Care Force Chronicle - Atlanta, GA

Thursday, October 14th, 2009 – Andrew Duffy

Care Force traveled to Atlanta, GA in October for a powerful week of physical service. In the city where “Every Day Is an Opening Day” our week opened with some damp and chilly weather. Representing Team Care Force were Susan Bensen, Kimberly Ferguson, Ken Wakwe and Andrew Duffy, all under the guidance of Project Manager, Hugh Harlow. Our trip was brightened by the addition of Reserves from City Year Miami; Project Leader Erin McCreary and Corps Member Neil Stanga. We were also luckily graced with presence of City Year Boston’s Admissions Manager, Jasmin Jimenez.

The ARAMARK service site for this project was The Atlanta Union Mission. They were chosen as the site for their long history of working with women and children. Established in 1938 as a refuge for homeless and hungry displaced by the Great Depression, the Mission has grown from a single shelter in downtown Atlanta to six facilities across the city. The sites provide emergency food and shelter, residential recovery programs and transitional housing for the residents of Atlanta. The Howell Mill Road Campus provides shelter for 264 women and children while also offering counseling, life skills training, and work therapy. In addition, the Mission runs a thrift store whose profits directly support the Mission’s program. There were two goals for the week, the first being to enhance the interior and exterior appearances. The second goal was to forge a relationship between the center and the local ARAMARK employees to optimize their ability to prepare clients for re-entry into the work place.



Seven projects were planned to help bring new energy to the center through indoor additions and outdoor enhancements. Though Mother Nature tried her best, the volunteers showed tremendous flexibility through inclement weather and were determined to see their day of service through. Team 1 assembled benches and picnic tables to maximize outdoor seating around the barbeque, as well as moving massive piles of mulch and dirt. Team 2 constructed bookshelves and cubbies to provide storage space in the classrooms used for counseling and group meetings. Team 3 built outdoor planter boxes that will be used as part of an outdoor classroom for the women of the shelter. Working at a feverous pace, Team 4 painted three classrooms a vibrant shade of green, along with Team 2’s bookshelves to create more welcoming spaces. Team 5 cleaned out the Mission’s donation closet and then built new storage for the area. Team 6 painted murals for the walls, and Team 7 gave a face lift to the center’s stairwell railings.


Though dampened shirts weighed them down, the spirit of the ARAMARK volunteers remained lifted. The volunteers worked through the weather and tight working spaces to complete all the projects within the allotted time. It is appropriate that the Atlanta Union Mission’s logo depicts a street lamp aglow with light, for the smiles on the clients faces will create a beacon of hope that will reach the darkest of corners throughout the city.

Care Force Chronicle - Philadelphia, PA

Philadelphia, PA – Saturday, September 26, 2009 – Susan Bensen

The trip began on an average Thursday in Philadelphia, but this event was not going to be an ordinary CSX service day because this event would mark the start of the CSX Trees for Tracks campaign! The goal of CSX’s Trees for Tracks is to plant one tree for every mile of train-track that CSX operates on over the next five years. “CSX is committed to making a positive impact on the communities in which we live and do business” said Tori Kaplan, CSX Director of Corporate Citizenship. "Not only does planting trees improve air quality and offset carbon emissions, but trees act as noise buffers, provide healthy homes for wildlife and add beauty to our world." Now before you get out your tape measures and calculators – I will save you the time and tell you, that will be a total of over 21,000 trees!

The resting ground of the first batch of trees was in the downtown area of Philadelphia at the Greenfield Elementary School. The school has been going through a three-year greening renovation and these 26 trees would be the final piece to the project. The staffing of the event included Senior Corps Members, Susan Bensen and Kimberly Ferguson and Project Managers, Hugh Harlow and Chris Farr.

Due to the nature of Trees for Tracks events – a brand new project and an overall new experience for everyone involved – prep included a lot of discovery. But even with all the new changes, Kimberly, Susan and Hugh had time than to see the sights that Philadelphia has to offer. They enjoyed Susan’s wealth of knowledge of Philadelphia as she had served her corps year in Philadelphia. They were also lucky enough to experience a true Philly classic at the place where “Cheese Steaks” were created, Pat’s King of Steaks, in south Philadelphia. Afterwards it was back to the service site to sort out all the different components and tools for a Trees for Tracks event. Even though there was only one day of prep – we were still busy.

The event day came fast and early for Team Care Force. The team departed from the Holiday Inn at 6:50 a.m. to reach the service site. There were a total of 79 CSX and community volunteers in attendance and after a quick breakfast and opening ceremony - they were off to service. The 26 trees were being planted in a forest-like patch – so all volunteers were able to serve in one centralized location. One team started on the left side and the other team started on the right side and planted the trees till they met in the middle. After a total of 44 hours and 26 trees planted later, the first ever CSX Trees for Tracks event was completed. The team wished farewell to the city of brotherly love and headed back to Boston that afternoon.

Care Force Chronicle - Greater Boston

Care Force Chronicle - Cautchy Bailly - 9.22.09

Care Force had the privilege to serve in their home area of Greater Boston at the East End House in Cambridge, MA. Susan Bensen, Andrew Duffy, Kimberly Ferguson, JoAnne Sylvia, Ken Wakwe, and I (Cautchy Bailly) had the pleasure of working with Care Force staff members Hugh Harlow, Huw McDonald and Meggan Levene in an effort to transform and beautify an historic part of the community. We were joined by City Year Boston’s Charlie Dunn, Britta Bell, and Melvin Manon.

The East End House is a not-for-profit, multi-service community center and social service agency with a commitment to serve a diverse population. It has been around since the late 1800s and at the current location since 1919 under the motto of “Building Community”. ARAMARK, our partner for this project, also has the same philosophy of “Building Community” making it a perfect match for an ARAMARK project.

The prep week was interesting. While transporting wood to the event location the team found out the garage area at the Headquarters for Idealism was also under construction. Needless to say moving tools out of the work-room on the second floor and into our van was a little bit of a maze. Fortunately, we were able to take everything in stride and finish in a timely manner. The prep work at the East End House went exceptionally well despite the challenges. The East End House staff there were extremely helpful and supportive. It is always a pleasure to work with people who believe in the same values as City Year. The kids at the center were so energetic, and it’s always fun to talk with kids; children have a talent for making people smile.


The service event focused on building. The East End House is not a large facility, so it was imperative that volunteers worked outside. The eight teams of volunteers at the event were responsible for building and staining ten bookshelves and cubbies to go inside the building. Work inside the building consisted of painting hallways, rooms and metal handrails. The ARAMARK volunteers also built and stained a sandbox for the children, cleaned and removed an old planting area, and an old, unsafe, wooden playhouse. They complimented these tasks with the building and staining of non-toxic planter boxes, mulching the children’s play area and painting a 185 ft. wall mural to cover the back of the building.

By the end of the day, the center looked like it had been demolished and a whole new center had been erected. The outside and inside were refreshed, and the staff of the center loved the changes. Personally, a day is a success when the volunteers build relationships through service. A lot of the volunteers on my team worked for the same company but in different lines of business so they did not know each other as well. By the end of the day they were exchanging jokes (sometimes at my expense) and overall enjoyed the day. Days like that feel so rewarding, and I am glad that everyone left the event with a big smile on their face.

Care Force Chronicle - Charleston, SC

Charleston, S.C. - 9.17.09 - By Grant Hooper

On September 17th, Care Force was lucky enough to host an event in Charleston, South Carolina with T-Mobile at the Trident Area Shaws Unit Boys and Girls Club. Two members of Care Force, Senior Project Manager Vanessa Meisner and Senior Corps Member Grant Hooper, along with 8 members of City Year Columbia prepared the project and led as project coordinators.

The Shaw Unit Boys and Girls Club is located on 22 Mary Street, in the heart of Charleston. While most Boys and Girls Club serve a variety of ages, the Shaw Unit has recently switched its programming to focus on local teenagers. The Boys & Girls Club has everything from mentoring and tutoring, to homework help, a basketball program, and a successful recording studio that is open to the youth. The studio was graciously donated by Carolina Studios to provide an outlet for the teenagers to express themselves musically with help from recording industry professionals. Another program they have is the “Reading Soul Mates” in which mentors encourage reading through library time, and provide homework help to children. The area in which the Shaw Unit serves is considered to be the 8th most dangerous place to live in America. Therefore the programming that the club provides is essential to the underserved youth in the area.

Prep week was a great time as usual but especially so because it provided a training ground for many of the City Year Columbia corps members. Out of the eight corps members that came on the trip, six were first year corps or first year senior corps members. We were able to help teach the basics of physical service including taping and tarping; mural sketching; and how to be an effective project coordinator. One story that stood out was the prepping of the T-Mobile Huddle Up Zone and adjacent computer room. During the prep, all of us were able to work in the same room as a team to complete a common goal. Since it happened on the first day it really helped set the tone for a successful week of prepping that utilized the strengths of the team.

Prep week flew by and before you knew it, event day was upon us. It was fun to see over 150 T-Mobile volunteers run off the busses full of energy and begin their day with some powerful PT. For a lot of the volunteers it was the highlight of their day as they were able to loosen up by doing jumping jacks, foot fires and front-side-backsides-fronts that prepared them for an energetic day of service. The volunteers were able to complete a lot of work that day including painting murals in the gym, repainting both the floor and the walls in two bathrooms, painting two large outdoors murals, building benches and creating a teen specific room that served as the T-Mobile Huddle-Up Zone. One touching moment came at the end of the day when Michael Washington, a member of City Year Columbia, put the final touches on a mural in the game room with help from one of the girls that utilized the club.

It was a wonderful day that saw a huge transformation in nearly every room of the club. The T-Mobile volunteers worked hard and were able to leave the day satisfied with the service they had completed.

Care Force Chronicle - Bellingham, WA

Bellingham WA 8.28.09 by JoAnne Sylvia

This trip started with half of Team Care Force (myself, Cautchy Bailly, Susan Bensen and Grant Hooper) congregating at Gate 34 in Logan International airport for an extremely early flight from Boston to Wisconsin. During our layover we were sure to purchase some Wisconsin Cheese which was enjoyed by all. When we arrived at the Holiday Inn Express we met up with Care Force Program Managers Chris Farr and Vanessa Meisner. We were also fortunate enough to have Hannah Bratton, Sandy Jackiewicz, Jeremy Bleier, and Joe Dzerkacz from City Year Los Angeles serving on the event as well.

Our first day of prep work began with a tour of the Bellingham Boys and Girls Club. It is an after-school oasis in the middle of an industrial neighborhood filled with factories, warehouses and a large low-income housing development. We had the opportunity to sit down with the staff and learn about the kids that attend the Boys and Girls Club. You could feel the passion the staff had for the youth in their community.

Once our Home Depot order and Care Force 2 arrived, we got straight to work. The next few days were a blur of taping, tarping, cutting wood and organizing tools. Wednesday started out with a visit to a T-Mobile call center. It is a high energy and an employee friendly facility; it was easy to see how our partnership works so well together. Following the tour we headed back to the Boys and Girls Club and met up with our T-Mobile co-Project Coordinators. We were lucky to have a very motivated and energetic group of Project Coordinators who were all psyched for the service day in just 18 hours! After cleaning up, we went to a pizza place that the B&G Club staff raved about, and then off to sleep dreaming of murals, hammers, and solo cups filled with paint.

After our 150 volunteers arrived we woke up the neighborhood with our powerful physical training and were inspired by government officials and the GM of T-Mobile. After physical training our eight teams got to work outside and inside the facility. I can honestly say that the courtyard outside was about 10 times as bright as it was when we started after the addition of playground graphics on the sidewalk; panel murals on the chain link fence; and brightly painted benches. The freshly painted gym was ready for action with purple mountains majesty and action silhouettes of people running and jumping all around.

The much anticipated unveiling of the Huddle-up Zone was AWESOME. The group of Club kids had to be pulled out of the Zone later that afternoon so they could close the facility! The presentation of a check for $10,000 brought tears from everyone in the room and Linda, the director, was seen carrying the large check around for the rest of the day. We had a long, strong circle at the end of the day which included the B&G Club staff members, and we were all given membership cards to the Boys and Girls Club! Everyone enjoyed the opportunity to serve there and shared a mutual appreciation of all the hard work.

Team Care Force 2010!

Care Force is excited to announce the arrival of Team Care Force # 3!

Team Care Force (TCF) is two months into their Senior Corps Member year, where they are based out of City Year’s Headquarters for Idealism in Boston. Less than six days into their journey, they were already in the air traveling to new and exciting places for their very first Care Force service events. Half of the team flew 358 miles to Baltimore, Maryland, while the other half flew 1,643 miles to Wichita, Kansas, where they joined up with 3 former TCF members, Alice, Amy, and David. There may have been some bumps and bruises (both figuratively and literally) that came along with the first trips, but all in all, the events were a great success! Since then, they have had the opportunity to travel to Indiana, Maine, Missouri, Washington, and are currently in Toronto and South Carolina.

The team is comprised of seven youthful, energetic, and excited Senior Corps Members, affectionately nicknamed the “River Guides of Idealism”. These “River Guides” are ready and willing to steer volunteers in the right direction in order to have successful and rewarding experiences through their service events. The liveliest team member is Cautchy Bailly at 18 years old. He served in City Year Boston last year as a corps member on a Whole School Whole Child (WSWC) team. The second senior corps member is Kimberly Ferguson, a 22 year old from Tennessee, who also served on a WSWC team in the City Year Boston corps last year. Next up is JoAnne Sylvia who just turned 23 years old and served in the founding City Year Miami corps as a corps member on the Civic Engagement and Young Heroes Team. Susan Bensen, a 23 year old, comes to the team from City Year Greater Philadelphia where she served as a corps member on a high school WSWC team. Grant Hooper is also 23 years old and joined the team all the way from San Antonio, Texas, where he served as a first year senior corps member for the City Year San Antonio Civic Engagement Team. The sixth senior corps member on Team Care Force is Andrew Duffy, a 24 year old who served in City Year Boston on the Young Heroes Team. The final member of Team Care Force is Ken Wakwe, who is 24 years old and comes to us after being a first year senior corps member of a WSWC team out of Little Rock, Arkansas.


The team is incredibly excited for the upcoming year; so please, join us here to read about Team Care Force, their service, and all the volunteers that make a difference in our communities. We will also be going more in depth about each member of Team Care Force so you can learn about what makes each of them tick. You may even be in for a surprise or two! We hope that you may be inspired to build a bench or paint a mural in your own local neighborhood. Thank you for all of your support, and we will “e-see” you soon!

ARAMARK Event in Baltimore

On July 23rd Care Force was in Baltimore, Maryland running a service project with ARAMARK and East Baltimore Development Inc. We had 258 volunteers turn out to serve a total of 1,032 hours of community service that day. It was an amazing day of service despite two torrential rain-storms during the service day. People's willingness to stay through the rain, and continue to serve is a strong testament to the passion that the ARAMARK volunteers have for service!

Check out the pictures below for a sampling of our service!

Just a few of the new mural benches volunteers built and painted.

ARAMARK volunteers moving mulch for planter beds.

The team of City Year corps and staff that made the event happen.

Our amazing partner for the week, with their freshly painted logo.

We used a couple gallons of paint that week.

A beautiful paint station.

More posts and pics soon to come from Kansas City, MO, Bellingham, WA and Indianapolis, IN.

Team Care Force Spotlight: Mary C. Parker

Hello everyone. My name is Mary C. Parker, I am 23 years old and grew up in Stone Mountain, GA. I went to college at Emory University in Atlanta, GA and graduated in May 2007 with a BA in Sociology and a minor in Ethics. Last year, I served with City Year in Seattle/King County on the City Heroes team. I worked on a team of eight in West Seattle serving in a high school two days a week and running a service-learning program for high school students on the weekends. I decided to join Team Care Force because I wanted more out of my City Year experience. I wanted to do more tangible, physical service and I knew Care Force would award me the opportunity to do so. Prior to applying for Team Care Force I never participated in a Care Force service event, but I liked the idea of traveling and spreading the message of service across the country.

One of my favorite service experiences would be the very first project we did in Salem, Oregon. My project was leading T-Mobile volunteers in their signature service, the T-Mobile Huddle Up Zone. We took an ordinary modular classroom at a Boys and Girls Club and transformed it into a bright, colorful after-school space with computers, cooking supplies and what appeared to be an endless amount of school supplies. We painted bookshelves in ROY G. BIV colors and filled the walls with vibrant murals and a whiteboard. My volunteers were awesome, enthusiastic individuals who did not want to stop until everything was set in place. They worked feverishly in the final minutes before the big reveal for the kids.

During my year as a member of Team Care Force, I have learned what it is like to work in such a close-knit team environment. I consider myself fortunate to have been given the opportunity to travel and see parts of the United States through a service lens. It has been great going out to communities and instilling a sense of pride and service in the people we have worked with. Working out of City Year Headquarters has been unique and exciting, and has enhanced my understanding of City Year and what it means to be an idealist. After Care Force, I plan to stay in the Boston area and pursue jobs in the non-profit sector that focus on education. I also intend on going to graduate school within the next two years for a Masters Degree in Education.

Care Force Chronicle: Huntington, West Virginia

Team Care Force arrived at the Huntington Tri-State Airport late on Tuesday, May 12th, to cheers from the amassed crowd who had staked out spots on the tarmac early in the day in anticipation of our arrival. A stairwell was pulled up to the plane and we descended the stairs, the bustling crowd almost breaking through police barriers. We had arrived.

Ok, so that is actually a description of the Beatles’ first visit to the United States in 1964, but still, we like to think that we also have our frenzied fans across the country. As Team Care Force departed our plane and made our way through the airport, we knew we were officially in Appalachia. Huntington, West Virginia sits just south of Ohio on the southern banks of the Ohio River. This small town is home to Marshall University, and earned recent notoriety for the film “We Are Marshall.” The film chronicles the true story of a plane crash that claimed nearly all of Marshall University’s football team, as well as the steps that were taken to return the program to its prominence. After nearly a week in Huntington, you have no doubt that it is a community that takes its sports seriously.

The project we were participating in was appropriate for a town full of sports fans. The plan was to renovate two baseball fields at the Prindle Field Little League Ball Park. The goal was to make it an enjoyable place to watch baseball by adding picnic tables and completed other landscaping projects. Due to a gloomy weather forecast for the week, we were not sure how much work we would be able to accomplish, so we set about working at a more hurried pace than usual. We would soon learn just how much work we had in store.

The first day of prep was spent measuring and cutting wood, ensuring that our beloved “Care Force Two” tool container arrived safely, determining locations for new fencing, and cutting new fence guard. The day ended relatively early, and the team retreated to the hotel to clean up and head out to a spirited dinner at the Olive Garden. Unlimited salad and bread sticks were enjoyed by all.

The second day, TCF dug holes and cemented posts in place for fencing, attached new roofing to a baseball dugout, built a sample picnic table, and along with Project Manager Chris Farr, wheel barreled over 100 loads of clay onto one of the baseball fields. Additional dried clay would later be added to resurface the infield. The task of moving so much clay provided what many of us agreed to be the most exhausting prep work that we have ever participated in. It did not help that the anticipated stormy forecast had not come to fruition. In fact, the opposite was the case. Each day of prep was not cloudy and rain soaked, but rather sunny, humid and hot. To combat the heat, we were twice treated to Frost Top root beer floats. The lactose-intolerant amongst our ranks drank root beer, minus the floats. These provided much needed rejuvenation, and as much as we all could have easily downed another round, we continued our work.

Our final day of prep was the longest, starting at 8 a.m. and lasting until after 9 p.m. We knew that there was still another baseball field to wheel barrel dirt to, and braced for another exhausting day. Shortly after the dirt moving process commenced, George Kotalic of River and Rail Micro Nursery arrived to deliver trees that had been ordered the week before. Observing the shoveling and wheel barreling of dirt in the distance, he asked if we had anything to help make the process easier. We responded that we did not, so he stated that he would gladly donate his services to help make the task easier. Sure enough, 1 p.m. rolled around and George arrived with a truck full of equipment. Most notable was a multi-purpose machine called a “Dingo,” which allows the operator to use different attachments for various tasks. He proceeded to use the bucket attachment on the Dingo to fill his truck bed with large loads of dirt, which were then dropped off to the baseball field. After all of the dirt had been moved, he used the Dingo to spread it evenly across the field, and then augured holes to expedite the next day’s tree planting. It is safe to say that had it not been for George’s efforts, we would not have been able to complete as much work as we did that day.

The day of service started off with the one thing we had been anticipating the entire week but never received: rain. It came and went in spurts throughout the morning, and by the time our CSX and community volunteers began arriving the sun was out in full force. Service began shortly after some inspirational words from CSX and members of the Huntington community, including Mayor Kim Wolfe. The volunteers were hard at work after lunch when dark clouds began gathering. Soon enough, a full fledged thunderstorm was underway. Unfortunately, the service day had to be cut short.

Although this event was TCF’s first rained out event up to this point in our 11 month odyssey, our volunteers were able to make an unmistakable mark on Huntington’s Prindle Field. Nearly every task was completed, and everyone in attendance was proud of the transformation that had occurred. Sharon Mann of the Little League Board presented the members of TCF with hand crafted glass hearts as a token of the Board’s appreciation. We left Prindle Field in high spirits and soaked uniforms, and knew that although it had been an extremely tiring week, we had left a lasting impression on the people and Little League baseball players of Huntington.

Team Care Force Spotlight: Hugh Harlow

My name is Hugh Harlow, and I am originally from Easton, Massachusetts, which is about 30 minutes south of Boston. After graduating from Oliver Ames High School, I attended The George Washington University where I graduated with a B.A. in History and a Minor in Africana Studies. Last year, I served as a City Year Corps Member on the Foundations Young Heroes Team in New Orleans, Louisiana. Our program engaged 20 middle school idealists who learned how to become leaders and more engaged citizens. Other than community service, my interests include playing sports, specifically basketball and soccer. I am passionate about improving race relations in the United States, and feel that we can do so by giving all ethnic groups proper credit for their contributions to our society. Furthermore, I am a music enthusiast whose tastes include Hip Hop, classic R&B, Reggae, Soul, Jazz and Brass Band music. I love to travel, and have been to over 40 states. I have also done a bit of international traveling, as well.

This year as a member of Team Care Force, I have improved my management skills while learning other practical skills. Care Force has been a blessing. It has taught me numerous skills in fields such as carpentry, painting, landscaping and gardening. I was initially drawn to Care Force due to its close proximity to my home and because of my desire to travel and organize large scale community service projects. Care Force has proven an excellent vehicle to develop my organizational, leadership and public speaking skills. The best part about my service this year is working with and befriending so many inspirational Corps Members around the network. After Care Force, I plan to continue work in the education and non-profit sector through teaching or working at a non-profit in a staff capacity. So far, this year has been amazing because I know that I have left a tangible, positive impact on various communities throughout the United States. If you have any questions you can get a hold of me at Hharlow08@cityyear.org. Peace.

Care Force Chronicle: Worcester, MA

© Denis Jr. Tangney/iStockphoto

Worcester, Massachusetts has experienced its fair share of challenges lately. Not only has the city seen some of the highest unemployment rates in Massachusetts due to the recent recession, but its citizens have also been forced remove thousands of trees that have fallen prey to a widespread beetle infestation. The Asian Long-horned Beetle, which burrows deep within trees, has compromised the structural integrity of many of Worcester’s trees. Tree lined streets now sit empty. As a result, the values of homes have declined and people’s lives have been altered. It is not uncommon to talk to someone in the community about the situation and notice a certain amount of distress and sadness in their voice.

This is not the end of the road for Worcester’s urban forests, though. Several organizations, including CSX and the Worcester Tree Initiative, are coming together to plant 30,000 new trees throughout the community over the next five years. None of the trees being planted are susceptible to Asian Long-horned Beetle infestation. Although the trees will take time to grow, they are a symbol of the community’s commitment to restoring their urban environment.

Team Care Force headed out to Worcester on April 21st to begin prep work for that Saturday’s tree planting and beautification event with CSX and the Worcester Tree Initiative at Burncoat High School. Our first prep day started later than usual with a visit to the Worcester Boys & Girls Club. This visit was organized by Team Care Force’s Program Manager, Wil Holbrook, who worked at this very Club for two years during graduate school. After the Unit Director, Ike McBride, gave us a tour of the facilities, we sat down for lunch and a conversation about the youth and communities that this Boys & Girls Club serves. Afterwards, we headed to Burncoat High School to begin our prep work. We proceeded to spend the afternoon cutting wood and assembling example planter benches. A few members of our team joined the local forestry department in staking locations for tree plantings in the neighborhood.

Our second day of prep work was spent tying up loose ends from the day before and making sure that all of our projects were in order. The most exhausting day of the week was our third and final day of prep. The weather warmed substantially, and two of the members of the team ended up with minor sunburns. Working with the forestry department, we identified tree planting locations throughout the grounds of Burncoat High School and Middle School. Afterward, we began delivering trees to residencies in the surrounding neighborhoods. These trees would be planted by our CSX volunteers the following day. We utilized our “stow and go” mini-vans as well as wheel barrows to complete the tiring and lengthy task.

One wheelbarrow actually doubled as a tool for a local news cameraman, when Team Care Force’s Allison Goldstein was asked to push him along the parking lot to get “the perfect shot” of trees that were awaiting delivery. We also took advantage of an opportunity to meet Massachusetts Congressman Jim McGovern, who was back in his home district from D.C. After several photographs and a brief conversation, we continued our work. We ended the late day with dinner a couple blocks from our hotel at Armsby Abbey, a restaurant so new to Worcester that many of the locals we spoke to had never heard of it.

The day of service was finally upon us. We checked out of the Hampton Inn before 7 a.m. and made our way to Burncoat High School. Although it was the first project of 2009 for many of us, the service day ran smoothly. Throughout the course of the day, Team Care Force led approximately 50 volunteers from CSX and the Worcester community in planting more than 100 trees at Burncoat Middle and High Schools, and in the surrounding neighborhoods. We also led volunteers in building planter benches and landscaping two courtyards at the high school. The temperature that day reached the 80 degree plus mark, but our volunteers never let up, pushing through to make sure the projects were completed. As these projects were occurring, many Worcester residents came out to claim free trees for their yards that were being handed out, courtesy of CSX.

After tying up some loose ends and restocking Care Force One, Team Care Force hit the road for the 40 mile drive back to Boston. On our way, we partook in our most unique post-event dinner to date, stopping at a travel center off of the highway and taking over the food court for half an hour. By the end of the day, the rental vehicles were returned and everybody was home. This trip definitely proved to be a different type of service week, but when all was said and done, it is safe to say that Team Care Force was proud of the contribution they were able to make to the residents of Worcester.

Team Care Force Spotlight: Tom Wingert

Hi. My name is Tom Wingert. I am 21 years old and from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I am a fan of sports, music and nightlife, and take pride knowing that I somehow manage to balance the demanding life of a City Year Senior Corps Member and a personal life outside of work. Of course, this has required an adjustment in my sleeping schedule, but it works out.

After spending two years in Ohio at the College of Wooster, I decided to take some time off and head out to serve with City Year San Jose / Silicon Valley. During my corps year, I had the opportunity to work as a Care Force Reserve with Care Force in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and enjoyed the work so much that I decided to apply for Team Care Force.

Care Force’s mission strikes a particular chord with me. I believe that the roots of many problems lie in personal self-esteem issues, and that our community service projects can help improve a community’s self-esteem. If people show that they care and are looking out for others, then those receiving the help are more likely to care about themselves. Engaging large amounts of volunteers who may not know the people they are helping is encouraging. It shows that ordinary people are willing to help their fellow citizen, regardless of their backgrounds. The motivational spirit of our volunteers energizes me to tackle any task that comes my way on a service project, no matter how difficult. Sometimes the toughest projects turn out to be the most memorable.

My favorite experience working on Team Care Force came at a project in Winter Haven, Florida, where a variety of different elements did not fall into place as expected, and I was required to be quick on my feet and make the situation work. Since I enjoy troubleshooting on projects, I saw this as an opportunity to do some problem-solving and teach myself some new skills. I had to learn how to drive a Skid-Steer and was faced with the daunting task of moving 400 cubic feet of mulch. Two additional members of Team Care Force were flown in to assist with the project, and although it was stressful at the time, the hard work paid off and the obstacles were overcome. These things do not happen in my normal life, only in my life as a service warrior.

After my year with Team Care Force, I am going back to school at LaSalle University in Philadelphia to finish up my Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science, with a minor in Graphic Design. Eventually I hope to come back to City Year so I can be a legitimate young professional who wears sweatshirts and fleece vests to work.

TCF's Own Allison Goldstein Dominates, Brings Home the Gold at HQ Muffin-Off

On Wednesday, April 8th, Team Care Force's Allison Goldstein walked into the City Year Headquarters of Idealism, determined to make her mark on the HQ community and take home the coveted Wooden Spoon. Little did she know, but that morning she was destined for glory. With sweat on her brow, fire in her eyes and a platter of cinnamon chip cheesecake crunch muffins in her hand, she stepped out onto the playing field. As she approached the muffin judging table though, Goldstein could see that her competition was serious and would not give in without a fight.

“I was a little sore from all the whisking the night before, and the to-scale replica of Fenway Park covered in muffin paraphernalia threw me off at first,” Goldstein said. “But I knew that if I was focused and just went out there and did my best I would have a shot at that spoon.”

Amongst a sea of hungry onlookers and unforgiving judges, Goldstein remained steadfast, never taking her eyes off of the doughy prize. As pressure in the room mounted, she felt herself beginning to feel the heat.

“There was definitely a buzz amongst the crowd, which really got my adrenaline pumping. Plus, you never know when the next Nancy Kerrigan / Tonya Harding incident is going to happen, so you always have to watch your back,” Goldstein stated.

In the waning minutes, the competition continued to look fierce, but Goldstein kept her cool. Well aware of her underdog status and the serious game that Muffin-Off reigning champ Andy Dean was bringing to the table, literally and figuratively, Goldstein knew that if she could just keep her focus and pace, she may just have a chance of pulling off an upset.

“I like to picture myself as a Kenyan marathon runner,” Goldstein commented. “I try to keep it at a five minute mile for the first 20 miles or so, then catch the competition off guard by picking up the pace for the final six.”

That final sprint is exactly what would usher in the transferring of the Wooden Spoon to the hands of a new champion. With things looking like they may be heading Dean’s way, Goldstein cut across the field in a manner that can only be described as the combination of grace and stealth joining forces with unwavering tenacity. To be on the winning end of such a combination is to experience pure triumph, but to be on receiving end is not something anyone should ever hope to be subjected.

As the clock drew to a close and the Master of Ceremonies, Sean McDevitt, began speaking, a hush fell across the muffin-filled crowd. Then it was announced. Not only had Goldstein captured the official judges’ Wooden Spoon, but she also became the first ever recipient of the Golden Muffin Pan, the people’s choice award.

Goldstein’s muffin display, which was based on the Jewish holiday of Passover, helped her secure her prizes. As they approached Goldstein’s section, HQ muffin aficionados were treated to a scene where houses constructed from matzah lined a street, complete with red paint above their doorways. Only after the muffin appreciators had “passed over” all of the houses were they presented with a larger door, behind which stood a platter of leavened cinnamon chip cheesecake crunch muffins.

After the initial shock of her victory had receded, Goldstein hoisted her prizes above her head and took in the moment. Her tired and weary opponents could only look on, disappointed and awestruck by the defeat that had just claimed them.

“When Sean announced that I had won not just one of the prizes but both of them, my first instinct was to sprint down Columbus Avenue, screaming and waving my quarter zip around my head. Instead, I just performed a short victory jig that I had been rehearsing for a couple weeks prior, just in case,” said an ecstatic Goldstein.

But Goldstein was not quick to take all of the credit.

“This isn’t a personal victory; this is also a team victory. Team Care Force never doubted me or questioned my intentions when I was building matzah houses at the office. They just gave me 100% pure love.”

And after all is said and done, and the last contestant has left the building and the last muffin has been reduced to only crumbles, love is all a batch of muffins really needs.

Reporting by Joel Shuherk

New Staff Spotlight: Huw McDonald

Team Care Force would like to introduce the newest member of the Care Force staff, Huw McDonald!

Hello! My name is Huw McDonald and I have recently joined the Care Force team as a project manager, all the way from South Africa. It has been a long process navigating the roads of US immigration, but I am here at last and absolutely thrilled to be a part of the team. I am a proud alum of the first City Year corps from 2005 in Johannesburg, South Africa - City Year’s first international site.

I spent a life-changing year serving in an extremely underprivileged community called Kliptown (Stonetown), in Soweto - the stage for some of the worst political violence in South Africa during the 1980’s and early 90’s. Residents live in poorly constructed shacks, have no electricity, one tap per 300-500 people and one toilet to share between an average of 50-100 people. There is no school in Kliptown, so our after-school program drew children from schools in the surrounding communities. Despite the shocking levels of poverty and unbelievably difficult living circumstances, I have yet to meet such generous, warm and kind people as those I encountered during my year there.

In 2006, I led a team as a program manager in downtown Johannesburg. Although the living conditions of the children we served were significantly better than those of the children living in Kliptown, they still faced the same social and family problems that we had seen the year before.

In 2008, following a brief stint back at school and a job in the corporate world, I received an offer to join the City Year family in the States, which I gladly accepted. I love traveling, experiencing new places and meeting new people, so I’m super excited about being a part of Care Force. It will give me the opportunity to travel and meet new people, plus spread a bit of love around the communities that really need a hand.

When I’m not working I spend as much time as I can immersed in music of some kind or another. I play guitar and have been in different forms of the same band for the past five years. We were famous in some parts of northern Johannesburg and often played to sold out shows of 20+ people. Pirated copies of our EP have been found in some parts of Asia and South America. When I’m not playing or listening to music I’m often out taking photographs, running (although this happens rarely, it does happen) and watching films.

House backs bill to increase service opportunities

By Ann Sander, Associated Press Writer

March 18th, 2009

Tens of thousands of Americans could see more opportunities to mentor children, help rebuild homes and participate in other national service under a measure passed by the House on Wednesday.

The House voted 321-105 to expand AmeriCorps and other national service programs by 175,000 participants. It would also create new groups to help poor communities with education, clean energy, health and services for veterans.

Supporters say the effort comes at a time when more people are interested in serving their communities and more people could use the extra help.

The bill "reaches out to all Americans from all walks of life and asks them to commit to service," said Jared Polis, D-Colo. "During these difficult times, our nation needs the help of each and every one of us more than ever."

A Senate committee approved an expansion Wednesday that was somewhat similar, adding 175,000 positions to the AmeriCorps alone. That bill, which triples the size of the program, could reach the Senate floor next week.

President Barack Obama said he was pleased by the House's action and was eager for the Senate to pass the bill so he can sign it.

"At this moment of economic crisis, when so many people are in need of help and so much needs to be done, this could not be more urgent," said Obama, who pledged during the campaign to provide government support for national service programs.

The House measure would also create fellowships for people 55 and older and a separate Summer of Service program for middle and high school student volunteers, who would earn a $500 education award to help cover college costs. It also looks for ways to get scientists and veterans more involved in community service.

Some Republicans have expressed concern the government would be taking over work that's done voluntarily by people who are not paid.

"Well, I think it's important that we encourage volunteers, but this is a paid job," said Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C. "This is a government-authorized charity."

The House measure is slated to cost $6 billion over five years. Obama's proposed budget for next year calls for more than $1.1 billion for national service programs, an increase of more than $210 million.

Some AmeriCorps participants get a living stipend while they are working for 10 to 12 months. The stipend ranges from $11,400 to $22,800 for the year. Most participants, who are predominantly 18 to 26 years old, get $11,800. After completing the program, they can receive up to $4,725 to help pay for college or pay off student loans. The bill would increase the education award to $5,350 and requires that it match any future increases in Pell Grant scholarships.

Members of AmeriCorps work for nonprofit, faith-based or national organizations, such as Habitat for Humanity. They provide a variety of services, such as teaching young people or responding to disasters.

Over the last year, AmeriCorps has received three applications for every slot, according to the Corporation for National and Community Service, the agency that oversees the program.

Team Care Force Spotlight: Alice Newman

(Team Care Force Senior Corps Member Alice Newman, right, with former Baton Rouge City Heroes teammate Jason Miller.)

Yes, hello there. My name is Alice Newman, but I go by a variety of nicknames here at the office, such as Newm, Side Special and my personal favorite, Ninja Newm. I am from San Antonio, TX and graduated from the University of North Texas (UNT) in Denton. Not only is UNT home to some famous alumni such as Norah Jones, Meatloaf and Dr. Phil, but it is also where the 1991 cinema gem “Necessary Roughness,” starring Scott Bakula and Sinbad, was filmed. While at UNT I was the evening voice of KNTU (the best jazz station in the Dallas/Ft. Worth metroplex), served as a resident assistant and also dabbled in the fine art of playing Scrappy, UNT’s mascot.

After college, I moved to London where I worked at the very first Apple store in the UK. I worked at the “Genius Bar” trouble shooting iPod issues and also gave presentations in the store's theater training customers on Apple software. Sadly, after seven months of living the dream my visa expired and I went back to Texas, where I worked various jobs that were not satisfying in the least.

Although I am proud Texan, my ancestral roots run deep into the ground of Southern Louisiana. About a year after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, I left my house and moved into an abandoned school building in the 9th Ward. Six days out of the week I spent my time gutting houses, and on the seventh day I handed out food and supplies, and prayed with those in need. After several months I became physically and emotionally exhausted and decided to move back to Texas. Shortly after my return, I felt the Lord tugging at my heart, telling me to return to Louisiana. In my search for a way to get back there to continue the work I started, I came across City Year.

I was so happy to be a part of the founding City Heroes team in Baton Rouge, and planning our service days was my favorite part of the job. I was asked to participate in the NBA Cares Day of Service in New Orleans in February 2008, which provided me with my first Care Force experience. I had such a great time that I decided to apply for Team Care Force. My favorite project so far has been the T-Mobile project in Colorado Springs. Not only was I was able to design a T-Mobile Huddle Up Zone, but all of the teachers at the school were very welcoming and the weather sure was beautiful. My favorite non-work related experience, brought to you by Care Force, was the early morning walk along the beach in Naples, Florida last November with my teammate Amy and program managers Meggan and Chris.

After City Year, I plan to move back south where the tea is sweet and the weather is hot. I am looking for a career in a higher education environment because working with college students is super exciting and fun! Outside of work, you can hear me talking about Harry Potter, reading Twilight, eating sweets, playing guitar hero or swimming with the masters team at the YMCA.

City Year CEO Michael Brown Tesifies in front of Senate Committee

Kennedy promotes national service bill

February 23, 2009

(Excerpts from an article appearing on Boston.com by Susan Milligan, Globe Staff)

WASHINGTON -- A national service bill aimed at drawing Americans from elementary school children to retirees won bipartisan plaudits today from key senators, who said they are hoping to get the measure passed before Easter.

The measure -- a joint effort by Senators Edward M. Kennedy, a Massachusetts Democrat, and Orrin Hatch, a Utah Republican -- would provide $5 billion over five years to fund 250,000 volunteers in energy, the environment, healthcare, and education. President Obama mentioned the Serve America Act in his address to Congress last month.

While US soldiers are serving overseas, "Americans should be able to serve on the homefront as well, addressing the national problems of our times,´´ Michael Brown, CEO of the Boston-based City Year community service program, told the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Kennedy did have a statement entered into the record. "Americans young and old are looking for new ways to serve their communities and give back to their country." The full statement and summary of the bill, provided by Kennedy´s office, is below:

THE SERVE AMERICA ACTA Legislative Initiative to Expand and Improve Domestic and International Service Opportunities for All Americans by Senator Edward M. Kennedy and Senator Orrin Hatch

Use service to meet specific national challenges. Put service to work to solve our most pressing challenges, such as tackling the dropout crisis and strengthening our schools; improving energy efficiency; safeguarding the environment; improving health care in low-income communities; expanding economic opportunities for low-income individuals; and preparing for and responding to disasters and emergencies.

I. Ask Many More Americans to Give a Year to Solve Specific Challenges: Building on the success of AmeriCorps, the legislation will create new, effective “Corps” focused on areas of national need. It will ask 175,000 Americans to give a year of service through these corps as part of a new national commitment to solve these challenges, expanding the number of national service participants to 250,000.

II. Increase Opportunities to Serve by People of All Ages: For Students, Increase Service Early in Life: Service early in life will put more and more youth on a path to a lifetime of service. The legislation will improve opportunities for young people in low income, high-need communities to engage in service to improve their own communities.

To read the full artice, click here.

Team Care Force Spotlight: David Alexander

Hey everyone. My name is David “Old Cedar” Alexander, and I’m from Washington, DC. I graduated from Forestville Military Academy in Forestville, Maryland in 2005. After high school I went to Prince George’s Community College for two semesters, but soon realized that I wasn’t satisfied with where I was in my life. So, I joined the Silver hill Volunteer Fire Department in Prince George’s County, Maryland. A few months later I graduated from the Maryland Fire Academy, but shortly thereafter decided that being a professional firefighter was not for me. I wanted to be able to make a difference in another part of the country, and after some research I found City Year Louisiana. An interesting tidbit about me is that I love knives and service.

Last year I served in City Year Louisiana as a corps member. My experience with CYL really helped me learn how to be independent and on my own. I worked with kindergarteners at Progress Elementary in Baton Rouge, and it was quite an experience. I never realized how much children at that age really look up to you as a role model and want to be like you. I can honestly say that living in Louisiana made me a more mature adult.

My first Care Force event last year was in November 2007 with Met Life. It was such an eye opening experience, and helped me see the bigger picture in regard to service and how important it is to a community. I joined Care Force because I have always loved to do service that allows people to instantly see a lot of change. Not only that, but I also get to travel. The first trip we did was in Salem, OR and was by far my favorite trip so far this year. It gave the team a chance to feel each other out and figure out everyone’s work styles. Plus, going to the west coast for the first time was an adventure. I think that Care Force will make me a better leader this year because I’m leading so many different volunteers from various organizations in service. My plan after City Year is to become a US Capitol Police officer and patrol the National Mall back home in Washington, DC.

Join Team Care Force!

Team Care Force is now accepting applications for our 2009-2010 team. First year Corps Members are encouraged to apply now to become a member. For more information or to contact a current Team Care Force member visit our 'Join Team Care Force' page on facebook.

For more information on how you can make your second year at CY a unique experience that will take you places you will never forget, contact Care Force Senior Program Manager Wil Holbrook at wholbrook@cityyear.org.

Team Care Force Spotlight: Allison Goldstein

Hello! My name is Allison Leah Goldstein, I’m 24 and from Centerville, OH. After high school I moved to Ann Arbor to complete my BS in Zoological Anthropology with a minor in Spanish from the University of Michigan. Last year I served with City Year Philadelphia, working in Mr. Berry’s 6th grade classroom. I love adrenaline rushes, laughing, meeting new people and good food with good friends. Luckily, I have the best friends and family in the world and they support me in everything I do!

I joined Care Force for a variety of reasons. The travel aspect really appealed to me, and I really wanted to learn about event planning and useful skills, such as how to build a picnic table from scratch. My favorite service project thus far has got to be our project with T-Mobile at Adam’s Elementary School in Tampa, Florida. I was in charge of building a HUGE outdoor stage - a project that had never been attempted before. We were hoping for the best, but didn’t really know if it was reasonable to expect it to be completed by the end of the day. However, my volunteers, almost all large males, rocked it out and decided that there was no way they were leaving without finishing. You could hear the sound of 30 hammers all frantically pounding like a thunderstorm during the beginning of the closing ceremonies, but halfway through the ceremony the sound ceased and the stage was DONE! It was pretty incredible!

I hope to use this year as an in to becoming Usher’s personal tour advisor. Just Kidding. However, this year will be extremely instrumental to my future success in almost every job I can think of. First of all, I am learning invaluable leadership techniques, how to work with diverse groups of people, flexibility and time management skills. In addition, I have gained skills in everything from wood cutting to painting to public speaking and setting up AV equipment. Basically, you name it, I’ve probably done it. So, I hope to be able to leverage these skills and experiences to further follow my passions.

As of now I really couldn’t tell you what city I’ll be in next year, let alone what I’ll be doing. My hopes are to find a position either within a foundation, student service learning or working with international exchange students. Grad school to follow at some point.

The Moment for National Service

January 26, 2009

New York Times Editorial

President Obama used his Inaugural Address to summon the nation to “a new era of responsibility” and personal engagement to solve the nation’s problems. He set an example by spending part of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday painting walls and furniture at a shelter for homeless teenagers.

As Mr. Obama recognizes, there are certain tasks that cannot be accomplished by volunteers showing up occasionally or contributing a few hours a week. Worthy service programs, like Teach for America, have too few slots to accommodate the rising number of applicants.

Now is the moment for the new president and Congress to harness the sense of idealism and unity evident amid the huge crowds that massed in the nation’s capital by greatly expanding the opportunities for sustained and productive national and community service.

A smart blueprint for doing exactly that was just introduced in the Senate by Edward Kennedy, the Massachusetts Democrat, and Orrin Hatch, Republican of Utah. Building on the ongoing success of AmeriCorps, Bill Clinton’s signature domestic service program, and relying on its administrative framework, their Serve America Act would rapidly expand the number of full-time and part-time national service volunteers eligible for minimal living expenses and a modest educational stipend at the end of an intensive year of work by 175,000 from the current level of 75,000.

The new positions would be devoted to meeting challenges in a handful of targeted areas: tackling the dropout crisis, strengthening schools, improving health care and economic opportunity in low-income communities, cleaning up parks, aiding efforts to boost energy efficiency, and responding to disasters and emergencies.

The Serve America Act is structured to invite participation by people of all income levels and ages, including retirees. It would offer tax incentives for employers who allow employees to take paid leave for full-time service, and permit older individuals to transfer their education awards to a child or grandchild. A new Volunteer Generation Fund would help nonprofit groups recruit and manage an expanding pool of volunteers.

Much as President Franklin Roosevelt created the Civilian Conservation Corps during the early days of his first term in 1933, Mr. Obama should tell Congress he considers the Serve America Act a top priority.

Truly, there is no reason for delay. The measure largely fleshes out ideas that Mr. Obama promoted on the campaign trail and that are currently posted on his White House Web site. In his previous job representing Illinois in the Senate, Mr. Obama co-sponsored the bill when it was proposed at the end of the last Congress.

Understandably, Mr. Obama is now concentrating on gaining quick passage of a $825 billion stimulus package aimed at creating new jobs and aiding the nation’s ailing economy. At a price tag of about $5 billion over five years, the Serve America Act is an apt companion piece.

Its prompt approval would create tens of thousands of meaningful new positions for people ready to work hard for the public good, making tangible the “spirit of service” Mr. Obama spoke of in his Inaugural Address.

In Obama Era, National Service's Time Has Come

By Morton M. Kondracke
Roll Call Executive Editor
January 22, 2009

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the day before his swearing-in, President Barack Obama’s inaugural committee stimulated a more than doubling of volunteer activity around the country.

It was a demonstration of a major development that’s likely to unfold in the Obama era — a quantum leap in both paid national service and volunteer citizen service.

What Obama’s predecessor, President George W. Bush, referred to as “the armies of compassion” may at last be mobilized in huge numbers to tackle the country’s social problems — and on a cost-effective basis, at that.

The centerpiece of the process will be passage — its advocates hope, in Obama’s first 100 days — of the Serve America Act, sponsored by Sens. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), to expand Americorps, the nation’s civilian service force, from 75,000 personnel to 250,000 per year over five years.

Earning $12,500 a year, plus a $4,700 scholarship, Americorps volunteers do direct service at low-income schools, clinics, boys and girls clubs, environmental projects and disaster sites, and help organize the work of around 60 million unpaid volunteers.

Service Nation, a coalition of 120 mainly nonprofit organizations, hopes that by 2020, the government will give stipends to a million volunteers, whose efforts can leverage unpaid work by 100 million people.

Whether such an ambitious goal ever gets realized, it’s clear that Obama is moving the idea of national service — in fact, of citizenship — to a whole new level.

Partly, it’s the result of a coming-to-pass of the poignant challenge issued by President George H.W. Bush in 1989: “From now on in America, any definition of a successful life must include serving others.”

That’s an attitude that caught on among young people even before Obama appeared on the scene, as exemplified by Teach for America, the nongovernmental corps of lowly paid volunteer teachers that now has 37,000 applicants for 5,000 positions each year.

Another group, City Year, which puts recent high school and college graduates to work in poor neighborhoods, has experienced growth of 180 percent.

Dozens of other such nonprofits have grown up in recent years, and there’s an added overlay of “social entrepreneurship,” the idea that charities should use business techniques to measure their effectiveness and leverage their effect.

The Obama presidential campaign was powered, in part, by this combination of idealism and practicality.

Instead of volunteering in inner cities, tens of thousands of citizens went to work ringing doorbells and manning phone banks.

And shrewd organizers assembled a gigantic database of e-mail addresses and textable phone numbers that served as a potent political tool in the campaign.

As a result, the Obama campaign became a citizens’ movement of millions.
In advance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, those in the database got messages from Obama, Michelle Obama and inaugural co-chairman Colin Powell urging them to sign up through a Web site, USAService.org, for volunteer work on Jan. 19.

More than a million people did so — double those who signed up last year — and they worked on 12,100 official projects, compared with 5,000 last year.

Obama set an example by working at a shelter for homeless teens and visiting wounded soldiers while his wife helped assemble gift packages for troops overseas.

In perhaps the most eloquent portion of his inaugural address, Obama cited military service as the model for citizen service at home.

“As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains,” he said.
“They have something to tell us today ... because they embody the spirit of service, a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves.”

It’s a spirit, he said, “that must inhabit us all.” And he added that “a new era of responsibility” refers not only to personal conduct, but to “duties that we have ... to our nation and the world,” and that this “is the price and the promise of citizenship.”

Some Republicans worry — as well they might — that Obama is conflating service and civic duty with support for him and his program and that his mailing list can be turned into a powerful pressure group as well as a volunteer force.

That’s the way it is with movements — they have multiple uses. And the Obama movement is making use of digital technology the way Franklin D. Roosevelt once used the radio and John F. Kennedy used television.

Whatever political implications are involved, the national service idea now has — and should have — broad bipartisan appeal.

It has as Senate co-sponsors such conservative Republicans as Thad Cochran (Miss.), Roger Wicker (Miss.), Judd Gregg (N.H.) and John McCain (Ariz.).

Historically, too, the service idea is bipartisan, originating with Roosevelt’s Civilian Conservation Corps and followed by Kennedy’s Peace Corps, Lyndon Johnson’s VISTA volunteers and Bush 41’s Points of Light.

Bill Clinton created Americorps, which hyper-partisan Congressional Republicans tried to kill in 1995 and 2003, but George W. Bush kept it alive and even expanded it from 50,000 volunteers to its current 75,000.

Both Bushes and Clinton established White House offices to oversee service programs, which are also managed by the quasi-governmental Corporation for National and Community Service.
Obama reportedly intends to establish a White House office to coordinate not only service programs, but “social innovation” and technology — which presumably involves a 21st century take on volunteerism.

“Whenever there’s been an expansion of service opportunities, it’s been because of presidential leadership,” says Alan Khazei, founder of City Year and now head of Service Nation.
“We have every indication that Obama is going to give this the leadership it needs,” he said. Indeed, it’s a movement whose time has come.

Norwalk, CT Chronicle

by Mary Parker

Saturday October 18, 2008
After an incredible service day in Nashville, Tennessee with T-Mobile, Care Force was on the road less than 24 hours after arriving back in Boston. Allison, Hugh, Amy, and I were led by Care Force Project Manager, Vanessa Meisner, to Norwalk, CT to begin prep for the Pepperidge Farm service event. After packing up Care Force’s un-official mascot, the Dodge Caravan with Stow-N-Go capabilities, we departed south to Connecticut on a beautiful fall afternoon.

Sunday October 19, 2008
After a breakfast of meat and potatoes, Team Care Force and City Year New Hampshire headed out to our service site, the Norwalk Economic Opportunity Now, Inc. (NEON). NEON is a community action agency whose mission is, “To provide economically disadvantaged residents of the greater Norwalk area with the range of community, social, economic development and emergency assistance services needed to enhance the quality of life, increase self-sufficiency and reduce the incidence of poverty.” NEON fulfills its mission by running an after-school and HEAD Start programs, providing energy assistance, halfway housing, offering employment training, and various youth programs. Once City Year arrived to NEON we were greeted by the CEO and President of NEON, Joe Mann. Pepperidge Farm and NEON have partnered before on two previous projects, and NEON had honored Pepperidge Farm as Sponsor of the Year earlier that week.

After a quick circle, City Year quickly got to work! Allison led City Year New Hampshire through the art of taping and tarping, while Amy and Hugh did a Home Depot run because Home Depot does not do deliveries on Sundays (who knew!?), and I went on the biggest grocery store run to date with New Hampshire’s service leader Jodi.

After lunch City Year set out to build, stretch, and prime as many panel murals as we could before dinner. By the end of the day we were able to build and stretch close to 25 panel murals before departing for dinner at Black Bear Saloon. The group watched an exciting game between the Jets and Raiders that ended in overtime with a record-breaking field goal kick! Shortly after the game ended we retired back to the Norwalk Inn to rest up for the next morning.

Monday October 20, 2008
We got off to a strong start with an 8:30 a.m. circle. We finished taping and tarping the other parts of the building, and were able to get most of the panel murals sketched. Right before lunch, Jaimee Goodman, Corporate Partnerships Manager from Headquarters joined us at NEON. After lunch a 5 hour session of wood cutting commenced where two Team Care Force and two City Year New Hampshire corps members cut wood for 14 mural benches, 6 backed benches, 2 bike racks, 2 cubbies and 2 bookshelves by the day’s end!

Tuesday October 21, 2008
At morning circle the group had some new additions, Team Care Force corps members Joel Shuherk and David Alexander, whom had flown in from an event in Florida the night before. With two additional people everyone was able to complete the last few things of prep before lunch.

Wednesday October 22, 2008
Event Day!! At 6:30 a.m. sharp City Year circled and welcomed Senior Vice President of Program & Service, Stephanie Wu. After a powerful readiness check City Year headed to NEON to get ready for the arrival of Pepperidge Farm. At 7:30 a.m. half of the group stayed to continue with prep while another group departed to Pepperidge Farm Headquarters to help with registration and serve as bus captains.

Around 8:30 a.m. Pepperidge Farm began lining up to load the buses. Many of the folks coming to the event had served with City Year on the prior two events prior Norwalk. It was great to see people committed to continuing to provide service in their community. The morning program kicked off with powerful PT led both New Hampshire and Team Care Force. After an inspirational spirit break, the 140 volunteers were deployed to build 10 mural benches, paint several walls inside NEON, paint over 30 panel murals, sand and stain several wooden doors, build 2 picnic tables, 6 backed benches, 2 cubbies and add a fresh coat of paint to the entrance way to their single-person housing unit! After the volunteers departed, we stayed to finish attaching the stained doors back to their hinges. Once all of the doors were attached and appropriately hung throughout the building, City Year departed NEON feeling accomplished after a transformational day of service.

Nashville, TN Chronicle (Trip #2)

by David Alexander

On the cold Sunday morning of October 12, the Special Forces of Idealism formed at Logan International Airport, ready to continue our long journey toward idealism perfection. After an hour layover in New York City, we landed at the Nashville International Airport ready to serve. We proceeded to pick up our rental vehicle, and off we were to the Hotel Preston. Upon checking in at the hotel, many of us took full advantage of the unique offer of pet fish and lava lamps for our rooms. Let's face it; no hotel room is complete without a fish and lava lamp. We then went into to downtown Nashville to snack on some mean barbeque that would hopefully hold us over until dinner. Later that night, we were accompanied by “the Great” James Simmons for dinner at the famous Loveless Cafe. The meal included some authentic and delicious southern cuisine, as well as the greatest biscuits any of us have ever had.

The next day we pulled up in front of the Andrew Jackson Boys and Girls Club ready to begin our prep work, the initial step necessary in our quest to transform yet another neighborhood center. The team noticed that this particular Boys and Girls club was right in the middle of a housing project, which made this project's success seem all the more crucial. Some of the prep work included cutting wood, taping and tarping several rooms in the center, and sketching out murals. The first day was laid back and the stress level remained low, but little did we know, as is the natural course of many of our events, it would only get crazier from there.

As Team Care Force member Allison Goldstein was cutting wood the next day, a man approached her, asking politely if she could cut off his arm with her circular saw. Although he boasted “excellent” health insurance, she had to turn him away. Although he did not know it at the time, he would go down as the most interesting addition to the many stories we have already amassed this year. As the day continued we could tell that we were making our mark around the neighborhood, due to the many questions posed by the neighborhood’s residents. In the back of the center Team Care Forces members David Alexander, Hugh Harlow and “the Great” James Simmons pulled pipes out of the ground and mercilessly ripped them in half with a sawzaw. The last day of prep was intense, as we moved 100 LB railroad ties, sketched a giant W.E.B Du Bois mural, and sorted tools and materials for the big day. At the end of the day, the team was confident that the event was going to go well. We left the center that night with our heads held high. David even hoisted his hammer proudly about his head, reminiscent of Thor preparing for battle against the giants.

Soon enough the event day was upon us, but it was turning out to be a dark and nasty day, bound to be filled with rain. As the team poured paint and the PT crew prepared for the opening ceremony, we got ourselves in place to greet the volunteers whom were to change this neighborhood for the better. As the volunteers arrived, we jumped and cheered to get them in the right frame of mind, and they returned the favor. The opening ceremony included some of the best PT ever performed and a speech by the director of the Boys and Girls Club, Marcus, whom, after a request to the volunteers, received a rock star’s welcome. Service started off crazy-busy, with volunteers working on landscaping, repainting basketball courts, painting murals in several rooms and a creating University of Tennessee themed T-Mobile Huddle Up Zone. Before long, service came to a close and yet another mission had been completed. The team then put on the finishing touches while Joel Shuherk ensured that the children in the Club’s afterschool program were well versed with City Year’s “fired up” call and response. That night, we had our wrap-up dinner at the Boogie Bar in downtown Nashville and celebrated yet another successful service event!