Annual Thanksgiving Open House at Philadelphia City Hall
Thursday, November 15
4:00 – 6:00 PM
Philadelphia City Hall
RSVP Link: CLICK HERE
Please join us as we kickoff the 2012 holiday season at our Annual Thanksgiving Open House at Philadelphia City Hall.
AmeriCorps Alums and Global Citizen are partnering with Mayor Michael A. Nutter’s Office to host the 3rd annual Thanksgiving Open House at City Hall. This year we will be showcasing the work of the SERVE Philadelphia VISTA’s and their important service to the City of Philadelphia.
Visitors will have the opportunity to learn more about the goals and initiatives of the Mayor’s Office of Civic Engagement & Volunteer Service, the Mayor’s Office of Education, the Mayor’s Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, City Hall Tours and the Philadelphia AmeriCorps Alums Chapter.
Open house attendees are encouraged to bring donations of the following items to be distributed to homeless recipients on Thanksgiving Day:
- Juice boxes and cans of soda
- Individually wrapped snacks like granola and candy bars
- Cold weather items, especially boots, coats and sleeping bags
- Colored underwear (men’s and women’s, especially larger sizes)
- Toiletries, including toothbrushes and toothpaste, deodorant and other personal hygiene items
If you have questions about the event, please contact Lauren Dembo at (215) 851-1808.
Spring Service Opportunities & National AmeriCorps Week in Review
Congratulations to the AmeriCorps Week planning committee and their leaders, Lauren Dembo of Global Citizen and Melanie Johnson of SERVE Philadelphia! Thanks to the 3,000-plus service hours they contributed to organize a dozen projects and events, National AmeriCorps Week in Philadelphia was again a huge success.
Check out the links below to view media from the week:
AmeriCorps Week Service Project & Event Photos
AmeriCorps Week Community Concert Photostream
Video Testimonial of David Kamioner, Executive Director of the Philadelphia Veterans Comfort House, sharing how the service of AmeriCorps members from YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School is helping his organization better meet the needs of local veterans.
We encourage you to keep the spirit of service going and take action on Saturday, April 14 to make Philadelphia a cleaner, greener place by participating in the 5th Annual Philly Spring Clean Up.
Can’t make it to the Spring Clean Up? Join the Friends of Eden Cemetery the following Saturday on April 21 for a day of beautification at this historic site in Collingdale, PA.
Save the date for Tuesday, July 24, when we will partner with the Corporation for National & Community Service to host an Alumni Night at a Pre-Service Orientation (PSO). Stay tuned for more details.
We look forward to seeing you this spring!
National AmeriCorps Week in Philadelphia
Join us as we celebrate National AmeriCorps Week in Philadelphia! In partnership with Global Citizen, The Mayor’s Office of Civic Engagement & Volunteer Service, the AmeriCorps Week Planning Committee and others, we will offer events that showcase how AmeriCorps Works in creating the next generation of civic leaders while addressing community concerns.
On Tuesday, March 13 at 5:30 PM we will hold our signature event at City Hall, an interactive panel discussion featuring AmeriCorps Alum and Philadelphia City Councilman Kenyatta Johnson and other notable alumni who used their term of service as springboard into a career of civic leadership. Additional panelists include:
• Deputy Commissioner of the Philadelphia Streets Department, Carlton Williams
• Chief Development Officer of JEVS Human Services, Robert Meyer
• Director of Fund Development for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Rebecca Tone
• Director of EducationWorks of North and Central New Jersey, Nancie Dent
• Former City of Pittsburgh City Planner and long-time Public Service Leader, Eric Holmes
During the discussion, panelists will share how their AmeriCorps experience fueled their desire to create careers in public service. After the initial discussion, attendees will have the opportunity to connect one-on-one with panelists.
This event is a wonderful opportunity for those unfamiliar with AmeriCorps to learn about how the program has not only created positive change in communities, but has also inspired the people who have served as members. CLICK HERE to RSVP.
Below is a sampling of other events to occur during AmeriCorps Week:
March 14: Policy Workshop & Brown Bag Lunch at Phila. City Hall, 11 AM in Room 112
March 15: AmeriCorps Community Concert – 7 PM at the Painted Bride Art Center
March 17: Mount Moriah Day of Service
To view a complete list of events and to RSVP your attendance, CLICK HERE. If you have questions about AmeriCorps Week, please contact Lauren Dembo at (215) 665-2571 or LDembo@GlobalCitizen.us.com.
We look forward to seeing you during AmeriCorps Week!
Winter Quarter Happenings: MLK Day & AmeriCorps Week
Kickoff the New Year by joining the thousands who will serve across Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware as part of the 17th Annual Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Day of Service.
Volunteer opportunities throughout our region are still available and can be viewed by visiting the King Day of Service website– www.mlkdayofservice.org. Once at the website, you can create an individual or group volunteer account, view and then select a project.
All groups organizing their own projects are encouraged to register their projects or events on the King Day website so they may be included in the national tally of King Day of Service projects for our region.
SAVE-THE-DATE: AmeriCorps Week 2012 has been moved to March 10 – 18. Stay tuned for more information about service opportunities, professional development events and networking activities that will occur. We are seeking volunteers to serve on the AmeriCorps Week planning committee. To learn more or sign up, contact Lauren Dembo at (215) 665-2571 or ldembo@globalcitizen.us.com.
Join us in the Fight Against Hunger this Fall
Join us this fall as we take action to fight hunger locally.
On Wednesday, October 26, we will partner with the Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger to host our Fall Meet and Greet. Join us from 5 – 7 PM at the Black Sheep, located at 247 South 17th Street in Center City Philadelphia to learn about the work of the Coalition and how you can get involved in addressing issues of local food insecurity.
We are excited to again partner with SERVE Philadelphia to host our 2nd Annual Thanksgiving Open House at City Hall on Monday, November 14. From 4 – 6 PM, attendees will have the opportunity to meet Chief Service Officer, Catherine Wolfgang and her staff, as well as learn about the various initiatives of SERVE Philadelphia, the Mayor’s Office of Education, the Mayor’s Office of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy and our alumni chapter. Special guests to include AmeriCorps Director, John Gromperts.
The Open House will also feature a donation collection drive of nonperishable food and other items for homeless individuals living in Philadelphia. The items collected will be distributed on Thanksgiving Day to homeless recipients by the African Daughters of Fine Lineage, a local grassroots organization that has been engaged in the fight against hunger in Philadelphia for over twenty years.
Alums Night @ PSO – July 12
Tuesday, July 12
5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Doubletree Hotel Philadelphia
237 South Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Subway: Broad Street line @ Walnut-Locust Station
You are invited to an AmeriCorps VISTA Pre-Service Orientation (PSO) “Meet & Greet” in Philadelphia on Tuesday, July 12th. We’d like to provide VISTA candidates with an opportunity to meet alumni, ask questions, and be inspired. We’d love to hear what you’ve been up to since your VISTA service and provide you with a chance to network with candidates and fellow alumni.
You’re welcome to join us for dinner. Please indicate in your RSVP if you’d like to attend dinner.
RSVP & Questions: Elizabeth Matthews, VISTA Alumni Outreach and Support Specialist, 202.606.6774 or ematthews@cns.gov. Please use, “RSVP Philadelphia Meet & Greet” in the subject line.
Summer of Service Underway
This summer we are excited to offer several unique opportunities to stay active in your community while expanding both your professional and personal networks. Along with the events detailed below, we will also partner with the Corporation for National and Community Service to host an Alums Night at a July PSO (or Pre-Service Orientation) in Philadelphia. Please check our website in the coming weeks for more details about that event.
June 8 – 10: YouthBuild Volunteer Opportunities
YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School is helping young Philadelphians rebuild their lives by providing an opportunity for high school dropouts to earn their diploma while obtaining vocational training. In order to graduate, all students are required to complete a Transformation Interview or Capstone project. In the interview students are asked to reflect on their time at YouthBuild, discuss their transformation as a student and young adult, and demonstrate readiness to go on to post-secondary education or careers. Volunteers are needed to assist with student Capstone projects by sitting on several panels comprised of teachers, other YouthBuild staff and other volunteers. For more information or to volunteer, CLICK HERE. Questions? Contact Rory Katz at (215) 627-8671, ext. 51 or akatz@youthbuildphilly.org.
June 11 & 18: Days of Service at Historic Eden Cemetery
On Saturday, June 11, MLK365, the Friends of Eden Cemetery, 900-AM WURD Radio and Home Depot will host a volunteer service project at the cemetery were volunteers will have the opportunity to beautify this local treasure by painting the perimeter gate. CLICK HERE to learn more and/or sign up to volunteer.
On Saturday, June 18, MLK365, the Friends of Eden Cemetery, the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists and 900-AM WURD Radio will offer a day of photojournalism and volunteering at Eden Cemetery. Volunteers are needed to help preserve the cemetery’s history by taking photographs and documenting the conditions of headstones, which will be archived following the completion of the project. CLICK HERE to for more information or to RSVP to volunteer.
July 20 & August 10: Summer District Days
Advocate for AmeriCorps this summer by taking part in one or both of Save Service’s District Days on Wednesday, July 20 or Wednesday, August 10. For more information about how you can participate, including advocacy tools, please visit SaveService.org.
