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.