MILESTONE: ONE MILLION AMERICORPS MEMBERS!
We’re excited to have been a part of the now 1,000,000 Americans who have served with AmeriCorps over its 21 years. We started here, in Montana as AmeriCorps began with a student engagement program called Campus Corps, moved on to support literacy with Montana Reads, and worked with our Colorado partners with the UCAN Serve program, our Washington friends with Students In Service, and Mountain West with the Compact Service Corps. Now we run a program that’s just called MTCC AmeriCorps, and we focus on high school graduation, postsecondary access and college completion. Over those past twenty or so years…
MTCC VISTA National Day of Service
Over the 9/11 remembrance weekend, MTCC VISTA members across Montana collaborated to lend their hands in service to a wide range of community betterment work. Ideally, given the success of this year’s National Day of Service, every weekend would see VISTA members engaging in service work to directly impact the communities where they live. The purpose of service is threefold: to create solidarity amongst individuals doing service; to better existing methods of community empowerment and intervention; and to plant and cultivate the seed of service within each of our members and those they knowingly or unknowingly influence every day.We’d like…
GIVING COMMUNITIES “BIG MICROPHONES”
This year, Campus Compact recognizes Robin Saha, Associate Professor of Environmental Studies at the University of Montana, as the 2016 Thomas Ehrlich Civically Engaged Faculty Award Recipient.Saha’s engaged scholarship sits at the intersection of environmental justice, health and policy, emphasizing advocacy for marginalized communities. His nationally recognized work shed light on the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, and has been cited in Fortune Magazine, the Boston Globe, and the Huffington Post.Using Geographic Information Systems, Saha has worked to establish quantitative methods for assessing racial and socioeconomic disparities in locations with environmental hazards. Dr. Saha, in partnership with Robert Bullard and…
BEGINNING MY SERVICE
Hi everyone! My name is Margaret and I am the new senior AmeriCorps Leader located in the Montana Campus Compact office. I just started at the beginning of September. I am a Montana girl. I grew up in Cascade and was already in Missoula when I began my AmeriCorps application process. I graduated from The University of Montana in 2014 with a degree in Marketing, Management and a certificate in Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management. I love hiking, running and backpacking with my adventure dog Keta, she is a rescue from Alaska. I love a great cup of coffee and…
ROOM TO GROW: A SERVICE STORY BY CARA GETCHES
Below is a story of service from Cara Getches, one of our VISTA Summer Associates with the Helena YMCA. Cara’s experience as an AmeriCorps VISTA was full of meaning, reflection and growth on multiple levels. We appreciate the commitment she took to serve underprivileged youth and praise the impact she had in their lives and the community at large. Here is a link to a video Cara produced for the YMCA Summer Literacy Initiative. The Password to access the video is: YMCA__________________________________________Room to GrowBy Carolyn GetchesCampus Compact AmeriCorps VISTA, Summer 2016For years, serving with AmeriCorps was on my list of things to do. Like…
MONTANA PROFESSOR ROBIN SAHA WINS NATIONAL EHRLICH AWARD
Dr. Robin Saha, Associate Professor of Environmental Studies at the University of Montana has been selected to receive the 2016 Thomas Ehrlich Civically Engaged Faculty Award. More about Saha’s work and this prestigious award can be found on the Campus Compact website.The Ehrlich award is made annually to recognize one faculty member and up to four finalists for exemplary leadership in advancing student civic learning, conducting community-based research, fostering reciprocal partnerships, building institutional commitments to engagement, and enhancing higher education’s contributions to the public good. The award is named in honor of Thomas Ehrlich, former chair of the Campus Compact…
COMPACT VISTA ALUM IAN LAWRENCE CHECKS IN
We at the Montana Campus Compact network office recently got thank you notes from Ian Lawrence on his last day of VISTA service. I sent him back a handful of questions as a follow up, and what follows are his inspiring answers.—————————————————————-Where did you do your VISTA service?I did my VISTA service in Lame Deer, Montana, a small district situated on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation.How was higher education a part of your service? Higher education became an integral part of my service when I realized that, for young native people living in poverty, education is oftentimes the only route they…
CHECKING IN WITH AMERICORPS LEADER SHANADA HICKS
Our staff member Lacy Fiore checked in with AmeriCorps Leader Shanada Hicks to see how her service is going. Shanada comes to Montana from Denver, CO and serves with Girl Scouts of Montana and Wyoming and Rocky Mountain College. Keep reading to learn more about her service to Montana:_____________________________________________________________________Where are you serving and what does a typical day look like?I am serving in Billings, MT. A typical day starts with preparing materials and lesson plans for our Girl Scout Troops. The best part is getting to engage the girls in these activates. I enjoy watching them learn and expand their…
GOODBYE AND THANK YOU TO OUR SUMMER ASSOCIATES AND MEMBERS
Community service and bonding is the source of change from the ground up. A trickle up approach that changes the heart more so than the wallet. In this way AmeriCorps Summer Associates not only fight the material and monetary pressures of living in poverty but also empower others to open their hearts to the possibility of community inclusion. Throughout the summer, members participated in diverse activities to help Montana community organizations fight local poverty, including increasing tutoring and mentoring resources, managing various summer activities and support services for children and families, supporting feeding programs to help alleviate hunger within the…
ROCKY HOSTING SERVICE LEARNING WORKSHOP
Rocky’s beautiful campus.You may already know that through your CEO’s affiliation your campus is a member of Campus Compact, a national (and Montana) network advancing the public purposes of higher education. Our state Compact office offers training, programs, awards and scholarships to our members to support their work to address needs in our communities and educate students for civic and social responsibility.We are excited this month to offer a Service Learning Professional Development Workshop in eastern Montana for faculty, staff and administrators from the Campus Compact network. Rocky Mountain College will host the event on Friday, August 12. The workshop…
LITTLE BIG HORN COLLEGE HOSTS AMERICORPS TRAINING
MTCC AmeriCorps at Little Bighorn CollegeThe wind was unforgivingly whipping across the plains while a young native woman with long black hair flowing in the wind rode a bare back on a horse up a hill riddled with white markers at the Little Big Horn Battlefield. The stories of the battle echoed throughout the rental car over the radio speakers synced to a cell phone. Each historical marker had a corresponding stop number which changed the story to that location. Being surrounded by the narrative of this clash of cultures and being placed in the story by proximity, “over the…
ERIK SWANSON, VISTA WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA AND MISSOULA PUBLIC LIBRARY MAKERSPACE, CHECKS-IN
Erik Swanson tabling at U of M Volunteer FairErik Swanson started his year of service as a Montana Campus Compact (MTCC) VISTA back in July of 2015. Erik has made a ridiculously significant positive impact within his service site, the Missoula Public Library MakerSpace. The MakerSpace supports STEM learning, and provides resurces and tools to support innovative ideas to become reality. Erik has grown the MakerSpace’s capacity and increased its volunteer involvement, hours donated, and classes offered to levels the MakersSpace has never seen before.Here is what Erik had to say about his service: What is your background and what led…
FVCC STUDENT JADE WILLIAMSON REPRESENTS MONTANA AT THE COLLEGE DEBATE 2016!
Jade Williamson, FVCC studentCollege Debate ’16, just held its national student convening at Campus Compact affiliate institution Dominican University, in San Rafael, California. Montana was lucky to send Jade Williamson, a student from Flathead Valley Community College, to the event. Student delegates representing colleges and universities from all 50 states and DC met on the Dominican campus to plan strategies for using social media to expand conversations with young voters nationwide about the issues that matter most to them. Using social media and campus-based discussions, student delegates catalyzed discussions among young voters across the country to make their voices heard…
LITTLE BIG HORN COLLEGE’ S AMERICORPS LEADER: SHAKIRA GLENN
Shakira Glenn, AmeriCorps Leader with LBHCInspired by a quote by Plenty Coups, famous Chief of Crow Nation, “With an education you are… equal; without education you are… victim” Shakira L. Glenn, AmeriCorps Leader serving at Little Big Horn College, noted: “Without education we are a victim to circumstance. We as Crow people have the choice to better our well-being with education. There are many types of aid available in helping to do so; I am here for that sole purpose—to guide the people toward success, in becoming equal.” The staff and board of Montana Campus Compact welcome Shakira to service!Shakira…
DISABILITIES ADVOCATE INSPIRED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE WITH MTCC AMERICORPS PROGRAM
Brittany Gwisdala, AmeriCorps Leader in Great FallsInspired to join AmeriCorps by a Peace Corps volunteer, Brittany Gwisdala is serving as an AmeriCorps Leader with the University of Great Falls and Girls Scouts of Montana & Wyoming in Great Falls, Montana. Brittany joined AmeriCorps to make a difference in education and believes that “Every Student, no matter their background, deserves a college education to not only benefit their own life, but to take the experiences they learn from college and give back to their communities. There is a difference between just being a student, and being a student who gets involved….
SPOTLIGHT ON COMPACT AMERICORPS MEMBER: MEGAN BROWN
Megan Brown, supporting a community beautification project.Megan Brown relocated from Washington state to serve as an MTCC AmeriCorps Team Leader at MSU Northern in Havre, MT. Megan is part of Campus Compact’s inaugural college access AmeriCorps program, and leads a team of college student AmeriCorps members supporting college going culture, and supporting educational needs on Montana’s Hi-Line.Mentoring at the Boys and Girls Club has been a rewarding experience for her and the young people. She notes, “My bond with the kids at the Boys and Girls Club is very meaningful. I take great pride in knowing that I have built…
MTCC ALUM ANNIE MOMBOURQUETTE CHECKS IN
Annie Mombourquette served with MTCC as an AmeriCorps VISTA from August 2014-August 2015 with Browning Public Schools and Blackfeet Community College. She is continuing her service as a FoodCorps member with the same host site. We wish Annie the best of luck with the remainder of her service with FoodCorps and life after AmeriCorps!______________________________________________________________________________When and where did you serve during your term as an AmeriCorps VISTA? I served in Browning, Montana with the Browning Public Schools Food Service Nutrition Education and School/Community Garden Program. I also partnered with Blackfeet Community College as my campus partner. How did your year of service impact…
REFLECTIONS ON THE 2016 MONTANA COLLEGE ACCESS NETWORK CONFERENCE
MTCC AmeriCorps member Noah Davis, center.I’ve served with the Montana College Access Network’s steering committee for just about five years. I remember hearing about this diverse coalition of folks involved with college access and success from K-12, Higher Ed., Financial Aid, the TRiO and Montana Aspire Community, GEAR Up folks, etc. and wondering about how it all worked. What struck me at the time was that because Campus Compact is a network of campuses advancing the higher ed’s public purposes, college access and success offered some great potential for alignment, and strong big picture support from the Compact movement. The…
HAPPY 3OTH, CAMPUS COMPACT!
30 Years of Campus Compact!This is an important week for those of us that work in higher education: just thirty years ago, three campuses came together to for the first higher ed. consortium dedicated to educating students for civic and social responsibility, and advancing the public purposes of colleges and universities. Thirty years on here in 2016 this movement is strong. Over 1100 campuses nationally are part of Campus Compact, including seventeen great Montana campuses. From Flathead Valley Community College, to Fort Peck Community College, and MSU Billings, Carroll College, Rocky, Little Big Horn College and a dozen more.Each of…
GARDEN CITY TRIATHLON: JUNE 4TH
For the past ten years, Campus Compact has gathered triathletes in western Montana for its annual Garden City Triathlon. This event helps Campus Compact fund its Civic Engagement Scholarships. These scholarships, awarded to exemplary Montana college students and community volunteers leverage campus funds, and help spotlight the great work of college students.We are excited to bring on an excellent intern and current University of Montana Physical Therapy student, Kathryn Triplett to help organize this year’s race. We also work with Missoula’s awesome triathlon club, Team Stampede to hold the race.As always, MTCC is seeking racers, sponsors and volunteers for the…