Sustainable Communities
2004 Accomplishments
Americorps VISTA
Facilitated the service of 33 VISTAs who provided 58,468 work hours to Rural
Action, Rural Appalachian Housing Development, Foothills School of American
Crafts, Appalachian Peoples Action Coalition, Friends of Lower Muskingum River
and local communities.
Conducted VISTA training sessions on motivational issues, community organizing,
Filemaker Pro Database, fundraising, grant writing, effective communications
and media relations.
Oversaw Rural Action VISTAs in a Make A Difference Day project that provided
the Glouster Salvation Army and the (25) Bishopville Church of Christ Food
Pantry with "personal care packets" for individuals displaced from
their homes.
VISTA Leader Andrew Bashaw facilitated three 12-member NCCC (National Civilian
Community Corps) crews who provided 23 weeks of full-time service to local
communities, including helping a Scioto County landowner prepare herb beds,
completing facility improvements at ReUse Industries, helping with flood relief
in Perry and Athens Counties, painting facilities and creating a small park
in the Village of Glouster, and improving the Rural Action Research and Education
Center.
Job Skills Training Program
13 community members developed and strengthened their skills
by filling important organizational roles such as Receptionist,
Clerical Support and Maintenance
Crew for Rural Action’s six offices.
Two program participants continued on to pursue a higher education.
Youth Act
Over 40 youth served as grant-making council members in the Alexander,
Trimble and Federal Hocking School Districts. Awarded $8000 in grants to
service learning
projects.
Members attended a Youth Leadership Day in Athens to get to know each other,
get trained in conflict resolution and team building, and engage in a joint
service learning project.
Arts and Cultural Heritage
Assembled groups from the region to develop an Appalachian Mural Trail Tour
and inventoried approximately 80 murals in 12 of the Appalachian Ohio counties.
Worked on the Inspiring Practices Committee of Ohio’s Hill Country
Heritage Area and helped identify and award 16 Heritage Awards.
Environmental
Learning Program (ELP)
Worked with 2,810 students.
Organized an all-day Alexander Middle School Earth Day Celebration with 400
4th-6th graders and over 25 volunteers.
Co-sponsored a third year of watershed summer day camps in Chauncey and Glouster
for students ages 8-13.
Partnered with Sunday Creek Watershed Group and Athens-Hocking Solid
Waste Management to promote recycling in Chauncey, Glouster and Trimble.
Offered fee-for-service programs to school and youth groups in Amesville, Nelsonville-York,
Trimble and River Valley Alternative Schools, Kids On Campus and the Seal of
Ohio Girl Scout Council.
Held an all-day enrichment program with Ohio State Parks, School
Days at Hocking Hills State Park, reaching nearly 1,000 children with
interactive stations, games and crafts.
Presented a program about interconnectedness and interdependence at the Columbus
Montessori school.
Partnered on OU Unplugged, a one-day event to teach elementary
school students about energy sources, with Ohio University and Cinergy
Solutions.
Hosted the Third Annual Earth Walk in conjunction with the Athens Area Sustainability
Festival.
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