Honoring Dr. King. 1

Honoring His Legacy: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

It is our pleasure to share with you the latest VYDC newsletter. In this edition, VYDC mem-

bers chose a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and reflected on how the quote related

to their service.

On Monday, 21 January 2013, VYDC members and assistant staff engaged in a Day of Ser-

vice. Some members organized and participated in service projects benefitting their com-

munities. Some members created and implemented curricula relating to Dr. King’s life and

legacy. Other members engaged youth in discussions about civil rights and social justice.

Inside, you will find a story from VYDC members describing their service in honor of

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We hope you find their stories inspiring.

In Service,

Jessi Engelke

VYDC Assistant Director & Newsletter Editor

VYDC Quarterly Vermont Youth Development Corps AmeriCorps State Program

ISSUE 2

In this issue:

Member Name Page

Jesilyn Amsden 2

Tasha Chemel 3

Sarah August 4

James Secor 5

Elizabeth Astrella 6

Ellen Jilek 7

Sarah Campbell 8

Paul “Mac” Roche 12

Ben Wimett 14

Anna Fronterio 14

Dr. King Day of Service

Accomplishments

15

Training Update 16

2 VYDC Quarterly

Jesilyn Amsden AmeriCorps State Member The Collaborative Londonderry, VT

Twenty elementary students, two teenagers and two AmeriCorps mem-bers made a difference on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Twenty-four in-dividuals, that's all it took for our Dr. King Day to make an impact in Lon-donderry. I believe that the Dr. King Day of Service isn't about how many people take part in your activities; it's about sharing the importance of giv-ing to others. This quote sums up the

goal of our Dr. King day:

"Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. This is the interrelated structure of reality."

Dr. King day in Londonderry, VT was a day of free childcare for families with children in grades K-6th. The day was full of games, crafts, sledding, a

discussion about Martin Luther King, Jr. and cooking spaghetti dinners for 21 individuals living in an elderly community.

To many, our day just appeared as a free childcare option but our day in-cluded much more. We provided a safe substance free space for the students to interact, had a discus-sion with the students about im-

portant Martin Luther King, Jr. history, provid-ed a free alternative childcare option for fami-lies in the community, created outreach to an elderly community, in-cluded the students in a service project, and taught them the im-portance of giving to oth-ers.

We spoke to the stu-dents about the signifi-cance of each persons actions and what a big effect it can have on oth-ers. They enjoyed mak-ing “thinking of you” cards to go with the meals knowing that it would brighten someone’s day that they didn't even know.

Dr. King Day benefited the students directly and we equipped them with knowledge and an expe-rience to bring home to

share with their families and others.

"Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole stair-case." In other words I’ll never know exactly what each student took away from Dr. King day, but each event or activity I offer them throughout this year holds a purpose whether it’s the students experience directly or the effect they can then have on oth-ers afterwards.

Youth at The Collaborative

prepared 21 heat-and-eat

spaghetti dinners for elderly

residents of Londonderry, VT.

"Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. This is the interrelated structure of reality." -Dr. Martin

Luther King, Jr.

Honoring Dr. King. 3

Before serving with AmeriCorps, my

experiences with manual labor have

been few and far between. People

have often assumed that because I

am blind, I am not capable of doing

these sorts of tasks, when that is

actually far from the truth. I might be

spatially challenged, as well as

blind, which can lead to some inter-

esting mishaps, but I relish times

when I am treated “like one of the

gang,” and I can get my hands (and

shirt and pants and hair) dirty.

AmeriCorps has given me several

of these opportunities.

First, there was the service project

after the presentation at the State

House, where there were endless

piles of squash to wash. I found the

repetition of the motions to work

almost like a mantra, and I felt invig-

orated by the brisk autumn air.

Then there was the Beautification of

the Teen Center at CHIPS, where I

spotted my fellow AmeriCorps

member, Colin Gray, while he

climbed a ladder and we joked that

his life was in my hands. The next

day, I sanded the walls in prepara-

tion for painting. My hands turned

blue, and I got to look like Cookie

Monster for a few minutes. Finally,

on Dr. King Day, I created a Valen-

tine for a veteran, and helped un-

pack canned goods at the Heavenly

Food Pantry. It was wonderful to

take a few steps back, to get out of

my head for a while, to be present

in the moment, to know that my

work was benefitting others.

In addition, I was able to contribute

my project management skills to the

construction of a mural in the Teen

Center. I felt that it was important

that the youth we serve at CHIPS

participate in a service project, so I

arranged for Kindra Lundy, a mem-

ber of our youth-led business, to design

and paint the mural, which depicts a

tree, to represent the strength of our

community. VYDC AmeriCorps State

member, James Secor, also contributed

his time, along with another student

from Essex High School and an adult

community member. The mural turned

out well, and I was glad that the collabo-

ration was so successful. I also came

up with the idea to put an image of the

mural on the cake at our Community

Dinner, which added a nice touch to the

celebration.

I am appreciative of the other VYDC

members and the staff, who are always

willing to think outside the box to make

sure that I feel fully included. I hope that

there will be many more squash to wash

and walls to sand throughout my service

and my life.

Tasha Chemel AmeriCorps State Member Essex CHIPS Essex Junction, VT

VYDC member, James

Secor, with help from

youth at Essex CHIPS

paint a mural to

commemorate the 2013

Day of Service.

"All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence." -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

4 VYDC Quarterly

Sarah August AmeriCorps State Member WCYSB, The Basement Teen Center Montpelier, VT

Dr. King once said, “faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” I think this quote relates to my experience working with youth in a preven-tion program setting.

Recently I have seen substantial cuts in funding for the prevention programs at the Washington County Youth Service Bureau. There are most likely multiple reasons for these funding cuts, but I think one of these

reasons is lack of faith. In order to support prevention programs that focus on the youth in a community, one has to believe that these programs are making a differ-ence in the future trajectory of the lives of youth. This belief requires a certain amount of faith, given that you cannot nec-essarily directly see the ways in which youths will someday benefit from having something like a teen center in their com-munities while they were growing up. It is my hope that even during these hard eco-nomic times there will always be funding for prevention programs because youth need us to have faith in them from the start.

My faith in the importance of prevention programs focused on youth is why I choose to serve teens at the Basement Teen Center. According to the Positive Youth Development framework, young people need supports in order to become successful in adulthood. Some of these supports include safe spaces, caring

adults, boundaries, expectations, and opportunities for skill building. A preven-tion program like the Basement Teen Center helps to support youth in so many of these ways. The Basement Teen Center gives youth a safe, sub-stance free space to go afterschool and engage in programming that helps them build social skills such as board games, life skills through activities like cooking,

and problem-solving skills through scavenger hunts such as the annual Amazing Race event. Teens learn about responsibility and meeting expec-tations by cleaning up after themselves in the space and through the opportuni-ty to be teen coordinator and take on a leadership role at the teen center. Fur-thermore, youth at the Basement Teen Center know that staff care about them and that they can go to these adults should they need help in any way. In these ways, the Basement Teen Center helps youth build a solid foundation for their future so that one day they too can become contributing adults.

I do not have a crystal ball that I can look into and see the future of any of the teens that I serve daily at the Base-ment Teen Center, but I have faith that we are making a difference in their lives and setting them up for success down the road.

Teens and adults partici-pate together in the an-nual Amazing Race event sponsored by the Base-ment Teen Center in 2012.

"Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase." -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Honoring Dr. King. 5

James Secor AmeriCorps State Member CityScape Barre, VT

has shown me the degree to which the

structure of reality is interrelated. It has

been important in our program to set up

clear boundaries, not only physical but ver-

bal. What I mean by this is that in order to

have a safe, successful and cohesive

group, we have needed to establish a cer-

tain climate

within our

community.

Youth are

expected to

encourage,

participate,

and be

thoughtful

and respect-

ful in their

interactions

with others in

our commu-

nity. When

any one of

us is not fol-

lowing these

expectations,

or being

what we

“ought to

be,” we are

encouraged

to check-in

with one another to reestablish the climate

of the community. Effective communication

is essential. When I use the phrase “ought

to be,” I am referring to a consciousness of

interlocking group dynamics.

Groups in an afterschool program are dic-

tated by words and actions. What one per-

son does within the group affects all others.

We are trying to achieve a sense of com-

munity where all feel welcome and every-

one’s voice is heard.

Do you remember that common saying

among youth? You know . . . the one

that goes “I am rubber and you are

glue. Whatever you say bounces off me

and sticks to you.” There is another one

you know about sticks and stones. We

are often told as children to merely dis-

regard what others say to or about us.

We are told that we can simply put up a

force field or pretend to be made of rub-

ber. I would submit that the tactics out-

lined by these sayings are not always, if

ever, the best methods to maintain per-

sonal health. Martin Luther King, Jr.

sees our relationships with others in a

different light.

Martin Luther King, Jr. once said

"whatever affects one directly, affects

all indirectly. I can never be what I

ought to be until you are what you

ought to be. This is the interrelated

structure of reality." Working in an after-

school environment, the reality of Dr.

King’s language is tangible. No one is

immune to reacting, be it in the smallest

way, to the atmosphere when our

groups come together. If anyone is feel-

ing upset, especially giddy, enraged,

frustrated or simply happy, everyone

notices how the group dynamic is

changed and all are affected. Our most

successful days come when everyone

is feeling good and ready to focus on

our tasks. To be honest, most days are

not linear, in that there are times of

great concentration and engagement,

and times that the group feels less co-

hesive. The language we all use also

plays an enormous role in group dy-

namics.

The words we use, and the way in

which we use them, creates our group

dynamics. Working with this program

"Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. This is the interrelated structure of reality." -Dr. Martin

Luther King, Jr.

Cuisine Francaise:

Youth learn the art

of French cooking.

6 VYDC Quarterly

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said this while making a speech in support of a hospital workers union in New York City. There are many ways to uplift humani-ty; doctors and nurses and hos-pital staff do it every day by set-ting broken bones, curing dis-eases, and saving lives. Dr. King led a civil rights movement that uplifted the humanity of this entire nation.

You might choose to serve your country; by joining the United States Military or a national ser-vice organization such as AmeriCorps. You might plant a community garden, help out at your local soup kitchen, or rake leaves for an elderly neighbor.

This year on January 21st, the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, I helped to make cards that would uplift and sup-port children with parents who serve in the Vermont National Guard. I helped make cards that will be given to some of the over one hundred children in Vermont who are right now pre-paring for yet another deploy-ment of their loved one. Thank-ing them for being heroes in their own right, and helping them understand the dignity and importance of being a sup-portive family member to a guardsman who uplifts this na-tion.

Elizabeth Astrella AmeriCorps State Member Operation: Military Kids Burlington, VT

“All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and im-portance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.” -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Local 1199 Sa-lute to Freedom, 1968

Honoring Dr. King. 7

Hunger affects millions of people in the world - twelve percent of the world’s population, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. That’s 868 million people around the globe. This number is so big that it feels unassailable, like there’s nothing that can be done to help so many people in need. However, as Dr. King wrote, we are all negatively affect-ed, in a multitude of seen and unseen ways, by that which hurts others. When people from places as far away from the tiny space I occupy in Vermont as Aus-tralia, Africa, or Asia are affected by hunger, they are forced to spend time and resources finding food that would be spent on making better lives for themselves, their families, their commu-nities.

Hunger forces individuals to focus all of their efforts on getting food, and pre-vents them from focusing instead on be-ing the best they can be in the world. This in turn negatively affects that indi-vidual’s family, their community, their nation, and eventually our global socie-ty. I may not directly see the effects of hunger in my privileged life, but I can certainly see how it works in part to hold back human society from being as it “ought to be.”

We might not think of Vermont as a place hit particularly hard by hunger, but statistics from Hunger Free Vermont show that thirteen percent of the state’s households are food insecure. This still represents 85,000 Vermonters hurt by lack of access to good food. 85,000 is still a big, big number of people impact-ed by hunger, but somehow, the fact that it is a number that impacts my com-munity makes it feel somewhat more manageable. This is where my service on Dr. King Day comes into play.

For Dr. King Day, I served my communi-ty by sorting food at the Heavenly Food Pantry in Essex Junction, along with the

AmeriCorps VIS-TAs also serving the Franklin Grand Isle Bookmobile. We checked expira-tion dates, sorted the food according to the coordinating organization’s standards, and did some heavy lifting. The task involved active participation and concentration, though it wasn’t incredibly difficult work - but I found it very important in terms of making a small step toward helping others be as they have a right to be in the world.

I am privi-leged and I may take food, a basic human need and essential for life, for granted. Volun-teering for the food pantry that day helped that or-ganization more effi-ciently provide hunger relief for the Essex Junction community at least. For me this means that for some short period of time, the people who utilize that food pantry didn’t have to focus so much on budgeting for the basic act of feeding themselves or trying to find food, and so perhaps may have had a chance to be as they should be in the world, helping the community be a lit-tle more whole. It may still be a small step, but it is one of the first of many small steps I want to take in doing more service similar to this kind, to help in small ways our world be as it “ought to be.”

Ellen Jilek AmeriCorps State Member Franklin Grand Isle Bookmobile Swanton, VT

"Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never

be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. This is

the interrelated structure of reality." Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

VYDC AmeriCorps

State member, Ellen

Jilek, serves along

side VYT A*VISTA

member, Sarah Rice.

8 VYDC Quarterly

Thus far, my AmeriCorps service has

been quite the adventure. I’ve experi-

enced a wide range of emotions.

From defeat to pride, and being com-

pletely overwhelmed to clueless as to

what comes next, my service has defi-

nitely been a whirlwind, but in a posi-

tive way.

With the

challenges

of moving to

a new state,

being in a

new work

environment,

and learning

about the

unique popu-

lation of refu-

gee teenag-

ers we

serve, it is

no doubt that

faith is the

only thing

that has kept

me looking

forward. Up-

on accepting

this position

with the

VYDC Amer-

iCorps State Program, I was unsure of

what to expect out of my move to Ver-

mont, or my service here at the

Winooski Teen Center.

Reflecting on my decision to join

AmeriCorps and commit myself to a

year of service, I feel I’ve made an

extremely positive step in the better-

ment of myself personally and the

welfare for the countless teenagers

we serve on a daily basis. The

majority of the youth we see are

refugees, experiencing American

culture for the first time and at-

tempting to navigate our societal

and academic systems with little

to no support from the communi-

ty as a whole. Knowing that a

small act of faith on my behalf, to

come to Winooski through Amer-

iCorps, is giving these youth an-

other positive role model, anoth-

er source of support, and anoth-

er adult on their side is extreme-

ly rewarding. As our youth deal

with the everyday challenges of

being a teenager combined with

the added baggage of being a

New American, knowing that the

programs we help run have the

potential to alleviate some of

their stress is important and as-

sures me that AmeriCorps surely

is getting things done.

As a fellow youth worker remind-

ed us earlier this service year,

working with youth is often a

thankless job and it will often feel

like the service we’re doing is

making little to no difference in

their lives. Youth often take out

their teenage angst on us or

brush us off like we’re not im-

portant. However, knowing that

your work with one kid could

change her path or inspire her to

do better things, speaks to the

importance of working with

youth and knowing that it’s im-

portant to take the first step –

being there – even if you don’t

ever see the whole staircase.

Sarah Campbell AmeriCorps State Member Winooski Teen Center Winooski, VT

VYDC member, Sa-

rah Campbell, hangs

out with Winooski

Teen Center youth

after a soccer game.

"Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase." -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Honoring Dr. King. 9

I first took an interest in Dr. King when I was stud-ying American studies in college. The 1960s, the civil rights movement, and Dr. King ended up be-ing my concentration, actually. The above quote I feel is a good example of my service as a whole thus far because I definitely cannot see the jour-ney mapped out for me clearly. Sometimes when I think I can see the 10 steps ahead, the carpet is pulled out from under me and suddenly, I am five steps behind where I was.

Faith in my abilities, and in other people around me, has helped me persevere through the good and the bad. Just like Dr. King did until his death. Sometimes in life you may have to take a few steps backward even to move forward. You just have to be ready for the changes ahead of you and embrace the unexpected changes and obsta-cles good or bad that will undoubtedly lay in front of you.

Ben Wimett AmeriCorps State Member Boys and Girls Club of Brandon Brandon, VT

Social structures and systems that privilege some and disempower and disadvantage many are op-pressive and controlling, but they will never take away the power that is inherent in an individual. I truly believe that we all have the ability to rise up and take back our agency and reclaim our own power in this life. It is on this thought that my pas-sion for social justice rests, and fuels both my work with Spectrum and in my life and lifestyle outside of work and service. The work that we do at Spec-trum “to empower youth” is entirely self-actualized in the youth themselves. It is inspiring and en-couraging to see cli-ents want to change for their own better-ment and fulfillment.

Anna Fronterio AmeriCorps State Member Spectrum Youth and Family Service Burlington, VT

In speaking of the interconnectedness of all beings, Dr. King suggests that humans have the potential to connect, unite, and work together for the benefit of all. It is this notion that drew me to apply for an AmeriCorps position at Spectrum. Living with the belief that my actions directly affect another being fuels my passion to live with compassion, kindness, generosity, and for the well-being of all. In acknowl-edging my privileged position in this life, I have deemed myself accountable to living a life in which my privilege does not disempower those who are underprivileged. At Spectrum I am able to live this philosophy by being an encouraging and reflective voice for clients, without telling them what to do or how to live their lives.

The empowerment philosophy that fuels the work that we do at Spectrum speaks to the inherent power that is within all of us, regardless of our race, gender, socio-economic class, sexual orientation, etc.

"Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase." -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

"Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. This is the interrelated structure of reality." -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Ben Wimett and Boys and Girls Club volunteer.

10 VYDC Quarterly

The long winter hours and recent celebra-tion of Martin Luther King, Jr. day have put many of us frozen Vermonters in a reflective mood. I found his quote, "Whatever affects one directly, affects all

indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. This is the interrelated structure of reality" particularly pertinent to the state of con-temporary education, and indicative of the philosophy of the Willowell Foundation.

It is equally comforting and disconcerting that Dr. King's sentiments remain perti-nent to this day. Comforting, because his diligent struggle for non-violent political action is an endearing model for our times. Disconcerting, because many of the gains in human liberty won during the struggle for civil rights have eroded, and new forms of widespread inequality have come to burden current generations. In the same speech Dr. King said, “Let no-body give you the impression that only time will solve the problem. That is a myth, and it is a myth because time is neutral. It can be used either constructive-ly or destructively.”

We, the beneficiaries of the civil rights protests, cannot depend on the inevitability of progress or the goodness of contemporary institu-tions to guarantee liberties granted

to past genera-tions. We have to continually revisit the struggles of the past, and make ever more room to include voices and perspectives that have been si-lenced.

Through my Ameri-Corps service I have had a unique opportunity to re-visit this old fight; I do it through teach-ing. The Willowell Foundation, through our com-munity building projects and con-tinuing sponsorship

of a public alternative high school, is continually striving to directly en-gage youth in experiential learning. We expose young people to chal-lenging perspectives, new ideas and opportunities to creatively express themselves. In doing so, we directly expand their worldviews, and indi-rectly introduce more ideas, more tolerance, and more poetry into the lives of their communities. By sup-porting youth through an intensive educational process and trusting them to realize their potential we bring them closer to “what they ought to be”: whole, content, active people. And in the process, not to sound completely corny, I am given the chance to relearn, re-inform and rediscover “what I ought to be” all over again through teaching.

Paul “Mac” Roche AmeriCorps State Member Willowell Foundation Monkton, VT

Volunteers are recognized

for their contributions dur-

ing Willowell’s Azimuth

mural grand opening.

“Let nobody give you the impression that only time will solve the problem. That is a myth, and it is a myth because time is neutral. It can be used either constructively or destructively.” -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Honoring Dr. King. 11

Dr. King Day of Service Accomplishments

To commemorate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 15 VYDC, 25 VYT, and 12 other national service members created and implement-ed 30 service projects, 3 community meals, and 4 reflection activities in 10 Vermont communities in which 367 community members partici-pated.

Members procured $2,188 in cash and in-kind donations from local busi-nesses to support these community events.

Some of the wonderful outcomes, in addition to those described in the newsletter articles, include:

-painting the Central Vermont Community Action Council Food Shelf;

-preparing and serving a hot dinner and creating cards for families stay-ing at the Ronald McDonald House;

-facilitating a discussion with 15 youth about the civil rights movement and the impact of Brown v. Board of Education;

-making a free lunch for 69 community members who then participated in a documentary viewing and discussion;

-helping 11 community volunteers assemble 1,500 bags for Penguin Plunge participants at the Special Olympics Vermont offices in South Burlington.

-coordinating 32 volunteers who made 70 valentines for veterans (sent to the VA hospital in White River Junction, VT) and wrote 20 letters to military families.

12 VYDC Quarterly

Professional Development

A significant benefit to serving in

our program is the emphasis we

place on each of our member’s

professional development

throughout the year.

By providing access to high quali-

ty workshops and training, we

help members gain professional

skills and experience that will

serve them in seeking meaningful

employment, as well as develop a

commitment to a life of active

civic engagement.

P.O. Box 627 / 38 Elm Street

Montpelier, VT 05601-0627

802.229.9151 ph

802.229.2508 fax

https://sites.google.com/a/wcysb.org/vydc/

The opinions expressed in the articles in this newsletter belong

to the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the views

of the site where the AmeriCorps members serve, Vermont

Youth Development Corps, the Washington County Youth Ser-

vice Bureau/Boys and Girls Club, SerVermont, or CNCS.

VYDC Member Training: December 2012 To February 2013 Goal Setting Part I:

Facilitated by Markey Read; members practiced setting professional and personal goals.

Grant Writing:

Facilitated by Andy Robinson; members learned the basics of how to write a successful grant.

Navigating Difficult Conversations:

Facilitated by Kerry Secrest; members learned about and practiced effective communication and conflict resolution skills.

Mid-Year Reflection & Resource Development Part 1:

Facilitated by members and staff: members explored why people give and the unpredictable nature of fundraising; members reflected about their service through writing, discussion, and art.

Upcoming Training Events March 2013-April 2013 Setting Boundaries and Motivational Interviewing:

Members will learn how to establish good boundaries with youth; they practice techniques such as, motivational interviewing., harm reduction, and other counseling skills

Resource Development:

Members will explore the basics of successful resource development & practice related skills.

Goals Revisited and Resume Writing:

Members will reflect and revisit the professional development goals they set for themselves earlier in the year and learn about networking and resume writing techniques.

Understanding Poverty:

Members will begin to explore the complexities of poverty and its impact on the communities they serve.

VYDC AmeriCorps State Program