AmeriCorps NCCC

Fall 2013 Class 20, Issue I

Friends of the North

Central Region 1994-2014

20 Years of Service

Inside this issue:

Class 20 FEMA Corps 2-3

NCCC Service Projects 4-5

FEMA Corps Service

Projects 6

Calendar 7

NCCC Service Spotlights 7

Recruitment Corner 8

Community Day 8

FEMA Corps Service

Spotlight 9

Benefits Beyond Service 9

Member Spotlights 10-

11

This Year and Beyond 12

See what NCCC and FEMA Corps members

are up to! Follow us online: AmeriCorps NCCC

North Central Region

1004 G Ave

Vinton, IA 52349 P: 319-472-9664

F: 319-472-9666 NCCCNorthCentral@cns.gov

From the Desk of the Region Director

Check out the new

www.nationalservice.gov

website!

Dear Friends,

What a busy time we’ve had over the past several months! FEMA Corps Class 20

arrived in August and in September they were inducted during a fantastic ceremony

in Vinton, IA. Guest speakers included Barbara Lane from our NCCC Headquar-

ters in Washington along with Deanne Criswell who serves as the FEMA Corps

Unit Chief in Washington. FEMA Corps has begun their 10 months of service and

they are currently serving in various locations from coast-to-coast supporting

FEMA emergency management projects. And, some members have already met

some interesting people (check out page 6 of this newsletter)!

We are also very excited for our NCCC Class 19 who are wrapping up their fifth and final round of

service projects. Class 19 teams are currently deployed throughout several states within our region...see

the project summaries in this edition of our Newsletter. Class 19 members are returning to campus

soon, as their graduation is scheduled for Wednesday November 13 in Vinton!

Please enjoy this edition of Friends of the North Central Region. And, thank you for all of your support.

In Service, Dan Milnes

MISSION

STATEMENT

“Strengthen communities

and develop leaders

through direct, team-based

national and community

service.”

The original NCCC logo (to the right) was a symbolic representation of who we

were and what we did to accomplish our mission. The logo was comprised of five

parts: figures, circle, bars, wreath and stars.

The figures represented the education, racial, geographic and economic

diversity of corps members.

The circle represented the building where participatory democracy gov-

erned actions to promote the common good.

The bars were symbolic of the US flag and us-regardless of our state of origin, we are were united

in our efforts to “get things done” through community service.

The wreath represented our service learning projects in the environment and connected us to the

legacy established by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC).

The stars represented the five principles which guided our decision making process: commitment,

collaboration, compassion, communication and competence.

NCCC 20 Years of Service: Did You Know...

Page 2 Class 20, Issue I

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Vinton Campus Welcomes Class 20 FEMA Corps

On August 20 a new class of FEMA Corps members began their

10-month journey of service at the Vinton campus. Campus staff

and team leaders welcomed the 175 new arrivals to the North

Central Region family and helped them get settled in to life at the

Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School, home of the Vinton campus.

Corp Training Institute (CTI), the intensive weeks of foundational

training for members, began bright and early with a community

meeting on August 21 and continued through September 20. CTI

is dedicated to helping members learn how to navigate the world

of NCCC and FEMA through essential trainings including conflict

resolution, FEMA basics, financial management, nutrition and

psychological first aid. They also received valuable certifications in

CPR and First Aid through the American Heart Association.

But CTI wasn’t just classroom work. Teams explored neighboring

communities through short-term service projects in honor of

9/11 that gave them a chance to use their new skills while

getting to know their teammates better. Members also had a

chance to show off their talents during a cultural coffee house

held in the campus auditorium. Class 20 FEMA Corps officially

began their service with an induction ceremony held at the

Vinton-Shellsburg High School on September 13.

During the week of September 16 teams wrapped up CTI

with project debriefs, representative role meetings with staff

members and FEMA equipment and badge issuing at a Joint

Field Office.

Thirteen teams left Iowa for Anniston, Alabama on September

21 for an additional week of training with FEMA staff before

embarking on their first round of service projects. An addi-

tional five teams received in-the-field training in Disaster Ser-

vices Assistance with FEMA at the NCCC Denver campus

before deploying to assist with flood recovery projects in

Colorado.

Celebrating 20 Years of National Service

On September 20, 2013, the AmeriCorps family commemorat-

ed 20 years of “getting things done for America” and kicked off

a year of celebration across the country.

Over the past 20 years more than 820,000 men and women

have taken the AmeriCorps pledge, serving more than one bil-

lion hours to help communities meet critical needs like improv-

ing schools and fighting poverty to rebuilding after disasters and

preserving the environment.

The 20th anniversary year is a time to recognize the important

moments in AmeriCorps history while looking forward to the

exciting future that lies ahead. Through events, stories and ser-

vice projects, we will celebrate the contributions and commit-

ment of AmeriCorps members and alums in strengthening our

communities and country through national service.

AmeriCorps NCCC is also celebrating

20 years of through service and each

month campuses are hosting events or

sharing stories of alumni and current

members making a difference. If you

are interested in helping the Vinton campus celebrate please contact

Angela Sarrels at asarrels@cns.gov.

Click on links below for more information on the 20th Anni-

versary.

AmeriCorps 20th Anniversary Resource Center

20th Anniversary Event Photo Gallery

Members show off their new uniforms at the first community

meeting.

A busload of recent arrivals on their way to the Vinton campus.

Page 3 Friends of the North Central Region

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Class 20 FEMA Corps Begins 10 Months of Service

Friday the 13 of September was a lucky day for the 195 members of class 20 FEMA Corps at the Vinton campus. They were sworn

into service at the Vinton-Shellsburg High School, marking the official start of their 10-month journey in long-term recovery and

emergency management projects with FEMA.

Featured speakers at the ceremony included NCCC Director of Projects and Partnerships Barbara Lane, FEMA Corps Unit Chief

Deanne Criswell, FEMA Corps alum and current Hickory unit support team leader Melissa Ridder and two members of class 20.

Family and friends of class 20 were also in attendance, supporting their loved ones from the audience. Following the ceremony,

guests and members mingled and enjoyed a cake reception. Good luck to class 20 FEMA Corps as they begin their service!

Page 4 Class 20, Issue I

NCCC Class 19 Round 5 Service Project Summaries (Oct. 18-Nov. 2)

Camp Whitcomb Mason, Hartland, Wisconsin

Maple 2 is serving with Boys and Girls Club Camp Whitcomb Mason assisting with cabin repairs and property repairs such as timber

stand improvement in the forest and waterfront clearing. By completing the property repairs, the team is enhancing the overall environ-

mental landscape of the camp and ensuring that visitors are able to continue to use the area for environmental education and recrea-

tion.

NECHAMA: CO Flooding, Boulder and Longmont, Colorado (September 23 – October 25)

Cedar 4 is assisting NECHAMA in mucking and gutting homes in response to the Colorado Flood that took place due to rains starting

on September 7 and continuing for 8 days. One of the eight days the daily rainfall record was shattered after the area received nearly

twice as much rain as its previous record.

Black Hills Workshop, Rapid City, South Dakota

Maple 6 is serving as support volunteers in the Suzie Cappa Art Center; the Health Sport and Fitness Center; the STEPS Program, the

Sensory Room and the Retirement Center. In these areas they are developing and facilitating classes for people with disabilities. In addi-

tion, they are assisting with the construction of the Haunted House, which is a food drive for the local community.

Milwaukee County Parks and Recreation, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

In partnership with Milwaukee County Parks, Recreation & Culture and The Nature Conservancy, Maple 4 is assisting with land manage-

ment and recreation projects such as invasive species removal, trail maintenance and trail construction.

YMCA of Metro Minneapolis, Several Sites, Wisconsin and Minnesota

Oak 2 is assisting the YMCA of Metro Minneapolis with facility upgrades to many of their overnight and day camps. Tasks include but

are not limited to painting and staining program buildings, building low challenge course initiatives and land maintenance.

Coggon Area Betterment Association, Coggon, Iowa

Oak 6 is assisting the Coggon Area Betterment Association with sprucing up the exteriors of organizations in downtown Coggon to

make the area more inviting as well as assisting with repurposing the old school to the new Coggon Center.

YMCA Camp Wapsie, Coggon, Iowa

Cedar 6 is making facility upgrades to YMCA Camp Wapsie. The team is concentrating on staining the main lodge, building low chal-

lenge course initiatives and clearing storm debris from a trail.

The Nature Conservancy of Minnesota, Cushing, Minnesota

Maple 5 is helping with land management projects such as invasive species removal, controlled burns and fire break installation. These

tasks are helping The Nature Conservancy protect and conserve the native habitat of Minnesota.

Growing Power, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Cedar 7 is assisting Growing Power with their urban farm through farm production, aquaponics, mushroom cultivations, plant upkeep

and care, and soil preparation. The goal is to provide healthy produce options to food deserts and to serve as a model site to continue

their operations.

Habitat for Humanity (HFH) of Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska

Oak 4 is assisting HFH of Omaha with interior finish work on four homes that were framed this summer during the affiliates Fall Fram-

ing Frenzy. The service being done allows HFH of Omaha to stay on schedule to finish homes during colder months with house dedica-

tions slated for spring 2014.

Lauritzen Gardens, Omaha, Nebraska

Maple 7 is assisting Lauritzen Gardens as they undergo unprecedented restoration challenges as a result of the city of Omaha routing

sewage lines through the garden. Projects the team is assisting with include: erosion control to shore up garden hillsides, removal of

invasive plant species and replanting of native plants.

Nebraska Game & Parks Commission, Chadron, Nebraska

Cedar 3 is serving in collaboration with the Nebraska Wildlife Management Area to chainsaw, buck, drag and clear burned trees, and

downed brush that resulted from a wild land fire that affected the area in the summer of 2012.

Habitat for Humanity of Mid-Ohio, Columbus, Ohio

Cedar 2 is assisting Habitat MidOhio in various roles related to construction benefiting the community with safe housing for families and

providing neighborhood revitalization. These areas include new construction, ReBuilds, House Lead Assistants and construction sup-

port. While assisting on their new construction sites, Cedar 2 is assisting in some of the following phases: floor truss installation, wall

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Page 5 Friends of the North Central Region

NCCC Class 19 Round 5 Service Project Summaries (Oct. 18-Nov. 2)

framing, garage construction, insulations, roofing, window/door installation and drywall.

Genesee County Habitat for Humanity, Flint, Michigan

Maple 1 is assisting Genesee County Habitat for Humanity in the demolition and rebuilding of single family homes and work/live homes.

Genesee County Habitat for Humanity (GCHFH) met with the neighborhood association membership to brainstorm the top concerns

of residents and how their organization could help complete their objectives to create a Neighborhood of Choice. One common con-

cern for residents was the condition of the buildings on the main thoroughfares that border and serve as entryways into the Down-

town Flint Neighborhood. Members are assisting the sponsor in addressing these concerns. Activities include: demolition, build and

rough frame walls, drywall, painting, trim work, landscaping.

Habitat for Humanity of Mahoning County, Struthers, Ohio

Oak 1 is helping provide high quality affordable housing to families and individuals who could not qualify through traditional means.

Members are being trained in residential construction, green building techniques, and volunteer management while engaging in the pro-

ject. By the end of the project the team will have been directly responsible for placing at least one family in a new affordable home.

Habitat for Humanity of Marquette County, Marquette, Michigan

Oak 3 is assisting with providing safe, stable homes for low income families that are currently living in housing that is expensive to heat,

have safety issues or cost more than 50% of a family’s income. A wide range of tasks are being conducted as a NCCC team assists the

sponsor in constructing at least 2 homes. These tasks include: decking, wall raising, roofing, siding, drywall, and painting. Enclosing these

two homes will allow the sponsor to continue working during the winter months.

Hamilton County Parks and Recreation, Carmel, Indiana

Cedar 1 is assisting in the development of a community archery center. Cedar 1 is involved in the creation of the facility’s outdoor and

adjoining 3D trail, (marking, clearing and construction) as well as the construction of the shooting lanes and the facility itself – within

the members’ range of skills. The facility will offer archery educational and safety programming, as well as host archery related events

and competitions.

Flint Housing Commission, Flint, Michigan

Oak 7 is assisting the Flint Housing Commission to address the needs of low income families by preparing move-in ready units in which

6-12 families will be able to use upon completion. A variety of service is being performed including: painting, floor work, and appliance

replacement such as toilets and sinks.

Camp Fire Southeast Michigan, Holly, Michigan

Maple 3 is providing much needed maintenance and upgrades to Camp Wathana which allows them to offer full summer programming

to the youth of Southeast Michigan. Specific projects include: management of invasive species in and around their lagoons, brush clear-

ance on trails, trail marking, boundary marking, and winterizing buildings.

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Page 6 Class 20, Issue I

FEMA Corps Class 20 Round 1 Service Project Summaries (Sept. 29-Dec. 7)

FEMA-Region 8 Field Office, Denver, Colorado (September 22-November 11)

Hickory 1, Hickory 2, Pine 2, Pine 5 and Spruce 1 are providing assistance to disaster survivors

in Colorado following extensive flooding, landslides, and mudslides; support the assess, report,

inform mission; help survivors register for FEMA assistance.

FEMA-Joint Field Office, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Hickory 3 is supporting Joint Field Office staff in areas of public assistance, mitigation, and logis-

tics in the recovery phase of the 2013 Oklahoma tornadoes.

FEMA-Region 7 Field Office, Kansas City, Missouri Hickory 4 is supporting FEMA staff in areas of planning, operations, and logistics in the Region

VII Field Office.

FEMA-Distribution Center, Moffett Field, California

Hickory 5 is assisting distribution center staff to effectively plan, manage and sustain national

logistics response and recovery operations in support of domestic emergencies and special

events.

FEMA-Joint Field Office, Centennial, Colorado

Hickory 6 and Spruce 3 are assuring that planning products throughout the incident are up to

date and distributed properly; assist in the preparation of incident planning products; assisting

the planning section chief on special administrative projects as needed.

FEMA-Joint Field Office, Jefferson City, Missouri

Pine 1, Spruce 2 and Spruce 4 are supporting the public assistance program in recovery phase

of severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, and flooding during the period of May 29 to

June 10, 2013 in Missouri.

FEMA-Headquarters, Washington, D.C.

Pine 3 is assisting FEMA logistics staff to effectively plan, manage and sustain national logistics

response and recovery operations in support of domestic emergencies and special events.

FEMA-National Processing Service Center, Hyattsville, Maryland

Pine 4 and Spruce 6 are receiving training on registration intake and shelter registrations; assist

clients with their cases in NEMIS; participate in client information collection; match FEMA pro-

grams to individual unmet needs.

FEMA-Region 7 Field Office, Kansas City, Missouri

Pine 6 is supporting the regional public assistance mission through a variety of tasks to ensure

timely closeout of open disasters.

FEMA-Headquarters, Washington, D.C.

Spruce 5 is assisting with compiling and categorizing disaster video and photography and cate-

gorizing for ongoing video projects; assist with ongoing media calls, inquiries from local officials,

outreach efforts and other required external affairs duties.

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FEMA Corps member Gabby of Pine

1 inspects a damaged road in Taney

Co., MO to write grants for disaster

recovery.

FEMA Corps team Pine 6 has been

serving in Kansas City, MO sorting

supplies for use in the field.

FEMA Corps Spruce 5 Meets President Obama

Spruce 5 had the opportunity to meet and speak with President Obama on

October 7, 2013 when he visited FEMA headquarters in Washington, DC

where they team is serving.

In the picture to the left, Corps member Marcha Thelisma smiles proudly as

team leader Matt Labbe shakes President Obama’s hand. Marcha Thelisma

from Miami, Florida stated about the experience, “His presence alone spoke

volumes. Meeting President Barack Obama was a memorable lifetime expe-

rience for me. I felt a sense of honor, dignity, and pride”.

Page 7 Friends of the North Central Region

NCCC Helps in Colorado Flood Relief Efforts

By Samantha Janda, NCCC member

The AmeriCorps NCCC team Cedar 4

was called upon to assist with disaster

relief efforts in Colorado, and departed

from Vinton, Iowa on September 23.

They are serving with the Jewish disaster

relief organization, NECHAMA, near the

Boulder area of Colorado.

Cedar 4 has been very busy ever since

their arrival. They started their service in

the town of Evans, Colorado, where the

flood affected home after home. The

team quickly became aware of just how

devastating a disaster can be, when they

began to muck and gut several homes.

The flood waters reached about three feet above ground level in the homes, causing massive

amounts of damaged items. Everything had to be removed from the homes, and it is a devastat-

ing process, especially for the home owners.

Since then, Cedar 4 has been serving in Lyons, Colorado. Lyons was one of the towns hit the

worst, with whole roads washed away and homes in shambles. With three weeks spent in Ly-

ons, the NCCC team has helped muck and gut many homes alongside numerous volunteers.

The process is slow, but cleaning out one house at a time can always help to make a difference.

Exposure to a disaster like this is an eye-opening experience for this NCCC team.

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Cedar 4 members Patrick and Alan haul boards out of an

affected home.

CALENDAR

Sept. 30-Dec. 7 FEMA Corps Class 20 Round 1 Projects

Oct. 18-Nov. 1 NCCC Class 19

Round 5 Projects Oct. 26 Make a Difference Day

Nov. 2-14 NCCC Class 19 Closure

Nov. 11 Veteran’s Day Campus Closed

Nov. 13 NCCC Class 19 Graduation (6 p.m.)

Nov. 14 NCCC Class 19

Member Departure Nov.20 NCCC Class 19

Team Leader Departure Nov. 28

Thanksgiving Campus Closed Nov. 28-Dec. 1

FEMA Corps Class 20 Thanksgiving Break Dec. 9-14

FEMA Corps Class 20 Round 1 Transition

Dec. 15-26 FEMA Corps Class 20 Winter Break

Dec. 27 FEMA Corps Prep Day

Dec. 28 FEMA Corps Class 20 Round 2 Projects Begin

Jan. 3 NCCC Class 20 Support Team Leader

Arrival

Jan. 8 NCCC Class 20

Team Leader Arrival

Cedar 7 Growing Strong in Milwaukee

By: Alex Bissell, NCCC member

On Friday October 18, Cedar 7 arrived in Milwaukee, Wis-

consin to assist the urban farming organization Growing

Power with various aspects of food production. Their ser-

vice includes soil preparation, weeding and harvesting food

in the field, potted plant care and upkeep, mushroom culti-vation and animal husbandry.

On the first day of their project, Monday, October 21,

Cedar 7 harvested thousands of carrots, boxed them and

packed them onto Growing Power’s trucks to be cleaned

and topped.

“I’m really excited to be involved with an organization with

such an amazing vision,” says member Masuzyo Mhango

from Boston, Massachusetts, “and also to be able to bring

the skills I learn back to my own community.”

Growing Power’s mission is to support people from diverse

backgrounds, and the environments in which they live, by helping to provide equal access to

healthy, high-quality, safe and affordable food for people in all communities. They are able to

achieve this mission through partnerships they have created. As a result of these partnerships,

Growing Power has helped start dozens of school and community gardens, in addition to the 3

acre farm and community food center in Milwaukee, and the 20 farms in southern Wisconsin.

Team leader Chad Every picks carrots

to be packed and shipped.

Page 8

RECRUITMENT CALENDAR

Check to see if we’re coming to your town!

October

10/23: Union College (Lincoln, NE) 10/23: Northern Illinois University (Dekalb, IL)

10/29: Hoosier Youth ChalleNGe (Knightstown, IN) 10/29: Atterbury Job Corps (Edinburgh, IN)

November 11/4-5: IA School Counselor Assoc. Conference (Des Moines)

11/7-8: IA Nonprofit Summit (Altoona, IA) 11/19: Minneapolis Emergency Management Summit (MN)

Community Day Spotlight: NCCC Team Honors Heroes

NCCC & FEMA CORPS APPLICATION DEADLINES

Team Leader Fall 2014 Cycle:

March 1, 2014

Corps Member Fall 2014 Cycle:

April 1, 2014

Apply Now

REQUEST MATERIALS OR A PRESENTATION Contact: Angela Sarrels

Community Relations Specialist Email: asarrels@cns.gov

Phone: 319-472-9664 x12

Recruitment Corner

Class 20, Issue I

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UPCOMING INFORMATIONAL WEBINARS Send an email to ncccnorthcentral@cns.gov to register.

November 11/20: 12:00-1:00 PM (central) 11/21: 1:00-2:00 PM (central)

December

12/11: 11:00 AM-12:00 PM (central) 12/12: 1:00-2:00 PM (central)

By: David Chernyshov, NCCC member

Maple 2 participated and helped plan a Day of Remembrance and Service on Sep-

tember 11. The day was meant to honor the people who lost their lives on Sep-

tember 11, 2001, and also the men and women who are serving America today.

The team prepared for this event by handing out flyers door-to-door throughout

the community and chatting with local citizens about the upcoming event. Maple 2

also assisted in planning the day so that they could serve as assistants throughout

the entirety of the event, making sure everything was running smoothly.

The first part of the morning consisted of signing people in and then participating

in an opening ceremony. The ceremony started out with the pledge of allegiance

led by one of the team’s members. Beyond that, there were a few readings, musical

selections, a firefighter’s real life testimony and a speech by the CEO of the team’s

wonderful sponsoring organization, Habitat for Humanity – MidOhio.

The team then got right into the service and worked the whole day with the doz-

ens of the amazing volunteers that came out. Part of the team assisted in the build-

ing of a Habitat home while the other team members served at a local community

garden. The team planted flowers as well as created a border and mulched the

entirety of the garden. The team finished the day by getting to know the volun-

teers and reflecting on the experience.

NCCC member Katie plants a flower in the freshly

mulched garden.

Page 9 Friends of the North Central Region

NCCC members often serve with nonprofit organizations during

their 10 months of service and many decide to work with non-

profits after graduating from the program. In addition to these

valuable hands-on experiences, NCCC members can also become

Certified Nonprofit Professionals (CNP) through the Nonprofit

Leadership Alliance after graduating from the program.

The Nonprofit Leadership Alliance’s mission is “to strengthen the

leadership of the social sector and to sustain the ability of non-

profits to fulfill their missions with a talented and prepared work-

force.” They do this by partnering with colleges and universities

to train, certify and connect young people to careers in the non-

profit sector. In 2011 they launched the CNP credential, the first

national professional designation of its kind, which is awarded to

graduates of Alliance campus programs.

Individuals earn their CNP by completing a competency-based

program consisting of coursework, experiential learning opportu-

nities, participation in the Alliance Management/Leadership Insti-

tute and earning a bachelor’s degree.

The key competencies covered in the program include: communi-

Benefits Beyond Service: Becoming a Certified Nonprofit Professional

cation, marketing and public relations, cultural competency and

diversity, financial resource development and management, foun-

dations and nonprofit management, governance and advocacy,

legal and ethical decision making, personal and professional devel-

opment, program development, volunteer and human resource

management and trends in the nonprofit sector.

The Nonprofit Leadership Alliance and AmeriCorps NCCC have

partnered to offer NCCC alumni the opportunity to earn their

CNP by applying their national service experience towards the

program competencies. NCCC alumni have seven years to take

advantage of this opportunity. Alumni who already have a bache-

lor’s degree simply need to complete the coursework competen-

cies they didn’t meet while serving in the program at partner

schools and then attend the Alliance Management/Leadership

Institute.

For more information about this program, visit the Nonprofit

Leadership Alliance’s website.

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By: Chrissy Diers, FEMA Corps member

FEMA Corps team, Spruce 3, served with the Iowa Children’s

Museum for their two-day 9/11 Remembrance project. The team

helped out with multiple projects varying from office work, to

cleaning up exhibits, and working on projects for birthday parties

and the newest museum exhibit ‘Move it, Dig it, Do it.’

On the first day the team arrived at 9 a.m. and got right to work

cleaning everything in sight; washing windows inside and out,

dusting every lamp and vent in each exhibit to keep it clean for

the kids, making sure the theater was sanitized and creating plas-

ter molds and other objects to get ready for the newest exhibit.

The CAP representatives even did some recruiting as they talk to

individuals interested in learning more about the program. The

second day the team was sent to the copy room to create 600

‘passports’ for the ‘Move it, Dig it, Do it’ event; they also count-

ed hardhats that were to be distributed to each child. On Sep-

tember 22, those children who attended the ‘Move it, Dig It, Do

It’ exhibit received a hardhat and passport and as children when

through each exhibit they received a stamp in their passport.

When asked to give their thoughts and experience about the

project, corps member Kathleen Snook had this to say. “I really

enjoyed having the opportunity to work in the Coralville area at

the Iowa's Children's Museum. It was a great experience to get

to know the community that has so positively welcomed me. I

loved working with the kids and helping the museum prepare for the ‘Move It! Dig It! Do it!’ event.”

All in all a successful project, giving the team a perspective on

what the bigger service projects will bring and helping the team

dynamic evolve into something even better.

FEMA Corps Spruce 3 Serves in Remembrance of 9/11

FEMA Corps member cleaning windows at the Iowa Children’s

Museum.

Page 10 Class 20, Issue I

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Class 19 NCCC Team Leader Spotlight: Hannah Davis

By Rebecca Bigler, NCCC team leader

Hannah Davis, from Alpine, Texas, is a team

leader for NCCC’s Class 19 Cedar 1. She has

been leading her team of seven members on a

number of service projects throughout the

North Central Region since March.

Hannah loves working with people and helping

them when she can. She also has a background in business administration. These two skills help her

manage the challenges of leading a team this year.

“This is actually my second year of service,” Han-

nah said. “I chose to do it the first time to travel

and meet new people. I am continuing it because

the work we do is so gratifying.” Being a team

leader allows her to experience the great things

she loved about her year as a corps member,

while building on her leadership skills and grow-

Class 19 NCCC Corps Member Spotlight: Vincent Beyer

ing on a professional level as well.

Prior to her first term with NCCC, Hannah was

attending the University of North Texas in Den-

ton, Texas and studying business administration.

She also graduated from Alpine High School in

2009. Upon completing her term of service, she

is planning on going to nursing school.

During her corps year, Hannah had an experi-ence running shelters in New Jersey after Hurri-

cane Sandy that reaffirmed her commitment to

service. “Just a week and a half there made eve-

rything in the entire 10 months of NCCC com-

pletely worth it,” she said. “Helping people who

had just lost everything is one of the best feelings

in the world. I can't explain how grateful I am to

have experienced this.”

By Rebecca Bigler, NCCC team leader

Vincent Beyer, from Bloomington, Ind., is a

member of Oak 1 in NCCC’s Class 19. He and

his team have served on five projects this year.

“I chose to do a year of service with NCCC

because I really enjoy doing a variety of things

and I'm uncertain of what I want to do in the

future,” Vincent said. “I think that by participat-

ing in AmeriCorps NCCC with the variety of

service projects that it entails, I will be able to

have a wide range of experiences that will give

me a better idea of what I want to do, all the

while meeting and working with new people to

make the world a better place!”

Vincent brings several skills with him to NCCC,

which will help him be successful throughout his

term with the program. “I grew up on collec-

tively owned 300 acres of pristine Indiana for-

est,” he said, “where I learned a-lot about the

outdoors and developed a fondness for working

and being outside.” He also knows a lot about

organic crop production and irrigation through

working on an organic farm for his sister. Vin-

cent has other skills in construction, bicycle

mechanics, digital and manual photography and

has taught himself to play multiple instruments.

Vincent’s experience growing up in rural Indiana,

on a place called May Creek Farm, had a signifi-

cant impact on his values. “May Creek Farm was

started by my parents and their friends who got

together and decided to buy a large parcel of

land to build homes and raise families there. I

have grown up surrounded by forest and trees

and my neighbors. It's like having extended family

growing up on the frontier and while at times I

may have been a little isolated from town and my friends at school, I also think that led me to em-

brace unusual aspects of growing up the way I

did. I feel that I have very strong sense of nature

and community and that's something that I

wouldn't give up for the world!”

Prior to NCCC, Vincent was working part time

at the local public library and had just finished

acting in the play Rimers of Eldritch by Lanford

Wilson. He completed one year at Ivy Tech

Community College, and graduated from Bloom-

ington High School South in 2012.

After finishing NCCC, Vincent hopes to go back

to school and transfer to a four-year university,

possibly Indiana University. He then wants to

acquire a bachelor’s degree, perhaps with a mi-

nor in music or writing.

Page 11

Class 20 FEMA Corps Team Leader Spotlight: Mike Fernandez

Mike Fernandez, from Towaco, N. J., is the

team leader for Hickory 5 in AmeriCorps

NCCC FEMA Corps’ Class 20.

Hickory 5 is made up of nine people from

across the country and they are serving togeth-

er on emergency management and long-term

recovery projects with FEMA. The team’s FEMA

focus is logistics.

Mike learned about the FEMA Corps program

from his sister who had served in NCCC and

also served as a team leader with FEMA Corps.

“I chose to do a year of service because I want-

ed to help people and make their lives better,”

he says. “I have already completed a year of

service with NCCC and have seen the change

and good of serving and have now caught the

‘service bug.’”

Mike graduated from Colts Neck High School in

2010. “I had tried a year of college,” he says, “but

was unsure as to what I wanted to do. So instead

of digging a deeper hole of debt, I decided to use

my time and serve with NCCC out of the Atlan-

tic Region to figure out exactly what I want to do

while achieving my goal of helping people and

improving their lives.” After completing his term

of service with FEMA Corps, he plans on serving

in his community while taking a few college

courses.

Serving with NCCC was a transformative experi-

ence for Mike. “It took me all over the east coast

with the purpose of improving people's lives and

was a life experience that will never be forgot-

ten,” he says, “and I am lucky enough to serve

again, but this time with FEMA Corps.”

Friends of the North Central Region

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Yvette Vargas, from Red Bluff, Calif., is serving

on team Pine 2 in AmeriCorps NCCC FEMA

Corps’ Class 20. She arrived in Vinton on Au-

gust 20, 2013, to start her 10-month service

term.

Pine 2 is a Disaster Survivor Assistance team

made up of nine people from across the country

who will serve together on emergency manage-

ment and long-term recovery projects with

FEMA.

When asked why she chose to serve in FEMA

Corps, Yvette says, “I believe it's a great oppor-

tunity for me to get great experience and to

learn more about nonprofits, community ser-

vice, other states around my country and my-

self.”

Prior to joining FEMA Corps, Yvette was work-

ing at the department of education in her

hometown. She graduated from Red Bluff High

School in 2008 and California State University,

Chico in 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in inter-

national relations and Latin American studies.

After completing her term of service, she is plan-

ning to apply for the Peace Corps, pursue a ca-

reer or return to school for master’s degree.

Yvette brings some interesting skills and experi-

ences to her team. She is bilingual and has trav-eled abroad to Europe, Asia, Mexico and the

Caribbean. Travel and volunteering are two of

her passions so she is very excited to gain new

experiences and learn new things during her

term of service with FEMA Corps.

Class 20 FEMA Corps Member Spotlight: Yvette Vargas

HOW TO APPLY FOR A NCCC TEAM

The North Central Region campus is requesting proposals for team-based community service projects typically last-ing six-eight weeks that focus on at least one of our five main service areas — disaster services, energy conservation,

environment, infrastructure improvement and urban and rural development.

Step 1 is to complete a concept form. Upon review potential sponsors will be invited to submit a full application or

contacted for more information. For more information contact your state’s representative below:

MN, ND, SD, WI: Alana Svensen, 319-472-9664 ext. 19 or asvensen@cns.gov

IL, IN, MI, OH: JJ Trotta, 319-472-9664 ext. 20 or jtrotta@cns.gov

IA: Jody Burns, 202-409-6556 or jburns@cns.gov

NE: Brandi Day, 319-472-9664 ext. 11 or bday@cns.gov

Class 20, Issue I Page 12

NCCC Alums Are you looking for ways to

stay involved with NCCC? Here

are a few suggestions:

Help recruit future members

Become a project sponsor or

assist with developing pro-

jects in your community

Visit and/or work with a

team serving in your com-

munity

Network with other NCCC

alumni.

Join AmeriCorps Alums

Attend/participate in campus

events such as Life After

AmeriCorps, National Days

of Service, Induction and

Graduation

Follow NCCC on Facebook,

twitter, YouTube and the

NCCC blog and encourage

others to follow us

Contact the CRS in your region

to see how you can get involved

with your regional campus:

Atlantic Region

Sam McKenzie

smckenzie@cns.gov

North Central Region

Angela Sarrels

asarrels@cns.gov

Pacific Region

Sandra Hajt

shajt@cns.gov

Southern Region

Erika Roberts

eroberts@cns.gov

Southwest Region

Heather Dirck

hdirck@cns.gov

This Year and Beyond: Brenna Shaeffer

Hometown: Minneapolis, MN

Current town: Minneapolis, MN

Classes Served: Class 11

Campus: Capitol Region

Teams: K-Block (Senate 13)

Q: Why did you sign up to join NCCC?

I was paying my own way for college and

realizing I still didn’t know what I wanted to

do after my sophomore year so I decided to

try something else before heading back. I

had hoped that AmeriCorps would help me

figure out what I wanted to be when I grew

up.

Q: What was your favorite project?

We worked for an organization in West

Virginia called High Rocks. During the day

we walked up a mountain each morning to

build cabins for the upcoming summer. In

the evenings we would participate in tutor-

ing homework sessions for young girls in the

tri-county area. It was hard, physical work

during the day, but when the girls came for their weekly program night it was easy to

see how impactful our actions were.

Q: What was your most rewarding NCCC

experience?

It’s truly hard to pick one. I loved our pro-

ject in Cincinnati because we had such a

passionate leader who inspired us. We had

the opportunity to paint & help fix the

homes of low income families and it was so

rewarding to see direct impact and get to

know those that we supported with our labor.

Q: What is one lesson learned that you use

every day?

At the end of every project we had to debrief

with the staff and talk about what we learned.

During every single debrief we talked about

the importance of communication skills and

how we learned yet another lesson about

communication. I’ve made a career, in part,

out of helping people manage their communi-

cation skills to be more effective team mem-

bers & leaders.

Q: What did you do after NCCC

(immediately following)?

I went back to finished my undergraduate de-

gree. In between undergrad and graduate

school, I served with AmeriCorps VISTA.

Q: What are you doing now?

My experience with NCCC helped me figure

out what I wanted to do with my life. I went

back to school and added another major that

would set me up to get into graduate school

to get a degree in human resources and indus-

trial relations. I now work for General Mills as

an HR Manager.

Q: What is one piece of advice you would

give to current members in the program?

Embrace the suck. You won’t love everything

or everyone all the time. Sometimes you just

need to get through a day or project and can’t

change that. But what you can change is your

attitude and if you embrace the suck (even if

it’s so that you have a story for later) it will be

better for you and your team.

Q: What advice would you give to members

as they prepare to enter life after Ameri-

Corps?

Use the rest of your time to get outside of

your comfort zone to try new things. Some-

thing you never thought you would want to do

may end up being what you choose to do for

the rest of your life.

Class 20, Issue I

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