GET TO
THURSDAY,
APRIL 4,
2013
THE POINT THE
NEWSLETTER
VOLUME
OF THE
NCCC
XIX, ISSUE
ATLANTIC REGION
The Journey Home A Corps Member Returns to Her Hometown to Lend a Hand with Hurricane Recovery Efforts
Alumni Spotlight Lisa Nikole Swaney, Class X, Southwest Region
Gallery Getting Things Done with Wheel Barrows A New Sort of Uniform Around the Atlantic Region in 28 Days
5
MEMBER STATEMENT I’m a member of the National Civilian Community Corps, an AmeriCorps Program. N-Triple-C members are 18 to 24 and spend 10 months getting things done for America while developing their own leadership. We serve on teams to help communities prepare for and respond to disasters, build homes, and help the environment. To learn more or apply, visit AmeriCorps.gov/NCCC or call 1.800.942.2677
IN THIS
ISSUE 3
Feature Story The Journey Home: A Corps Member Returns to Her
CONTACT THE ATLANTIC REGION COMMUNITY RELATIONS OFFICE
Hometown to Lend a Hand to Hurricane Recovery Efforts
Sam McKenzie, Community Relations Specialist (CRS) Phone: 202.528.3755 ● Email: smckenzie@cns.gov
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Lisa Nikole Swaney, Class X
Mona Hillstrand, Assistant Community Relations Specialist (ACRS) Phone: 202.815.4259 ● Email: rhillstrand@cns.gov Ben Dillon, Community Relations Support Team Leader (CRSTL) Phone: 443.995.7940 ● Email: bedillon.guest@cns.gov Get to the Point is a weekly newsletter edited and designed by Ben Dillon, CRSTL Facebook.com/NCCCAtlanticRegion
Alumni Spotlight Southwest Region
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Bulletin Board Vehicle Safety Tips; National Stress Awareness Month
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Team Shout Outs
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Gallery Wheeling & Waning: Getting Things Done with Wheel Barrows; Suiting Up: A New Sort
↑ Top-Left: Members of Raven 4 practice yoga on Rockaway
of Uniform; Around the Region
Beach, N.Y. for a team physical training session. ↑ Top-Right: Jeremy Flores of Phoenix 1 gives his regards to the flames of a prescribed fire in Virginia.
in 28 Days 10
Team Project Map Composite Team Dragon 1
→ Cover: NCCC members conducted a cleanup of Rockaway
deploys to N.J. for disaster
Beach, N.Y. where a boardwalk stood prior to Hurricane Sandy.
recovery
Photo Credit: CNCS/Serve.gov
FEATURE
THE JOURNEY HOME By Meg Wheeler, Raven 1
I
had made the trip probably hundreds of times: the N.J. Turnpike to Staten Island, over the Verrazano Bridge into Brooklyn, and the straight ride back home to Rockaway. This most recent time, however, was very different for me. This time, I shared the ride with my fellow Corps Members. I was not going home to visit for the weekend or returning home from college for the summer. I was returning to Rockaway as an AmeriCorps member with the plan and determination to get things done. I was very fortunate in that my parents and I lost nothing during Hurricane Sandy. That second floor walk-up had finally paid off. Some of my family members and friends were not as lucky. When we returned two days after the storm hit, people’s lives were in five-foot piles lining the street. It was beyond overwhelming, seeing sand cover the pavement and the vast, empty space on the beach after the boardwalk had been carried away by the tide. Story Continued on Page 4
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APRIL 4, 2013 / GET TO THE POINT
↑ Top: The damages incurred to homes in Wheeler’s hometown of Rockaway, N.Y. still linger well into 2013. Wheeler’s team, Raven 1, is one of several teams in the area for long-term Hurricane Sandy recovery projects. ↑ Above: Raven 1 works with the non-profit organization New York Cares to coordinate the efforts of volunteer groups, pictured here wearing Tyvek coveralls and respirators.
FEATURE
← Wheeler, third from the left in the back row, with her Raven 1 team prior to the Atlantic Region Class XIX Induction Ceremony on March 8.
Continued from Page 3 The only comfort was seeing neighbors helping each other, even though they had their own needs, and the swarm of volunteers that quickly took over to start recovery. Rockaway would come back, but it would take time. The big joke in my house was that I would be sent right back home. When I found out during project reveal that this was going to be the case, that I would be helping people who truly needed it, I was overwhelmed with emotion. When I told my sister, however, she laughed for nearly 10 minutes straight. We were able to surprise my parents, telling them for weeks that my first project would be in Vermont. Knowing that I would be as close to home as I could without actually being there, and that I would be helping with something that had direct consequences for my home community, assured me I would enjoy this round. These first few weeks have been tough, to say the least. Mucking and gutting is no joke! With the amount of gutting and mold removal my team has done, our upper-body strength will rival that of the firefighters on Phoenix 1. The physical challenges of the work are to be expected, and we will continue to face them each day, but the emotional challenges are just as difficult. Although the stories of homeowners are harrowing, they spur us to work harder and to the best of our abilities. Every day, their stories give
“
My teammates—and I
especially—always keep in
mind that these homes could have been our homes. That keeps us going.
”
us cause to step back and take a moment to understand what they have gone through. My teammates—and I especially—always keep in mind that these homes could have been our homes. That keeps us going. Admittedly, driving around my hometown with my team rather than my parents still feels odd. But the more I get used to the realities of this project, the more I am coming to appreciate my teammates. From our emotional project reveal to the tough days on the worksite, my teammates and Team Leader have constantly been supportive of me and each other. They know how important and close to home this work is to me, and I could not be prouder or more thankful to call them my team.
GET TO THE POINT / APRIL 4, 2013
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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
LISA NIKOLE SWANEY CLASS X, SOUTHWEST REGION
How did you hear about NCCC? I learned about it while attending Virginia Commonwealth University from a former NCCC alumna out of Sacramento, California. Why did you join? I thought it was really interesting how other communities worked. I didn’t know much about my community where I grew up. It gave me a better sense of my community in a way I had not been aware of before my participation in NCCC. Plus, I like to get things done. I had one semester left in college, so I decided to finish it after. I had a desire to travel, but I also wanted to participate in service-oriented work. AmeriCorps was a good way to marry those two goals. What was your most interesting project as a Corps Member? We did taxes for low-income residences for “The Center of Economic Progress” in Chicago. The experience was
very hands-on. I knew immediately I was having an impact on people’s lives—that I was doing something worthwhile. What did you like about NCCC? I was fascinated to travel in new parts of the country. I was most inspired by the sponsors who did their jobs passionately. What advice would you give to current NCCC members? I would say talk out your problems with your team. You are often in tight living quarters and unstable environments. Try to resolve your issues with others; it will lead to a better experience overall. The time goes by fast, so enjoy the places you’re in while you’re there, because you may never be there again. Use the opportunity of living with different people to learn about their culture. It is an enriching experience to learn about and a valuable asset in life. You learn different ways
to approach problems you would never know if you didn’t spend time with those people. Do you have any future AmeriCorps plans? In my current position, I get to work with NCCC as a sponsor. I also get to facilitate training for AmeriCorps NCCC firefighters. How did NCCC impact life plans or career interests? After a short two-week round with the Nature Conservancy, I had a pretty good idea that I wanted to be apart of that organization. NCCC gave me a better understanding of the wide variety of service projects out there.
↑ Swaney (right) instructs Class XIX Corps Member Laura Mahoney on how to roll fire hose during training in Kinston, N.C. in March.
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APRIL 4, 2013 / GET TO THE POINT
BULLETIN BOARD
April 7–14 is National Stress Awareness Week
“I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy.” - Rabindranath Tagore
Vehicle S
Keep the
afety Tip
brake fluid
1. Sleep More 2. Breathe More 3. Laugh More
Benefits of Laughter Helps diffuse conflict
Eases anxiety and fear Increases memory Lowers stress hormones Relaxes your muscles Adds joy to your life Enhances teamwork Exercises abs Promotes better sleep
of the We
ek
reservoir a with the c t an optim orrect fluid um level type. Your brake
s may req
uire servic ing if: the brake warning lig ht is flashin there is sq g uealing, c hirping or there are grinding n oises pulsation s in the bra the stee ke pedal ring whee l is shaky stopping distance has incre ased the car p ulls to one
side when
s charged The Moose Unit ha a slight ke ta to from behind ! lead in the ISP race e Percent Complet % .78 Moose: 12 Raven: 12.30 % Buffalo: 12.18 %
you stop
Before & After with Buffalo 1 ← Buffalo 1, in working with Habitat for Humanity of Westchester in areas of New York that were hard-hit by Hurricane Sandy, has been removing debris from neighborhoods and piling it for removal by waste management. Here, Buffalo 1 member Garret Ford indicates the large scale of one of many debris piles gathered by the team.
GET TO THE POINT / APRIL 4, 2013
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SHOUT OUTS A HUGE shout out to Rosslyn Jordan, Buffalo One alumna and now USTL. She’ll be amazing in her new role, and B1 can’t wait to see all the fantastic work she accomplishes!
Buffalo 1 Buffalo 2 TL says “HOO-RA” to M1 TL. Florence says “shake it out, shake it out” to Moose 2. Additionally, congratulations to all those who made the disaster composite team!
My team helped out with an animal shelter this Saturday! They really had a lot of fun and definitely came back with some seriously cute pictures of Moose 4 with dogs, puppies, cats, and kittens. On the other hand, some of their tasks included cleaning and sweeping – it’s like the tasks of Brownsville plan on following us everywhere we go.
Buffalo 3 Shout out to all the other teams for making it halfway through Round 1. Way to go, guys! Also, shout out to our awesome USTL, Rosslyn, on her first week in the green shirt. You are doing great!
Buffalo 4 7
APRIL 4, 2013 / GET TO THE POINT
Phoenix 1 Scrubbing mold in tiny, stuffy, dank crawlspaces is tough in the going, but Elite Team Raven 1 is getting it done!
Moose 4 Raven 1 Shout out to Jeremy on Fire: “We miss you!” And our sister team Buffalo 2: “Holla back, y’all!” Congratulations to the composite team members. Please treat Travis well. He will be missed!
Buffalo 2 B3 welcomes a new addition to our team: Kadesha! As we gain one member for the year, we also lose one for a while. Victor has been selected to serve on composite, so we will be without him for four weeks as he does Sandy recovery in New Jersey. We already miss you, man! We can’t wait to hear your stories! Also, big shout-out to Wayne, our roaming fire Buffalo!
Thanks to all the permanent teams for the shout outs! We miss you guys!
Raven 2
Spoiler Alert: Not Intended for Individuals who Believe in the Easter Bunny! This week Moose 5 turned their cabooses into cotton tails and helped out with the Camden Children’s Garden Brunch with the Bunny! Blake transformed into the Easter Bunny and hopped around to spread springtime cheer. Due to the hare’s oversized ears he actually cannot hear nor see, so he was aided by Laura Mahoney. Others were required to hold Laura back from stealing the adorable children in their Easter outfits and bunny ears.
Moose 5
Shout out to Gaby Gardose for being selected for the composite team! We miss you! Have fun and do great work!
Raven 4 To Raven 2: We know you miss your dad.
Raven 5
GALLERY
AROUND THE REGION IN 28 DAYS ↑ Max Limeberger of Raven 3 while working with Delaware State Parks → (From Top) Alicia Spack of Moose 2 maintenancing a chainsaw in Orefield, Pa. → Moose 5, a.k.a. Moose Caboose, finds a real caboose in Camden, N.J. → Kaitlyn Liafsha of Buffalo 3 at an ISP → Natalie Hillmann and Bridget Kimbell of Phoenix 1 during a prescribed burn in Va. ↓ Buffalo 2 after gutting a water-damaged house in Schoharie, N.Y.
GET TO THE POINT / APRIL 4, 2013
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GALLERY
Wheeling &Waning Few tools are as universal or as versatile as the wheel barrow. Whether hauling dirt and mulch, racing your teammates, or taking a quick nap, the wheel barrow helps AmeriCorps members get things done.
↑ Natalie Hanisch of Raven 4 working with the St. Bernard Project in Rockaway, N.Y. ← (Top) Rebeckah Moran and Kris Hall of Raven 3 working with Delaware State Parks ← (Far left) Eddy Lee of Buffalo 3 with Blue Water Baltimore ← (Left) Kayla Hanson of Buffalo 2 in Schoharie, N.Y.
SUITING UP Working in disaster-effected areas has its share of challenges, hazardous materials being chief among them. While mucking and gutting damaged homes, Corps Members are donning a new sort of uniform: Tyvek coveralls and respirators. → Kayla Lickey of Raven 1 (left) and Andy Phongphiou of Moose 3 (right).
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APRIL 4, 2013 / GET TO THE POINT
Where in the Atlantic Region Are They?
Round 1, Week 4
MAINE
VERMONT
For Round 1, Class XIX teams will complete 21 projects in seven states and the District of Columbia. Four teams are aiding in recovery from Hurricane Sandy in New York, while four more teams are doing long-term disaster recovery work elsewhere in the region. Additionally, three teams are completing projects focused NEW YORK on environmental stewardship, two teams are doing urban and rural development, and one team is doing infrastructure improvement.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
MASSACHUSETTS CONN.
R.I.
PENNSYLVANIA
NEW JERSEY COMPOSITE: DRAGON 1
MARYLAND D.C.
WEST VIRGINIA
DELAWARE
Hackensack, N.J. Volunteer Center of Bergen County Disaster Recovery
RAVEN 1 New York, N.Y. New York Cares Disaster Recovery
VIRGINIA
MOOSE 3
RAVEN 2
New York, N.Y. World Care Centers Disaster Recovery
Newburgh, N.Y. Habitat for Humanity Urban & Rural Development
BUFFALO 1
BUFFALO 4
MOOSE 4
RAVEN 3
New Rochelle, N.Y. Habitat for Humanity Disaster Recovery
Winterthur, De. Winterthur Museum Environmental Stewardship
Davis, W.Va. Appalachian Coal Country Team Environmental Stewardship
Marshfield, Mass. Mass. Audubon—South Shore Environmental Stewardship
BUFFALO 2
MOOSE 1
MOOSE 5
RAVEN 4
Schoharie, N.Y. Schoharie Area Long Term Recovery Disaster Recovery
Allima Institute Baltimore, Md. Urban & Rural Development
Camden, N.J. Camden Garden Club Urban & Rural Development
Brooklyn, N.Y. St. Bernard Project Disaster Recovery
BUFFALO 3
MOOSE 2
PHOENIX 1
RAVEN 5
Baltimore, Md. Blue Water Baltimore Environmental Stewardship
Orefield, Pa. Valley Youth House Disaster Recovery
Suffolk, Va. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Disaster Response/Env. Stewardship
Meadville, Pa. Allegheny College Lake Effects Infrastructure Improvement