The S-Files

Finding Joy and Gaining Experience while Serving Across the Seasons with the Green Bay Conservation Corps

Serve Wisconsin — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 08:53:02 -0500

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps member Cailie Kafura, who is serving her third term with the Green Bay Conservation Corps (GBCC). Cailie discusses the different conservation projects she has worked on across her terms, providing an overview of how the projects change according to the season, from invasive species removal in the winter to planting native plant species and later gathering their seeds as the year progresses. She also describes how GBCC engages the public in different projects, including their extensive MLK Day of Service Project that she helped organize at the Brown County Central Library featuring roundtables and resources focused around five community issues and packing over 100 care kits for homeless individuals and others in need. Reflecting on her service, Cailie discusses the skills, experience, and confidence she has gained through her service with GBCC and how it has prepared her for future positions in the conservation field following her service. Listen in to learn how her service not only helped her gain these skills, but also connections with the community and her fellow AmeriCorps members and why deciding to serve with GBCC was “honestly the best decision I've ever made because it's been probably one of the happiest years of my life.”

Service as an Opportunity to Help Others and to Gain Valuable Experience and Have the Learning Opportunity of a Lifetime

Serve Wisconsin — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 03:00:00 -0600

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps alumna Barb Suozzi, who previously served three terms with Marshfield Clinic Health System (MCHS) Recovery Corps from 2018-2021. Barb discusses her service as a recovery coach at two different sites across her service, detailing how during her first year she helped individuals with substance abuse disorders to make and follow their recovery plans while serving at the Family Health Center of Marshfield Alcohol and Drug Recovery Center in Minocqua. She then described her service the next two years at Arbor Vitae - Woodruff School, where she was primarily working on prevention activities and support for counseling, with her activities and roles adapting due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including shifting to preparing and delivering lunches for students that needed them when school shifted that for several months to virtual in 2020. Barb later discusses how her service experience helped lead to a job at the school assisting students as a mental health liaison before retiring and then using her Segal Education Award to study and complete volunteer service in Italy. Listen to learn about the advice that Barb would share for AmeriCorps members that she gained from her own experience, and how it led her into new career pathways and the learning opportunity of a lifetime.

Supporting those in need with MCHS Community Corps at Stepping Stones of Dunn County and through previous AmeriCorps service with multiple programs in Minnesota

Serve Wisconsin — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0500

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps member Debra Bappert, who is serving her second term with Marshfield Clinic Health System (MCHS) Community Corps at Stepping Stones of Dunn County and previously served terms with two programs in Minnesota. Debra shares about how her service supports multiple aspects of how Stepping Stones supports individuals in need through food and shelter. She discusses her role helping to manage volunteers and assist the public at their food pantry several days during the week, as well as supporting volunteers creating SAM bags for their Share a Meal Program, which packs easy-to-serve meals for school children that can be sent home to increase access to food during the weekend. She also describes serving at their homeless shelter, Cairn House, helping to manage the kitchen on certain days each week and creating lunch menus based upon food in stock at the pantry and from produce donated by local farmers and gardeners.Debra also describes her previous AmeriCorps service several years ago in Minnesota shortly after graduating college, first serving as an employment coach supporting welfare-to-work program participants with Minnesota Opportunity Corps, and later serving as a reading tutor for young elementary students as a part of Minnesota Reading Corps. Listen to learn how Debra’s AmeriCorps service journey with multiple programs has led to several full circle moments, including reconnecting with her supervisor from her first term years later in their time of need and returning to Stepping Stones as an AmeriCorps member the last two years after volunteering and sitting on their board two decades ago while a college student.

Supporting the Stewardship of the Lake Superior Reserve and the St. Louis River Estuary with MCHS Community Corps

Serve Wisconsin — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0500

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps member Callie Grones, who is serving her second term with Marshfield Clinic Health System (MCHS) Community Corps at Friends of the Lake Superior Reserve in Superior. Callie discusses several different service activities she has done with people who are stewarding and protecting the St. Louis River estuary, which is where the river that serves as the border between northwestern Wisconsin and northeastern Minnesota empties into Lake Superior and creates a place filled with biodiversity. She describes events to educate and mobilize the public that she has helped coordinate or participated in during her service, including school field trips to the estuary, their birding series, tree planting, and beach cleanups. Callie also describes learning how to take water quality samples and helping to collect them by taking a boat to their sampling sites, with the data being used to track the quality of the water on a day-to-day and long-term basis. Listen to learn how Callie came to her service position at the Friends of the Lake Superior Reserve looking for an opportunity after graduating college to expand her skills and make a difference in the outdoors and how everything she has been learning is opening up different pathways for continuing her education following her service.

Having a Fire Lit Inside You by Service as a Volunteer and as an AmeriCorps Member

Serve Wisconsin — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0500

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by Sage Spear, who was recognized as one of the Volunteer of the Year honorees at the 2025 Governor’s Service Awards for her efforts supporting the United Way of Jefferson & North Walworth Counties Inc and other nonprofit organizations and is currently serving as an AmeriCorps member with Marshfield Clinic Health System (MCHS) Community Corps. Sage discusses how her volunteer service at the United Way of Jefferson and North Walworth Counties started with supporting their weekly bingo nights and grew to supporting several other initiatives and projects. She also describes her service as an ambassador for Setting Scoliosis Straight, drawing on her own experiences needing a back brace for treatment as a child, as well as helping raise over $18,000 to build tiny homes for veterans in southern Wisconsin and over $100,000 for local nonprofits through the Miss Whitewater and Mr. Lake Geneva pageants. Sage then discusses her AmeriCorps service over the last year with MCHS Community Corps, expanding her service at the United Way of Jefferson & North Walworth Counties Inc, including leading their Parent Perks program to collect donations for their Parent Perks and Holiday Helpers drives and distribute the children’s supplies and items and the holiday gifts to individuals in need. She continues by explaining the impacts of having to stop and restart her service due to AmeriCorps grant terminations and reinstatements and how she has balanced serving as an AmeriCorps member this year while also working full-time, volunteering with other organizations, and her responsibilities this year while serving as USOA Miss Wisconsin. Listen to learn about Sage being recognized with the Governor’s Service Award earlier this year and service lights a fire in you so that you can see what can be achieved through service and want to do even more.

Promoting Literacy and a Love of Reading by Collecting and Donating over 25,000 Books

Serve Wisconsin — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 03:00:00 -0500

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by Analena Peterson, who was one of the honorees recognized as Volunteer of the Year at the 2025 Governor’s Service Awards. Analena discusses how after struggling with reading when she was a younger student, she learned to love reading and wanted to provide books for other children to help them develop their own passion for reading. She describes how her volunteer efforts grew from donating books to local Little Free Libraries and a few nonprofit organizations to collecting, sorting, and donating over 25,000 books and opening more than twenty of her own Little Free Libraries throughout Wisconsin and in a few other states before graduating high school this May. Analena discusses how the connections she has made through participating in pageants has expanded her ability to open up more Little Free Libraries across the state. She also shares about volunteering to assist numerous non-literary collection drives with organizations like the Volunteer Center of Washington County. Listen to learn how she plans to continue her volunteer efforts as she prepares to start college this fall while running track as a student athlete, including creating her own nonprofit organization to help support her philanthropic efforts in the future.

Serving Students and Gaining Experience for a Career in Education with College Possible Wisconsin and Wisconsin Reading Corps

Serve Wisconsin — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 04:00:00 -0500

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service story of AmeriCorps member Jon Goltz, who served two terms with College Possible Wisconsin and previously served a term with Wisconsin Reading Corps. Jon describes his service providing coaching to students at Casimir Pulaski High School and St. Thomas More High School, working with juniors during his first term and seniors during his service this year. He discusses the different types of assistance he has provided to the students on their path to graduating high school and applying to and enrolling in college. Jon also describes his service with Wisconsin Reading Corps providing literacy tutoring to K-3 students at Whitman Elementary School and his path to serving students after a variety of positions in other career fields following graduation. Listen in to learn about how Jon’s AmeriCorps service with College Possible Wisconsin and Wisconsin Reading Corps helped him gain experience working with students and transition into a career in education next year, when he will be a physical education teacher with Milwaukee Public Schools.

NOTE: The interview for this episode was recorded on the morning of April 25, 2025 prior to the unexpected termination of Wisconsin AmeriCorps program grants that evening, which impacts questions and responses by Jon about the remainder of his service term.

Helping College Students on the Path to Graduation and Unenrolled Students toward Future Stability with College Possible Wisconsin

Serve Wisconsin — Wed, 28 May 2025 11:40:36 -0500

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service story of AmeriCorps member Connor Grossnickle, who served two terms with College Possible Wisconsin. Conner describes his service providing coaching to roughly 150 students from underserved backgrounds as they pursue their college degree, with over half of his students at Milwaukee Area Technical College, as well as those attending Mount Saint Mary University, UW-Milwaukee, and other colleges across the country. He discusses not only helping them with common pitfalls that students face, such as issues with financial aid and registering for classes, but also helping them become comfortable on campus, particularly with many of them being first-generation college students. Connor also describes how he was assisting a sizeable number of unenrolled students as they navigated various challenges, working to help them on a path to financial stability either through planning out their course towards financial stability, whether reenrolling for school, becoming a part-time students, or pursuing another path towards certification for a job or starting their future career. Listen in to learn about how Conner started his journey as an AmeriCorps member and how he hopes to build on that experience in his future career endeavors supporting the work of Milwaukee area nonprofits organizations.

NOTE: The interview for this episode was recorded on the morning of April 25, 2025 prior to the unexpected termination of Wisconsin AmeriCorps program grants that evening, which impacts questions and responses by Connor about the remainder of his service term.

Gaining Experience in Higher Education while Serving Students with College Possible Wisconsin

Serve Wisconsin — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 10:15:26 -0500

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service story of AmeriCorps member Haiying Yang, who is serving this year with College Possible Wisconsin. Haiying describes his service providing coaching to 164 college students from underserved backgrounds, helping them navigate academic and financial challenges they face throughout the year and assisting them with career development along their path to graduating from college. He discusses how he connects with the students on the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee campus where he is based, as well as how he provides assistance to students at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and Tennessee State University. Listen in to learn about how Haiying is making a difference for college students while also gaining experience he hopes to use in a future career assisting students in higher education.

Providing Environmental Education to the Community with WisCorps at The Nature Place

Serve Wisconsin — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 02:00:00 -0500

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service story of AmeriCorps member Emma Ehlers, who is currently serving her second term with WisCorps at The Nature Place in La Crosse. Emma describes her service this year as a Community Program Educator and the programs she helps lead, such as visiting schools and other organizations with their Critter Mobile and a combination of their two lizards, three snakes, ornate box turtle, and Madagascar hissing cockroaches. She discusses the wide variety of programs and efforts she supports in her role, from participating in community events to share about the natural world to the Memory Camps for adults with mild to moderate dementia with different presenters at their center in Myrick Park. Emma then describes her service as an Environmental Educator the previous summer, providing themed environmental program for children on different nature topics each week. Listen in to learn about how Emma gained a love of nature in elementary service and how serving at The Nature Place let her reconnect with Humphrey, the corn snake that had once been in her fourth grade classroom but is now one of the animals at The Nature Place that she uses when providing environmental education.

Supporting Public Health with MCHS Community Corps and MCHS Recovery Corps

Serve Wisconsin — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 09:00:18 -0600

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service story of AmeriCorps member Trisha Bradley, who is currently serving her second term with Marshfield Clinic Health System (MCHS) Community Corps at the Dodge County Public Health Department, and had previously served another term with MCHS Recovery Corps. Trisha describes how she helps get information out to the public about health concerns as part of her service at the Dodge County Public Health Department, ranging from spreading the word about recent food recalls to giving presentations about the impacts of social isolation on mental health. She also discusses her efforts helping the health department complete its Community Health Assessment and Community Health Improvement Plan, including doing focus groups and surveys to help assess community needs and creating standard operating procedures. Trisha then describes her service with MCHS Recovery Corps, providing coaching and resources to support individuals in recovery from substance abuse disorders. Listen in to learn about why the MCHS midterm training was one of her favorite experiences from her AmeriCorps service and how the training and professional development she received because of her AmeriCorps service helped lead her to a full-time job helping families that she will have following her service.

Supporting Student Success and the Service of AmeriCorps Members with Wisconsin Reading Corps

Serve Wisconsin — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0600

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps alumnus Randy Schneider, who served for four terms as an AmeriCorps members with Wisconsin Reading Corps and has been one of their program managers over the last three years. Randy describes his service as a literacy tutor working with kindergarten through third grade students over four years at Longfellow School in Milwaukee, including in-person tutoring sessions and modifying to virtual sessions for a portion of his service during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also discusses serving as a lead tutor for his final three terms, gradually expanding the number of fellow AmeriCorps members he supported during his time with the program. Randy then describes his transition to becoming a program manager with Wisconsin Reading Corps and how he has continued providing support to their AmeriCorps members in this new role, as well as the advice he would give to those interested in AmeriCorps service or those already serving. Listen in to learn about the significant impact that serving with AmeriCorps has had for Randy as a physically disabled cancer survivor, who has gone from struggling to make ends meet to thriving thanks, in no small part, to the doors opened by his AmeriCorps service.

Building the Capacity of Schools to Support Farm to School Programming

Serve Wisconsin — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 07:00:00 -0600

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps member Nicole Eshelman, who is serving her second term with Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction AmeriCorps Farm to School. She has been serving students in the greater La Crosse area the last two years, being based at the Holmen School District and Extension La Crosse County - University of Wisconsin-Madison. Nicole describes the variety of service activities she has done supporting the sustainability of Farm to School programming at thirty-four schools across the region, including fostering partnerships with various community organizations to bolster various Farm to School lessons and activities. She also discusses leading nutrition education lessons for a wide range of students, from 4K to seniors in high school, and how she adapts concepts and activities for different grade levels. Listen to learn how Nicole began her AmeriCorps service as a way to use her degree focusing on health and wellness management and program building after making a career change and how she has found enjoyment making an impact in the community by being a part of providing healthier meals and nutrition, environmental, and garden education for her own children and those across all of the schools she serves.

Connecting Students and the School Community to Local Foods with Farm to School

Serve Wisconsin — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0600

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps member Kori Blumer, who is serving her second term with Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction AmeriCorps Farm to School at the Monona Grove School District. Kori describes the variety of service activities she has done leading nutrition education lessons and cafeteria taste tests, helping to get local foods into schools, and supporting the sustainability of school gardens and farm to school programming across the district. She also discusses the launch of their new community dinner series during Farm to School month in October to highlight their efforts in procuring local foods for school meals. Kori shares about how her academic background in nutrition and becoming a registered dietitian helped lead her to her Farm to School AmeriCorps service and the enjoyment she has found working with students and connecting with the community. Listen to learn how Kori is using varied lessons across the age range of students she is serving, as well as using a variety of foods to make connections with students, from local butternut squash, beans, and corn in Three Sisters Stew to help celebrate Native American Heritage Month to exposing students to the use of insects in foods and agriculture in different parts of the world by bringing in chocolate chip cookies made with cricket powder and chapulines (fried grasshoppers).

Providing a Voice for Youth that have Experienced Homelessness, Trafficking, and Exploitation with WAHRS at Pathfinders

Serve Wisconsin — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 06:58:10 -0500

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps member Kathryn Yang, who served three AmeriCorps terms with the Wisconsin Association for Homeless and Runaway Services at Pathfinders in Milwaukee and was recognized this year with the Governor’s Service Award as AmeriCorps Member of the Year and the Impactful Service Award at the national Excellence in AmeriCorps Awards. Kathryn describes how she was served by Pathfinders herself after being a survivor of being exploited to human trafficking and bringing this experience to numerous aspects of her AmeriCorps service the last few years. She discusses helping provide a voice for youth experiencing similar circumstances through the Collaborative Rapid Advocacy for Youth (CRAY) group and the Power of Paths (POP) Youth Action Board. Additionally, she describes how she has conducted support groups for women in detention and trainings for police officers and medical staff when working with youth experiencing homelessness and exploitation. Listen in to learn how Kathryn grew in numerous ways during her AmeriCorps service with WAHRS at Pathfinders, including finding her own voice and the ability to speak openly and unafraid conducting street outreach as part of the Street Beat team.

Assisting the Public at the Milwaukee County Courthouse with MJC AmeriCorps

Serve Wisconsin — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 07:00:00 -0500

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps member Tholia Lewis, who is serving with the Milwaukee Justice Center (MJC). Tholia discusses her service assisting members of the public at the Milwaukee County Courthouse in several ways, including serving as a courthouse navigator, helping them complete forms needed for different processes, and providing information at their help desk, as well as assisting people calling their helpline prior to coming to the courthouse. Listen in to learn about Tholia’s experience serving during the initial year of the MJC AmeriCorps program and how she is gaining experience helping people navigate the court system before beginning law school.

Serving with the Green Bay Conservation Corps while completing High School

Serve Wisconsin — Mon, 19 Aug 2024 08:26:41 -0500

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps member Morgan Westlund, who has been serving over the last year with the Green Bay Conservation Corps (GBCC). Morgan discusses the service she has done so far this year in the city’s parks and other outdoor spaces, serving part-time during the school year while completing high school and then full-time this summer following her graduation. She describes how much of her service over the winter was focused on restoration and removing invasive species, while her service over the last several months has featured a variety of projects and plantings. Morgan also highlights how her participation in the leadership pathway program with GBCC and the experience she gained earlier in the year have led her to become the crew lead for one of their three crews this summer, leading the crew based at the Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary. Listen in to learn about how serving with the Green Bay Conservation Corps while completing the classes for both her high school diploma and an associate degree has opened up several opportunities for Morgan and how she hopes to build upon this experience as she continues her studies in college while majoring in environmental science.

Helping individuals with disabilities transition into adulthood with Easterseals Wisconsin

Serve Wisconsin — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 09:40:23 -0500

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps member Kourtney Carrico, who recently completed her third term with Easterseals Wisconsin as their Transitions Coordinator. Kourtney discusses her service leading programming for individuals with disabilities ages 16-25 to help them gain skills and experiences to support their transition into adulthood. She describes the Transitions Weekends that she organized for campers four times a year, including field trips to allow for job exploration and activities to learn skills for preparing meals, doing interviews, cleaning and packing, and going online safely. Listen in to learn about how Kourtney will be leading the inaugural Transitions Week at Easterseals Wisconsin Camps this summer and to find out how Kourtney has been able to bring the experiences and knowledge she has gained both as a special education teacher during the year and as an AmeriCorps member to impact the different students and campers with whom she has worked the last three years.

Bringing a Passion for Literacy to Serving Students with Schools of Hope after a Career in Journalism

Serve Wisconsin — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 09:42:21 -0500

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps member Kathy Esposito, who served this year with Schools of Hope at Lowell Elementary in Madison. Kathy discusses her service this year as a literacy tutor, from helping some of her students learn their alphabet and letter sounds to helping others build up their skills and confidence for more challenging books. She describes how she came to her AmeriCorps service this year after a career in journalism and with a passion for language and literacy, finding enjoyment working with the students to develop their reading skills. Listen in to learn about how Kathy has been able to serve neighborhood students at the same school her own children attended and some of her favorite books for helping her students become better readers.

Building Literacy Skills and a Love of Reading with Schools of Hope

Serve Wisconsin — Wed, 29 May 2024 08:41:32 -0500

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps member Rowan Russell-Berry, who is currently serving with Schools of Hope at Lake View Elementary in Madison. Rowan discusses their service this year as a literacy tutor, describing the different activities they are doing with and their work coordinating and supporting volunteer literacy tutors at the school. Rowan describes several additional projects they are working on this year, including the program-wide Books of Hope project that provides books to all of the students the program serves, a new interactive training for volunteer tutors in the Madison Metropolitan School District, and new surveys to gauge student attitudes as readers. Listen in to learn how Rowan has worked to boost student interest and enhance participation in literacy tutoring, incorporated song writing, comic writing, and a dice rolling story creation activity, as well as forging connections with students through assisting with the walking school bus program and numerous clubs at the school.

Providing Support at Pathfinders Youth Shelter while serving with WAHRS

Serve Wisconsin — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 07:21:34 -0500

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps member Angelica Morales, who is currently serving her fourth AmeriCorps term with the Wisconsin Association for Homeless and Runaway Services (WAHRS) at Pathfinders in Milwaukee. Angelica discusses her service over the last four years at the Pathfinders Youth Shelter, which provides short-term shelter for adolescents aged 11-17 and crisis counseling for older youth. She describes the assistance she provides for youth, including her role in the intake process, their intervention plans, and group meetings, as well as the overall support, guidance, and supervision she provides during their stays at the shelter. Listen in to learn how Angelica has grown to love working with youth through her AmeriCorps service at Pathfinders, as well how she has found opportunities to use her artistic abilities to help providing education and awareness about a variety of topics.

Serving with the Green Bay Conservation Corps while studying sustainable agriculture

Serve Wisconsin — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 08:09:04 -0500

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps member Brittany Arnold, who is serving this year with the Green Bay Conservation Corps. Brittany discusses how she has helped educate the public and engage the community in volunteer service projects through numerous outreach efforts. She also describes the different conservation projects she has worked on so far, including native species maintenance, clearing invasive plant species, and preparing seeds for planting later this year. Brittany discusses how she came to the Green Bay Conservation Corps after working on projects alongside them previously as part of the Brown County Food Forest Coalition. Listen in to learn how she is serving while studying sustainable agriculture and brings her passion for agroforestry to her service, educating people about the plants around them and helping them try different edible plants, like baby dandelion leaves.

Serving with the Green Bay Conservation Corps between Wildland Firefighting Seasons

Serve Wisconsin — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 10:10:17 -0600

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps member Sam Greenberg, who is serving this year with the Green Bay Conservation Corps. Sam discusses the service he has done this winter with the Green Bay Conservation Corps while he is between seasons fighting wildland fires in the American West, which he typically does each year in Washington. He describes his service over the last few months, which has primarily focused on clearing invasive plant species from parks and public lands in Green Bay, as well as participating in community outreach efforts and volunteer projects. Listen in to learn about how Sam has brought his experience to his AmeriCorps service with the Green Bay Conservation Corps and participating in its leadership pathway program and the difference he hopes to continue to make in the future.

Leading the Sober Strong program while serving with MCHS Recovery Corps

Serve Wisconsin — Thu, 25 Jan 2024 10:56:06 -0600

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps member Julie Wilson, who is serving with Marshfield Clinic Health System (MCHS) Recovery Corps at the YMCA of the Chippewa Valley in Eau Claire. Julie discusses the Sober Strong program that she created to provide support to women in early recovery from substance abuse disorder, including how she was inspired to create the program based on her own experiences in early recovery. She describes the recovery support meetings and group exercise classes she holds for program participants, as well as the recovery coaching that she provides to individuals throughout the week. Listen in to learn about how Julie has drawn upon her own recovery journey to help others and educate the public and the future steps she hope to take to continue helping women in recovery.

Finding Joy Providing Opportunities through the Girl Scouts while serving with MCHS Community Corps

Serve Wisconsin — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 16:33:11 -0600

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps member Sigourney Vandeveer, who is serving her second term with Marshfield Clinic Health System (MCHS) Community Corps at the Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes in Green Bay. Sigourney discusses the multiple ways she helps provide activities for girls in underserved communities that otherwise might not be able to participate in the Girl Scouts, including sessions during the school day, after-school programming, and staff-led troops. She also discusses her experience leading girls during summer camp and the opportunities she has had to expand the reach of those she serves through participation in numerous community events across the year. Listen in to learn about how Sigourney uses her specialty in origami at a strategy for connecting with the girls she works with and to help teach several things at once, as well as the overall joy she finds serving at the Girl Scouts that is “bundled up in cookies and laughter and friendship bracelets.”

Providing Support through Nutrition Classes and a Friendly Ear while serving with MCHS Community Corps

Serve Wisconsin — Wed, 29 Nov 2023 01:08:55 -0600

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps member Emily Cowles, who is serving her second term with Marshfield Clinic Health System (MCHS) Community Corps at HopeChats Community in Green Bay. Emily discusses some of the ways she is providing support for the individuals accessing services and support at HopeChats Community this year after primarily assisting people at the Peshtigo River Center during her first term. She highlights the various nutrition and cooking classes she will be leading throughout the year, including classes designed to help individuals with Diabetes or in recovery from substance abuse, as well as those to help people with easy meal preparation and discerning facts around nutrition fads. Listen to learn how Emily is using research to create classes based around the dietary needs of those she is serving, as well as providing a listening ear and opportunities for building community during crafting activities and group meetings.

Reconnecting with a Passion for Healthy Foods while Serving with Farm to School

Serve Wisconsin — Thu, 26 Oct 2023 11:31:10 -0500

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps member Emily Stockinger, who is serving her second term with Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction AmeriCorps Farm to School at the Arbor Vitae Woodruff School District. Emily discusses harvesting numerous items with students in their outdoor school garden this fall while the weather allows and how the students will continue growing lettuce throughout the year indoors with their hydroponic garden. She also describes how these foods are used in nutrition education lessons she has done with her students and additional activities they will do as they transition more into the classroom during the winter. Emily discusses the food tastings she has done with the students, including their schoolwide participation in the Great Lakes Great Apple Crunch earlier this month, and how she communicates these recipes and other information to the parents. Listen to learn how Emily is reconnecting with a passion for healthy food through her service with Farm to School after a career in another field and the continued development of the activities she will be doing as she builds upon her experiences during her first term.

Finding a Spirit for Service at Camp with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee

Serve Wisconsin — Thu, 31 Aug 2023 11:19:58 -0500

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps member Kara Jorgensen, who completed her second AmeriCorps term with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee (BGCGM) – ClubCorps this August. Kara discusses the different roles she has undertaken supporting youth at Camp Whitcomb/Mason during her first term last summer and her yearlong term that concludes this summer. She describes her experience guiding youth on the new challenge course that opened at camp this spring, including training them in safety during ground school and them supporting them as they take on the 22 elements up on the course, including 18 high ropes elements, climbing walls, and the zip line. She also shares about the joy she has found helping the campers during her AmeriCorps service and the skills and experiences she will carry forward with her. Listen in to learn about how Kara received her “camp name” as “Spirit” and how the magical experience she has had serving at camp has led to her to continue with a third AmeriCorps term over the next year.

Building Connections with Graduation Plus Students with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee

Serve Wisconsin — Fri, 14 Jul 2023 11:04:23 -0500

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps member Sherlean Roberts, who is currently serving her third AmeriCorps term with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee (BGCGM) - ClubCorps. Sherlean discusses how she is assisting students participating in their Graduation Plus program by providing mentorship and guidance from the early stages of the college application process through college graduation. Sherlean describes the different ways she is supporting both a cohort of current college students at Marquette University as well as high school students at The Ready Center and during visits to Milwaukee high schools. Sherlean discusses the ways she strives to form connections with students to strengthen the support she can provide to students, understanding the value of this assistance from her own participation in the program as a student. Listen in to learn about how Sherlean has forged meaningful connections and grown as a mentor for her students, which she plans to build upon during her fourth AmeriCorps term that she will be starting this fall.

Establishing a Firm Foundation with MPL LibraryCorps

Serve Wisconsin — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 21:59:15 -0500

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps member Sabina West, who is serving with MPL LibraryCorps. Sabina discusses serving during the inaugural year of the program through the Milwaukee Public Library and the different ways their AmeriCorps members are providing support to students. She describes the information technology literacy activities she did during the school year with students at three different Milwaukee schools, helping them build skills for their current grade and that they will use long into the future. She then spoke about the after-school programming she did with students at her assigned library branch, with their activities based around a theme for each day of the week. Additionally, Sabina discusses how MPL LibraryCorps AmeriCorps members are providing enrichment activities to students at multiple summer school sites based upon a curriculum they individually created, with hers designed around astronomy. Listen in to learn how Sabina helped set a foundation for the future success of both the students she worked with this year and MPL LibraryCorps as a whole while serving as part of their initial cohort of AmeriCorps members.

Bringing Student Support Full Circle with College Possible Milwaukee

Serve Wisconsin — Thu, 11 May 2023 13:37:58 -0500

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps member Zarieanna McCoy, who is serving with College Possible Milwaukee. Zari discusses how she is remotely assisting college students that graduated from Milwaukee high schools that are attending colleges and universities across the country, as well as being an in-person resource for students at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. She describes how she assists the students with financial aid, finding scholarships, looking for internships, finding resources through their universities, and providing additional supports to help them on their path towards college graduation. Zari then discusses how she was inspired to serve with College Possible Milwaukee this year after having been served by the program herself as both a high school and college student. Listen in to learn how Zari is using her own experience as a student in the program to provide support to college students as they continue their academic journey toward and through graduation.

From AmeriCorps Service to Serve Wisconsin and Beyond

Serve Wisconsin — Fri, 24 Mar 2023 00:30:28 -0500

In this episode, we are exploring the service story of Anna Dannecker, who served two AmeriCorps terms with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee - ClubCorps and helped create The S-Files podcast while an intern at Serve Wisconsin following her AmeriCorps service. Anna begins by describing how she led students through a variety of performing and visual arts activities during her two terms of AmeriCorps service, bringing skills gained in her college comedy classes and other coursework to her service. During her first term, she supported summer enrichment programming at multiple locations in 2018, leading improv classes and organizing arts and crafts activities. She then describes her service during her second AmeriCorps term in Spring 2021, creating pre-recorded activities and leading remote virtual drawing classes with students due to the impacts of COVID-19. Anna then discusses her experience as an intern with Serve Wisconsin, including creating videos and promotional materials to support Wisconsin AmeriCorps programs, assisting with the Governor’s Service Awards, and helping to create The S-Files podcast and editing its episodes. Listen to learn how Anna has built upon the skills she developed serving with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee - ClubCorps and working with Serve Wisconsin into her current professional role in the entertainment industry at an animation studio.

Supporting Patients and Preventative Health Initiatives with the Wisconsin Association of Free & Charitable Clinics

Serve Wisconsin — Thu, 16 Feb 2023 12:22:58 -0600

In this episode, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps member Anna Loughman, who is serving this year with the Wisconsin Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (WAFCC) at the Community Outreach Clinic in Menomonee Falls. Anna describes the variety of ways she serves patients accessing healthcare and provides assistance to medical staff at the clinic. She discusses how she supports preventative health initiatives at the clinic to improve patient health outcomes, including programs focused on blood sugar management and high blood pressure. Anna also describes how her previous service experiences helped lead she to her AmeriCorps service this year. Listen to learn how Anna decided to build upon previous service experiences by dedicating a year to serving with AmeriCorps after graduating and how she has been gaining valuable experience working with a diverse patient population at the clinic before beginning medical school this summer.

Charting a New Course while Helping Others with the Wisconsin Association of Free & Charitable Clinics

Serve Wisconsin — Tue, 31 Jan 2023 11:33:48 -0600

In this episode, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps member Amber Scarborough, who is serving with the Wisconsin Association of Free & Charitable Clinics (WAFCC) at the St. Vincent de Paul Charitable Pharmacy in Madison. Amber describes how she helps patients accessing medications at the pharmacy, as well as working with individuals that would like to donate medications and working on outreach efforts to increase awareness about their services. She also discusses how she is assisting at the Food Bank at St. Vincent de Paul each week, and the connections and ideas it has brought to her efforts supporting the pharmacy. Amber later describes how she came to her AmeriCorps service with WAFCC despite not having a background in health, as she was seeking a new direction from the graduate program she had been completing. Listen to learn how Amber is striving to help address the societal issues she had studied through her service helping uninsured individuals access medication and how her service as a second-generation AmeriCorps member is helping her explore new paths to help others in the future.

Expanding Health Care Access for Black Men with the Wisconsin Association of Free & Charitable Clinics

Serve Wisconsin — Thu, 26 Jan 2023 12:22:53 -0600

In this episode, we are exploring the service stories of two AmeriCorps members, Paige Hill and Kamya Moultry, who are serving with the Wisconsin Association of Free & Charitable Clinics at the Perry Family Free Clinic in Madison. Paige and Kamya describe the different ways that their service supports the goal of the clinic to provide quality healthcare for uninsured and under-insured Black men and all who are impacted by disparities in healthcare in the local community. Paige discusses how as a Public Health AmeriCorps member, her service focuses on directly working with the patients in different ways and looking at the social determinants of health that impact the patients. Kamya describes how as an AmeriCorps VISTA member, her service focuses on expanding the capacity of the clinic to serve the public, including community outreach, partnerships with other nonprofits, and assisting with grant writing. Listen to learn how Kamya and Paige are working to expand health care access and how their AmeriCorps experience and the memories they have made will carry over into their continued work to help others in the future.

Growing Community and Career Skills with the Green Bay Conservation Corps

Serve Wisconsin — Wed, 21 Dec 2022 10:37:09 -0600

In this episode, we are exploring the service stories of two AmeriCorps members, Lindsey Kurtz and Jared Gonzales, who are serving with the Green Bay Conservation Corps, which launched earlier this year. Lindsey and Jared describe the service they have done so far this year in the city’s parks and other outdoor spaces, including the removal of invasive species and collecting seeds from native plants for planting in the spring. They also discuss their efforts to engage and educate the public through community volunteer projects and the educational series they have planned on both the history of Green Bay parks and engaging people this spring outdoor in the parks to learn about bees, pollinators, native plantings, and other subjects. They also describe how they have been able to use some of their individual skills to support programmatic efforts and planning for future projects, with Jared discussing using a drone for gaining aerial perspectives and data on the public lands they serve and Lindsey describing using geospatial data for the creation of GIS mapping for analyzing progress and informing the public. Listen to learn how Lindsey and Jared are forging greater connections with the community during their service in Green Bay and how their service is helping them gain experience they plan to build upon into the future.

Leadership Launching the Green Bay Conservation Corps

Serve Wisconsin — Fri, 16 Dec 2022 10:52:03 -0600

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the envisioning, development, and launch of the new Green Bay Conservation Corps AmeriCorps program during a conversation with the Mayor of Green Bay, Eric Genrich, and his Chief of Staff, Amaad Rivera-Wagner, who previously served as an AmeriCorps member. Mayor Genrich and Amaad begin by describing why the City of Green Bay decided to create a municipally-based AmeriCorps program focused on conservation and improving access in the city’s parks and other outdoor spaces. They then discuss the launch of the program at the end of this summer, including events the program has held to engage the public in volunteering on conservation projects and the significant progress their AmeriCorps members have made towards clearing invasive species, adding native plants, and improving trails. Our conversation then turns to discussing the overall value of service and volunteerism for local communities, with Mayor Genrich and Amaad also sharing about some of their own meaningful service experiences. Listen to learn how Mayor Genrich and Amaad decided that launching an AmeriCorps program through the City of Green Bay would have positive impacts on the community and they future impacts that they hope AmeriCorps members will have for the people of Green Bay.

Serving Students across Seven Schools with Farm to School

Serve Wisconsin — Tue, 29 Nov 2022 16:16:10 -0600

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps member Wes Broske, who is serving with Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction AmeriCorps Farm to School at the Monona Grove School District, where he had previously worked with some of their students as an educational assistant. Wes describes working with students across their seven schools, including teaching nutrition lessons at their four elementary schools and working with middle school students on lessons on preservation and fermentation. He discusses working further develop school gardens throughout the district, hoping to expand them at several locations and increase student access to learning in the gardens. Wes also describes working to get local foods into schools, both locally through Harvest of the Month items in the Monona Grove School District and throughout the state by helping connect farmers and school food service directors through the Wisconsin Local Food Database by serving as the manager for the East Central region of the state. Listen to learn how Wes is making connections with students, farmers, and other AmeriCorps members as he continues developing lessons and ways for students to increase access to local foods and school gardens.

Harvesting from the Heart with Farm to School

Serve Wisconsin — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 10:49:59 -0600

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps member Peyton Keith, who is serving with Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction AmeriCorps Farm to School at the Bayfield School District, where she herself graduated from high school having grown up in a tribal community just outside of Bayfield. Peyton discusses the nutrition and gardening lessons and field trips she has done the first few months of this school year with the students she serves, a large majority of whom are tribal members, including the cultural connections they make during their activities. She describes working with her students to harvest items out of their school garden, their aquaponics system, and a field trip to gather wild rice and how they have used these items and other local produce to create pizzas, apple cider, apple chips, and other items for nutrition lessons. Peyton also discusses connections that have been made with local farmers, including having them sharing information with her students and getting more locally sourced items into the school meal program. Listen to learn how Peyton is making a difference in her local community and the plans she has for future activities inside and outside the classroom to continue making connections with her students.

Promoting Public Safety and Serving Behind the Scenes with RSVP of Dane County

Serve Wisconsin — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 16:40:34 -0500

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service stories of two AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers, Jim Jenkins and Peggy York, who are serving with RSVP of Dane County. We start our conversation with Jim Jenkins, who describes the numerous volunteer service activities he has done over the last roughly eighteen years, including disaster response and preparedness training with the Red Cross and the Triad program, being a volunteer driver, and years of service on the RSVP board. We then sit down with Peggy York, who discusses her service on the Assessment Committee and Triad Committee, as well as sharing about the volunteer service her grandmother did with RSVP of Dane County as one of its earliest volunteers in the 1970s. Listen to learn about how both Jim and Peggy are making a difference through promoting safety for senior citizens and helping to support many other RSVP programs that impact people throughout Dane County.

The Golden Age of Service – RSVP of Dane County Turns Fifty

Serve Wisconsin — Wed, 19 Oct 2022 15:42:07 -0500

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers with RSVP of Dane County as it celebrates its fiftieth anniversary serving the people of Dane County. We sit down with RSVP of Dane County program directors Margie Zutter and Diana Jost to discuss the impact their AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers have had through over eight million hours of volunteer service over the last fifty years and the multiple projects they are currently doing to support people in local communities. They describe several service efforts their RSVP volunteers are doing, including driver services for medical appointments, home delivered meals, the Triad safety program, the Homeworker program creating handmade items for people in need, and those volunteering with numerous sites and organizations throughout the county. Margie and Diana also describe the service their RSVP volunteers are doing through intergenerational programs and assisting students, including with their Computer Buddies and pen pal programs, as well as the service of their Foster Grandparents Program AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers. Listen to learn about the multiple ways the service done by AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers with RSVP of Dane County have made a difference for the community and the impact it has had on both those served and the volunteers themselves.

Finding Service Passions by Volunteering with RSVP of Dane County

Serve Wisconsin — Thu, 13 Oct 2022 14:42:09 -0500

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps Seniors volunteer Judy Mayer, who has made a difference serving through RSVP of Dane County at multiple sites and with several programs since 2008. Judy describes the numerous ways she has found to impact the community through RSVP of Dane County, assisting people from students to senior citizens through her service with the Computer Buddies and Home Delivered Meals programs, as well as through volunteering at the Habitat ReStore of Dane County, the Henry Vilas Zoo, Olbrich Botanical Gardens, Agrace Thrift Home Store, and with many other efforts. Listen to learn about how Judy has made meaningful connections with people across her variety of service experiences and why she recommends that people try out volunteer service experiences and find their own way to make a difference for others.

Leading Classes for Refugees and English Language Learners with MCHS Community Corps

Serve Wisconsin — Thu, 22 Sep 2022 11:07:18 -0500

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps member Bethany Mallek, who served over the last year with Marshfield Clinic Health System (MCHS) AmeriCorps Community Corps at the Portage County Literacy Council. Bethany describes her service teaching classes for adult English language learners and U.S. Cultural Orientation classes for refugees that are living in the Stevens Point area. She discusses several aspects of planning and leading each of these classes, including how she has worked to adapt the lessons to fit the experiences of the participants. Listen to learn about how Bethany has forged participant connections and a supportive environment in these classes, which she is excited to continue to lead as she begins her second AmeriCorps term this fall.

Sparking a Love of Lifelong Volunteering with MCHS Community Corps

Serve Wisconsin — Thu, 08 Sep 2022 16:12:26 -0500

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps member Sarah Webb, who served over the last year with Marshfield Clinic Health System (MCHS) AmeriCorps Community Corps and served the previous two years with MCHS Volunteer Wisconsin at the Volunteer Center of Racine as their Youth Volunteer Coordinator. Sarah describes her service connecting students with volunteer opportunities as part of the Youth Volunteer Corps program, both during the school year and as part of the youth volunteer summer camps she has been coordinating over the last few months. She also discusses several trainings she has organized for youth this summer, including CERT disaster training, First Aid, and their initial Junior Citizen Police Academy, for which she drew upon her own prior experience as a police officer to create. Listen to learn about how Sarah dramatically increased student participation in volunteer activities during her service, including her recognition nationally in 2021 at the Youth Volunteer Corps Summit Awards Ceremony with their Catalyst Award for the impact of her service.

Providing Rides and Leadership with RSVP of Rock County

Serve Wisconsin — Thu, 18 Aug 2022 09:15:38 -0500

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the AmeriCorps Seniors volunteer service done by Ed Hansen, who was honored this summer at the 2022 Governor’s Service Awards with the AmeriCorps Seniors Lifetime Impact Volunteer award for his years of impactful volunteer service with RSVP of Rock County. As part of this conversation, we also speak with their Seniors Volunteering for Seniors Coordinator, Patty Hansberry, about the impact that Ed has had through their program. Ed discusses the service he does as a volunteer driver with their Seniors Volunteering for Seniors program, as well as over several years on the RSVP of Rock County board, including his current role as its president. Ed and Patty also describe how the AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers with RSVP of Rock County were able to continue assisting people during the COVID-19 pandemic and how they hope to continue helping others in the future. Listen to learn about the numerous ways that Ed and other AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers with RSVP of Rock County have made a difference in their local community.

Empowering Women and Connecting with Kids by Volunteering

Serve Wisconsin — Wed, 10 Aug 2022 10:25:32 -0500

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by Carol Schumacher, who was recognized at the 2022 Governor’s Service Awards as the Volunteer of the Year for East Central Wisconsin for her volunteer service with the Women's Empowerment Series in Fond du Lac. Carol discusses the multiple efforts she leads and the programs she assists as the Volunteer Director for the Women’s Empowerment Series, including their Volunteer Work Program and Dressing For Success. She also describes how she created and leads their puppeteer troupe called Positive Puppetry, which addresses feelings, communication, and other topics, helping children and others learn about these areas and open up about difficulties that they have faced. Listen to learn about the numerous ways that Carol has made a difference for the women and children participating in the programming provided by the Women’s Empowerment Series.

Helping others through Volunteer Tax Preparation Services

Serve Wisconsin — Thu, 28 Jul 2022 16:25:46 -0500

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by Joe Byrnes, who was recognized at the 2022 Governor’s Service Awards as the Volunteer of the Year for Southwest Wisconsin for his volunteer service with the Goodwill of South Central Wisconsin’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program. Joe assists numerous low-to-moderate income individuals and families each year by providing free tax preparation services and serves as the Program Coordinator for VITA, coordinating their team of more than 25 volunteers. He describes how he and the other VITA volunteers are making a difference for people throughout the region and the transitions they made to continue serving people during the COVID-19 pandemic. Listen learn about how Joe has helped the VITA program expand the number of locations and people that it serves, including the tangible results for the community, including helping return over $1,000,000 back into the community as families and individuals received their eligible tax credits and full income tax refunds.

Decades of Dedicated Service with Special Olympics Wisconsin

Serve Wisconsin — Thu, 21 Jul 2022 12:09:41 -0500

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by Debra Moore-Gruenloh, who was recognized at the 2022 Governor’s Service Awards as the Volunteer of the Year for Northeast Wisconsin for her years of service with Special Olympics Wisconsin. Deb has been a key volunteer in multiple roles for Special Olympics Wisconsin since 1987, volunteering over 1,000 hours annually. She describes how she first began volunteering as a coach and how her service has grown into taking on several leadership roles and supporting Wisconsin athletes with intellectual disabilities through coaching and volunteering for regional, state, national, and world competitions. Listen to learn about the numerous ways that Deb has made a difference for individuals participating in Special Olympics programming and the memories she has made during her decades of dedicated service.

Building Early Literacy with ECLIPSE

Serve Wisconsin — Mon, 27 Jun 2022 08:00:00 -0500

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps member Kaitlyn Zenner, who served over the last year with ECLIPSE (Early Childhood Literacy Intervention Program Services and Evaluation) through the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire. Kaitlyn discusses her service helping 3-5 year-old children at Days Gone By Early Learning grow in the areas of language, literacy, social interaction, and initiative skills. She describes the activities she did within their classroom, including with the child that she was paired with to provide specific literacy interventions. Listen to learn about how Kaitlyn built upon her previous experience conducting research on literacy interventions at UW-Eau Claire's Human Development Center during her AmeriCorps service, as well as how she will build upon lessons she learned during her service after receiving a Fulbright grant to further her experience instilling literacy skills.

Caring for Milwaukee Waterways with MCHS Community Corps

Serve Wisconsin — Mon, 13 Jun 2022 08:00:00 -0500

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service stories of two AmeriCorps members, Shirley Aspinall and Nicole Chavez, who are serving with Marshfield Clinic Health System AmeriCorps Community Corps at Milwaukee Riverkeeper. Shirley describes her role as Communications Coordinator, promoting efforts to the public to recruit volunteers for water quality monitoring, river cleanups, and other projects, as well as assisting community education efforts. Nicole describes her role as Sustainability Coordinator, which focus primarily as serving as the volunteer coordinator for the Plastic Free MKE coalition and multiple efforts to inform the public. Both of them describe their service helping to organize and participate in the annual Earth Day river cleanup, which had 4,300 volunteers at 82 sites clean up 106,000 pounds of trash along the different waterways. Listen to learn about how Nicole and Shirley are assisting efforts to improve the quality of Milwaukee’s rivers through educating the public, training and coordinating volunteers, and connecting people to their local waterways.

Gaining Experience as a Future Librarian while serving with Public Allies Racine/Kenosha

Serve Wisconsin — Wed, 25 May 2022 08:00:00 -0500

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps member Michael Smith, who is currently serving with Public Allies Racine/Kenosha (PARK) at the Racine Public Library. Michael discusses the different programs that he has overseen at the library to boost literacy efforts and to support the community. He also shares about the activities he has done with his fellow PARK AmeriCorps members, including projects supporting nonprofit organizations in the Racine and Kenosha area, as well as ways they came together as a cohort during their activities at the beginning of the year. Listen to learn about how Michael both followed his mother’s steps in becoming an AmeriCorps member with Public Allies and is forging his own trail toward becoming a librarian through his service.

Forging a Future in Medicine with NCCAP AmeriCorps

Serve Wisconsin — Tue, 10 May 2022 10:58:49 -0500

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps member Maysee Lao, who is currently serving with the North Central Community Action Program (NCCAP) AmeriCorps Program at the Wisconsin Institute for Public Policy and Service (WIPPS). Maysee discusses multiple public health efforts that she is supporting while serving at WIPPS, including COVID-19 vaccination clinics through the Hmong and Hispanic Communication Network (H2N) and research on multiple public health issues, including the use of services by caregivers of Hmong individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Maysee additionally discusses supporting learners from multiple age-groups through the Central Wisconsin High School Leadership Program and with LENA Start, which helps parents and young children develop language and conversation sills to close the language gap that correlates with future success, and with the. Listen to learn about how Maysee has been gaining valuable experience as an AmeriCorps member while assisting the communities she serves that she hopes to bring to her future studies in medical school and her career as a doctor.

Service as a Second Act in the Classroom

Serve Wisconsin — Tue, 10 May 2022 09:52:24 -0500

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps member Jean Abreu, who is currently serving her second term with the North Central Community Action Program AmeriCorps Program. Jean discusses her two years serving students at the Enrich, Excel, Achieve (EEA) Learning Academy in the Wausau School District, returning to assist students in the classroom after retiring from being a high school biology teacher. We discuss how she has worked with students in completing their coursework in the non-traditional computer-based setting, including bringing her biology expertise to the students and how working with the students was adapted due to COVID-19. Listen to learn about how Jean has continued to reach students in her retirement through her AmeriCorps service, as well as the benefits she has found through serving with AmeriCorps.

Serving Students with Schools of Hope and Achievement Connections

Serve Wisconsin — Thu, 07 Apr 2022 13:12:27 -0500

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps member Robin Muhs, who is currently serving with Schools of Hope and served last year with Achievement Connections, with both programs operated by the United Way of Dane County. Robin first discusses her current service with Schools of Hope at Huegel Elementary School as a literacy tutor, describing the different activities she is doing with her students. Robin then speaks about her previous AmeriCorps service with Achievement Connections, where she served as their volunteer liaison to help connect high school students needing assistance with Algebra and Geometry with remote math tutors during the COVID-19 pandemic, including her own tutoring with students at West, East, and La Follette High Schools. Listen to learn the ways that Robin’s AmeriCorps service has both impacted the academic growth of her students and her own personal growth and development for working with students in the future.

Providing Mentorship to Students and AmeriCorps Members with College Possible Milwaukee

Serve Wisconsin — Fri, 25 Mar 2022 08:00:00 -0500

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps alumna Amanda Wysk, who served with College Possible Milwaukee for two years and has continued helping others as part of the program’s AmeriCorps Alumni Council, which helps to mentor those that are currently serving. Amanda first describes her two years serving with College Possible Milwaukee, beginning with her first term of service as a Senior Coach, helping low-income students at two high schools navigate the college application process. She then discusses her second term of service as a College Coach, where she provided in-person support to college students at UW-Milwaukee and remote support to college students throughout the Southeastern United States that had been served during high school by College Possible Milwaukee. Amanda then describes her efforts volunteering as part of the College Possible Milwaukee AmeriCorps Alumni Council, providing mentorship and additional support to the current AmeriCorps members serving Milwaukee students. Listen to learn the ways Amanda was impacted by her AmeriCorps service helping students striving to graduate from college and how she continues to serve those assisting these students.

Cultivating Community with College Possible Milwaukee and Beyond

Serve Wisconsin — Fri, 18 Mar 2022 09:47:53 -0500

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps alumnus Ben Rangel, who served with College Possible Milwaukee for two years, and the continued impact his service has had on how he strives to cultivate community in multiple ways in Milwaukee. Ben first discusses how he forged relationships with students and helped them throughout their process of applying for college during his AmeriCorps service. Ben then describes how his AmeriCorps service led him down a path to being part of the Trinity Fellows at Marquette, where he continued his connections with national service as the AmeriCorps Member Development Coordinator at City Year Milwaukee as part of the program. Ben then discusses how his AmeriCorps service continues to influence his work and volunteering today, including becoming a high school government teacher, founding and producing the Bridge the City podcast with other AmeriCorps alumni to empower Milwaukee residents to make local change, and serving on the College Possible Milwaukee AmeriCorps Alumni Council to help mentor those that are currently serving. Listen to learn the ways Ben was impacted by his AmeriCorps service and how it has influenced the multiple ways he strives to cultivate community and encourage positive action today.

Finding Purpose through Service with Public Allies Racine/Kenosha

Serve Wisconsin — Thu, 10 Mar 2022 09:14:05 -0600

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps member Lisandra Saldivar, who is serving with Public Allies Racine/Kenosha (PARK). Lisandra discusses the various service activities she has done at her host site, Focus on Community, including facilitating events that support the strengthening of local families and working with students in the classroom to provide life skills training focused on an effort to prevent substance abuse and inspire healthy life choices. She also shares about the activities she has done with her fellow PARK AmeriCorps members, including projects supporting additional nonprofit organizations in the Racine and Kenosha area, as well as ways they came together during their early team bonding activities. Listen to learn how Lisandra has been able to use her service as an opportunity to invest in the community that helped raise her and create deeper connections that will continue into the future while helping others.

Service for all Seasons with Farm to School

Serve Wisconsin — Thu, 03 Mar 2022 09:09:32 -0600

In this episode of The S-Files, we are checking out the service stories of two AmeriCorps members that are serving with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction AmeriCorps Farm to School Program. We start our conversation with Catherine Masters and then sit down to speak with Gwen Murphy, both of whom are serving this year at Rooted in Madison and working with students in the Madison Metropolitan School District. We discuss how they are engaging students in nutrition lessons, working with students in school gardens, tasting seasonally available foods, providing seasonal recipes and resources to families, and connecting with local Wisconsin farmers. Listen to learn how Catherine and Gwen have been connecting their lessons this fall and winter to harvesting and healthy eating and their plans for growing new foods and memories with their students this spring and summer in the gardens and the classroom.

Making Meals and Memories with Farm to School

Serve Wisconsin — Fri, 25 Feb 2022 08:53:28 -0600

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps member Emily High, who is serving with Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction AmeriCorps Farm to School. Emily discusses the various nutrition activities and lessons that she has done with the students she serves in the Shell Lake School District, including growing and harvesting different vegetables, introducing new foods to students through taste tests, and games to keep nutrition lessons engaging for students. She describes their participation in events including the Great Apple Crunch and Wisconsin Chili Lunch Day and how she is helping foster relationships with local farmers as part of her efforts. Listen to learn how Emily is helping to create meals and memories with her students as part of her efforts to foster nutrition education and create connections in the community.

Bringing Mentorship Full Circle with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee

Serve Wisconsin — Fri, 18 Feb 2022 14:02:27 -0600

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps member Bryce Killibrew, who is serving with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee (BGCGM) - AmeriCorps Academic & Career Planning program. Bryce discusses how he is assisting students in Milwaukee by providing mentorship and guidance through multiple aspects of the college application process. Bryce describes being on both end of the spectrum as both a student that participated in the program and now being able to give through his AmeriCorps service after having once been in the shoes of the students he serves. Listen in to learn how the mentorship Bryce is providing to students is helping to give them a blueprint they can follow as they hope to continue their academic journey following graduation.

Providing for Community Needs with MCHS Community Corps

Serve Wisconsin — Wed, 26 Jan 2022 08:00:00 -0600

In this episode of The S-Files, we will be exploring how two AmeriCorps members with the Marshfield Clinic Health System AmeriCorps Community Corps program that are helping to provide needed items to people in the communities they serve, including healthy local foods and diapers. We begin our conversation by talking with Maddie Kinscher, who is increasing access to fresh nutritious foods at Central Rivers Farmshed in Stevens Point. We then speak with Monica Ducksworth, who is coordinating the diaper bank program at the United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha County, after having previously served two other terms with MCHS Volunteer Wisconsin at the Milwaukee Academy of Science. Listen in to learn how these AmeriCorps members are mobilizing volunteers, organizing drives and outreach efforts, and helping to build healthier and more supported communities through their service.

Fostering Healthier Mental Health with MCHS Community Corps

Serve Wisconsin — Wed, 19 Jan 2022 08:00:00 -0600

In this episode of The S-Files, we are checking out the service stories of two AmeriCorps members serving with the Marshfield Clinic Health System AmeriCorps Community Corps program to learn about how they are helping to foster community and striving to improve the mental health of those served by their host sites. We are starting our conversation by talking with Sierra Fink, who is serving this year with Community Corps at the Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes in Appleton, WI. We then continue by speaking with Jeff Duke, who is serving at the Hamilton Wood Type & Printing Museum in Two Rivers, WI. Listen in to learn how both Sierra and Jeff are bolstering the efforts of these organizations to positively impact their communities and fostering healthy connections through their service.

Coaching People along the Path to Recovery

Serve Wisconsin — Wed, 05 Jan 2022 14:29:34 -0600

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps member Chelsea Korzenieski, who is serving with Marshfield Clinic Health System AmeriCorps Recovery Corps in Ladysmith. Chelsea discusses how she is assisting individuals impacted by substance abuse and helping them work towards their recovery goals. Listen in to learn how Chelsea is helping people take positive steps on their individual recovery journeys. Chelsea channels her own experience of being in recovery to make a difference for others as they strive to achieve their recovery goals.

Building Capacity with Serve Wisconsin's AmeriCorps VISTA Members

Serve Wisconsin — Tue, 21 Dec 2021 14:31:43 -0600

In this episode of The S-Files, we are checking out the service stories of two AmeriCorps VISTA members serving as part of the initial cohort of members with Serve Wisconsin's AmeriCorps VISTA initiative. We first speak with Kailee Remez, who is addressing food insecurity at Carroll University. We then continue our conversation by speaking with Tony Schultz, who is working on several initiatives through his VISTA service at the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council. Listen in to learn how these AmeriCorps VISTA members are addressing poverty and strengthening the capacity of organizations as they address different concerns throughout the state.

AmeriCorps Service at the Racine Zoo – Tortoises, Tenrecs, and Rhinos, Oh My!

Serve Wisconsin — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 08:00:00 -0600

In this episode of The S-Files, we are checking out the service stories of two AmeriCorps members that are serving with the Racine Zoo AmeriCorps Program. We start our conversation with Kelsey Sanders, who is serving this year at the Racine Zoo after previously serving as an AmeriCorps member in Florida. We then sit down to speak with Brian Butt, who recently completed his degree in zoology and is bringing this passion to his service at the Racine Zoo. Listen in to learn how Racine Zoo AmeriCorps Program members bring both engaging scientific programming and ambassador animals to students in the Racine Area School District and participate in the care of the animals at the Racine Zoo.

Helping Feed Others in Need while Serving during COVID-19

Serve Wisconsin — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 11:03:55 -0600

In this episode of The S-Files, we are going back to look at the service done in response to the COVID-19 pandemic by Lisa Penterman, who was a recipient of the COVID-19 Response Service Award at the 2021 Governor’s Service Awards. Lisa was recognized for the impacts of her AmeriCorps service with the Be Well Fox Valley AmeriCorps program while serving at Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin. We discuss several aspects of how her service helped people facing food insecurity during the pandemic, including helping operate mobile food banks, conducting pantry order reviews, and doing outreach to members of the public about FoodShare. Listen in to learn about the impacts of her service for the public and for herself, as we discuss highlights from her time as an AmeriCorps member and how it influences the work she is currently doing at Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin following the completion of her AmeriCorps service.

Answering the Call to Respond to COVID-19 with MCHS Volunteer Wisconsin

Serve Wisconsin — Tue, 23 Nov 2021 15:47:24 -0600

In this episode of The S-Files, we are going back to look at the service done by AmeriCorps members with Marshfield Clinic Health System AmeriCorps Volunteer Wisconsin since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. In recognition of the impact of their service, MCHS Volunteer Wisconsin was honored with a COVID-19 Response Service Award at the 2021 Governor’s Service Awards. Since the ceremony this summer, MCHS Volunteer Wisconsin has folded into the larger MCHS Community Corps program, whose AmeriCorps members started serving this fall.

We start our conversation with Shelly Kaiser, who was the program director for MCHS Volunteer Wisconsin, to get an overview of the different types of service that their AmeriCorps members have done to respond to COVID-19. We next sit down with AmeriCorps member Mario Fregoso, who served with Volunteer Wisconsin last year and is continuing to serve as part of MCHS Community Corps at United Way of Dane County supporting their Wisconsin 211 program.

Listen in to learn how MCHS Volunteer Wisconsin AmeriCorps members helped others through answering COVID-19 calls at 211, assisted food pantries and other non-profits, facilitated safe opportunities for volunteers to help in their communities, and many other response efforts during the pandemic.

Coordinating Volunteer Assistance for Afghan Guests at Fort McCoy – Part 2

Serve Wisconsin — Mon, 15 Nov 2021 09:24:48 -0600

In this episode of The S-Files, we are continuing a multi-episode look at how organizations have mobilized volunteers to assist the Afghan guests staying at Fort McCoy and respond to disasters here in Wisconsin. Our second episode focuses on regional coordination efforts by two organizations that are helping to create local Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (VOADs) through Serve Wisconsin’s Volunteer Generation Fund (VGF) grant. We start our conversation with Jen Schmitz from River 2 Ridge Disaster Resilience, which is our West Central Wisconsin VGF grantee. We next speak with Aimee Wollman Nesseth from the Northwestern Wisconsin Healthcare Emergency Readiness Coalition from Wisconsin Emergency Management, which is our Northwest Wisconsin VGF grantee. Listen in to learn how these organizations are communicating across their newly developed regional and local VOAD networks to support efforts assisting the Afghan guests, including how they have brought together the organizations in their region. You can also learn about how these organizations have used their volunteer networks and organizational resources to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters.

Coordinating Volunteer Assistance for Afghan Guests at Fort McCoy – Part 1

Serve Wisconsin — Tue, 09 Nov 2021 11:04:45 -0600

In this episode of The S-Files, we are starting a multi-episode look at how organizations have mobilized volunteers to assist the Afghan guests staying at Fort McCoy and respond to disasters here in Wisconsin. Our first episode focuses on statewide coordination efforts and how multiple organizations and agencies are working together to facilitate these volunteer efforts. We start our conversation with John Stuhlmacher from Team Rubicon, who is currently the chair of Wisconsin Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD). We next speak with Shane Goss from Wisconsin Emergency Management, who serves as the State Voluntary Agency Liaison. Listen in to learn how these groups have helped coordinate the volunteers response across the state to not only assist the Afghan guests, but also to the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters. You can also learn about how they have worked with Serve Wisconsin to support the creation of local VOADs to enhance this response through the Volunteer Generation Fund.

Opening up Nature for Others with WisCorps

Serve Wisconsin — Fri, 29 Oct 2021 09:26:25 -0500

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps members with WisCorps during a visit to Myrick Park in La Crosse. We start our conversation with Matt Brantner, WisCorps Executive Director, discussing the conservation and disaster relief projects their members complete throughout the state and how they are trying to make nature more accessible through their service. We next sit down with WisCorps AmeriCorps members Shannon Columb and Ashley Nowak, who both recently started a second AmeriCorps term as Environmental Educators. Listen in to learn how the AmeriCorps members serving with WisCorps are impacting how Wisconsinites can experience nature through the projects they have completed statewide and by providing environmental education for our youngest students and children of all ages.

Bringing the Farm to School through Service

Serve Wisconsin — Fri, 29 Oct 2021 00:27:48 -0500

In this episode of The S-Files, we are checking out the service stories of two AmeriCorps members that recently started their second term serving with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction AmeriCorps Farm to School Program, which received the 2021 Governor’s Service Award as AmeriCorps Program of the Year. We first sit down with Maddie Smith, serving at the Oregon School District, and then speak with David Lee Schneider, serving at the Howard Suamico School District. Listen in to learn how Farm to School AmeriCorps members provide nutrition education, manage school gardens, integrate local foods into school meals and tastings, and connect farmers and school food service directors through the recently launched Wisconsin Local Food Database.