Special Message from Tina Lindstrom

Dear AmeriCorps Alums and Connecticut National Service Community:

It is with profound appreciation that I inform you that I will be stepping down from the Chapter Leader position of AmeriCorps Alums Connecticut. The work of AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Alums is incredibly important, and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to contribute in a leadership role. AmeriCorps service is more than a year of service, it is a commitment that we “carry this year and beyond.” Although I will continue to carry this commitment with me, it is time that I step down in order to let others lead as our chapter continues to grow and evolve.

I have served as the Chapter Leader since its inception in 2010. Our chapter started as an informal group of three AmeriCorps Alums planning AmeriCorps Week activities and “parties with a purpose” out of our apartments. In seven years, AmeriCorps Alums Connecticut has grown increasingly involved in advocacy work, professional development events, the creation of the InterCorps Council, and of course, countless volunteer events.

Some of my most gratifying memories include preparing and serving dinners at Homes for the Brave--8-10 of us in the kitchen preparing meals, connecting over chopping garlic and seasoning chicken; the professional development event with Brandeis University -- discussing social justice oriented graduate programs and careers; and, finally, when Representative Rosa DeLauro joined us to celebrate 2015 Mayors Day for National Service at City Hall in New Haven. These are memories I will cherish and carry with me.

AmeriCorps Alums Connecticut still has much room and opportunity for expansion. We are seeking dedicated AmeriCorps Alums who embody the AmeriCorps pledge to share their vision and energy to facilitate the continued growth of AmeriCorps Alums Connecticut, specifically through the roles of a new chapter leader as well as other board leadership roles.

I sincerely thank all of you for your commitment to service, and the opportunity to lead such a dedicated and compassionate AmeriCorps Alums Chapter. AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Alums have a very significant and special place in my heart. Since my AmeriCorps NCCC service in 2006, I’ve never left the AmeriCorps community, and I don’t plan to anytime soon. I will continue to help and serve on the board as a proud Alum and to “Get Things Done” in Connecticut!

In Service & All the Best,

Tina Lindstrom
AmeriCorps NCCC, 2006-2007

Let's Remember: AmeriCorps Week 2017

Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate, serve, and learn with us in honor of AmeriCorps Week! It's an uncertain time for national service, but we feel like the future is in good hands based on all of the AMAZING alums, members, and friends of national service we caught up with this year!

Letter writing - thanks to reSET for the space!

As always, more pictures and the most up-to-date information on future events is available on our Facebook or Twitter. You can also sign up for our semi-regular e-newsletter at: http://eepurl.com/bCOcin.



Professional Development & Advocacy
On Tuesday, March 7, Service Year Alliance Regional Director Laura Thompson joined us to share some news about how we can join the Service Year movement to fight to save national service through powerful storytelling. Inspired, we put together a #LetUsServe Pizza Party to write letters to our representatives, which were then hand-delivered by a Connecticut AmeriCorps alumni delegation led by the amazing Claudine Fox!

Celebration 
Mid-week, we crashed PAVE New Haven's social event at BAR - where we ate pizza (#poweredbypizza) with current members and alumni from across the state.

Service: Homes for the Brave
We ended AmeriCorps Week by cooking tacos for the men served by Homes for the Brave and the women served by Female Soldiers: Forgotten Heroes in Bridgeport. Thank you to Homes for the Brave for letting us invade your kitchen and to all the alumni and members who spent their Sunday with us. Definitely one of our favorite and most meaningful service projects - hope to see you next year!

The team at Homes for the Brave

Let Us Serve: Resources

AmeriCorps and Senior Corps have enjoyed bi-partisan support, including the support of almost every president, since they were first launched in the mid-1960s. The current administration has been unclear on whether that history of support will continue - which is why we need to prepare to speak honestly, clearly, and quickly about the impact and support of national service in Connecticut and across the country.

Here are some resources to share and help you prepare your own call for support of national service:

• Volunteering and Civic Life in America: https://www.nationalservice.gov/vcla
• AmeriCorps Fact Sheet: https://goo.gl/zI7yg1
• About Senior Corps: https://goo.gl/PuDAqM
• National Service Press Room (for most-current impact stories): https://goo.gl/IMVSHk
• AmeriCorps in Connecticut (or select your state in the drop-down on the right hand column): https://goo.gl/mc4GGI

...and here are some recent articles to get you thinking:

• "A Million Reasons to Support AmeriCorps," AnnMaura Connolly: https://goo.gl/recZp7
• "The Republican Case for Saving AmeriCorps," Stephen Goldsmith:  https://goo.gl/is1Gvh
• "AmeriCorps helps thousands of students get to college. Trump's budget may axe it," USA Today: https://goo.gl/NaSjkY

SOURCE: nationalservice.gov

Important Reminder: AmeriCorps Alums Connecticut has no direct affiliation and receives no funding from the Corporation from National and Community Service or other federal source. All opinions and links are offered in good faith with the intent to help. 

Let Us Serve: Sample Wording

Service Year Alliance is helping to lead the charge for AmeriCorps advocacy.

Ready to take a stand for service, but not share where to start? Connecticut is fortunate to have extremely supportive representatives on a national level, but we still need to prepare them with real-world stories (and convince some of our local-level politicians that #AmeriCorpsWorks).

On March 7th, we were joined by Service Year Alliance's Laura Thompson, who shared a sneak peak of their storytelling training: "Public Narrative: The Story of Self, Us, Now."

For those who couldn't join us (and are unable to join Service Year for the full Action Summit taking place in Washington, DC at the end of March - details here: https://goo.gl/cZ5TK9), here is the cliffs notes version!

1.  Self: What is YOUR national service story? Did it give you hope and guidance after struggling in high school or college? Were you able to help a student go from avoiding eye contact with teachers to giving everyone smiles and high fives? Did you help create a program that connected veterans with jobs? Share it here!
2. Us: How does your story relate to the larger values and experience of the American people? A 2015 poll found that 83% of Americans support national service, so you are not alone. Don't overload your letter with facts, use those that speak most directly to your own experience and will be easy for your representatives to remember and share. We've gathered some resources HERE to get you started.
3. Now: Why is the time NOW to support national service? As many have said, we think it's because national service is a unique American tradition that has the ability to pull together a divided nation. Why do you think it's important?

...
SAMPLE WORDING

Greetings, Senator XXX:

My name is Shannon, and I am writing to urge you to continue to support funding for AmeriCorps and Senior Corps programs. Like many young adults, I was adrift and deep in debt after finishing college. 

My year serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA not only gave me hope; it gave me direction and a life-long commitment to helping others. I am not alone - studies have shown that 60% of AmeriCorps alumni enter public service or work at a non-profit. 

My AmeriCorps service also connected me to the rich and uniquely-American tradition that puts service to our fellow citizens as our paramount responsibilities. With 83% of Americans in support of national service (and 62 million people volunteering each year), now is the time to support these programs to help pull together our fractured nation.

All the best,

Shannon Mykins

New Haven, Connecticut

Important Reminder: AmeriCorps Alums Connecticut has no direct affiliation and receives no funding from the Corporation from National and Community Service or other federal source. All opinions and links are offered in good faith with the intent to help. 

AmeriCorps Week 2017 is Here!

There is a lot to celebrate this year - more than 650 AmeriCorps members are currently serving and thousands more AmeriCorps Alums live and work here.

We hope to see and hear from you this week - if you can't make it to one of our events, please reach out via Facebook, Twitter, or email us to share your story and get connected.

UPDATED 3/8/2017

Advocacy and Professional Development

Tuesday, March 7th, Carriage House Theater (Hartford)

Presented by Northeast Regional Field Director at Service Year Alliance, Laura Thompson, "Public Narrative: The Story of Self, Us, Now," will teach you the basics of how public narrative works, review the criteria for effective story of self, and allow you to practice your own story of self (and coach others).

Attendees will also have the opportunity to put their stories on paper to write to our representatives - sharing the AmeriCorps story and reiterating the importance of continued funding.

Note for currently serving members: you are welcome to attend, however we ask that you exclude yourself from the advocacy portion of the event and talk to your program's manager or director if you have any questions.

Please RSVP here - space is limited!

Celebrate

Wednesday, March 8th, BAR (New Haven)

We are partnering with PAVE New Haven, who are hosting an AmeriCorps Gathering. All are welcome to join - please invite your friends! RSVP on Facebook or join us any time after 5:30.

Service

Sunday, March 12th, Homes for the Braves

Join us as we prepare dinner for veterans at Homes for the Brave in honor of AmeriCorps Week! This is a great opportunity to connect with other alums and current members while cooking, and serve and connect with veterans at Homes for the Brave and Female Soldiers: Forgotten Heroes.

Please find more details and RSVP here or on Facebook so we know you're coming!

Do you have an AmeriCorps Week event you'd like to share? Please email our communications leader Shannon at slmykins (@) gmail.com with details and we will add it to the list!

Stand Up for Service - What YOU can do to help.

According to a NY Times article released a week ago, AmeriCorps and Senior Corps are among the programs on the chopping block in the current administration's budget. Earlier this week, we asked you to call, Tweet, or fax your reps to ask them to stand up for national service. You did, and while it made a difference we are still a long way from ensuring that national service remains a priority of Congress, the White House, and the American people. Below are a couple of things you can do to stay involved and have your say.
...
United States Senator Dick Blumenthal is hosting the following Town Halls this weekend:
SATURDAY (Feb 25): 1:30 pm on Saturday at Wilbur Cross High School in New Haven

SUNDAY (Feb 26): 1pm at Central Connecticut State University in New Britain.

UPDATE: Senator Blumenthal's Town Halls have passed, however US Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro will be holding a Town Hall on Monday, March 6th from 5:30-7:00 pm at Hamden Middle School!

When attending a Town Hall, please remember the following tips:

• Be prepared, both with your own story and the story of AmeriCorps (and other national service) in the state of Connecticut. More information about AmeriCorps' yearly impact in our state can be found here. 
• Listen to directions and be mindful of others' time and the importance of the issues they came to speak about. When you are there as an AmeriCorps Alum, the hope is to win friends and supporters. 
• Stick around afterwards (if it's okay!). You may be able to speak to a staffer or make important connections with other like-minded community members who may have never heard of AmeriCorps. 
• It's okay to write things down - if you think you'll get nervous on the mic, write down what you want to say on an index card and bring it with you!

Sam Rigotti, an AmeriCorps VISTA alum who worked in a Congressional office after his service ended, shared some more tips if you can't make it to a Town Hall in-person:

• Only contact YOUR Representatives and Senators; out of district mail is nice, but don't get logged or receive any official response. Connecticut's Senators are Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal, and you can find your Congresspeople here: http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/. 
• Contacting members through their websites is best; phone calls are also good, but due to the high volume of constituent calls lately they might be more easily overlooked.
• For more social-media savvy members (especially Jim Himes), Tweet at them to get their attention (our friends at Service year Alliance has set up this amazing tool to make it easy - they even give you suggested language!: http://bit.ly/2kLnfku)
• Try to get on the member's calendar for an in-person meeting; submit an online meeting request but call every couple of weeks to follow up if you haven't received a response (be flexible about the date and office location, if the member has more than one)

Thank you to our friend Sam Rigotti for sharing his expertise. All typos and hanging modifiers are ours. 

Take Action - Help Save AmeriCorps and Senior Corps

The Corporation for National and Community Service - which funds AmeriCorps and Senior Corps, among other programs aimed at making it easier for Americans to serve - has been marked for elimination, according to a NY Times article recently released.

Voices for National Service has sprung into action, creating this easy way to contact your representatives in Congress: http://voicesforservice.org/take-action/contact-congress/. Please use this link and share with your friends and networks. As we have all experienced, you never know whose been affected by AmeriCorps until you ask!

On March 7th, we will be partnering with Service Year Alliance for an in-person seminar in Hartford on how we can most effectively fight back - save the date!

It's important to note that while the Connecticut delegation have been overwhelmingly supportive of national service in the past, they still need to hear from you and hear your stories to be effective in advocating to keep the Corporation for National and Community Service in the budget.

More to come...

CTCC Needs Your Help on January 20th!

Connecticut Campus Compact is looking for AmeriCorps Alums who are able to volunteer some time on Friday, January 20th for their "Life After AmeriCorps" training. The training will be held at the West Hartford UCONN Campus. Please contact VISTA Leader Anne Hofmeister at ahofmeister@compact.org to sign-up or for more information!

Roles are as follows:
1.) Serve as mock employers for a simulated interview session with CTCC's current VISTA cohort in the morning (10:30 AM - 12:00 PM)
2.) Participate in a semi-formal networking session during lunch (12:00 - 1:00 PM)
3.) Sit on a Post-VISTA Life panel in the afternoon (1:00 - 2:30 PM)
4.) Offer feedback on VISTA resumes at some point (9:30 - 10:30 AM)

PS: Running an AmeriCorps program or putting together a panel and would like to include Americorps Alums in Connecticut? Send us an email at connecticut@americorpsalums.org and we will help spread the word and connect you to alums across the state!