GOALS

• IntroducehighschoolandcollegeagestudentswithdisabilitiestoAmeriCorpsandtheircommunityinordertofacilitatepracticalcareerexplorationandpreparationthroughservice.

• Establishlocal,mutuallybeneficialpartnershipsbetweenAmeriCorpsprogramsandyouthinitiativesinschools,colleges,andnot-for-profitorganizationswithafocusonyouthwithdisabilities.

IMPLEMENTATION

Nowinitssixthyear,VolunteerFlorida’sProjectImpactinitiativepartneredwith13AmeriCorpsprogramsand13organizationsservingpersonswithdisabilitiesforduring2012.AllpartnerswereprovidedtrainingutilizingtheProjectImpactActivityGuide,acurriculumdevelopedbyVolunteerFlorida.

ThecurriculumguidesAmeriCorpsmembersandtransitioningstudentswithdisabilities,beginningwithacommunitymappingexerciseandendingwiththecompletionofastudent-ledserviceproject,reflectionactivitiesandcelebration.ProjectImpactparticipantsattendmeetingstodiscusshowservicerelatestoemploymentandbuildemployabilityskills.

GLOBAL YOUTH SERVICE DAY

TheculminationofProjectImpactisthecompletionofaserviceprojectinrecognitionofGlobalYouthServiceDay.GlobalYouthServiceDay(GYSD)isanannualcampaignthatcelebratesandmobilizesthemillionsofchildrenandyouthwhoimprovetheircommunitieseachdayoftheyearthroughservice.Establishedin1988,GYSDisthelargestandlongest-runningserviceeventintheworld,andtheonlydayofservicededicatedtochildrenandyouth.GYSDiscelebratedeachyearinover100countries.

Thebackbonefordevelopingtheserviceprojectisthecommunitymappingexercise,thatwalksparticipantsthroughtheircommunityandgivesthemthepowertodecidewhattochange.ProjectImpactparticipantsidentifythisneedandaddressitthroughthecompletionofaserviceproject.

What is community mapping?

Community mapping gives individuals the opportunity to analyze needs in their community and empowers them to implement change with tools and resources.

Month Student ActivitiesJanuary • Attendinitialmeetingwithpeersandfacilitator

• Receiveoverviewofdifferentserviceprograms• Completecommunitymappingexercise• Identifyonecommunityproblemtoaddress• Chooseaserviceprojecttoaddresstheidentifiedproblem• Participateinareflectionactivity,discussingthelinkbetweenservice&employment

February • Conductfirstplanningmeetingtocompleteserviceproject• Listresources(supplies)neededanddetermineprojectcost• Identifyandformacommitteetocompletetasksfortheserviceproject• Identifyadditionalcommunitypartners• Developacommunicationplanforpromotingtheserviceproject• Completeareflectionactivity,discussingthekindsofcareers/occupationsassociatedwith

theserviceproject

March • Identifyallnecessaryresources• Choosethelocationfortheserviceproject• Outlineexactlyhowtheserviceprojectwillunfold• Finalizeanymarketingmaterialsfordistribution• Identifyneededaccommodationsforparticipantssuchastransportation• Completeareflectionactivity,discussingtheimplementationofthesetasksandtheir

connectiontoemployment

April • CompleteserviceprojectduringGlobalYouthServiceDay• Participateinreflectionactivity,discussingaccomplishmentsandhowtheyrelateto

employment

May • Celebrateandreflectonthecompletionoftheserviceproject• Completeareflectionactivity,discussingwhatwaslearned,thetypesofskillsbuilt,and

possiblecareerstheseskillswouldbeusefulfor

DUVAL COUNTY - Dog Wood Park

PartnersAmeriCorpsDuvalReads,TheIndependentLivingResourceCenterHighSchoolHighTechProgramandDogWoodPark.

Service ProjectStudentsstaffedaboothata“BuildingaBetterDogParkOnePawPrintataTime”eventtobenefitDogWoodParkinJacksonville.DogWoodParkisa42-acreswimandplayparkforpeopleanddogs.Inpreparationfortheevent,studentscreatedsignsandcardsforpuppypawprintsinschool.Studentscametotheparkthedayoftheeventtoworkhands-onwiththedogs.Over$100wasdonatedtotheparkandpaintingsweredonatedtodisplayinthefrontoffice.Studentslearnedtoworkasateamtocreatethecardsandtappedintotheircreativesidesforcatchyphrasestoputonthecards.Studentsthenlearnedproperbusinessetiquetteinsellingthecardsandapproachingguestsofthepark.

DUVAL COUNTY - Thrift Store

PartnersAmeriCorpsDuvalReads,TheIndependentLivingResourceCenterHighSchoolHighTechProgramFirstCoastHighSchool,NavyFederal,Primerica.

Service ProjectYouthmadepostersrequestingtheirpeers,staff,andteachersattheirschooltodonateclothingtotheirlocalthriftstore.Theyattachedtheposterstoboxesandplacedthemaroundschoolstocollectdonations.Studentssortedclothingbysizeandgender.Severalstudentshadneverparticipatedinacommunityserviceprojectorheardthetermbefore.Aftertheycompletedtheirfirstproject,theywantedtoknowaboutmorecommunityserviceactivitiesavailableintheircommunity.Thestudentswereexcitedaftertheysawhowmanydonationstheycollectedattheirschoolanddiscussedaskingtheirchurchorlocalgrocerystoretogetinvolvednextyear.

2012 PROJECT IMPACT SITES AND SERVICE PROJECTS

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY – Educational Opportunities

PartnersAmeriCorpsGraduationPathways,HillsboroughCountyHighSchoolHighTech,andHillsboroughCountyPublicSchools.

Service ProjectHighSchoolHighTechstudentswhoshowedaninterestineducationorNationalServicespentadayshadowingAmeriCorpsmembersfromHillsboroughReads/GraduationPathways.TheAmeriCorpsmemberssharedwiththestudentswhatatypicaldayservinginaschoollookslikeandexposedthemtoeducation-relatedjobandserviceopportunities.StudentsassistedAmeriCorpsmemberswhoserveastutorsbyfollowingtheBuildingBetterReaderscurriculumandreadingwithelementaryschoolstudents.OneofthebiggestchallengesfacingHillsboroughReadsistokeepstrugglingreadersexcitedaboutlearningtoread.StudentswereencouragedwhenguestreadersjoinedtheirregularAmeriCorpstutors.

PINELLAS COUNTY – Clam Bayou Cleanup

PartnersAmeriCorpsClearwater,KeepPinellasBeautiful,andServiceSource,Inc.

Service ProjectClamBayouisawetlandpreserveinSt.Petersburg,Florida,thatishometomanybirdsandmarineanimalsnativetoFloridaandimportanttotheTampaBayecosystem.Unfortunately,theareaisanaturalentrapmentfortrashanddebristhatwashesupintomangroves.TheSouthwestFloridaWaterManagementDistrictrecentlybuilt3stormwaterponds,4restorationareasandskimmerstodivertthelittertoareaseasilyaccessedandcontainedbeforeenteringthebay.KeepPinellasBeautifulsponsoredonelargecleansweepoftheareatoremovealltrashanddebrisbeforethesystemstarteddoingitsjob.

OnSaturday,April21,2012,23AmeriCorpsandHighSchoolHighTechstudentsparticipatedinthecleanupofthisarea.Donningrainbootsandwadingthroughtheswampyarea,participantsassistedatotalof180volunteerstoremoveapproximately3,000poundsoftrashfromthewetlands.

Thisprojectwasanexcellentteambuilderasparticipantshadtoguideeachothertosafelynavigatethemuddyarea.

OKALOOSA COUNTY – Assisted-Living Facility Improvements

PartnersNorthwestFloridaStateCollege(NWFSC)AmeriCorpsReadytoIntervene,NicevilleGardenCenter,AccentSigns,SunbeltRentals,EmeraldCoastNursery,TwinCitiesPavilion,OkaloosaYouthCamp,TheWorkforceBoardofOkaloosaandWaltonCounties,Inc.

Service ProjectProjectImpact2012engagedincarceratedyouthfromtheOkaloosaYouthAcademy(OYA)inCrestviewtoprovideamuch-neededfacelifttothebuildingandgroundsofalocalnon-profitassistedlivingfacility,TwinCitiesPavilion.TheAmeriCorpsteamprovidedyouthwithlearningexperiencestohelpredeveloptheirmindsetaboutcommunityservice.TheAmeriCorpsteamsmetwiththeyouthfromFebruarythroughMayandprovidedactivitiestobuildeffectivecommunication,leadershipskillsandtodevelopacommunityserviceproject.OYAboysresearchedappropriateplantsandlandscapingtechniques.Theproject,whichwasoptionalfortheyouth,servedasalearningexperiencetochangethewayincarceratedyouthviewcommunityserviceasaanenjoyable,altruisticdeedandactofkindnessratherthanapunitiveobligation.

PALM BEACH COUNTY – John D. MacArthur Beach State Park Dune Restoration and Clean-Up

PartnersLiteracyAmeriCorpsPalmBeach,GulfstreamGoodwillTransitiontoLifeAcademy,andJohnD.MacArthurBeachStatePark.

Service ProjectAmeriCorpsmembersandGulfstreamGoodwillTransitiontoLifeAcademyparticipatedinasanddunerestorationandbeachclean-upatJohnD.MacArthurBeachStatePark.ForAmeriCorpsmembers,thisprojectwasagreatopportunitytoworkwithyouthwithdisabilities.Gulfstreamstudentsbenefittedbyfeelingasenseofcitizenshipfromparticipatinginacommunityserviceproject,andasenseofownershipsincethecommunityneedwasdeterminedbythestudents.

ST. LUCIE COUNTY – Soup Kitchen Improvements

PartnersAmeriCorpsSt.LucieReads,St.LucieCountySchoolSystemESEProgram,HomeDepot,andBethelBaptistChurch.

Service ProjectStudentswithSt.LucieCountySchoolsworkedtobeautifyBethelBaptistChurch,whichhostsasoupkitchenandfoodpantryforcommunitymembersinneed.ThechurchislocatedindowntownFortPierceandservesmanylowincomeandat-riskcommunityresidents.Theproject’smainobjectivesweretomakethegatheringareawhereindividualswaitforservicesacleanandmoreenjoyableenvironment.Thiswasdonebypurchasinganewpicnictableandrefurbishingtheoldertwotables.Studentslandscapedbyplantingnewplantstoimprovetheoverallappearanceofthearea,repaintedtheparkingstops,andrepaintedthelinesfortheaccessiblespacesforchurchattendeeswithdisabilities.

LEE COUNTY – Meals for Homeless Veterans

PartnersAmeriCorpsRedCrossLeeCounty,GoodwillofSouthwestFloridaHighSchoolHighTech,andLeeCountySchoolsESEDepartment.

Service ProjectGoodwillHighSchoolHighTechstudents,CapeCoralHighSchoolstudents,andAmeriCorpsRedCrossLeemembersandvolunteershelpedfeedseventysevenhomelessveteransatLionsParkinFortMyers.WithAmeriCorpsmembers’supervision,thestudentshelpedserveandplatethefood,andthensharedamealwiththeveterans.Thestudentshelpedwithclean-upaftertheeventandcontinuedtointeractwiththeveteransandAmeriCorpsmembers.ThestudentsgainedabetterunderstandingoftheveteranhomelesscommunityandlearnedaboutAmeriCorpsandothervolunteerserviceprograms.

POLK COUNTY – Children’s Festival

PartnersAmeriCorpsPolkReads,PolkCountySchoolsTransitionProgramatSoutheasternUniversity,andCrystalLakeElementarySchool.

Service ProjectAmeriCorpsmembersandTransitionStudentsconducteda“Seussabration”Children’sFestivalatCrystalLakeElementarySchool.Activitiesincluded:storytelling,facepainting,balloons,artsandcrafts,andactivitiesand

games.Eachchildreceivedafreebookaftervisitingatleast8oftheactivitytables.Studentsandmembersutilizedorganizationalskillsandmanagementskillsandfurtherdevelopedpersonalinteractionskillswhileworkingwithattendeesoftheevent.Theliteracyfestivalwasheldataschoolwithlowsocio-economicstudentsandlowliteracyrates.Participantswerepleasedandimpressedwiththefactthatasimplefestivalcouldimpactthelivesofthechildrenserved.AmeriCorpsmembersfromHillsboroughReads/GraduationPathwayssharedwiththestudentswhatatypicaldayservinginaschoollookslikeandexposedthemtoeducation-relatedjobandserviceopportunities.StudentsassistedAmeriCorpsmemberswhoserveastutorsbyfollowingtheBuildingBetterReaderscurriculumandreadingwiththeelementarystudents.OneofthebiggestchallengesfacingHillsboroughReadsistokeepstrugglingreadersexcitedaboutlearningtoread.HavingguestreadersjointheirregularAmeriCorpstutorswasenrichingandencouragingforthestudentsreceivingtutoring.

COLUMBIA COUNTY – O’Leno State Park Trail Maintenance

PartnersAmeriCorpsFloridaStateParksNorthTeamandFloridaCrownWorkforceBoardHighSchoolHighTechProgram.

Service ProjectAmeriCorpsMembersandHighSchoolHighTechparticipantsworkedtogethertomaintaintrailsatO’LenoStateParkinColumbiaCounty.Duringtheserviceprojectmembersalsoprovidedstudentsinformationaboutthehistoryoftheparkandthecommunityofnativeandnon-nativeplantsthatinhabitthepark.

ORANGE COUNTY – Environmental Education

PartnersAmeriCorpsFloridaStateParksSouthTeam,AgencyforPersonswithDisabilities,Dr.PhillipsHighSchoolandOrangeCountyPublicSchools.

Service ProjectAmeriCorpsmemberswithHighSchoolHighTechstudentsfromDr.PhillipsHighSchoolbuiltbirdhouses,performedtrailmaintenanceandparticipatedinanenvironmentaleducationprogramatWekiwaStateParkinApopka.JeanetteJones,theHighSchoolHighTechteacherwhoalsoservesastheLearningStrategies/Technology(ESE)TeenParentingTeacheratDr.PhillipsHighSchoolandseveralstudentsexpressedhesitationaboutcompletingtheprojectoutsideintheheat;however,aftertheprojectstudentswantedtoknowiftheycoulddoitagain!

OnestudentcomposedalettertotheAmeriCorpsprogramexpressingtheirgratitudefortheexperience:“Dear AmeriCorps members, I would like to thank you for coming to DPHS and showing us the way of nature. I would also like to thank you for inviting us to Wekiwa Springs Park. The field trip was an effective and great learning experience. I had high expectations, and some day I wish to join the AmeriCorps team. ~Signed, Nick”

ESCAMBIA COUNTY – Senior Center Blanket Making

PartnersAmeriCorpsACES,AgencyforPersonswithDisabilities,J.M.TateHighSchool,TheManor,andPapaJohn’sPizza.

Service ProjectAmeriCorpsMembersjoinedwithESEstudentsfromTateHighSchoolinPensacolaandmadeblanketstobedonatedtoalocalassistedlivingfacilityforseniors.EachAmeriCorpsmemberwaspairedwithastudentandworkedwiththemtocutthematerialandthentotiethepiecestogether.Whentheycompletedthetasks,theyatelunchtogetherandreadbookstogether.Thestudentswereveryexcitedaboutmakingsomethingforsomeoneelsetoreallyuse.TheywereproudoftheirworkandwroteathankyoucardtoAmeriCorpsmembers.TheSeniorswerehonoredtoreceivethegiftsknowinghowhardthestudentshadworkedonthem.TheAmeriCorpsmembersrequestedopportunitiestoplanmoreserviceprojectswiththestudents.ManyofthestudentswhoparticipatedintheprojectareinSpecialOlympicsandinvitedtheAmeriCorpsteamtowatchthemcompete.

2011-12 PROJECT IMPACT INTERNSHIPS

Collegestudentswithdisabilitiesareeligibletocompleteaseventy-fivehourinternshipwithparticipatingAmeriCorpsprograms.ThroughapartnershipwithMiamiDadeCollegeACCESSMEEDProgramattheWolfsonCampusindowntownMiami,collegestudentshavetheopportunitytoapplyforandcompleteaninternshipwithanyofthetenAmeriCorpsProgramslocatedinMiami-DadeCounty.TheinternshipsallowstudentstoexploredifferentcareersbasedonthetypeofserviceaparticularAmeriCorpsprogramprovides,andpotentiallytransitionintoanAmeriCorpsprogramoncetheinternshiphasbeencompleted.

CompletedInternships 10SuccessfulTransitiontoAmeriCorps 5

2012 PROJECT IMPACT - STATISTICS

FromJanuarytoMay,AmeriCorpsmembersmentorparticipantsusingtheProjectImpactCurriculumthatteachesstudentsabouttheircommunityandguidesthemthroughaprocessthatculminatesinayouth-ledserviceproject.Table1belowprovidesthetotalnumberofYouthmentoredduringtheyearandthetotalnumberofAmeriCorpsmemberswhoservedasmentors.

Asaresultofthementoringexperience,youthcompleteaserviceprojectthatdirectlybenefitstheircommunity.Table2belowprovidesthetotalnumberofyouthwhoultimatelyparticipatedinaserviceprojectandthetotalnumberofAmeriCorpsmemberswhoprovidedmentoringduringtheserviceproject.Volunteerswhoassistedwiththeprojectandthetotalhoursspentonplanningforandimplementingtheserviceprojectareprovided.

Table 1 - Year-long Mentoring ExperienceProjectImpactYouthParticipants 219AmeriCorpsMemberMentors 79

Table 2 - Year-end Service Project ParticipantsAmeriCorpsMembers 105YouthTransitionStudents 156Volunteers 26

Total Participants 287Total Hours Served 1,229