A "Hometowner" press release was sent to the local newspaper of each of our AmeriCorps members to promote the YHSC_AmeriCorps Division Program and our stellar members. The press release describes the YHSC_AmeriCorps Division program and gives a snapshot of each AmeriCorps member serving in the program. Hopefully some of the papers will "pick-up" the story and give our members and program some good press.
The New Britain ran an article about Audrey. Follow this link for see below for the text of the article.
http://www.newbritainherald.com/articles/2010/12/05/news/doc4cfc59f523620377745073.txt
Americorp Has Valuable Ally in Local Woman
Sunday, December 5, 2010
By Erica Schmitt Correspondent
Audrey Zackery is one New Britain woman with a lot to offer. She is an Americorps member and now, a Youth Health Service Corps Coordinator in Hartford. Zackery works with high-risk students from Hartford High School in the YHSC program to help them pursue health-related careers.Zackery grew up in New Britain and is still a resident today. At Hartford High School she is training 10 students to volunteer in health care settings, mostly juniors and seniors from the Nursing Academy and Law and Government Academy. She meets with them every Thursday after school for one to three hours to work on real-world skills and community projects. After training, students choose service projects to get involved in, which will fulfill the 50-hour minimum requirement for program completion.The YHSC works most often with the under-served population, including those from low-income and single-parent homes. They connect with schools in Hartford to identify students who may benefit most from the program.YHSC site coordinator Eliana Cardeno thinks Zackery is a valuable asset to the program. “She’s been working really hard and not only doing a lot of projects in the office, but also working with other Americorps members to implement service projects at other schools in the state,” said Cardeno. “She is making sure her kids are doing well and that she’s meeting their needs, and has made herself available to tutor them after school.”
Zackery has volunteered after work for many years. Her primary career was never in the community service field until September. In fact, Zackery received an associate’s degree in business management from American Intercontinental University.“I worked in corporate for over 20 years as a financial analyst,” explained Zackery. “I was sitting at my desk daydreaming two years ago, and I saw myself standing in front of students and assisting them in some way. When I found out about Americorps and the type of work they do, I realized that was where I should be. I’m all for empowering youth and trying to get them on the right track by being a powerful role model so they can be the best they can be, so I retired and followed my heart.”Sometimes she deals with challenging cases, like students who are involved with drugs or come from families that are homeless. “We want them to have positive values, and we have high expectations for them,” said Zackery.Funding from Americorps supports its 14 members working at high schools across the state, implementing the YHSC program. For more information on the Youth Health Service Corps, go to www.centralctahec.org.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
2011 MLK Day of Service Committee Meeting Minutes
12/14/2010
Participants: Celia, Patrick, Coutney, Melinda, Jen, Leslie
Absent: Lena
Bus Pick Up/ Drop Off Location
o Northwestern – Brass Mill Center
o Southwestern – East Haven High School; Hill Regional Career HighSchool
o Eastern – Windham High School;Coventry High School
o Central – TBD
Kick Off Events
o The MLK Kick Off will tentatively be held at the South Street Church banquet hall in Hartford, free of charge. We are awaiting confirmation and will have updates after our meeting with Hands on Hartford this week.
o The day will feature:
§ A performance from a local church choir
§ Speaker Pastor James Lane, who works with youth and is associated with the Center for Non-Violence
§ Speaker Victoria Christgau, Founder/Executive Director of the Center for Non-Violence
§ Possible performance from the Hartbeat Ensemble.
Site List – We are still in the process of confirming sites.
o Peter’s Retreat – Residential program for people living with HIV/AIDS
o Manna- Food pantry/soup kitchen
o Senior Café – Assembling donation baskets at South Street Church
§ We have discussed having students run a drive to collect items that could be donated to go along with the baskets.
o FoodShare – Sorting food donations
Awaiting Confirmation
o Hartford Children’s Theater
o MLK School
o The Boys & Girls Club
o Mark Twain House
o American School for the Deaf
We expect more confirmations in the coming weeks.
Center Updates -YHSC Member Recruitment
Northwestern:
o Passed out permission forms and have fully explained the event to students.
Southwestern:
o Melinda is working on a letter describing the event to hand out to students along with permission slips.
o Courtney has recruited 12 students from Hillhouse and has posted the information on AHEC Nation.
Center Updates -Additional Volunteer Recruitment
o YHSC members have expressed an interest in bringing along friends to volunteer on MLK day at both Northwestern and Southwestern. We are awaiting confirmation from YHSC students to determine how much extra room we will have to accommodate additional volunteers.
Central Update-T-Shirt Design
o Meeting with HOH members on Thursday to create an image for the t-shirts. Once the image is finalized it will be emailed to the group.
o Contacted Good Deed t-shirts for a quote. We hope to have our order in by next week.
Next Meeting Date and Time
Tuesday, December 21st- 10AM
12/7/2010
Facilitators: AmeriCorps Program Director: Celia Tvrdik
Note taker: Jennifer Sweat
Present: AmeriCorps Program Director: Celia Tvrdik, Public Ally: Patrick McKenna,
Southwest: Not Represented, Central: Lesli Ann Lewis, Eastern: Not Represented
Northwest: Jennifer Sweat
· Bus Pick Up/ Drop Off Location
Must determine pickup location for each AHEC and email Pat with that location no later than Wednesday 12/15/2010 so that he can speak to each bus company. This will be crucial to determining each AHEC’s pick-up and drop-off times so that the agendas can be confirmed.
· Permission Form
Example emailed to committee by Celia on 12/07/10. Make sure to add specific info: AHEC name, pick up location, pick up and drop off time, photo and press release, etc. All permission forms must be approved by your AHEC supervisor.
· YHSC Member Recruitment
Central- Made attendance to MLK Day and GYS Day mandatory components of the YHSC program.
Northwestern- Students must turn in permission slip to insure a spot on the bus.
· Additional Volunteer Recruitment-50 people total (bus max capacity)
Central- Has contacted many community groups such as NAACP, SGA, and local fraternities and sororities to participate in MLK Day. These groups are very interested in site selection so that their service will count toward their academic requirements. Site information will be determined in the future. Lesli -Ann will ask her contacts for the types of service that are approved. Celia will send out a rough agenda.
Northwestern- Have not extended the invitation to community groups as of yet. When they do, they will be asking that the groups provide there own transportation to Hartford.
· Lists-Progress-An initial list should be emailed to Celia no later than Thursday 12/09/10
o Govt. officials/ political figure contact info
o Newspaper/ television contact info
o Must have at least name and email
· T-Shirt Design-
The idea is a picture of Martin Luther King Jr. giving the “I Have a Dream Speech” with the logos of the organizations as transparencies on the face of Dr. King with the words “Through Service We Continue the Dream”. Lesli-Ann will be paired with a member of Hands on Hartford who has the necessary technology to produce the image for the T-shirts.
· Next Meeting Date and Time-TBA
11/30/10
Facilitators: AmeriCorps Program Director: Celia Tvrdik
Note taker: Jennifer Sweat
Present: AmeriCorps Program Director: Celia Tvrdik, Public Ally: Patrick McKenna, AmeriCorps Members Southwest AHEC: Courtney Myers and Melinda Fisher, Central AHEC: Elianna Cardeno, Lesli Ann Lewis, Eastern AHEC: Lena Sanchez, Northwest AHEC: Jennifer Sweat
Information on MLK DAY:
-Hands on Hartford is a Connecticut Commission on Community Service AmeriCorps Program that works with several volunteer sites throughout the capital city. Hand on Harford will find service sites to place the volunteers and YHSC-AmeriCorps Division will supply the volunteers. Central AHEC is also going to indentify any service sites that they have relationships with.
-There will be 1 bus provided per AHEC center. Each bus can transport 50 people total.
High School Participating in MLK DAY: Southwest AHEC: Career High, Hillhouse High, East Haven High, Eastern AHEC: Windam High, Coventry High (?), Central AHEC: All participating High Schools, Northwest: All participating High Schools
•Tentative Schedule for MLK Day - January 17th, 2011
9:00 am -Busses Leave from Region to Hartford
(Pickup sites for each region-TBA at each AHEC site. )
10:00 am -Busses arrive at The Boys and Girls Club of Hartford.
-Speakers-TBA
11:30-12:00 pm -Lunch
12:00-3:00 pm -Students serve throughout Hartford
3:00-4:30 pm -Arrive back at The Boys & Girls Club for facilitated reflection
4:30-5:30 -Travel time back to region
•YHSC Member Recruitment
-Start letting members know about this ASAP. Be sure that all YHSC members have first priority for a spot on the bus. Any additional volunteers may be invited, but once the bus is filled, other transportation must be found.
-Flyers-Formal Flyers must be created and posted as soon as possible.
-Field Trip Permission Form-Celia will email sample permission slip, but be sure to run it by your AHEC Director to be sure it is appropriate for your region.
•Additional Volunteer Recruitment
-Leslie Ann Spoke to Shane from Hands on Hartford and they are looking for an Intergenerational mix of volunteers.
-Additional volunteers are encouraged to attend. If another group attends, they must have their own chaperones, permission slips, and possibly transportation (50 people total is the bus max capacity per AHEC).
-What is the ratio of minor volunteers to chaperones supposed to be?
•Event Promotion/ Invites
-Invite and Press releases will be sent out from Northwestern AHEC and Hands on Hartford.
-Each AHEC needs to create:
1) An Excel Contact List Consisting of Name, Title, and email addresses of their local public officials, newspapers, media, etc. to receive invitations to the kickoff.
-Patrick will email everyone a link to assist in this process.
•T-Shirt Design
-Central AHEC will be in charge of the T-Shirt Design and will submit a rough draft to Celia no later than 12/10/10.
-Celia will email the logos that must be used to Lesli Ann.
-The back of the shirt will be left blank for Sponsors’ logos.
-Each AHEC needs to create:
1) An Excel Contact List consisting of Business Name, Contact Person and Title, and Email addresses of local businesses to be asked to be a sponsor.
•Next Meeting Date and Time-Tuesday, December 7th at 11am
Participants: Celia, Patrick, Coutney, Melinda, Jen, Leslie
Absent: Lena
Bus Pick Up/ Drop Off Location
o Northwestern – Brass Mill Center
o Southwestern – East Haven High School; Hill Regional Career HighSchool
o Eastern – Windham High School;Coventry High School
o Central – TBD
Kick Off Events
o The MLK Kick Off will tentatively be held at the South Street Church banquet hall in Hartford, free of charge. We are awaiting confirmation and will have updates after our meeting with Hands on Hartford this week.
o The day will feature:
§ A performance from a local church choir
§ Speaker Pastor James Lane, who works with youth and is associated with the Center for Non-Violence
§ Speaker Victoria Christgau, Founder/Executive Director of the Center for Non-Violence
§ Possible performance from the Hartbeat Ensemble.
Site List – We are still in the process of confirming sites.
o Peter’s Retreat – Residential program for people living with HIV/AIDS
o Manna- Food pantry/soup kitchen
o Senior Café – Assembling donation baskets at South Street Church
§ We have discussed having students run a drive to collect items that could be donated to go along with the baskets.
o FoodShare – Sorting food donations
Awaiting Confirmation
o Hartford Children’s Theater
o MLK School
o The Boys & Girls Club
o Mark Twain House
o American School for the Deaf
We expect more confirmations in the coming weeks.
Center Updates -YHSC Member Recruitment
Northwestern:
o Passed out permission forms and have fully explained the event to students.
Southwestern:
o Melinda is working on a letter describing the event to hand out to students along with permission slips.
o Courtney has recruited 12 students from Hillhouse and has posted the information on AHEC Nation.
Center Updates -Additional Volunteer Recruitment
o YHSC members have expressed an interest in bringing along friends to volunteer on MLK day at both Northwestern and Southwestern. We are awaiting confirmation from YHSC students to determine how much extra room we will have to accommodate additional volunteers.
Central Update-T-Shirt Design
o Meeting with HOH members on Thursday to create an image for the t-shirts. Once the image is finalized it will be emailed to the group.
o Contacted Good Deed t-shirts for a quote. We hope to have our order in by next week.
Next Meeting Date and Time
Tuesday, December 21st- 10AM
12/7/2010
Facilitators: AmeriCorps Program Director: Celia Tvrdik
Note taker: Jennifer Sweat
Present: AmeriCorps Program Director: Celia Tvrdik, Public Ally: Patrick McKenna,
Southwest: Not Represented, Central: Lesli Ann Lewis, Eastern: Not Represented
Northwest: Jennifer Sweat
· Bus Pick Up/ Drop Off Location
Must determine pickup location for each AHEC and email Pat with that location no later than Wednesday 12/15/2010 so that he can speak to each bus company. This will be crucial to determining each AHEC’s pick-up and drop-off times so that the agendas can be confirmed.
· Permission Form
Example emailed to committee by Celia on 12/07/10. Make sure to add specific info: AHEC name, pick up location, pick up and drop off time, photo and press release, etc. All permission forms must be approved by your AHEC supervisor.
· YHSC Member Recruitment
Central- Made attendance to MLK Day and GYS Day mandatory components of the YHSC program.
Northwestern- Students must turn in permission slip to insure a spot on the bus.
· Additional Volunteer Recruitment-50 people total (bus max capacity)
Central- Has contacted many community groups such as NAACP, SGA, and local fraternities and sororities to participate in MLK Day. These groups are very interested in site selection so that their service will count toward their academic requirements. Site information will be determined in the future. Lesli -Ann will ask her contacts for the types of service that are approved. Celia will send out a rough agenda.
Northwestern- Have not extended the invitation to community groups as of yet. When they do, they will be asking that the groups provide there own transportation to Hartford.
· Lists-Progress-An initial list should be emailed to Celia no later than Thursday 12/09/10
o Govt. officials/ political figure contact info
o Newspaper/ television contact info
o Must have at least name and email
· T-Shirt Design-
The idea is a picture of Martin Luther King Jr. giving the “I Have a Dream Speech” with the logos of the organizations as transparencies on the face of Dr. King with the words “Through Service We Continue the Dream”. Lesli-Ann will be paired with a member of Hands on Hartford who has the necessary technology to produce the image for the T-shirts.
· Next Meeting Date and Time-TBA
11/30/10
Facilitators: AmeriCorps Program Director: Celia Tvrdik
Note taker: Jennifer Sweat
Present: AmeriCorps Program Director: Celia Tvrdik, Public Ally: Patrick McKenna, AmeriCorps Members Southwest AHEC: Courtney Myers and Melinda Fisher, Central AHEC: Elianna Cardeno, Lesli Ann Lewis, Eastern AHEC: Lena Sanchez, Northwest AHEC: Jennifer Sweat
Information on MLK DAY:
-Hands on Hartford is a Connecticut Commission on Community Service AmeriCorps Program that works with several volunteer sites throughout the capital city. Hand on Harford will find service sites to place the volunteers and YHSC-AmeriCorps Division will supply the volunteers. Central AHEC is also going to indentify any service sites that they have relationships with.
-There will be 1 bus provided per AHEC center. Each bus can transport 50 people total.
High School Participating in MLK DAY: Southwest AHEC: Career High, Hillhouse High, East Haven High, Eastern AHEC: Windam High, Coventry High (?), Central AHEC: All participating High Schools, Northwest: All participating High Schools
•Tentative Schedule for MLK Day - January 17th, 2011
9:00 am -Busses Leave from Region to Hartford
(Pickup sites for each region-TBA at each AHEC site. )
10:00 am -Busses arrive at The Boys and Girls Club of Hartford.
-Speakers-TBA
11:30-12:00 pm -Lunch
12:00-3:00 pm -Students serve throughout Hartford
3:00-4:30 pm -Arrive back at The Boys & Girls Club for facilitated reflection
4:30-5:30 -Travel time back to region
•YHSC Member Recruitment
-Start letting members know about this ASAP. Be sure that all YHSC members have first priority for a spot on the bus. Any additional volunteers may be invited, but once the bus is filled, other transportation must be found.
-Flyers-Formal Flyers must be created and posted as soon as possible.
-Field Trip Permission Form-Celia will email sample permission slip, but be sure to run it by your AHEC Director to be sure it is appropriate for your region.
•Additional Volunteer Recruitment
-Leslie Ann Spoke to Shane from Hands on Hartford and they are looking for an Intergenerational mix of volunteers.
-Additional volunteers are encouraged to attend. If another group attends, they must have their own chaperones, permission slips, and possibly transportation (50 people total is the bus max capacity per AHEC).
-What is the ratio of minor volunteers to chaperones supposed to be?
•Event Promotion/ Invites
-Invite and Press releases will be sent out from Northwestern AHEC and Hands on Hartford.
-Each AHEC needs to create:
1) An Excel Contact List Consisting of Name, Title, and email addresses of their local public officials, newspapers, media, etc. to receive invitations to the kickoff.
-Patrick will email everyone a link to assist in this process.
•T-Shirt Design
-Central AHEC will be in charge of the T-Shirt Design and will submit a rough draft to Celia no later than 12/10/10.
-Celia will email the logos that must be used to Lesli Ann.
-The back of the shirt will be left blank for Sponsors’ logos.
-Each AHEC needs to create:
1) An Excel Contact List consisting of Business Name, Contact Person and Title, and Email addresses of local businesses to be asked to be a sponsor.
•Next Meeting Date and Time-Tuesday, December 7th at 11am
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