Emma Gifford Teaches Girl Scouts About Water Conservation

During a weekend long event at the end of October eighty-three 2^nd and 3^rd graders (Brownie Girl Scouts) came out to the Girl Scout Willow Springs Program Center in Prescott, AZ to learn about the wonders of water, water conservation, water catchment and the preciousness of this limited resource. Simultaneously sixty-three 6^th-8^th grade girls (Cadette Girl Scouts) came to spend the weekend learning about leadership and then helped the younger girls earn a Girl Scout award.

         For this weekend event, AmeriCorps member, Emma Gifford created and compiled resources for all the programming and activities that the girls participated in. On Saturday the Brownie Girl Scouts spent the morning: learning about watersheds using a life like model, hiking through our riparian areas, and making their own water filters from various resources. The Cadettes took a hike focusing on their breath, completed an inner leadership activity that helped them define their passions and beliefs, and learned some group games that they would be leading in the afternoon. After lunch they all came together for three hours of community service. Using the knowledge that they gained in the morning and with the help of Adrian Adams and permaculturalists from High Country Permaculture, the girls built passive rain water catchments (also known as rain gardens/swales), planted native seed, removed weeds and other debris, and learned about water run-off. The girls sweat equity has improved the water run off, will prevent future erosion, and has further beautified the camp property. 

All in all, the event was a major success! While working girls were seen smiling, laughing, and asking critical questions. When asked what was her favorite part one girl said, “Knowing that I did something good today. I never knew it took so much to protect the planet, but I like knowing this now.” At the end of the day girls completed about 400 feet of swales and planted over 15 trees and native plants. 

Finally, during our closing ceremony on Sunday girls learned through an audio activity that according to the BBC the average person living in Africa uses 5 gallons of water a day while the average person living in the USA uses 175 gallons of water per day. Afterwards, one adult volunteer said, “Thanks for sharing that activity. My girls really understand the importance of water now and even I have been reminded how important water really is. This was great!”

Northland Cares Hosts World AIDS Day

The theme for World AIDS Day 2012 is "Getting to Zero." While global progress is being made, there are still areas where, for a variety of reasons, the HIV/AIDS epidemic is getting worse.  World AIDS Day will be on December 1^st 2012. Northland Cares will be hosting 3 events on November 29-30^th in Prescott, Arizona. As Northland Cares VISTA member, I am helping spread the word and organize the events. World AIDS Day was first conceived in August 1987, with the first official celebration on Dec. 1, 1988. Since 1995, the President of the U.S. has made a proclamation each World AIDS Day. Worldwide 40 million people are estimated to be infected with HIV and 90% do not know of their infection. Young people aged 13-29 accounted for 39% of all new HIV infections in 2009. HIV and AIDS are ongoing pandemics and awareness needs to be made to stop the spread and stigma of the disease. HIV/AIDS does not discriminate against age, gender, race or socio-economic status; everyone should help with the fight against HIV!

Striving for Zero By Shana Cozad "Why would current generations of "normal people" want to walk that path of having AIDS or HIV? Why would they want to risk losing family, friends, possibly their jobs and housing? I know it's illegal for employers to fire you for being HIV positive. It's also illegal for people to drive drunk. It still happens. So while our torches are still lit, while we still have the will and the drive to parade, to campaign, to speak our truth, listen. Listen well. ZERO is achievable.

Commemorate World AIDS Day 2012 at one of these local community events:

HIV Educational Event- Prescott United Methodist Church/Esther Hall

Thursday November 29^th 6:00PM

Special guest speaker Dr. Fisher from Phoenix, AZ

Snacks and drinks provided

AIDS Walk/Walk of Remembrance Prescott Court House Square & Community Remembrance at Prescott United Methodist Church

Friday November 30^th  5:30PM

AIDS Walk will meet at 5:30PM on the Prescott Court House North Stairs & Remembrance begins at 6:30PM. Prescott United Methodist Church, 505 West Gurley Street.

AmeriCorps VISTA Member Jennifer Gosnell serving
with Northland Cares  

Benefit Concert with Live Local Musicians, El Charro, Friday November 30^th from 4-10PM

120 North Montezuma Street, Prescott

Requested $5.00+ Donation at the door = Happy hour 4-10PM & Raffle ticket

Wreath Sale- Displayed the month of November/ December

Our wreaths are currently displayed at the following locations:

El Charro Restaurant & Bar, El Gato Azul, Pasquale’s Place, Iron Springs Cafe

Vanessa Silverstein Discusses AmeriCorps VISTA Operation Deep Freeze

AmeriCorps VISTA member Vanessa Siverstein serving
with the Coalition for Compassion and Justice

As a VISTA member serving with The Coalition for Compassion and Justice (CCJ), I volunteer for an organization addressing poverty in a variety of ways.

On any given day, you can find CCJ providing food for low income families, mentoring individuals transitioning out of poverty, repairing the homes of low-income home-owners, distributing warm winter clothes to needy individuals, and the list goes on and on.

Operation Deep Freeze is yet another way CCJ addresses the needs of those most vulnerable in Yavapai County.

Operation Deep Freeze is a life-saving emergency winter shelter that will open on nights when temperatures are predicted to fall to 25 degrees or colder OR there has been at least 2 inches of snow predicted on that day.

The need for emergency winter shelter came to light after extremely cold weather in 2010 caused one homeless man to lose his life, and two others to loose a foot to frostbite. CCJ recognized the need for an emergency shelter and with the help of The Prescott United Methodist Church was able to launch Operation Deep Freeze in October of 2011.

Community members can support Operation Deep Freeze by signing up to be an Operation Deep Freeze volunteer! CCJ needs volunteers willing to pledge that for a set 2 weeks throughout the year (of their choosing), they will spend the night with a CCJ employee and some guests, if needed.

If you can agree to make yourself available to be there for a night or two, should you be needed, let CCJ know!

For more information contact CCJ at 445-8382

Make a Difference Day

AmeriCorps VISTA Member Jennifer Robertson with
a team of volunteers

According to longtime residents of the Dexter neighborhood, Granite Creek used to flow continuously and, during the rainy season, like the Mississippi. Much has changed since then, the creek no longer flows as often or as wide, but it is still a much beloved part of the landscape. Paths run alongside the creeks and many travel through them.

Prescott Creeks is dedicated to the health of the Creeks and Watershed around the Prescott area. For Make a Difference Day, Prescott Creeks partnered with Americorps VISTA Member Jennifer Robertson with the Institute for Sustainable Social Change, based out of Prescott College. Together volunteers from Prescott College and the Dexter neighborhood cleared brush from the creeks, eliminating fire hazards and line of sight issues.

Though a great deal was accomplished that day, there is still more to do to promote the safety and health of the creeks and neighborhood of Prescott. To get involved or learn more visit www.prescottcreeks.org. 

The Yavapai Reentry Project is Looking for Community Coaches!

YAVAPAI COUNTY, AZ --  When Clarissa Freeman first found out about the Yavapai Reentry Project through a letter sent to her in prison she was elated.  After being in jail many times, Clarissa wanted her first time in prison to be her last.  But there were so many unknowns about reentering.  Could she find a place to live?  A job to support herself?  A positive social circle?  Looking over the Yavapai Reentry Project brochure, she saw that she could get support with the tasks she feared, but it was up to her to respond.  Clarissa quickly filled out the returnable post card for more information, and began the first step to make a positive change for her future.

Clarissa chose to be a part of the project’s Community Coach Mentorship Program.  Community Coaches are volunteers who are matched with a reentering individual and provide them with support, resource information, and someone to talk to during the difficult transition from prison into the community.  Coaches must complete a two-day training going over substance abuse and recovery, motivational interviewing, barriers for people with felony records, and more.  Free trainings for becoming a Coach are being held on November 1^st and 2^nd in Prescott, and on November 8^th and 9^th in Cottonwood for anyone who is interested in volunteering.  Call (928) 708-0100 to register.

The Yavapai Reentry Project first began in 2010 at a MATFORCE Roundtable event.  “We were bringing people together to talk about what projects or programs we needed in the community,” says Becky Kearns, a Yavapai County Adult Probation Officer and chairwoman of the Yavapai Reentry Project.  “At my table, the topic of prisoner reentry came up, and with my job I knew the importance of trying to do something.”  Kearns began hosting meetings in her living room for community members interested in starting a project.  After a while, it was obvious that this was an important issue, and MATFORCE and Community Counts offered to pay the cost to hire an AmeriCorps VISTA to get the program started. 

Now, over two years later, the program is showing great success.  On October 4^th, a community meeting was hosted by the Yavapai Reentry Project where Clarissa and her Community Coach, Kay Krizek, spoke of their experience working together with this project.   “I had never had a positive female role model or friend,” said Clarissa, “Kay has helped me with getting clothes, finding a doctor, using resources in the community, and lent me an ear to talk to when I needed it.”  Krizek was quick to respond, saying that Clarissa’s success is not all because of her role as a Coach, “Clarissa wanted this change in her life and has been working hard to make sure she does well.  I feel lucky to have been matched with someone who is so determined!” 

There are currently seven matches of Community Coaches with people who have returned to the community, or who are still incarcerated and preparing with their Coach through letter writing.  More Coaches are needed to meet the demand being seen by the Yavapai Reentry Project, “We get letters of interest from people every week who want to be involved in the program, but we need more Coaches to be able to match them and give them the best support possible,” said Prisoner Reentry Coordinator and AmeriCorps VISTA, Becca Fealk, “With our program being completely voluntary, the people who contact us truly want to make a positive change and be a contributing member to our community—they just need a little guidance and support to succeed.”

Clarissa has been out of prison for almost four months now.  She is working regularly doing construction and helps out the other women at the halfway house where she is living with substance abuse issues and daily support.  The Yavapai Reentry Project has provided her with resource information and guidance with barriers, but she states that it is her Coach Kay who has helped the most, “What is the most important is having somebody believe in you, and that’s what I got from Kay.”

Trainings to become a Community Coach are happening from 8:30am to 4:30pm on November 1^st and 2^nd in Prescott, and on November 8^th and 9^th in Cottonwood, and attending both days is necessary to obtain the certificate.  No experience is needed to be a Coach, and those with criminal histories can apply with some restrictions.  To sign up for the training, contact Becca Fealk at (928) 708-0100, or find out more information online at http://yavapaireentryproject.org.  

SEPTEMBER 11: NATIONAL DAY OF SERVICE AND REMEMBRANCE

September 11th is a declared National Day of Service and Remembrance, and AmeriCorps teams throughout the country organized service projects with the goal of reclaiming the legacy of September 11th by offering positive tributes to those we lost and those who rose to service.

This year, in honor of the 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance, Serve Yavapai hosted a two-week long food drive followed by a service project in the local riparian preserve. U.S. VETS – Prescott staff came together to make generous food donations. The morning of September 11, AmeriCorps members sorted over 1,500 pounds of donated food, which was distributed to local food security programs.

Later in the afternoon, AmeriCorps members, U.S. VETS – Prescott residents and other community volunteers gathered to collect firewood from downed trees. Volunteers collected 7 cords of wood which will be donated to local families in need of fuel. While it rained the entire time, everyone continued to work hard and smile.

Ron Rice was one of the five U.S. VETS residents that participated in this project. Ron commented that it was nice to work with the younger volunteers. He was able to share his knowledge by showing other volunteers what to look for and he offered tips on how to be safe and aware of some of the dangers involved with working outdoors. Yanina Rivera, VISTA Team Leader and Events Coordinator of Serve Yavapai, was “grateful for all the veterans who came down to support our efforts at Watson Woods.”

Sarah is serving serving her second term of AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) service as the Veteran Activities Coordinator for U.S. VETS – Prescott.

Join Serve Yavapai in Remembering,
Honoring and Serving on 9/11

Did you know that in 2009, the United States Congress passed bipartisan legislation, which formally recognized Sept. 11 as a National Day of Service and Remembrance. Thanks to the tireless efforts by the 9/11 families and community, nonprofits, governments and businesses that support them, the day reclaims the legacy of Sept. 11 and creates a permanent, positive tribute to all those lost and those who rose in service. Through the nationwide 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance initiative, Serve Yavapai will be joining hundreds of other organizations around the country commemorating Sept. 11 with community-based service programs.

Serve Yavapai will be leading a two week long food drive to benefit local food banks and food security programs to fight hunger in Yavapai County. Last year there were over 20 food collection sites with a consistent flow of food donations from local community volunteers. Overall, 502 volunteers participated in the 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance food drive by donating 3,538 pounds of food. That’s over one and a half TONS! I know that with your support we can beat that record!

If you would like to join us in observing and honoring 9/11 day; beginning Aug. 28, volunteers can drop off non-perishable food items at a variety of sites throughout Prescott and Prescott Valley. Drop-off sites can be found on www.ycvp.org. The drive will conclude on Sept. 11 with a volunteer run food collection and sorting event at the Prescott United Methodist Church. Food will then be distributed to local area food banks and food security programs in need. 

There will also be an opportunity to provide service on 9/11. In an effort to help improve the Watson Woods habitat and provide free fire wood for those in need:  on September 11^th from 12-5pm there will be a service project at Watson Woods. This will require bending, lifting, carrying fire wood and moderate physical activity. Registration is required, register at www.ycvp.org.

A very special thank you to our service day partners and sponsors:  Coalition for Compassion & Justice, Prescott Creeks, Prescott Alternative Transportation, Prescott Area Women’s Shelter, Yavapai College and the Retiree Connection, Granite Peak Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Community Counts, Prescott College, and Corporation for National and Community Service.