NOWCorps Fall/Winter 2024 Alumni Newsletter

Dear NOWCorps Alumni,

Last month we welcomed 32 NOWCorps members, our biggest cohort yet! This year we’repartnering with 17 different organizations throughout Northern Ohio and have added some newhost sites this year: Geauga Park District, Portage Soil and Water Conservation District, andWest Creek Conservancy.

As NOWCorps grows, we acknowledge the importance of keeping ties with former members. Iencourage you all to stay in touch with each other, with NOWCorps staff, and maybe even reachout to a current member or two! Throughout this newsletter, you’ll find our 2023-2024 Annual

Report and some highlights from this current service year, which began last month.

Each quarter, I’ll be sending out a newsletter with highlights and updates. By the next newsletter, we will have a NOWCorps alumni page on our website as well, so keep your eyes peeled for that!

We’re excited to initiate a greater NOWCorps alumni network and connect with you all. Please donot hesitate to reach out with any ideas, suggestions, comments or questions.

Thank you all for your service and your time—

Claire

NOWCorps Member Coordinator

[email protected]

Looking for the Helpers: A Cycle of Giving Back

NOWCorps can be a life changing experience because it’s an opportunity to form connections with a community and the environment. NOWCorps members add to the rich tapestry of AmeriCorps service. Each year, NOWCorps welcomes a new cohort of AmeriCorps members who aspire to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through their service.

Serving in AmeriCorps requires members to think beyond themselves and to imagine a bigger, brighter, and greener future within our communities. This sentiment is echoed by NOWCorps alumni and current host site supervisor, Tom Schreiber. “I…met countless people working the field that I aspired to join and built a network that I can now serve and give back to.” No matter the AmeriCorps program, what unites all AmeriCorps members is the want and dedication to improve our communities, to serve alongside others, and to “get things done”.

Although no two AmeriCorps experiences are the same, there is a comradery and mutual understanding that follows when meeting other AmeriCorps members or alumni. Rosana Villafan, who served at Holden Forests and Gardens during the 2023-2024 year, recounted her experience while presenting at a forest farming conference in

Virginia. “Another exciting aspect of this trip was speaking to various people who recognized the ‘A’ I was wearing and sharing their experiences with past or present experiences with AmeriCorps. It was enlightening to hear how common AmeriCorps was in this field and hearing the stories from people.” While the people she met all served with different AmeriCorps programs, they were still able to connect over the experience of being in AmeriCorps and giving back to their communities.An integral part of the AmeriCorps experience is creating community connections and building a stronger network. We often use the word “sacrifice” when describing a year of service because members dedicate a whole year to address local challenges, unite their community, and grow personally and professionally. This is no easy feat, and it can seem intimidating at the onset. Nina White, a NOWCorps alum who served at Tinker’s Creek Watershed Partners writes, “But that’s the thing about AmeriCorps and my service, I am not alone. And it takes a team of individuals to make great work possible.” In joining NOWCorps, members open themselves up to a whole network of do-gooders and people who want to make a positive impact. Mr. Rogers once said, “Look for the helpers,” and sometimes, you just have to look for the “A.”

Make a Difference Day!

Last month we collaborated with the Cleveland Parks and Greenspace Coalition to clean up two cityof Cleveland parks—Warsaw Park and Coit Road. Members got to meet with park representatives tolearn about the history behind the parks and how the Coalition connects Cleveland residents toparks and greenspaces. In total, we cleaned up over 25 bags of trash and a lot of debris! Thank youto those who made this collaboration possible!

Giving Tuesday

Giving Tuesday is this December 3rd. Consider donating (any amount counts!) to Tinker’s CreekWatershed Partners, the sponsoring organization for NOWCorps! Support watershed educationtoday!