Rights Legal Center

With such a diverse population in the Los Angeles area CSC members hope to reach various age groups, ethnicities, and cultures with the message that we all need to “Be Red Cross Ready” for a disaster. The goal of this event was to have people with physical and cognitive disabilities receive the education and resources necessary to prepare for a disaster along with increasing the Chapters outreach to vulnerable populations.

This project will increase the number of Chapter volunteers that have physical or cognitive disabilities and create a more diverse and inclusive environment at the Chapter. The project will also help foster a greater number of CDE presenters who have disabilities. These volunteers will work along side the California Safe Corps members to provide education to vulnerable communities throughout Los Angeles County.

Hurricane Gustav: Cory Russell, ARC Santa Monica

After Cory's experience in Louisiana with Hurricane Gustav, he submitted the following article to the local Santa Monica paper. Follow the link below to read his article on page 4.

http://www.smdp.com/site/archives/092208.pdf

California Safe Corps 2008-2009

The 2008-2009 California Safe Corps team comprises of 20 new members and 4 returning members from all over the United States. Newly trained and empowered to serve, we currently have 24 members serving over six areas throughout California.

American Red Cross of Santa Monica:
Cory Russell
Janet Cheng

Volunteer Center of Silicon Valley:
Giovanna Biondi
Adriana Garcia

American Red Cross of Palo Alto:
Tommy Truong
Luis Hinojosa

American Red Cross of Santa Clara:
Crisanta Garcia
Vaughn Klebig

American Red Cross of Humboldt County:
Michelle Woo
Joshua Schultz

American Red Cross of Ventura County:
Tina Hoogenaker
Taylor Johnson
Danit Kaya
Ellen Salvador
Cristina Navia

American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles:
Katrina Rawls
Erica Helson
Sonny Montoya
Roxanne Sengok
Sarah Romig
Jeanne Patraw
Justin Yuen
Cindy Sanchez
Miho Yoshimura

Goodbye and Farewell 2007-2008!!!

Cynthia's Rock Performance

Last Saturday, June 7, Cynthia spoke on behalf of SCVC ARC at an Earthquake Relief Benefit Concert at the Flint Center in Cupertino. There were three beneficiaries invited to attend the event: American Red Cross, Tzu Chi Foundation, and Shin Shin Foundation. A speaker from each non-profit organization spoke following the performances. After the first performance, I spoke to the 1,000+ audience about the Red Cross’ role in the int’l earthquake relief efforts in China (how we work in collaboration with the Red Cross Society of China and Int’l Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, donated dollars and supplies, etc.).

Richard's Grand Daughter

Congratulations, Richard! Her name is Sylvia Natalie Vaughn.

Locals reap rewards of volunteering

Luis and Michelle are featured in the Los Altos Town Crier. This is a fantastic article about their year of service.....it is terrific. I posted an excerpt from the article, but definitely check out the full story on the link below.

"For many graduating high school and college students, the path to the future is paved with uncertainty. High school seniors are often burnt out from studies and college graduates face a grim job market.

When Los Altos resident Michelle Roman graduated from the University of San Francisco with a degree in psychology, she wasn’t quite sure what she wanted to do. After taking a few classes at Foothill College, Luis Hinojosa knew he wanted to take a year off from school.

Both visited AmeriCorps’ Web site last year and joined the volunteer organization to fill a need in their lives and gain experience – their paths crossed when both were assigned to the Palo Alto Area Chapter of the American Red Cross.

For nearly 10 months, Roman, 25, and Hinojosa, 18, have committed full-time service dedicated to providing local and national disaster relief, conducting emergency-preparedness seminars in the community and organizing international grassroots events through the Red Cross, to name a few of their tasks. "

Check out the full article at: http://www.losaltosonline.com/2008/06/04/locals-reap-rewards-of-volunteering/

World Journal

Cynthia Hsu, from the Santa Clara Chapter, did a CDE for the Chung Tai Zen Center in Sunnyvale on May 25. A reporter was there who wrote an article about it in the World Journal newspaper, which is a Chinese newspaper circulated both in Taiwan and around the US. She did a really nice job highlighting the key points from the presentation. Great Job!

Rigorous Longitudinal Study of AmeriCorps Finds Significant Impacts Eight Years Later

AmeriCorps is building a powerful pipeline for public servants, civic leaders, and social entrepreneurs, finds a new longitudinal study released today by the Corporation for National and Community Service.

Released in coordination with a Brookings Institution briefing this morning, the study, Still Serving: Measuring the Eight-Year Impact of AmeriCorps on Alumni, is the most rigorous evaluation ever conducted on AmeriCorps’ long-term impacts on its members. Based on data collected eight years after members completed their year of service, the study conclusively demonstrates that AmeriCorps causes long-term positive impacts on the civic attitudes and behaviors of the program's alumni. AmeriCorps alums are significantly more civically engaged and more likely to pursue public service careers in the government and nonprofit sector than their counterparts in the scientifically crafted comparison group, which has also been tracked for eight years. They are also significantly more likely to be happy and satisfied with their lives. The report, executive summary, and other information is at www.NationalService.gov/research.

Southern California: AmeriCorps Week Review

“Getting things done,” motivated the Los Angeles California Safe Corps members to plan daily service activities throughout national AmeriCorps week. As a group we wanted to reach out to our local Los Angeles community and “get things done” within our own area. We served six different organizations and performed seven different service projects:

5/12 Independent Beach Clean Up: To raise awareness about the importance of a clean environment the AmeriCorps team picked up trash around Venice beach

5/13 L.A. Food Bank: The L.A. Food Bank provides thousands of people, who would otherwise go hungry, with food and nourishment. At the L.A. Food Bank the team sorted and organized food for distribution.

5/14 OPCC (Ocean Park Community Center, Daybreak): Daybreak is a day center specifically designated for mentally ill homeless women; the center opens its doors and offers a place for women to find support in day to day living. At Daybreak, the team painted its facilities to provide a warm and welcoming environment.

5/15 Rebuilding Together: Rebuilding Together is an organization that rebuilds low income housing. With the Rebuilding Together team, the AmeriCorps group prepared an elderly women’s house for the upcoming build days.

5/16 Project Angel Food: Project Angel Food is an organization that prepares meals for men, women, and children affected by HIV/AIDS and other serious illnesses. The AmeriCorps team prepared over 1,200 meals in one day.

5/17 Project Angel Food: Each meal at Project Angel Food is delivered inside a hand decorated delivery bag. The AmeriCorps team decorated fifty delivery bags for Project Angel Food.

5/18 Tree People: Tree People is an organization that educates the public about the environment and plants trees around the surrounding Los Angeles area. With the UCLA Pathways program, the AmeriCorps team planted seventeen trees along Temascal Canyon Road.

Our week of service reminded us how such a small group of volunteers can make such a large impact in a community. It was a great opportunity to partner with different organizations and show how the AmeriCorps team “gets things done!”

By: Elda Kong

CADRE

Cynthia Hsu participated in the CADRE (Collaborating Agencies Disaster Relief Effort) Conference @ NASA on April 30th, 2008. It was a huge success! The conference had 250 people register for the event representing various government, emergency management, and community based organizations. Cynthia had the opportunity to speak about Agency Emergency Planning with 2 other professionals in that field: Gene Sawyer, the President of the Emergency Management Association, and Franci Collins, Red Cross liaison who has done outstanding advocacy work with immigrants in Santa Clara County.

Cynthia stated about the conference: "It was an unbelievable experience and I feel so fortunate to have had this opportunity!It was very uplifting and assuring to see so many people working together to ensure that Santa Clara County has the necessarymeans and support to recover and carry on following a catastrophic disaster."

California Safe Corps 2008-2009

It is with great pleasure that I inform you that California Safe Corps has been successfully funded for the 2008-2009 program year. Furthermore, due to the outstanding work of this year's corps and all of the staff who support and supervise members, California Volunteers has increased our total number of Safe Corps members to 24.

This has been by far the best year of service for California Safe Corps since its inception in 2003. It has been an honor and privelege to serve with these outstanding members and I thank them for making this program a success. Finally, thank you to all the site managers and staff who contribute their time to mentoring and guiding the Safe Corps members. You have made this a great partnership.

Letter to the Editor: AmeriCorps Week

I remember first hearing about AmeriCorps in a speech given by President Clinton to Congress. I thought that was a great idea, a way to have people give back to the nation and earn money for college. It harkened back to President Kennedy’s Inaugural speech where he challenged Americans to ask not what the nation could do for them, but what they could do for the nation. President George W. Bush re-affirmed this commitment to volunteerism when he urged all American to commit to public service. Little did I know that I would someday end up in the Corps myself.

I needed a job, and AmeriCorps had a position working with the American Red Cross of Ventura County. The pay was low but there was something about the organization that appealed to my idealism. Red Cross is truly a necessary and valuable organization and the good works they do are almost legendary. When I met some of the people I was taken by their selflessness and dedication. Most were volunteers who gave of themselves out of a love of their fellow man. After the many jobs I have had over the years, it was refreshing. So I joined up, got the patch and took the oath.

AmeriCorps sent me on an extensive training mission to San Jose. I met more admirable people and others, like myself, motivated to give back something to the community. They were a mixed bag, old people like myself who remembered the Hippie Movement and its idealism, young outdoors people comfortable in hiking boots and blue jeans, and urban groups from all races and economic backgrounds. I had pre-supposed the Corps would be made up of the poor, seeking a way to round out their education, and a few could be classified in this way, but most were there not for the education stipend but out of a need to serve. I was impressed by there youthful optimism and pleased to discover not all young people were troubled, angst-filled, video-gamers. The training was intense and gave us the tools we needed to fulfill our mission.

Upon my return I was stationed in Camarillo where I got to meet more Red Cross staff and set to work on a variety of projects. The hours are long, but the work is worthy and needed. I am saddened that when the contract ends I will be forced to move on. Still, I believe that, like many in the Corps I will be back as a volunteer, helping out in the challenging work of Red Cross.

AmeriCorps doesn’t get the headlines and it almost operates under the public radar screen that’s why May 11th to 18th has been selected to let people know what this worth-while organization is all about. In 2007 alone AmeiCorps mobilized and managed an estimated 1.7 million volunteers. Since its inception in 1994 AmeriCorps has recruited 542,000 members and given out $1.43 Billion dollars in earned education grants. It’s about tapping into the wealth of good feeling that resides in the American heart. For me AmeriCorps is all about being part of the solution. Yes, we live in an imperfect world and a single glance at any newspaper is enough to measure our national problems. It’s easy to sink into a pool of despair, but I believe that organizations like Red Cross and AmeriCorps offered a light in the darkness and hope that this sorry world can solve her problems and reach the promises made by our founding fathers so long ago. AmeriCorps is one way citizens can help make America a better place

Richard Senate, AmeriCorps member, American Red Cross of Ventura County.

Earth Day Service

On Sunday April 20, 2008, I made my way to Alum Rock to join VO-CAL (Volunteers For Outdoor California) in their trail restoration project. The task at hand for our group- to close off an old unsafe section of trail and create a detour. This meant a series of steps. Firstly, we had to pound, dig up, and loosen the dirt along the closed section to allow for new growth to counter erosion. Next, we simultaneously collected old dried out branches and other forest refuse to cover the old trail while clearing the new trail. Lastly, the new trail had to be properly leveled out, dirt was transported to fill in sections that were uneven, and beams were laid down as steps. What a great workout!

It was an educational experience as we learned about different kinds of tools used to complete certain tasks. The best thing of all was learning about Tech-nu (a scrub that breaks down the oils from poison oak) after we had been romping around and removing poison oak for a few hours!! I must’ve applied and reapplied the stuff every hour.

During the course of the day, I developed a new found appreciation for trail architecture, clearing, maintenance, and construction. It’s hard work! As a hiker, I’ve enjoyed trails in various parks, but was not aware of the work involved in trail development. It is extremely labor intensive, but a worthy labor of love.

By: Cynthia Hsu

What is AmeriCorps Week?

AmeriCorps Week is an annual event designed to:

• Bring more Americans into service
• Salute AmeriCorps members and alums
• Thank community partners

The first-ever AmeriCorps Week, in 2007, was a huge success, with more than 200 events taking place in all 50 states, including an Oval Office event with President Bush (click here for other 2007 highlights). We’re aiming to make the 2008 AmeriCorps Week—which is taking place May 11-18—even bigger and better, and that can happen only if as many AmeriCorps projects, members, and friends participate as possible.

What Can I Do for AmeriCorps Week?
Whether you’re a project director, member, alumnus, partner, or friend, we encourage you to take part in AmeriCorps Week 2008.

Last year, members and alumni made presentations to student and community groups during AmeriCorps Week. Grantees staged open houses, service projects, volunteer fairs, and recruitment blitzes. And local officials and elected leaders served as AmeriCorps members for a day.

In other words, there is no prescription for marking the event, and we strongly encourage you to use your creativity to devise new and different ways to demonstrate the powerful impact that AmeriCorps is making in your community.

http://www.americorps.gov/about/americorpsweek/index.asp

AmeriCorps Week 2008 Idea Sharing Calls

AmeriCorps Week is coming May 11-18. To help you plan and promote your AmeriCorps Week event or presentation, we are setting up a series of conference calls where you can learn more about what’s going on and share ideas with headquarters and your peers from across the county. The schedule of topics is below, and you can join them all or choose what’s most interesting to you. These calls are a chance to get the latest updates, ask questions, learn about resources and materials, and best of all brainstorm with your peers about ways to make your AmeriCorps Week event a big success. Whether you are an AmeriCorps member, alum, project director, commission staff, friend, or supporter – whether you are state, national, VISTA or NCCC – we hope you are planning to mark AmeriCorps Week and we invite you to these calls. Please note that all calls will take place on Wednesdays starting at 1 P.M. EST and lasting until 2 P.M.

The dial-in number and passcode will be the same for all of the AmeriCorps Week 2008 Idea Sharing Calls.
Dial-In Number: 1-800-857-2166
Passcode: 9247010
Call Leader: Ms. Susan Rice

Schedule will be forwarded to all members.

Time to Ride!

From June 1-7, 2008, Kate (Santa Monica Safe Corps Member) will be bicycling in AIDS/LifeCycle. It's a 7-day, 545-mile bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles to make a world of difference in the lives of people living with HIV and AIDS.

This ride will be a very difficult challenge, but it is for a great cause. Please take a look at her homepage and read about her journey, and help support her as she strives to reach her goal.

www.aidslifecycle.org/6156

Southern California Cesar Chavez Day

Habitat for Humanity was our choice of projects to help the community and even though they were not building any homes at the moment they welcomed our help. At first they wanted us to paint a trailer they use out in the field but, when they went to their paint section they found that the entire collection of paint was all mixed up. So a new task was presented to us. To go to their Oxnard store and re-arrange their paints by brand, type and color. A simple sounding plan but, when presented with the many cans and the way they were set all over the store it proved almost Herculean. The team got to work at once pulling the cans both large and small down from the shelves, arranging them and setting them up. As we were working away customers were coming in and several had comments like “now I can find things I need” and, “I will come her again.” The people in the Habitat for Humanity Store were grateful for our work and when it was done, the paint section now resembled something one might find in a hardware store. The more things they sell, the more homes they can build.
By: Richard Senate

Bay Area Cesar Chavez Day

On Monday, March 31, 2008, Luis Hinojosa, Michelle Roman, Kim Mai Nguyen, Adriana Garcia, and Cynthia Hsu spent the day packaging, preparing, and serving food!! What better way to spend a day- working with food! We started the day at Second Harvest Food Bank where we packaged two huge bottomless bins of carrots. While packaging bags of carrots to be distributed to individuals and various soup kitchens and organizations, we laughed over stories of Adriana and Cynthia as childhood bullies and befriended our fellow carrot packers. The time passed quickly and the next thing we knew it was time to head over to Loaves and Fishes, a soup kitchen operated out of St. Patrick’s School in San Jose.

When we arrived the kitchen was full of staff and volunteers busily preparing the meals to be served to the 200+ eager diners who would arrive later in the afternoon. A couple of us were assigned to fruit salad preparation while others were responsible for setting up the dining hall. Many of the volunteers were regulars and were eager to get to know us newcomers. Shortly before 4:00pm, we saw the crowds outside just waiting for meal service. There was an interesting and colorful mix of diners that afternoon- singles, couples, and families of all different backgrounds. The diners seemed to be more than satisfied with their meals and many of them came back for seconds and even thirds- especially for the cookies!! While serving meals, the aroma from the food, particularly the chicken noodle soup, stimulated our appetites, and after cleaning up, we decided to grab dinner together at the vegetarian restaurant across the way- a perfect way to end the day!

By: Cynthia Hsu

April's Motivation Quote

To laugh often and love much; to win the respect of intelligent persons and the affection of children, to earn the approbation of honest critics; to appreciate beauty; to give of one's self, to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to have played and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with exultation; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived--that is to have succeeded.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Lights, Camera, AmeriCorps!

AmeriCorps is turning to its far-flung network of members and alums for help in recruiting the next class of AmeriCorps members by hosting its second YouTube-style video contest.

The contest, which runs through May 2, asks participants to create a 60 second spot answering the question "Why AmeriCorps?" Entries can address topics such as how AmeriCorps tackles some of America's biggest challenges; what AmeriCorps means to you; and why someone should join AmeriCorps.

The grand prize is a volunteer vacation worth up to $5,000 courtesy of Travelocity® through its Travel For GoodSM Change Ambassadors program. Second prize is an iPod Shuffle, and third prize is an AmeriCorps Alums Prize Pack, both courtesy of AmeriCorps Alums. The five semifinalists will receive a free one-year membership from AmeriCorps Alums.

The contest is limited to current AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps alums who have successfully completed their service. A panel of judges will select five semifinalists by May 9. The semifinalist entries will then be available for viewing and voting on the AmeriCorps video contest website during AmeriCorps Week from May 11-18. The top three videos will be unveiled at the National Conference on Volunteering and Service taking place June 1-3 in Atlanta.

http://www.americorpscontest.org/

Preparedness is Elementary for Students

Six Los Angeles chapter AmeriCorps members participated in a Feb. 7 preparedness event for children called “FEMA for Kids- Preparedness Through the Eyes of Children” at Frank Del Olmo Elementary School in Los Angeles.

The children rotated through four learning stations, including the Red Cross station where they learned how to call 911, prepare a first aid kit, and take care of cuts and minor injuries. After the demonstration, the children happily volunteered to practice on each other, bandaging classmates like 7-year-old paramedics.

The three other learning stations included: a FEMA for Kids website where the children learned how to prepare a disaster kit; an Animals in Disaster station where they learned how to help their pets before, during and after a disaster; and a station staffed by LAFD personnel who demonstrated how to stop, drop and roll.

Bob Spears, Los Angeles Unified School District director of Emergency Services, said, “This training is very important because these children may be the only ones in their family who are able to help if a disaster occurs.”

Safe Corps and California Volunteers

On February 26, Governor Schwarzenegger took first-in-the-nation action to encourage volunteerism in California and to improve coordination of volunteer efforts between the state’s departments and agencies. The Governor signed an executive order to establish the new position of secretary of service and volunteering.

Twelve Safe Corps members from Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and Ventura Chapters volunteered and attended the announcement. Safe Corps members greeted and directed guests to the auditorium for the governor's announcement. Additionally, Elda Kong was nominated by fellow Safe Corps members to represent the program and stand on stage during the governor's speech.

Members were privleged to meet Governor Schwarzenegger and Henry C. Lozano who is the Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of USA Freedom Corps (pictured below). Follow the link to learn more about this announcement: California Volunteers

Mid-Year Service Retreat

The California Safe Corps program headed to Catalina Island to work with the Catalina Conservancy for one week from February 11-15, 2008. During this week of service members get to reconnect with other members throughout the state and share stories about their year of service. Additionally, the Safe Corps members get to take a break from their normal service responsibilities: disasters, education, and volunteers, to focus on the environment and manual labor.

On May 10, 2007, the Catalnia fire burned 4700 acres, one of the largest fires in Catalina history. The Safe Corps team was given service projects to help restore and resurrect the island to its previous state before the fire. The members cleared trails, built fence enclosures, and restored native habitats. After a tiring week of service, the members left the island rejuvenated and ready to finish out their term of service.

MLK Day of Service

The Safe Corps members performed numerous tasks across California on MLK Day 2008. The Bay Area members served with Habitat for Humanity building houses for economically disadvantaged families.

In Southern California, the Santa Monica, Los Angeles, and Ventura members along with, 525 LA Works volunteers celebrated Dr. King's legacy together by performing a major service project, one that revitalized a school, energized a community, and inspired a new generation of leaders.

Despite the rainy morning, we came together at 135th Street School in South Los Angeles. Armed with breakfast, coffee, and the determination to help others, we set to work. What transpired over the course of the day was incredible - murals painted, green spaces created, children participated in environmental education workshops and learned about the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr by organizing a freedom march that wound through the campus.

To see more pictures of the event follow the link:

http://info.laworks.com/MLK2008workshops.html

Reno Flood

Samantha Bowles and Candace Bolden from the Los Angeles Chapter were deployed to Reno, Nevada. The members drove two ERVs to the site of the disaster and then worked in mass care and bulk distribution. The members are pictured below as they unload disaster relief kits for flood victims at Fernley City Hall.

In the news:
Lahontan Valley News