Charleston by Numbers

The TV show "Reckless" was picked up by CBS for mid-fall and start filming here in late July

Last year I posted about Spartanburg by numbers and decided to do the same this year. Here is a taste of my service year thus far in numbers.

 

Charleston by Numbers
682,700	Population of Charleston metro
37	Number of years Mayor Riley has been in office (one of my favorite people J)
243	Age in years of Charleston (est. 1770)
5	5 Number of beaches within the area
34	Ranking on Forbes’s Best Places for Business and Careers
24	Number of VISTA members serving with our project
6	Number of Charleston locations on Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-Ins, & Dives”
17	Number of days left in my term
1	Ranking  in the Conde Nast Traveler Reader's Choice Awards "Top City in the US"

Member data to date:

Manage 4,700 volunteers who’ve served over 37,000 hours

Leveraged a quarter of a million dollars in in-kind donations

Served 404 veterans and their families

Served over 15,000 economically disadvantaged youth and children

Y’all #serviceworks! Think about the impact National Service is having on our community and country. I could not be prouder to support our members. Keep up the great work!

Month 10 Update

Garden downtown

So I officially have less than 2 months left as a VISTA Leader!

Right now, my co-leader and I are in the midst of recruitment craziness. Every application we get, we call and interview them, and then pass them along to our sites. Some days, I have talked to as many as 6 applicants. It is difficult to keep everything straight. We were extremely lucky and despite budget cuts, we were able to secure 26 VISTA positions for the 2013-2014 year. This honor is only as a result of the hard work of our members and project sponsor that continue to provide measurable outcome improvements.

If you know someone who would be interested in joining AmeriCorps, positions are posted online at americorps.gov. The VISTA positions for our project can be found by searching the project name: Charleston Area Service Collaborative. We currently have positions in the areas of Youth Leadership, Literacy, Veterans, Health, Mentoring, and Child and Family Supports. Feel free to let me know if you have any questions. (Shameless plug J)

Since I have less than two months left, people have been asking me what is next.

 I have decided that this term will be my last with the VISTA program. I have been thankful for the opportunities it has provided for me and the connections I have made, but quite honestly, I’m tired of being poor. Don’t get me wrong, I have somehow managed to make this modest budget work, but it would be nice to do the things on my “When I have money” list that has recently been growing (at the top is getting the A/C in my car fixed). Though I know I am not guaranteed to have more money come August 10^th, and that it even seems somewhat self-seeking that I so easily could.

I also feel like the last 2 years have been figuring out what I’m good at and what I like, and I’m ready to put turn that into a career. I’m also not tired of serving and volunteering and plan on doing that wherever and whatever I end up doing.

I consider the connections I have made here valuable enough to make this the first place I look for employment (which is great for those of you who haven’t made it here to visit me yet J). I know I want to help people and that I would like an environment that values innovation. As far as where and what I would be doing, I’m still researching. I liked marketing last year and enjoy communications and problem-solving. I wouldn’t mind being back in a non-profit.

So there you have it, you know as much about my future as I do J. I trust the Lord to open doors and am seeking His guidance during this process.

“When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.”

Month 8 Update

As a part of AmeriCorps Week, Mayor Riley recognized the VISTA members in our project at the City Council meeting.

Eight months ago today I first set foot into this office and into my role as a VISTA Leader here in Charleston.

Crazy!

So I guess the million dollar question is—what have I been doing?

My desk!

At work, my co-leader and I have been making sure the needs of our 24 members are being met. Whether it’s site issues, providing them with resources, or planning meeting or training opportunities, we stay pretty busy. We also work with other AmeriCorps projects and do outreach. We coordinated with the other National Service organizations in the area for the Mayor’s Day Recognition of National Service at the City Council Meeting last night. There are over 130 individuals in Charleston serving with AmeriCorps, RSVP, and SeniorCorps. We are very fortunate to have a city and mayor that is so supportive and advocates for National Service.

Recently, we did informational meetings for organizations interested in being VISTA sites for the 2013-2014 term. Those applications have been turned in and passed along to our Grant Review Team. Once their recommendations are made, sites will be selected, and VISTA member recruitment will begin in May. What a whirlwind process!

In addition to our VISTA project duties, I am also a part of an Action Learning Team sponsored by AmeriCorps. I applied back in November and found out in January that I was a part of the team! Seven other VISTA Leaders from around the country and me, with the help of a facilitator, are working to create a guide for VISTA Leaders to use in supporting their members. I have enjoyed the opportunity to work with great people I’ve never met and to meet some pretty important people with the Corporation for National and Community Service. Our resource should be completed by the end of April and ready for presentation in May.

Personally, the last few weeks have been insane. A college student from my bible study moved into our house and some of my friends from college came for a visit. I am so incredibly blessed to be surrounded by not only awesome folks, but awesome folks that love the Lord. I have been both challenged and encouraged by my interactions and look forward to more in the coming months. 

Happy AmeriCorps Week!

On December 12, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson welcomed the first group of 20 VISTA volunteers with this advice: “Your pay will be low; the conditions of your labor often will be difficult. But you will have the satisfaction of leading a great national effort and you will have the ultimate reward which comes to those who serve their fellow man.” 
© 1960 Corporation for National and Community Service

WOW! Where has the time gone?! I will post an update soon, but I didn't want this week to pass without a tribute.

Each year during AmeriCorps Week, we recognize the commitment of AmeriCorps members and alums by highlighting the extraordinary impact AmeriCorps makes across our nation every day. This year, AmeriCorps Week will take place March 9-17, 2013.

AmeriCorps Week is a time to salute AmeriCorps members and alums for their service, thank AmeriCorps community partners, and communicate AmeriCorps impact on communities and on the lives of those who serve. 

This year's theme, AmeriCorps Works, reflects AmeriCorps triple bottom line return on investment -- for the recipients of service, the people who serve, and the larger community and nation. 

For our project here in Charleston, our 24 VISTAs, my Co-Leader, and myself are being recognized at the City Council Meeting on Tuesday for our service. We have also planned our Retreat for Thursday: a relaxing day of training and team-building at a state historic site. And throughout the week, we have coordinated speaking engagements for our members at schools and other organizations.

How can you celebrate?

Research where AmeriCorps members serve in your community and thank them for what they are doing.

Visit http://www.servicenation.org/ and find out what you can do to support National Service

Volunteer in your community

AmeriCorps Fast Facts

• 800,000: Number of individuals who have served as AmeriCorps members since 1994.
• 1 Billion: Total number of hours served by AmeriCorps members.
• 5.2 Billion: Number of disadvantaged youth tutored, mentored, or served by AmeriCorps members.
• $2.4 Billion: Total amount of Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards earned by AmeriCorps members.
• 4 Million: Number of community volunteers managed or mobilized by AmeriCorps members in 2012.
• 15,000: Number of nonprofit, faith-based, and community organizations that AmeriCorps members serve with.
• $480 Million: Value of non-CNCS cash and in-kind donations leveraged by AmeriCorps programs in 2010.

Info fromwww.americorpsweek.gov

The Journey continues...

I have spent a lot of time thinking about this crazy VISTA journey, especially since it has been over a year since it began. If it were a soundtrack (which is in the works, by the way), I think it would be called the “Majestically Mystery Tour.” I know that God has directed the route because I’ve met some really awesome people along the way and because I never knew where I was headed. Regardless of how long people were in my life, I have been blessed by each encounter. And the journey continues…

I finished up last week as an AmeriCorps*VISTA member in the first week of August and my vote for “Best Parents Ever” came to Spartanburg to help me move. (This might not mean anything to you, but we also had a mini Nascar tour by visiting the site of Bud Moore’s old garage and the headquarters of Phoenix Racing. My dad was elated.)

My cute little house (because it is a house, not a dorm or apartmentJ) is in North Charleston in a cute little neighborhood within walking distance of the library. My roommates could not have been better. Both ladies are attending/did attend Charleston Southern University very close to the house (the Samford of Charleston). Though both are busy, I have been able to hang out with them some and look forward to more. And we have a black lab/great dane mix, Bella, who has quickly become my adopted dog (and Criminal Minds snuggle buddy). I am also blessed to be a part of an amazing staff. My supervisor is cool, my co-leader super sweet, and the Vista for our office is from Alabama!

My co-leader and I started work one week before our Vistas did. We prepared for their On-Site Orientation and finally got a chance to meet all 24 a week ago. They are from all over the country, range in age from 20-65, and will be working in the areas of literacy, education, volunteer development, and veteran’s services. I look forward to serving them this year as they work to alleviate poverty all over Charleston County.

Honestly, though I was working at the boys’ home four weeks ago, it feels like a different life. Perhaps because I feel like I disengaged three months ago when I anticipated that the end was near. I don’t miss Spartanburg like I had thought but do miss the people with whom I associated there. Saying goodbye was bittersweet, but when isn't it though, really?

Please include your comments and questions below.