FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 1, 2014
Contact: Mike Kanarick
802.735.7962
Vermont Mayors, Governor Honor AmeriCorps and Senior Corps Members and Highlight Value of National Service for Mayors Day of Recognition for National Service
Montpelier, VT – The Vermont Mayors Coalition today, joined by Governor Peter Shumlin, honored AmeriCorps and other service members and highlighted the value of their national service to their communities during a news conference in the State Capitol’s Cedar Creek Room and through a proclamation. Vermont’s eight mayors, represented by Montpelier Mayor John Hollar and Barre Mayor Thom Lauzon, joined more than 1,200 mayors from around the nation offering similar recognition of their cities’ service members during the second annual Mayors Day of Recognition for National Service, a nationwide bipartisan effort to:
- Recognize the positive impact of national service on our cities;
- Thank AmeriCorps and Senior Corps participants who serve; and
- Encourage citizens to give back to their communities.
“I am grateful for the dedication and sacrifice of Burlington’s AmeriCorps members, who are helping make our great City stronger, safer, and healthier,” said Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger. “National service demonstrates the best of the American spirit – people turning toward problems, working together to find community solutions. Today, as we thank national service members for their commitment, let us all pledge to do our part to strengthen our City through service and volunteering.”
“I want to thank all the service members and volunteers for their dedication to our communities,” said Newport Mayor Paul Monette. “Their sacrifice in helping everyone from our at-risk youth to our senior citizens is a valuable community service. I certainly urge everyone, at some point, to volunteer in your community."
The nation’s mayors increasingly are turning to national service and volunteerism as a cost-effective strategy to tackle challenges in their communities. Key partners in Vermont’s service efforts include:
- The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), a federal agency that engages more than five million Americans in service through AmeriCorps and other programs; and
- SerVermont, a State of Vermont commission that administers funding to the State’s AmeriCorps National service programs, AmeriCorps*VISTA program, and promotes, supports, and recognizes volunteerism and community service throughout the state.
Vermont has engaged in national service for more than 20 years to make our state stronger. Beginning in 1992 and continuing to today, national service resources have been leveraged to address our state’s toughest challenges, including poverty and racism.
This year, Vermont has over 150 AmeriCorps members serving throughout the state. Seventy-four of those members serve in the mayors’ communities. In addition, over 300 Senior Corps members serve in Vermont, with a majority of those participants serving in the mayors’ communities.
“National service members, AmeriCorps, and Senior Corps provide a tremendous amount of service to Vermont,” said Phil Kolling, Executive Director of SerVermont. “Our state is stronger because of the efforts of AmeriCorps and Senior Corps members. Our mayors recognize the service that is being provided to their communities by national service members, and today they are showing their unified support for the hundreds of members in Vermont.”
Vermont’s national service programs include four AmeriCorps State programs: Vermont Housing and Conservation Board; Vermont Youth Development Corps at the Washington County Youth Services Bureau; the Northeast Kingdom Initiative at Lyndon State College; and We All Belong in Burlington’s Community and Economic Development Office. Vermont also hosts the Vermont Youth Tomorrow and SerVermont AmeriCorps VISTA programs. Senior Corps programs in Vermont include Foster Grandparents, Senior Companions, and the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, all operating statewide out of multiple agencies. AmeriCorps members serve for one year and receive up to a $12,100 living stipend and a $5,550 education award that can be used to pay for future higher education or qualified school loans. National service members are all ages and perform many different types of service, from physical labor and direct service with the community to behind-the-scenes assistance to increase organizational efficiency.
SerVermont and all these national service programs receive funding from the CNCS. For more information about Vermont’s national service programs, please visit the Vermont Service Profile page on the CNCS website.
*Please see attached proclamation.
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