National Service in Wisconsin

After a little R&R at the spa, Eli's refreshed and recharged, ready to hit the road again to visit more amazing national service projects! For questions on how to sign up to host a #ServieBadger, visit @NationalServiceinWisconsin on Facebook!  Heading to the spa with all Eli's fancy souvenirs !  Aaaaahhhhhhh - getting so fresh and so clean!!  Ready to hit the road again!

Servie, It has been great hosting you at CESA 10 up in Chippewa Falls. You were so much help setting up for the Taylor County Fair to advertise resources for homeless students. We hope you learned a lot from the Eric Jensen presentation on Teaching/Engaging students with poverty in mind. And that was only the first week of visiting up here! It was also nice to have you add in your knowledge of National Service to our End of Year Presentation. Thank you for all of your help with planning the DPI orientation for all CESA’s VISTA’s, as well as joining the Chippewa County Council on Homelessness and Hunger meeting. It has certainly been an eventful two weeks. Until next time, Servie! CESA 10 VISTA’s, Shelby Schuppe & Ashley Parkhurst Mike, CESA 10 Administrator, went "Wilson" for Servie Badger. Ginny showed Servie around her office space and even gave him a heart shaped paper clip to take on the road!   Kristen, former VISTA Supervisor, was excited to se...

Thanks for everything, Eli #ServieBadger! I learned so much from you on how to be the best service mascot possible. I truly value your counsel, and friendship. I'm looking forward to our mentor/mentee calls and seeing you at the CNCS Symposium! Safe travels and visit again soon! Your friend, Servasaurus  [the official Service Pteranodon of Colorado]

Dear Diary, Eli #ServieBadger again, WOW! What a whirlwind adventure! It seems like just yesterday that I was speaking on the Town Hall panel in Indianapolis during the North Central Regional training. I'm glad we were able to share our best practices, though I was a little bummed that no one asked me a question.  Though, my ICC friend Lynnsey did great showing everyone how to make sure that their members have access to the exit survey! After a year of helping to get things done for America, I was ready for a little R&R on vacation in Connecticut with Nellie (my new Program Officer friend from Serve Colorado). I finally took my first plane ride! They weren't lying about the free peanuts - flying rules! My time in Connecticut was just what I needed. I kicked back with my paws in the sand at Compo Beach and enjoyed being able to wander the stacks at the Westport Library. I tried to go with Nelie to the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City, but apparently they o...

OH MY GOODNESS!!!! Corey and I got to meet the Corporation for National and Community Service's (CNCS) leadership!! OFL Director, Mikel Herrington (black shirt), CNCS CEO Wendy Spencer (black jacket), Dave Parziale (plaid tie) and Director of AmeriCorps, Bill Basil (blue suit). This is amazing!! Wendy Spencer GAVE ME A KISS!!!! How lucky can one little badger be!?! Now I know I'm in love! Wow, Corey and I sure are lucky to be here with such amazing National Service Champions!  Serve Wisconsin Executive Director, Tom Devine (orange shirt), CNCS CEO Wendy Spencer (black jacket), and the Wisconsin CNCS State Office Director, India McCanse (pattern shirt). Wow, what an incredible experience for us #ServieBadgers!!! Maybe CNCS will get their own Service Mascot to travel the whole country soon!?

Hello again! Eli #ServieBadger here! I'm having SO much FUN at this conference! Who knew learning about national service could be so exhilarating! I've met some amazing people here, like Nellie a Program Officer from Serve Colorado and Mary Bruce from AmeriCorps Alums! (I think I'm in love!)  (Thanks for sharing such great resources with our alums, Mary!!) I've done my very best to participate and learn as much as I could! Also, my sister, Corey, is here!!!!! :) I've missed her as we've traveled around Wisconsin spreading word of all the great things you national service folks have been doing! She's such a good participant! and she's got some GREAT friends.

Hello everyone! Eli #ServieBadger here! I'm currently on stage at the North Central National Service Training in Indianapolis, IN with Bill Basl and my two friends Jessica & Lynnsey!!! Not exactly my comfort zone up here in front of all 100+, or more of you out there in the audience, though I know you are all good folks and that you all support my work and service!! Thank you!! I do see many good friends amongst you, Casey and Tom are right up front and center! Casey just flashed a smile my way. That's comforting. And over at the next table, Penny S, Steve F, and Shelly K - Shelly just winked at me!!! The lights sure are bright and sight shining in my eyes. I cannot really see all of you, especially way back in the back. ! the microphone is going around again. I am, umm, nervous. I really hope they don't ask me to speak, not too much any how... I've got to focus! Lynnsey's up! Gotta go! Love to you all! Eli

Hello everyone! Eli #ServieBadger here! I'm currently on stage at the North Central National Service Training in Indianapolis, IN with Bill Basl and my two friends Jessica & Lynnsey!!! Not exactly my comfort zone up here in front of all 100+, or more of you out there in the audience, though I know you are all good folks and that you all support my work and service!! Thank you!! I do see many good friends amongst you, Casey and Tom are right up front and center! Casey just flashed a smile my way. That's comforting. And over at the next table, Penny S, Steve F, and Shelly K - Shelly just winked at me!!! The lights sure are bright and sight shining in my eyes. I cannot really see all of you, especially way back in the back. ! the microphone is going around again. I am, umm, nervous. I really hope they don't ask me to speak, not too much any how... I've got to focus! Lynnsey's up! Gotta go! Love to you all! Eli

Welcome Home, Servie! We loved reading about your adventures, and are so impressed with all your souvenirs!! We're crossing a couple state lines this week to attend the North Central National Service training in Indianapolis, IN. You will be reunited with people you have met during your travels and meet many new friends. What a fun road trip we will have!! ~ Serve Wisconsin

Servie arrived and was issued his hard hat and safety goggles right away! This week Servie spent the week with the crew at Floyd's house. He helped start building the garage with the team. The house is not even finished yet, but it is sold, so were' really hustling! Servie was with MCC on Memorial Day and wanted to wish all a Happy Memorial Day and a big thank you to all who have served, and especially to all who have given their all. After the holiday, it was back to work! Servie spent a little time in the classroom learning with the youth. Wow! That math was hard!!  Now it is back to the service site to work on building the house. After a lot of hard work and learning, Servie is all packed up and ready to head off to meet other national service participants in Madison and beyond!

Whew! I didn’t know you could pack in so much service in one week! From April 23-April 29, I spent a week with the Community HealthCorps® at Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers (SSCHC). Located in Milwaukee’s near Southside neighborhood and serving a predominately Latino, immigrant community, I learned a great deal about the serious work these AmeriCorps® engage in to improve the health and well-being of the clinics’ patients and broader community. I spent a week watching, learning, and in some cases, actually serving, alongside 10 talented, dedicated HealthCorps® Members. I cleaned up in the neighborhood (with the help of a fellow mascot: Bango of the Milwaukee Bucks!), cheered on the girls in SSCHC’s Girls on the Run program, sat in on a health education class, and much more. I was incredibly impressed with how much Community HealthCorps® enhances the work of SSCHC, their tireless commitment to the patients they serve, and overall what a fantastic time my experience was! I ca...

Dear Servie, Thank you for visiting us at Clarke Street School! We had a blast and learned a lot from you. We hope you enjoy the rest of your journey! ~ Team F.R.E.S.H. First and Ready for Excellence in School Harmony Dear Servie, Thanks for visiting South Division and showing off that Cardinal Pride! our students were glad to see you and the team finds joy in your warmth and lovingness.  Enjoy the rest of your journey & making memories with our fellow National Service members!! ~The South Division Team Hey Servie! It's Christophe! it was really fun to take care of you for the week-end! Thanks for helping out at the Lakeshore Nature reserve in Madison & playing flag football with those Graduate Neuroscience Majors! Exploring Madison with you was a blast & quite the adventure. I'll miss you!! Hope to see you again soon! Don't forget to call every once in a while. ~ Christophe

Hi Servie, Thank you for spending the week with us at Teach For America-Milwaukee. We hope you had a great time visiting with our staff and AmeriCorps members throughout the week! From spending time with one of our teachers and her students at Brown Street Academy; to stopping in to visit with our teachers, students and our fellow City Year AmeriCorps members at James Madison Academic Campus; to meeting 25 of our new 2016 AmeriCorps members at while they were interviewing for their placement sites; to spending time with our 20 staff members at the Teach For America office – you have had a busy week! We are so grateful you were able to get to know us this week, and we hope you feel like you are a part of our TFA-Milwaukee family! We are sad to see you leave, but we know you will have a great time on your upcoming travels. Have fun with City Year this week! Love, Teach For America-Milwaukee

"Wow! What a week I had traveling around in Green Bay where I visited Foster Grandparents at the Encompass Childcare Centers. First, I visited Grandpa Mike in the 3-year-old room and helped him celebrate his birthday with a large cookie; then, I traveled to the Rosebush Center and visited the preschool classroom and their stuffed animal mascots... Continued on to the 3-4 year old classrooms to help put puzzles together. I went on to the Cornerstone Center where the Foster Grandparents had a small group in-service. After that, I even got to take a walk with the 3-year-old classroom (the teacher let me ride in her backpack so the kids could keep an eye on me!) Then... I helped to welcome back a Foster Grandparent who had been on vacation. The kids and teachers really missed her! Now on my way to our state capitol. I'm sure the Foster Grandparents and kids will miss me, too!" -Corey ServieBadger