AmeriCorps Spotlight -Joyce Cruz

Chicago Cares AmeriCorps Role: Youth in Service HandsOn AmeriCorps Member

In honor of AmeriCorps week, Chicago Cares staff members sat down with each of our 5 AmeriCorps members to find out a little more about them and their service year. Here is what Joyce Cruz had to say about her experience so far this year. 

How did you hear about AmeriCorps and what made you decide to do a service year?

I heard about AmeriCorps through a friend that was doing AmeriCorps*NCCC. I was about to graduate from college and wanted to stay involved in volunteering and motivating others to get involved in their communities. 

Have you done any other AmeriCorps programs?

Before Chicago Cares I was an AmeriCorps member with NCCC in Sacramento, CA.

What drew you to Chicago Cares specifically?

At the end of my NCCC 10 month commitment, I started looking at other AmeriCorps opportunities closer to home. I found the posting for Chicago Cares through the AmeriCorps website and started to research the organization as a whole. I was really drawn to Chicago Cares and their Youth in Service program because of their commitment to teach the value of volunteerism to youth.

Tell us about your favorite part of AmeriCorps so far.

My favorite part of NCCC was the program really helped challenge me to step outside of my comfort zone and to learn how to live and work with the same people for our entire service year. So far, my favorite part of AmeriCorps with Chicago Cares is working with people in our office to come up with creative new ideas and then putting them into action. I no longer look at an idea and think, ‘how will that work’. Now I think, ‘how can we make this work’.

What are you most excited about working on before your service year ends?

Definitely Summer of Service. I’m really excited to be immersed in the schools we’ll be working with. I think it will be great to see the students really think about the issues in their communities and learn how take the actions to address them.

What skills have you learned in your year that you’ll take with you to your next job?

I’m less awkward talking to strangers. I’m a lot better at things like cold-calls, asking people to step up and lead projects, and building relationships with volunteers and community partners. I’ve also learned a lot about marketing, and how you present a volunteer opportunity in different ways to different people.

What are you plans for after AmeriCorps?

I would like to keep working for in the nonprofit field. I think eventually I’ll go to graduate school for a social service related career.

AmeriCorps Spotlight - Elliott Dionisio

Chicago Cares AmeriCorps Role: Days of Service Specialist AmeriCorps*VISTA Member

In honor of AmeriCorps week, Chicago Cares staff members sat down with each of our 5 AmeriCorps members to find out a little more about them and their service year. Here is what Elliott Dionisio had to say about his experience so far this year.

How did you hear about AmeriCorps and what made you decide to do a service year?

I always had a history of community service. When I got laid off from my first job after college I decided to look into AmeriCorps for my next adventure. The NCCC program appealed to me because I’d get to travel, be a part of a team and it would provide me with some good experience before I go back to school. I then wanted to continue with another year of community service and liked the position offered at Chicago Cares because it was a stable position at one organization and would provide me with a chance to learn lots of new things.

Have you done any other AmeriCorps programs?

Yes. I did NCCC based in Sacramento, CA, October 2008-July 2009.

What drew you to Chicago Cares specifically?

I felt the organization was very elegantly structured. It seemed to have a structure that was strikingly simplistic on the outside and very easy for volunteers to get involved in. I wanted to be a part of something that sustained itself so well.

Tell us about your favorite part of AmeriCorps so far.

I like having the chance to communicate with people. I like getting in touch with team captains and building relationships with them. I like being a resource for people and showing people the ropes and helping them through our systems. I love that I get to spread the word about Chicago Cares and our events and get people engaged.

What are you most excited about working on before your service year ends?

Once Serve-a-thon wraps up, I’m excited to sit down and write out everything I learned so that anyone coming into my position has a great base of information to start from. The position is a lot of learning along the way but the more resources that can be provided at the start, the better. I value taking the time to make sure the next person is prepared and continuing the legacy of the position for Chicago Cares.

What skills have you learned in your year that you’ll take with you to your next job?

I have learned a lot about professional corporate relations. I’ve also learned a lot about messaging things in an effective way by framing things correctly and choosing the right words for the right audience.

What are you plans for after AmeriCorps?

I plan to go to law school!

AmeriCorps Spotlight - Erik Rosen

Chicago Cares AmeriCorps Role: Youth in Service HandsOn AmeriCorps Member

How did you hear about AmeriCorps and what made you decide to do a service year?

I heard about AmeriCorps through City Year. I was interested in doing City Year in Chicago because I heard about their service work. Exploring service-oriented options, I thought Chicago Cares would be more challenging, and I would be able to build more skills and use the skills I already have. I just graduated last year and was unsure of what I wanted to do, and I thought this would be a good opportunity to get some experience in the non profit industry, while at the same time giving back to the community I was brought up in. Honestly, I didn’t actually know this was an AmeriCorps position when I applied. I found out when I interviewed.

Have you done any other AmeriCorps programs?

No, this is my first AmeriCorps position.

What drew you to Chicago Cares specifically?

Being able to work with youth and to have the opportunity to enhance their academic and social skills through service.

Tell us about your favorite part of AmeriCorps so far.

I think it’s being on site and working at the projects. My favorite thing is developing relationships with community partners and getting to know them, not just as site representatives but as people. Also, becoming familiar with areas of the city I might never have ventured into before has changed my perspective on a lot of issues and areas in the city.

What are you most excited about working on before your service year ends?

Summer of Service. We’ll be working with several high schools to teach students about what Youth in Service does, focusing on different issue areas, and putting what they’ve learned into action with different service projects. We’re taking more of a hands-on role with the students.

What skills have you learned in your year that you’ll take with you to your next job?

Organizational skills and being able to pay greater attention to detail. I was a big picture person before, and although it’s good to see things that way, it’s definitely helped that I can now take into account everything that will go into a project.

AmeriCorps Spotlight – Regan Bertke

Chicago Cares AmeriCorps Role: Volunteer Development Specialist for Ongoing Programs

In honor of AmeriCorps week, Chicago Cares staff members sat down with each of our 5 AmeriCorps members to find out a little more about them and their service year. Here is what Regan Bertke had to say about her experience so far this year.

How did you hear about AmeriCorps and what made you decide to do a service year?

Originally I heard about AmeriCorps from my mom, who works for Habitat for Humanity. They had an open position in 2008. I was in Toledo at school and money ran out, so I decided to come back home to the ‘burbs and help build houses. I wanted to work more behind the scenes in my second year.

Have you done any other AmeriCorps programs?

I was in a State/National program in 2008-2009 with Habitat for Humanity. I worked at project sites training and leading volunteers on the projects that day. I was outside every day—no matter rain, sleet, cold, snow, whatever. The worst day I worked, it was 10 degrees below zero and had snowed a few inches the day before. The snow then froze overnight and we had to use a pick-axe to clear out literally 3 inches of solid ice from the first floor of a 3-bedroom house that we were working on. My arms never hurt that bad in my whole life.

What drew you to Chicago Cares specifically?

I really like working with volunteers—I think it’s special that they are so willing to give up their time, money, and resources to help. I like being able to foster the relationship between volunteers and the people, projects, and organizations they’re helping. It’s great that there are so many people willing to give up their Saturdays to hang out with seniors or read to kids or improve a garden and I just wanted to be part of that.

Tell us about your favorite part of AmeriCorps so far.

My job here has been my favorite part so far—if this were a full-time paying job, it would be close to my dream job. I like being able to train and develop leaders with skills that they can use not just at Chicago Cares, but also  take on to their professional lives. I also really enjoyed going on site visits and being able to see the faces of all the people our leaders are helping—it put a more human touch on the work.

What are you most excited about working on before your service year ends?

I’m excited to be a part of Star Awards this year. It’s really important that we show our volunteers how much they do for us and for the community. They are giving up something personal when they volunteer for us—they could be spending that time with their family or friends or just taking a break from life. Volunteering is part of their life, but it’s also something more for us and for the community and it’s great that we recognize that.

What skills have you learned in your year that you’ll take with you to your next job?

My communication skills have gotten a lot better, having to talk so much with strangers on the phone and on email. I’ve learned to express myself in a way that I’m still appreciating them even if I want to reach through the phone and strangle them. I also feel much more confident with my writing skills now, after writing and editing the E-calendar. It’s time-consuming but fun trying to figure out how best to communicate what we’re doing at all levels of the organization, as well as what leaders are interested in and want to know about. It’s definitely a tedious and frustrating process of writing and editing to get the articles perfect—or as close to perfect as possible—but it’s also worth it.

What are you plans for after AmeriCorps?

Get a J-O-B. I’m taking a camping trip right after my term is up in September in the U-P in Michigan. It will be great to just relax—no phone calls, no emails, just getting away from civilization and people in general. Then I’ll come back and start hunting, here in Chicago or in D.C.—wherever someone likes me enough to give me a job.

AmeriCorps Spotlight - Erin Sutton

Chicago Cares AmeriCorps Role: Service Events Specialist AmeriCorps*VISTA Member

In honor of AmeriCorps week, Chicago Cares staff members sat down with each of our 5 AmeriCorps members to find out a little more about them and their service year. Here is what Erin Sutton had to say about her experience so far this year.

How did you hear about AmeriCorps and what made you decide to do a service year?

I have always been really interested in service. As an adult, I focused my energy on organizing community service projects for my fellow students at the University of Michigan. I always thought I wanted to do the Peace Corps, but then heard about AmeriCorps through my family and decided to check out the website. The VISTA positions really seemed to fit my interests and skills.

Have you done any other AmeriCorps programs?

No, Chicago Cares is my first position.

What drew you to Chicago Cares specifically?

Well, I went to school in Michigan and wanted to move somewhere else. Through the AmeriCorps website, I found the posting for Chicago Cares and was really drawn to the mission of the organization. What I like most about the Chicago Cares model, is not just bringing volunteer opportunities to people in Chicago, but through the leadership process, building, training and encouraging people to step up and become leaders in their communities.

Tell us about your favorite part of AmeriCorps so far.

I really like getting to know all of the Chicago Cares staff members, volunteers and leaders. Celebration of Service was a big highlight for me this year; I love watching everyone’s enthusiasm on the day of the event and seeing all of our Bus Ambassadors and Roadies in action was really inspiring.

What are you most excited about working on before your service year ends?

I’m definitely excited about Serve-a-thon this year. I’m excited to see the whole event from start to finish and to get to know all of the Roadies and Bus Ambassadors. I am also excited to help with the process of finding new ways to improve our leadership program and to leave ideas for the next AmeriCorps member in the position.

What skills have you learned in your year that you’ll take with you to your next job?

I’ve learned things this year that I didn’t realize I ever would. Things like basic web design, database management and refining my skills in MS Office. I’ve also learned a lot about working as a team for the benefit of the entire organization and bringing new and creative ideas and watching them in action.

What are you plans for after AmeriCorps?

I hope to start law school in fall 2011.  In the meantime, I would like to stay in the non-profit field. Ultimately, I’m interested in using my law degree to work for an NGO or human interest organization.

AmeriCorps Week: Honoring a History of Dedication to Service

Every year, thousands of Americans commit to serving our country through volunteerism and living a year of poverty. They are AmeriCorps. These dedicated service members are men and women, young and old, coming from all different backgrounds. They serve behind the scenes and on the front lines in the battle against poverty in the United States.

While the 1930’s saw the creation of National Service Corps with the initiation of Civilian Conservation Corps, shortly followed by AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America), NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps) and Senior Corps in the 1960’s, AmeriCorps programs were not nationally recognized until President Bill Clinton signed the National and Community Service Trust Act in September of 1993. The bill established the Corporation for National and Community Service as the umbrella for all AmeriCorps programs, which now include: Learn and Serve, AmeriCorps National Direct, AmeriCorps VISTA, AmeriCorps NCCC, YCC (Youth Conservation Corps), and SeniorCorps.  One year later, the first class of AmeriCorps volunteers were sworn in. 20,000 individuals would be dedicating a year of national service in more than 1,000 communities nationwide. More than 15 years later, the AmeriCorps programs swear in more than 85,000 volunteers every year to serve and partner with nearly 2,000 community and nonprofit organizations.

AmeriCorps Week Events - How Can You Show Your Support?

As a part of a national effort to increase awareness of AmeriCorps programs and show appreciation for its current and past AmeriCorps members, Chicago Cares will be hosting and co-hosting events between May 8 - 15, AmeriCorps Appreciation Week. Below are a few of the events planned to honor and highlight our outstanding team of AmeriCorps staff and alumni.

Monday, May 10: Social Networking Event  at Cactus Bar and Grille 
5:30 PM - 9 PM 

Join AmeriCorps Alumni of Chicago and current AmeriCorps staff as they talk about life during and after a year of service. You can learn about each AmeriCorps program, as well as talk to past and current members about their experiences.

Friday, May 14: Speaking event at EF International Language School

Chicago Cares AmeriCorps members will present and dialog with international college students about what it means to be a National Service Member. Current and past AmeriCorps will speak about the benefits of being an AmeriCorps member and how it can aid in members' professional futures and development.

Saturday, May 15: Seeds of Service
9 AM - 2 PM

In cooperation with AmeriCorps Alumni of Chicago and Northwestern Settlement Project YES, Chicago Cares' current and past AmeriCorps will join community members and other AmeriCorps in an effort to revitalize Humboldt Park. 

These are just a few of the events being hosted by Chicago Cares and the AmeriCorps Alumni Group of Chicago. If you would like to sponsor an event for the Chicago Cares AmeriCorps staff members, or would like to make a donation on behalf of our AmeriCorps members please click here. You can also e-mail rbertke@Chicagocares.org for more information about the weeks’ events and how you can show your support!

Meet Your AmeriCorps: Regan

I am an advocate. I am a capacity builder. I am a VISTA.

When people ask me what I do I say, “I am an AmeriCorps member serving a year of National Service.” Then, it is always the same response, “Oh, what is AmeriCorps?” My elevator speech mode officially kicks in. I tell them about the service I am doing, explain exactly what AmeriCorps is, and then the kicker, “well, if it is National Service, are you paid?” they ask. “Yes” I say. “About 105% of the poverty rate of Chicago.” Then come the gasps and oohs and aahs. I just sit back, smile, and think, I don’t care, I love my job!

Living out a mission can be tough. It takes courage and strength to push though and educate others on something you find compelling and worth knowing. It is not a job for everyone. It is, however, the job of AmeriCorps members all across the country.

My name is Regan Bertke, I am an AmeriCorps VISTA completing a year of service with an organization that lives out a mission to help communities and people in need; Chicago Cares. I started my year of service in September of last year; my goal, to build capacity in the organization through volunteer development. Now half of my year of service is over and what do I have to show for it? A lot!