Singnature Service Project and Moter City Makeover

Last weekend was another magnificent and mentionable one for the AmUS Project. On May 16, all thirty-three of us traveled to Lansing MI to participate in the Russ Mawby Signature Service Project. Over the next two days, in collaboration with MCSC Lansing Community Schools, Habitat for Humanity, Thinkbox Creative and other nonprofits in the greater Lansing Area, we joined over 300 AmeriCorps members from all over Michigan in an effort to illustrate the difference that willing hands and hearts can make for one community.

Some of us planted trees. Others built flower-beds that would allow patrons with disabilities to enjoy their community’s garden. We even painted murals and built benches that will be part of Lansing’s make-up forever. This was not only a way to help out those in need, but also a great bonding experience for our team and a wonderful way to network with other AmeriCorps Members. Many of us left amazed by the number of compassionate, dedicated, diligent people they met, and two days of hard work definitely left made us appreciate those qualities in each other.

Check out a slide show from our time spent there:

On Sunday, May 18, members joined in the efforts of the Motor City Makeover and assisted in three different neighborhood clean-ups. Six members and forty volunteers did a wonderful job beautifying Young Manor. Four members and fifteen volunteers worked together to clean twelve lots, and worked in community gardens on Detroit’s North end.  Events like are a perfect example of how community togetherness gets things done, and make us proud to be part of this project.

Here are a few pictures from the 18^th:

Earth Day and Global Youth Service Day Board Ups

This week has been another eventful one for The Americorps Urban Safety Project. With the help of enthusiastic volunteers,  we boarded  16  houses this week, and cleaned as many lots. The adventure began on Earth Day , April 22.  Together with Clearcorps, Gateway Communities initiative , and more than twenty volunteers,  we boarded four  vacant houses and assisted in beautifying Belmont Street one Detroit's north end.

On Friday and Saturday (4/26&27) we collaborated  with Build On in order to involve the city's youth involved in boarding up twelve houses on and beautifying property on Lasalle, Euclid, and Blaine streets. Over one hundred eager participants, assisted in this massive effort, rightly called Global Youth Service Day.  

Check out a video of this event here:

   

AmUS owes a special thank you to Buddy's Pizza, Mudgy's Deli, Little Caesar's , Starbucks and Biggby Coffee for providing with us with lunch and refreshments.