Minnesota Alliance With Youth

Best Promise Fellow Experience (So Far):

One of my best experience as a Promise Fellow may have been very recently, when I saw some of the 5^th graders I’ve gotten to know well during the past year “graduate” from their elementary school. They all looked so proud and have worked tremendously hard this year! Also, one day in the after-school program, I overheard a 5^th grader exclaim, “Did you know that right now the Science Museum of MN has the Dead Sea Squirrels?!!” I tried my hardest not to burst out laughing, but that small moment was also a highlight for me.

Bio: I grew up in beautiful northern Minnesota, with a great, loving, and animated family. I stayed close to home to attend the University of MN-Duluth. Along with Political Science, I was able to major in Music. I have met so many inspiring teachers and friends through music, and firmly believe that the arts can be an important tool for youth empowerment and community revitalization. After Americorps, I’ll be attending William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul and am really looking forward to that. The skills and experiences I’ve gathered during my year as a Promise Fellow with help me out a lot in this next step, which I’m very grateful for.

Favorite Quote: “Compassion is the basis of all morality.”

Hobbies/Interests: being with friends, playing violin, singing, concerts, good natured political discussions, shopping, scoping out garage sales, and walking my dogs- a Golden Retriever and German Shepherd (Rusty and Elle).

Hometown: Duluth, MN

NEW REPORT SHOWS GREATEST SPIKE IN VOLUNTEERS SINCE 2003

Published June 18, 2010
America’s Promise Alliance

Despite difficult economic times, the number of Americans volunteering in their communities jumped by 1.6 million last year, the largest increase in six years, according to a report released this week by the Corporation for National and Community Service (the Corporation).

The Corporation’s annual Volunteering in America report found that 63.4 million Americans volunteered through a formal organization last year, giving more than 8.1 billion hours of volunteer service worth an estimated $169 billion.

“Americans have responded to tough economic times by volunteering in big numbers,” said Patrick Corvington, the Corporation’s CEO. “What we’re seeing is the depth of the American spirit and generosity at its best. People are turning toward problems, working with their neighbors to find solutions to real problems, from homelessness to the dropout crisis.”

To read the entire report, visit:
http://www.americaspromise.org/News-and-Events/News-and-Features/APB-2010/Vol-24/Volunteering-in-America.aspx

Twin Cities tops nation in volunteering

By Paul Walsh
Published June 15, 2010
Star Tribune

The Twin Cities leads all metropolitan areas in volunteering.

That finding was released Tuesday by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the federal agency responsible for supporting volunteering and national service through programs like AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, and Learn and Serve America.

In the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, 37.4 percent of residents volunteered last year, ranking the Twin Cities first among the 51 largest metropolitan areas.

Among states, Minnesota came in third, according to the federal agency.

Between 2007 and 2009, 37.5 percent of Minnesotans volunteered. This contribution of service is valued at $3.6 billion annually.

Minnesota volunteers made an impact through their religious organizations (34.6 percent), educational organizations (26.1 percent), and social and community service organizations (14.2 percent).

The most common activities for volunteers include collecting and distributing food (28.7 percent), fundraising (28.1 percent), providing general labor (23.9 percent), and professional management of these operations (20 percent).

The report also shows the largest increase in volunteering nationwide since 2003, with 63.4 million Americans (ages 16 and older) volunteering in 2009, an increase of almost 1.6 million since 2008.

CNCS Announces $234 Million in AmeriCorps Grants

By Nancy Lewis
Published June 7, 2010
Youth Today

The first round of AmeriCorps grants under the Kennedy Serve America Act – which emphasizes health, education, veterans, clean energy and the environment and economic opportunity – were announced today by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS).

About half of the 325 programs being funded (for a total of $234 million) are new this year, although the largest funding went to several longstanding programs, including $20.9 million to various City Year incarnations, $13.7 million to Teach for America programs and $7.9 million to Public Allies.

These grants will support about 57,000 AmeriCorps members, CNCS said.

The grants represent programs selected through national competition. In addition, the corporation released $129 million to the states under a funding formula, which is a 49 percent increase over last year. The largest amounts go to California ($12.1 million), New York ($6.7 million) and Texas ($8.4 million). The states will use the funds to make additional AmeriCorps grants this summer.

Patrick Corvington, CNCS chief executive officer, said the new grants are being used to focus “AmeriCorps – by targeting it on the most critical issues facing our country – from illiteracy and the high school dropout epidemic to hunger and homelessness.”

CNCS officials said they received requests for about twice the amount of funding available and that the funding level is about 60 percent above funding for last year (fiscal 2009).

Overall, CNCS funding is expected to support a total of about 85,000 members, beginning in the fall, on the way to the Obama administration’s goal of having 250,000 AmeriCorps members by 2017.

For a complete list of the grants announced, click here.

YOUTH SUMMIT SPURS CONVERSATION

By Katie Gard
AmeriCorps Promise Fellow
Fergus Falls

Over 70 youth and adults representing a broad range of clubs, businesses, and organizations in Fergus Falls gathered at the YMCA on Wednesday, May 5, 2010, for a Youth Summit, sponsored by the Otto Bremmer Foundation, Minnesota Alliance With Youth, HandsOn Network, and Fergus Falls Community Education.

Generationally-mixed small groups of community members engaged in conversation about what today’s youth need and can contribute to our community, as well as the role of volunteers (both youth and adult) in creating cohesive, meaningful programs and projects.  Many of the youth have been involved in community service-learning projects through “Make a Difference,” a school club led by AmeriCorps Promise Fellows Claire Stich and Katie Gard.

Seventh grader, Cory Carlson, appreciated the small group conversations, noting that his group was easy to talk to and a good mix of youth and adults.

Group discussion (led by Melissa Burwell, Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Minnesota Alliance With Youth) was preceded by guest speaker, Nathan Eklund, Trainer and Consultant at the Minneapolis Search Institute (known for its research on the “40 Developmental Assets”).  Eklund spoke of healthy relationships as the building blocks of healthy programs and systems.

High School Junior and National Honor Society (NHS) member, Chris Jennen, enjoyed the speaker, saying that Eklund connected well with both youth and adults.  Jennen added that the conference was “pretty good, all around” and that we should “keep doing it.”

Plans are in process for making the Youth Summit an annual event.  For more information about how you can be involved, contact Community Education at 218-998-0544 x1600.

CINDERELLAS TURN FAIRY GODMOTHER’S

Published April 27, 2010
Northfield News

Eight Northfield teens transformed into real-life Cinderellas want to give back to the organization that helped outfit them for prom.

By collecting gently-used formal wear, the girls will help others who otherwise might not be able to attend their school’s dance.

It was just last month when the girls and the Northfield High School’s AmeriCorps Promise Fellow Mary Kleingarn headed to St. Paul’s The Paperbag Princess in search of the perfect prom dress.

“Luckily,” said Kleingarn said, Princess’s Barb Bloom made their job easy.

Since 2006, The Paperbag Princess has outfitted hundreds of Minnesota students in gently used suits and dresses for prom, collecting donated dresses for students who otherwise might not be able to afford them.

Once there, said Kleingarn, Bloom led them to a room full of dresses, in almost any size or color.

The challenge followed as each girl headed tried on her selection of dresses. Smiles and laughter filled the room as students modeled the dresses for each other. After the dresses were chosen, Bloom helped students pick matching jewelry, shawls and shoes to complete their outfits. By the end of the trip, the girls were fully outfitted from head to toe and couldn’t have been more excited, said Kleingarn.

While shopping for a prom dress may seem like a common experience for a typical high school girl, many of these NHS students would not have been able to attend prom this year without the help from The Paperbag Princess, said the promise fellow.

“One student in particular contacted me several weeks before the trip, asking about affordable prom dresses,” said Kleingarn. “ Last year, she was unable to attend because she couldn’t afford all the expenses of prom. This year, she found the perfect blue dress, with earrings and a necklace to match and (was) able to participate in the … the prom.”

Students are collecting dresses through Friday to be donated to The Paperbag Princess, though Kleingarn said she she would continue to take them through early next week.

“The opportunity meant so much to them,” said Kleingarn, “and they hope the organization will be able to serve other Minnesota students for years to come.”

To donate a gently used prom dress, contact Kleingarn at 663-0608 or mary.kleingarn@nfld.k12.mn.us

Need a dress? Want to volunteer your time? For more information visit paperbagprincess.org/or call (952) 200-5422.

AMBASSADORS PROGRAM

By Laura Grevas
Published April 16, 2010
The Worthington Daily Globe

Starting high school can be a challenge, but it’s one that’s made easier by a friendly face.

That’s the idea behind the Student Ambassadors Program at Worthington High School, which got under way in late January.

“It started with (counselor) Jan Larson and myself talking about the needs of the school and the needs of new students,” explained Robby Vargas, the AmeriCorps Promise Fellow for the Nobles County Integration Collaborative. “There’s nothing after the freshman orientation day for new students coming in. We really need something through the whole course of the year.”

The current group of 11 ambassadors, all juniors or seniors, aim to make new students’ transitions easier: new students not involved in the mass freshman orientation run by the LINK Crew at the start of each school year are paired with a student ambassador.

Ambassadors give tours of the high school, fill in the newcomers on clubs, organizations and events at the school, introduce the student to other students and staff, and even walk him or her through the lunchtime process.

“We’ll eat with them a few times, invite them to activities outside of school,” detailed junior ambassador Brett Spartz. He said his favorite part of the program is “getting to know students and find out where they’re from, what they’re interested in and what our school can offer them. It’s a great opportunity to get to know new kids and help them experience high school like you wanted to.”

“You get to help students out in a different way and make new friends,” added ambassador Nicole Ektnitphong.

Vargas, who co-advises the group, said he’d like to increase membership to about 25 to 30 ambassadors, so no one student is pulled out of class to give tours too often. He hopes the ambassadors will help define the program’s purpose as it grows.

“It’s really a program for the students, by the students,” he said. “It can change the whole atmosphere of the school to have these ambassadors just being friendly. … A lot of times, because Worthington is so diverse, there is a lack of interaction between the students; it helps to have a diverse group willing to reach out.”

Those interested in the program may pick up an application in the counselor’s office at the high school; applications are considered on a rolling basis.

EX-CNBC REPORTER JOINS CBS

By Phil Rosenthal
Published April 01, 2010
Chicago Tribune

Rebecca Jarvis got an early start in broadcasting with a 1997 stint on “Whatever,” a teen news magazine on KARE-TV, Minneapolis’ NBC affiliate. She also was singled out among “20 Teens Who Will Change the World” by Teen People magazine in February 2000 as a founder of the non-profit Minnesota Alliance With Youth.

Rebecca was the first youth co-chair for the Minnesota Alliance With Youth in 1997, along with the Former Lt. Governor Joanne Benson.

… read more here