CSC Member's PSA

Eric Strunz, one of the Santa Monica ARC Chapter CSC members, helped create a Health and Safety PSA on Flu Preparedness that aired on CityTV (Santa Monica local access channel) that reached over 24,000 household.

CSC continues Pathway Partnership

CSC has continued its diversity inclusion efforts by working with the Tarjan Center and Pathways to place a Pathway "Intern" at the Los Angeles ARC Chapter. Pathway is a post secondary program for people with intellectual disabilities. Pathway Interns are placed at different organizations to gain vocational skills and training. The Pathway Intern is supervised by Kaitlyn Loranger, LA CSC member. Kaitlyn sets up and coordinates disaster preparedness education presentations to audiences with developmental disabilities for her and the pathway intern to present.

CSC participates in the Largest Earthquake Drill Ever (6.9 Million people participate)

On October 15, 2009 all 24 CA Safe Corps members participated in The Great California ShakeOut, the largest earthquake drill ever. 6.9 million people participated in the ShakeOut. Safe Corps members took a leadership roll before, during and after the event. Members help plan drill activities in their local communities. Members were drill mangers during the earthquake drill. After the drill many members taught earthquake preparedness to audiences in their local area as well as to help evaluate the success of the earthquake drill.

1500 Disaster Supplies Kits Given to Youth in South LA

On September 12, 2009 the 8 Los Angeles American Red Cross Chapter Safe Corps members taught earthquake preparedness to over 3000 low income residence in South Los Angeles at the First African Methodist Episcopal Church’s back to school event. At this event Safe Corps member gave 1500 disaster preparedness supplies kits to low income youth.

1st Annual American Red Cross Service Day

With a vision to see this take place over the past year I can happily say, it was a success. With an expected turnout of 50 volunteers, I was absolutely SHOCKED when 86 youth came to the Santa Monica Chapter. From Ventura to San Diego, beginning at 9AM, we began the day with goal setting and speakers from the National Youth Council and experience volunteers. After an excellent IHL presentation, we grabbed lunch and divided up into our groups. Our task: to execute a service project in each of the 5 departments of Red Cross. Disaster Services, Biomedical, International Services, Health&Safety and Services to Armed Forces.

We hit the streets of Santa Monica, canvassing homes about fire safety and passing out door hangers. Held a mini SAFE Kids day where our volunteers taught youth in the community awareness about bike safety, water safety, fire safety and first aid. Having the Buddy the Blood Drop mascot in tow, volunteers successfully recruited over 45 donors for an upcoming blood drive. A booth was setup raising awareness for the Measles Initiaitive and pins were sold to drive our $1 to save a child campaign. Our final project saw 10 youth head out to the Fischer House at the local Veterans Affairs facility. They help distribute and inventory household supplies and did a bit of gardening for the residents.

With the overwhelming response, next year's event will be nothing but better. I cannot wait to see 100 youth, gather and execute another day of great service to the community and reminding the residents of Santa Monica and Southern California that our youth are the leaders in the neighbourhoods.

-Cory Russell, CSC Santa Monica member

The third annual AmeriCorps Week, which takes place May 9-16, 2009, provides the perfect opportunity for AmeriCorps members, alums, grantees, program partners, and friends to shine a spotlight on the work done by members—and to motivate more Americans to serve their communities. CSC members throughout the State of California will be participating in numerous service activites and events showing how CSC AmeriCorps members get things done.

Humboldt CSC Members:
On May 15th CSC members, Michelle and josh, will be working with the United Indian Health Services, where they will be assisting in their community garden. On Saturday, May 16th, they will be taking part in an event sponsored by the City of Arcata, Arcata High School and AmeriCorps Watershed Stewards on the Shay Park Cleanup, where they will be removing invasive plants and trash along the Jolly Giant Creek in Shay Park.

Ventura CSC Members:
The Ventura CSC members will be particpating in three separate activities. Presentations about Americorps and Safe Corps at a local high school, the Frontier HS, Camarillo on May 14th from 8:30 AM till 12pm. They will have a table set up about AmeriCorps at Oxnard College, Oxnard CA from 9 AM to 3 PM. In addition, Richard Senate, a 2007-2008 CSC AmeriCorps alum, along with the current CSC members will be having a 30 minute PSA announcemnt at the local public TV station, Community Access Partners TV (CAPS-TV), of San Buenaventura. The TV taping is will be on May 13th and will most likely be aired in the following week.

Silicon Valley CSC Members:
Silicon Valley CSC members will be hosting a “Barb’s Brown Bag Lunch," which is a monthly lunch meeting for staff and volunteers at their office. Members will be hosting the lunch on May 12th where they will be speaking about the program. In addition, Adriana Garcia, a second year CSC member, has coordinated a service activity where members will be working at

Santa Monica and Los Angeles CSC Members:
May 11-13 2009:
Presentations to High School students at Inyo-Mono County

Tuesday, May 11, 2009:

Project with Dream Center Los Angeles 12-5 PM

Members will assemble and distribute bags of groceries to underserved communiteis throughout the Los Angeles area.

Presentation to Red Cross/UCLA group 6:00 PM

Members will speak to UCLA students about AmeriCorps.

Thursday, May 14, 2009:

Beach Clean up with "Save our Beach" 10-1 PM

Friday, May 15, 2009:

Service Inclusion Event 1-4 PM
In conjunction with the UCLA Tarjan Center members will host partner agencies to a day of preparedness education to persons with with disabilities at the Ken Edwards Community Center in Santa Monica, CA.

The objective of the CADRE (Collaborating Agencies Disaster Relief Effort) Conference is to provide a forum for addressing the needs of vulnerable populations in disaster through collaborative planning, raising awareness of community & government disaster resources, and dialogue. The participants that attended the conference are those that work in community based agencies and who work with people that are vulnerable in disasters and county and Local emergency management personnel.

The 4th Annual “Together We Do Better” Conference was held on March 24, 2009 at NASA AMES Conference Center. The Theme this year was “Meeting Accessibility and Functional Needs in a Disaster”. We had presenters from Santa Clara County Emergency Managers Association, Bay Area Super Urban Area Security Initiative (SUASI) California State Emergency Management Agency (CalEMA), FEMA, American Red Cross and Department of Homeland Security Office for Civil rights and Civil Liberties among other local speakers and presenters. Some of the workshops of the day were disasters 101: Roles and Responsibilities in Emergency Planning and Response, Serving Diverse Communities in an emergency Disaster, & Safe Spaces for children in a Disaster. It was a very Productive and engaging conference were over 200 people attended. At the end of the day they all received free emergency preparedness goodies which included 3 day first aid kits donated by California Volunteers.

This is my second year helping organize this conference. As the logistics coordinator I oversaw projects, organized workshops, and mentored the food coordinator as well as the registration lead. I definitely felt that this was something I help create and pull off. I have learned and grown so much from organizing this conference 2 years in a row. I have enjoyed working with the vulnerable populations committee and networked a lot! It was a difficult at times, but knowing that so many people gained necessary skills in networking, resources, and knowledge in disaster preparedness made it all worth it! It was great seeing a large community take a step towards disaster preparedness!

--Adriana Garcia, CSC member

American Red Cross of Silicon Valley

AmeriCorps Video and Photo Contest

The AmeriCorps Video and Photo Contest - Enter Today! AmeriCorps, VISTA and NCCC members and alums, here's your chance to show how we get things done! Don’t miss this opportunity to show the world the impact of our service. Participating is simple and easy:

Step 1: Create Create a compelling 60 second video or take a powerful photo. Think about the impact of AmeriCorps, how will you capture it?

Step 2: Share Format your video or photo according to the guidelines, and upload it to the contest website between May 1 and May 22, 2009.

Step 3: View and VoteA panel of renowned judges will view your submission and narrow entries to finalists for each contest. Then the public will vote on this site between June 15 and July 6 to determine this year's winners.For more information on the contests and for official contest guidelines and schedules, visit http://www.americorpscontest.org/

Cesar Chavez Day: CSC in the Community

ARC of Silicon Valley Silicon Valley
CSC Silicon Valley members partnered with two organizations: Eriksson Community Gardens Project, where a member assisted with general gardening and clean up work associated with the community gardens, and a local church in Fremont, CA, where members served breakfast for about 170 low income/homeless clients.

ARC of Humboldt County
Humboldt CSC members partnered with two organizations: The United Indian Health Services Potawot Community garden and the local food bank in Humboldt County, Food for People. Check out the Humboldt blog:

http://www.humboldtredcrossvolunteer.blogspot.com/

ARC of Ventura County
Ventura CSC members partnered with Wishtoyo Foundation, a Chumash cultural organization. Members planted native plants and applied bulbrush to their tradition dwellings.

ARC of Greater Los Angeles
Los Angeles CSC members partnered with two middle schools: Bert Corona Charter School in Pacoima, CA and Chemawa Middle School in Riverside, CA. At Bert Corona Charter Middle School members planted in the native garden, built benches for the PE area, beautifed the Literacy Garden, and created works of art to display around the BCCS campus. At Chemawa middle school members helped with a Cultural César Chávez Festival where CSC members ran a booth that was dedicated to Cesar Chavez.

Special Project: Cory Russell and the Tap Project

AmeriCorps member, Cory Russell along with the Santa Monica Red Cross youth and UNICEF have teamed up for the "Tap Project." The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and youth volunteers from the American Red Cross of Santa Monica are working together this year to promote the TAP Project which will help provide safe, potable, drinking water to children all over the world -- especially in lands where safe drinking water is in very short supply.

Under the direciton of Cory Russell, Red Cross youth are canvassing the city, signing up restaurants and helping to coordinate TAP activities. The TAP Project runs from Sunday, March 22 through Saturday, March 28, 2009.

Projects include:

" Dine Out and Donate"

The TAP Project asks people who are dining out in local restaurants to donate $1 or more to the TAP Project for every glass of free "tap" water they would enjoy during their meals. When dining in a participating TAP restaurant, one can have a meal with friends and learn more about UNICEF’s work in providing clean and safe drinking water to children around the world.

"TAP with a Beat" concert to raise money and awareness.

A benefit concert called, "TAP with a Beat" featured young performers including Teo Olivares, Melise Jow, Quincy Brown, 2008 BlastBeat, Battle of the Bands world title champion winners Somewhere Else, and the sensational crew from MTV's "America’s Best Dance Crew Season 3," Boxcuttahz, was held on Saturday, March 21, 2009 at the World Peace Ikeda Auditorium, 525 Wilshire Boulevard in Santa Monica. The "TAP with a Beat" concert aims to bring young people and their families together, educate them about the world water crisis and foster philanthropy at all ages.

Check out Cory Russell and the Tap Project on:
http://www.ktla.com/morningnews

Cesar Chavez Day: 3/28/2009

As described by his family, Cesar E. Chavez was an ordinary man with an extraordinary legacy of great accomplishment and service to humanity. Cesar was born March 31, 1927 in Yuma, Arizona on a farm his grandfather homesteaded in the 1880s. At age 10, his life as a migrant farm worker began when his family lost their land during the Great Depression. These were bitterly poor years for the Chavez family as they, together with thousands of other displaced families, migrated throughout the Southwest to labor in the fields and vineyards.

Although he possessed a thirst for learning that he would exhibit throughout the course of his life, Cesar left school after the eighth grade to help support his family. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1945 and served in the Western Pacific in the aftermath of World War II. In 1948, he married Helen Febela, whom he met while working in the vineyards of Delano. The Chavez family settled in the East San Jose barrio of Sal Si Puedes from which he continued to work in the surrounding fields, orchards, and vineyards of the region.

It was in 1952 that Cesar's life as a community organizer began. While working in the apricot orchards outside San Jose, he became a full-time organizer with the Community Service Organization (CSO), a self-help group among Mexican-Americans. In this capacity he organized voter registration drives, battled racial and economic discrimination, and organized CSO chapters across California and Arizona. Following his dream to establish an organization dedicated to farm workers, Cesar moved his family to Delano, California in 1962 to establish the National Farm Workers Association.

Over the next 31 years, Cesar would forge a legacy of service, conviction and principled leadership that serves as a beacon for all Americans. As President of the United Farm Workers of America (UFW), AFL-CIO, he founded and led the first successful farm workers union in U.S. history. Under his stewardship a broad coalition of unions, religious groups, students, minorities, and consumers joined together to pursue social justice.

The late Senator Robert Kennedy called Cesar E. Chavez, "One of the heroic figures of our time." As a testimony to his lifelong contributions to humanity, he received the highest civilian awards from the United States and Mexico, the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Aguila Azteca, respectively.

This is the legacy that we celebrate and seek to share with our children and all Californians through the Cesar Chavez Day of Service and Learning.

-California Volunteers

Mid Year Service Retreat: My Catalina Experience

Having never been to Catalina Island before the mid-year retreat, not only was I excited to see such a beautiful island, but I was also excited to meet and work with the Catalina Island Conservancy and other AmeriCorps groups for a week. After a short drive through Avalon the group was given a tour of the Conservancy and an overview of the plans for our week on the island which included daily projects to restore and protect native plants on the island.

Though the evening cold kept the group huddled by the fire, the days were filled with digging, planting, hiking and teambuilding. Not only did we work with local AmeriCorps groups but we were given the opportunity to work with NCCC AmeriCorps members throughout the week, as well.

Even after the fire from the previous year the island and the Conservancy is flourishing. Being there together as a team and volunteering with the Conservancy was incredibly fulfilling. I have never been given such an opportunity and I am very thankful to have experienced the week spent on Catalina Island and the memories of working to help keep the island protected and beautiful.

-Cindy Sanchez, ARCLA

Special Project: Children of War Symposium

The special project is a component of a CSC member’s year of service; it gives members the opportunity to coordinate a significant event or project that fulfills an unmet need of the community. The special project allows the member to learn more about a topic in which s/he has an interest in.

On March 6th and 7th, Vaghn Klebig with the aid of his fellow AmeriCorps members organized and hosted the Children of War Symposium, a program designed to educate the public on the psychological and physical effects of war on children by five internationally renowned speakers. Over the course of four days, through four counties, and at six different venues including Stanford, Santa Clara University, the Monterey Institute of International Studies, and UC Santa Cruz, the Children of War Symposium educated nearly 1100 community members on the plight of children involved with war. Speakers included:

Michael Khambatta, International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC), Deputy Head of Delegation, US & Canada.

Dr. Ashis Brahma, Sole Doctor for Darfur refugee camp in Chad, 2years

Dorothy Sewe, Tracing Specialist and former Refugee Camp Resident

Dr. Marc Sommers, Associate Research Professor of Humanitarian Studies, Institute of Human Security, The Fletcher School, Tufts University; and Research Fellow, African Studies Center, Boston University.

http://www.law.stanford.edu/calendar/details/2839/#related_information_and_recordings

-Vaughn Klebig, ARC of Silicon Valley

MLK Day of Service: CSC Serving the Community

Honoring Martin Luther King Jr. and answering President Barak Obama's call to service, more than 13,000 service projects took place throughout the country. Safe Corps members throughtout the state of California joined partnering organizations to serve their surrounding communites.

Humboldt CSC members participated in builidng a playground for Manila youth to enjoy.

Palo Alto, Santa Clara, and Volunteer Center CSC members partnered with a church in Fremont and helped prepare and serve meals to low-income clients.

Los Angeles and Santa Monica CSC members went door to door educating residents about escape plans with their families, how often to change smoke alarms, and how to prevent fires from starting in the first place. Members canvassed for two hours and at the end of the day 1,600 door hangers were distributed throughout the community.

Ventura CSC Members partnered with the Humane society where they cared for animals either recuperating from injuries or on the search for a permanent home. Members walked puppies, ran with dogs, cleaned and fed horses, and played with cats.

Welcome Aboard!!!

I would like to extend a warm welcome to three of the newest Safe Corps members: Kimberly Salinas, Jilian Jackson, and Alex Elliot. These members will be serving half-time positions from now until June 19.

Kimberly and Jilian will be serving at the Los Angeles Chapter, and Alex will be serving at the Ventura Chapter. The Ventura Chapter will be hiring one more half-time member within the next week, after which we will be running at full capacity.

Everyone will get to meet the new members at the mid-year retreat in February, if not before then. In the meantime, I will be sending out their contact info and putting their pictures/bios on the website for you to learn more about them.

The Challenge of Diversity and Building a More Civil Society

Introduction: Building a civil society is a complex task. It requires that individuals, groups of individuals, and institutions make a commitment to tolerance, respect, cultural sensitivity, compromise, honesty, and self-control. It also requires that these entities maintain a willingness to listen and consider new perspectives and participate with the common good of society in mind.

Civil societies are difficult to nurture because there are so many forces that can tear them down. Some of these negative factors include ethnocentrism, xenophobia, prejudice, discrimination, racism, intolerance, indifference, hostility, attitudes of superiority, alienation, and stereotypes.

Below are four examples of contemporary problems of diversity that often impede the development of a more civil and inclusive society in the United States. Imagine that you are in the situations described and thoughtfully explain how you would feel. Would you address the problem? If so, how? Please add your answers to comments section. 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.

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Scenario I
You are an elderly woman who has been asked by your granddaughter to co-sign for a car loan. You’re happy to be able to help her and agree to go to the bank with her. The bank representative meets the two of you, listens to your granddaughters request for a loan and then hesitates and responds to your granddaughter, “I’m sorry we can’t accept your grandmother as a co-signer because of her age.” He has not addressed you, checked your references, or your age. He is not aware that you have been a faithful customer and have a substantial amount of money in his bank. You feel he is discriminating against your granddaughter and certainly you due to your age.
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Scenario II
You are a customer with limited English speaking ability. You have called for some information about a product you’re interested in ordering. You reach a customer service representative who responds by saying the following. “Look, I can’t understand a word you’re saying. You need to have someone else call in for you.” He then says to you, “Why don’t you learn to speak English or just go back to where you came from?” You are offended and you also think this is inappropriate customer service behavior.
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Scenario III
You are a customer who uses a wheelchair. You have been brought into the store by your friend, an able-bodied person. You want to purchase a phone for your office. The customer service consultant comes over to help you but instead of talking to you, she looks at your friend and says, “I’m sure you’re looking for a portable phone.” Then looking back at you she continues, speaking a little louder, “We’ve got a great sale going on that would be perfect for someone in your situation.” There is nothing wrong with your hearing and you are offended that the consultant did not talk with you directly. You also did not appreciate the assumption that you wanted a portable phone.
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Scenario IV
You are an African American man waiting in a long line to register for a conference. You arrived wearing your casual clothes since you’ve been traveling quite a distance. As you approach the registration table the volunteer looks up, sees you, and quickly removes her purse and places it under the table. Her discomfort was obvious. You are very angry at her behavior based on some negative assumptions you believe she is making.

Communities Gearing Up for Massive Day of Service on King Holiday

Communities and nonprofits across the country are gearing up for a record number of volunteers on the Martin Luther King Jr. Federal holiday, fueled by President-elect Obama’s call for Americans to serve on King Day and throughout the year.

Organizers of the annual service day say momentum is building in the wake of the President-elect’s call and the timing of the holiday coming one day before the Inauguration. In addition to asking Americans to serve, President-elect Obama, Vice President-elect Biden, and their families will participate in service on the January 19 holiday in the Washington D.C. area.

The Presidential Inaugural Committee will launch a new website next week that makes it easy for Americans to find or organize volunteer opportunities. The Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency that has led the national effort to transform the King Holiday into a national day of service since 1994, is working with the Presidential Inaugural Committee on the website and the larger effort.

“In this time of economic distress, Americans need to realize Dr. King’s dream of a better America. Service is a solution to some of our toughest challenges, and service is needed now more than ever,” said Nicola Goren, Acting CEO of the Corporation. “We are pleased to be working with the Presidential Inaugural Committee on this historic call to service. As Americans make their New Year’s resolutions, we hope volunteering will be at the top of the list, starting on the King Holiday and lasting throughout out the year.”

Let's make sure that the California Safe Corps program is out in full force during this day of service. If you haven't already, start planning your day of service with you fellow corps members in your region. Below are some tools to help:

• The Corporation has launched a Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service Fan page on Facebook and is working with Facebook and Facebook Causes to encourage users of the highly popular social networking site to volunteer or organize their own service projects to mark the King Holiday and Inauguration weekend.


• The King Day of Service website at http://www.mlkday.gov/ has a wealth of tools for planning and promoting projects, including new “do it yourself” action guides.