National Service News: Harris Wofford: Our Champion of Service

We salute his legacy of service to our nation [] Having trouble viewing this email? [View it as a Web page](. [CNCS salutes the legacy of former CEO Harris Wofford, who passed away on Jan. 21, 2019.]( Harris Wofford: Our Champion of Service On Monday as we observed the Martin Luther King Day of Service and holiday, America lost a great patriot, veteran, statesman, and leader whose life called on all to serve and inspired multitudes to aspire to our nation’s highest ideals -- Harris Wofford. We could fill this entire email in a futile attempt to document Wofford's many, many achievements. When you hear the phrase, "They don't make 'em like that anymore," Harris would be a prime example. For seven decades, Wofford led a life committed to service -- a direction that was formed at an early age. He volunteered for the Army Air Corps in World War II and continued serving his country as a civil rights advocate, a U.S. Senator, the president of two higher-education institutions, and a voice uniting people with different perspectives to find common ground. Harris served as an advisor to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during the Civil Rights movement; helped advance the cause of equality as a member of President John F. Kennedy’s White House staff; and helped launch the Peace Corps, later serving as an Associate Director of the program. In 2013, President Barack Obama awarded him the Presidential Citizens Medal, the nation's second-highest civilian honor, in recognition of his more than 60 years of public service. The national service family feels this loss deeply as [Wofford is interwoven into our history]( as a driving force behind the creation of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), AmeriCorps, and the MLK Day of Service; and served as CEO of this agency from 1995-2001. CNCS CEO Barbara Stewart shared the following [statement on Wofford's passing]( Harris understood the secret heart of America and the secret to our success: the idea that it is better to serve than to be served, more blessed to give than to receive. He believed – like Dr. King – that everyone had the power to make a difference, and that all should be engaged in building a better society and help fulfill the promise of America. From working to pass the legislation creating CNCS, to expanding service opportunities in AmeriCorps and Senior Corps, to his leadership on volunteering and service initiatives outside government, no other American has done more to advance the cause of citizen service than Harris Wofford." We thank Harris Wofford for the legacy of service he left for us to follow. There won't be another like him anytime soon. In service, Mike Cys Director, Office of External Affairs P.S. Watch our [video tribute to Harris Wofford's legacy of service]( and an [interview where Harris discusses his relationship with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.]( on the CNCS YouTube channel. --------------------------------------------------------------- Editor's note: By clicking the links below, you may be connecting to websites created by parties other than the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). The CNCS Office of External Affairs provides links to these stories because they contain information that may be useful or interesting to the national service and volunteering community. These links are for reference only, and CNCS does not endorse the individuals or organizations associated with these links, and cannot attest to the accuracy of the information provided by websites outside of our control. --------------------------------------------------------------- The Impact of National Service [Harris Wofford helps volunteers unload sandbags from a flatbed truck. The former U.S. Senator and CEO of CNCS passed away on Jan. 21, 2019.]( [Let’s Honor the Life of a Great American Who Took an Unconventional Path]( [The following op-ed by Washington Post columnist Michael Gerson is just one of many tributes this week honoring the life of Harris Wofford.] Many of the most interesting and consequential Americans of the 20th century found greatness in politics, military service, and diplomacy. Only one took the path of the recently deceased Harris Wofford. After a precocious childhood that included extensive global travel and a stint in the Army Air Forces during World War II, Wofford went to India for several months to absorb teachings about non­violent social change from disciples of Mohandas K. Gandhi. He soon became one of the main conduits of that theory for the American civil rights movement and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. [Read more]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Phyllis Segal poses for a photo with two of her mentees.]( [How to Become a Mentor to Young People (CNCS)]( [The following article is by Phyllis Segal, Vice President of Encore.org and a former member of the CNCS Board of Directors.] Across the country today, millions will mark the Martin Luther King Day of Service by showing up to help others. Throughout the month, others will mark National Mentoring Month by thanking those who mentored them and considering how to become mentors themselves. Let me tell you a little about how I was mentored, how I have mentored others and how you can become a mentor, too. Both the Day of Service and the Month of Mentoring turn my thoughts to the next generation and to psychologist Urie Bronfenbrenner’s memorable words: “Every child needs at least one adult who is irrationally crazy about him or her.” [Read more]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Senior Corps RSVP volunteers helped rebuild a shed destroyed by Hurricane Harvey in Corpus Christi, TX, on MLK Day.]( [Local Volunteers Give Back on MLK Day of Service (Senior Corps)]( Nearly a dozen volunteers, including Kristofer Morgan, of Catholic Charities of Corpus Christi, were hard at work on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. “This is technically my day off, but I’m here,” said Morgan. “And I’m all for it.” Morgan and the other volunteers are from organizations like the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, and Catholic Charities of Corpus Christi. [Read more and watch video]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Watch It: Salute to John McCain and Service [Watch this video honoring the late Sen. John McCain's life of public service.]( ]( Each week, we provide a social media shareable to use on your networks. This week we are highlighting a video about the late Sen. John McCain that was shown during the National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service interim report release event earlier this week.(You can read more about the Commission event below and on the [National Service Blog]( Like Harris Wofford, Sen. McCain was a tremendous advocate for service as a necessary part of Americans' civic responsibility. Take a few minutes to watch the video, and share it with friends and followers on your social media networks. --------------------------------------------------------------- National Service in the News [Service in Spotlight as National Commission Releases Report (CNCS)]( National Service Blog National service was in the house and on the agenda Wednesday as the National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service released findings from its interim report to an audience of nearly 200 leaders from the national service, military, and public sectors. Launched in 2018, the bipartisan Commission was tasked to holistically and comprehensively review the Selective Service System and recommend policies to strengthen the ethic of service and increase service opportunities in America. During the last year, the Commissioners visited 24 cities in 15 states, and met with more than 300 organizations to listen and learn about ways to encourage and inspire more Americans to serve. [Read more]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Reading Tutors to the Rescue (AmeriCorps)]( Pipestone County Star, Minnesota One in three third graders (100,000 kids) struggle to read in Minnesota, according to Minnesota Reading Corps. At Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) 47 percent of third graders were not proficient in reading, according to the state’s standardized tests in 2017 and 2018. That’s a problem, according to Reading Corps, because from age 3 up until third grade, kids are learning to read. After third grade, they’re reading to learn. Those who are behind at the end of third grade aren’t likely to catch up. [Read more]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [In Retirement, They Find Rewards in Volunteering (Senior Corps)]( The New York Times, New York The first two years of Stuart Singer’s retirement were pure play, spent whisking through New York City by bike, visiting museums and art galleries. “At some point I realized I need to do more than this,” said Mr. Singer, a former high school guidance counselor. Now Mr. Singer, 74, and his wife of 46 years, Madine, 69, are involved with the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program. Mr. Singer volunteers with the Community Health Advocates program, which started in 2010. [Read more]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Organization Bringing Healthy Food Options to Danville with Urban Farm (AmeriCorps)]( WSET-TV, Virginia A local organization is working to bring you more healthy food options. God's Storehouse is partnering with AmeriCorps VISTA to build a greenhouse in Danville, VA. Volunteers have been working on the soon-to-be urban farm on Memorial Drive. There will be a variety of crops on the farm from onions and peppers to mushrooms and herbs. Some will be given out at God's Storehouse's normal food distribution and some will be donated to the farmers market. Robert Maher with AmeriCorps said the goal is to change the normal food experience for folks in Danville. [Read more and watch video]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Federally Funded Companions Keep Seniors Connected to Their Neighbors (Senior Corps)]( NPR Weekend Edition Sunday Isolation is an issue for many seniors, especially in rural places. It can lead to loneliness, which many experts consider a serious public health issue. That's where Kitty Gee comes in. Gee, a spry 87-year-old lives in western Maine, which is known for having picturesque rural mountain landscapes and an aging population. Five years ago, she decided to join a federal grant program that combats senior loneliness the old fashioned way: by sending visitors door to door. The Senior Companions program has operated for decades in nearly every state, connecting isolated seniors to a friendly visitor every week. To qualify as a Senior Companion, volunteers must be at least 55 years old and serve between 15 and 40 hours a week. [Read more and listen here]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [New Youth Podcast Launches in Ketchikan (AmeriCorps)]( Associated Press, Alaska Ketchikan’s young people have a new venue to make their voices heard, with “KTown: A Youth Podcast.” In the premiere episode released Friday, listeners were led through a dizzying array of topics by podcasters Jefferson Barry, Hiro Fifield, Nathaniel Johnson, Caleb Strait and Evan Yoder. The podcast was led by host Austin Otos, of Ketchikan Youth Court, and co-host, AmeriCorps VISTA Ketchikan Youth Initiatives volunteer John Bruce. The podcast is affiliated with Ketchikan Youth Initiatives. It is recorded and edited at the KRBD-FM studio, and editions are planned to be posted on the radio station’s website and the podcast’s Facebook site as well as on various social media platforms. [Read more]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Feel Creaky? This Senior Helps Make Fitness Fun (Senior Corps)]( The Lowell Sun, Massachusetts Twice a week, Jane Steinberg leads a Bone Builders class at the Lowell Senior Center. With a modest group, she lifts weights to gain strength, holds poses to improve balance and stretches for better mobility. The 88-year-old Lowell resident began coming to the classes as a participant about a year ago. The instructor at the time had to step away, and Steinberg stepped up. The program is run through Community Teamwork Inc.'s Retired Senior Volunteer Program. "It's very nice to do something so simple and so basic," Steinberg said. "There's something wholesome about being about to show people how to do something that will get them out of trouble." [Read more]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [AmeriCorps NCCC Team Renovates Home to be Handicap Accessible]( Tahlequah Daily Press, Oklahoma A team of AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps members is renovating low-income housing to be handicap accessible. The group of 11 young adults arrived on Jan. 7 and will be in Tahlequah through Feb. 20. While in town, the AmeriCorps NCCC team will be serving with Habitat for Humanity, whose mission is to bring people together to build homes, communities, and hope. Through the work of Habitat, thousands of low-income families have found hope in the form of affordable housing. Churches, community groups and others have joined together to successfully tackle a significant social problem: to provide decent housing for all. Since its inception, Habitat for Humanity has built or repaired over one million homes, serving more than five million people worldwide. [Read more]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Volunteers Spend MLK Day Preparing Emergency Kits for Seniors (Senior Corps)]( KRQE-TV, New Mexico Some New Mexicans celebrated Martin Luther King Day by giving back. Senior Corps volunteers spent the day preparing emergency kits for homebound seniors. They gathered water, non-perishable foods, first-aid kits and more. The kits will help seniors survive a number of different types of emergencies. "It can be an emergency like losing electricity for two or three days, an extended period of time when you don't have access to a phone," explained David Gonzales. [Read more and watch video]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Youth Volunteer with Troy Mayor at Unity House (AmeriCorps)]( The Record, New York A few extra volunteers greeted people who stopped for lunch at Unity House on Monday. Mayor Patrick Madden helped commemorate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with members of CEO’s YouthBuild program and local youth from the Troy Boys and Girls Club by volunteering during a meal program at Unity House on Sixth Avenue. Unity House’s food security case manager Amy Halloran said they serve free community meals Monday-Friday each week from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Halloran said the meal program serves more than 100 people each week. “I think it’s important to set an example for the youth in the community — that service to others is important,” said Madden after volunteering. “The YouthBuild kids turned out today for this and they’ve been terrific, they have been more than willing to pitch in and do what they can to make other people’s lives easier.” [Read more]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Partnership Adds 5 AmeriCorps VISTAs to Battle Opioids]( Madison County Record, Alabama To assist in decreasing threats from the opioid crisis, Partnership for a Drug-Free Community has added five staff members with the AmeriCorps Volunteers in Service to America or VISTA program. The VISTA volunteers will boost working resources to address the opioid crisis for the next 12 months, spokesperson Wendy Reeves said. New staff members for the partnership are Ashley Mahanna, Madison; Kelsia Smith, Huntsville; Silla Dixon, Huntsville; Jacqueline Carter, who recently relocated from Jackson, Miss. to Madison; and Brandy Wilkerson, a former resident of Savannah, Tenn. who moved to Huntsville. [Read more]( --------------------------------------------------------------- News You Can Use [CNCS thanks everyone for serving on MLK Day 2019!]( [Thank You for Serving on MLK Day!]( CNCS thanks everyone who organized amazing projects and inspiring volunteers to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Each picture, article, social media post, and service accomplishment related to MLK Day illustrates the impact we can have when we focus our energy and respond to the question, “What are you doing for others?” If your MLK Day project is happening later, be sure to share your photos on social media using the #MLKDay tag. Click below to see MLK Day photos from across the country. [View photos]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [AmeriCorps]( | [Senior Corps]( | [Volunteer Generation Fund]( [NationalService.gov]( | [Manage Preferences]( [twitter link]( link]( link]( link]( link]( link]( link]( --------------------------------------------------------------- This email was sent to {EMAIL} using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Corporation for National & Community Service · 250 E. Street SW · Washington, DC 20525 · (202) 606- 5000 · (800) 833-3722 [GovDelivery logo](