Building capacity through community service in Southwest West Virginia
Listening Projects are an unscientific way to assess community needs by simply listening to people answer questions based around a topic. In Winter 2009, Step by Step VISTAs developed a set of questions to find out what mattered to community members in Southern West Virginia. After interviewing several people, multiple themes arose, but the topic [...]
Fri, June 26 2009 » Life/Job Skill Development, Listening Projects » Comments Off
The “Green Team” is a group of Charleston area youth trained to do energy audits where they go into people’s homes and show them how to weatherize their houses so that they can save money on their energy bill, and help curb global warming in the process. Step by Step VISTA members have been trained [...]
Fri, June 26 2009 » Green Team, Life/Job Skill Development, Sustainability » Comments Off
Geri Olympics is a project of Dr. Ted Muilenberg, where nursing home residents compete at sports like wheel chair racing and horse shoe. In 2008, a United States Geri Olympics team of West Virginians competed at the International Geri Olympics in Prague. In the past, Step by Step VISTAs have helped coordinate volunteers, press and [...]
Fri, June 26 2009 » GeriOlympics, Health and Wellness, Senior Opportunities » Comments Off
The Front Porch project teaches youth how to do basic building repairs like painting, putting in windows, putting in a front porch, landscaping, etc. for community members in need. Not only does this help connect young people to their community members, but it also helps beautify the area and it teaches youth teamwork and life [...]
Fri, June 26 2009 » Front Porch Project, Life/Job Skill Development, Service Learning » Comments Off
Energy Express is a six-week summer program promoting the school success of children living in rural and low-income communities across West Virginia by: • Providing summer learning experiences focused on reading. • Serving two nutritious family-style meals each day. • Engaging college students in service through AmeriCorps. • Developing strong partnerships involving parents, schools, communities, [...]
Fri, June 26 2009 » Big Ugly Community Center, Education Support, Energy Express, Health and Wellness, Literacy, Service Learning » Comments Off
Check out these two public service announcements which star our very own David Chairez (Step by Step Deputy Director) and Rhonda Cooper (Step by Step Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentive Grant Coordinator) and promote talking to your kids about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. These PSA’s air on Tri-State’s CW network.
Mon, June 22 2009 » ***Press***, Health and Wellness, Lincoln County Youth & Prevention Coalition » Comments Off
After auditioning for the part, Step by Step VISTA Will Taylor was selected to sing the national anthem at Volunteer Day at Appalachian Power Park, home of Charleston’s minor league baseball team, the Power. In honor of National AmeriCorps Week, Volunteer West Virginia, the State’s Commission on National and Community Service, hosted Volunteer Day at [...]
Mon, June 22 2009 » Community Events, Uncategorized » Comments Off
Youth between the ages of 14 and 20 are invited to sign up for a free Summer of Service program which will run Monday through Friday from June 22 – August 7th in Charleston. Participants will explore digital photography, graphic design, building repairs, business basics, computer repairs, service projects, tree planting, stream testing, swimming, field [...]
Mon, June 8 2009 » ***Volunteer/Work Opportunities***, Arts & Culture, Bullying Awareness & Prevention, Computer Rebuilding Project, East End Family Resource Center, Education Support, Leadership Development, Life/Job Skill Development, Project FLOW, R.E.A.L Program, Service Learning, Summer of Service Program, Sustainability, Technology » Comments Off
As an AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteer in Service to America), I make a minimal income. The federal government keeps my wage at 110 percent of the poverty level, which means that as a full-time worker I make roughly $750 a month (plus health care and the benefits I qualify for). To top that, I’m not even [...]
Tue, June 2 2009 » ***Press***, Sustainability, Sustainability Fair » Comments Off
“Harness that wind,” shouted Michael Tierney, director of the nonprofit organization Step by Step and one of the fair’s organizers.
Tue, June 2 2009 » ***Press***, Community Events, Sustainability, Sustainability Fair » Comments Off
![Step by Step WV posted a photo: Bonner Scholars from Earlam College in Indiana listened to a panel discussion of long-term West Virginia activists arranged by Step by Step's Executive Director Michael Tierney in April 2009. Afterward, the students interviewed the panelists on tape so that their [the activist's] stories can be adapted to digital stories.](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2676/3808418455_07d468b4db_t.jpg "Step by Step WV posted a photo: Bonner Scholars from Earlam College in Indiana listened to a panel discussion of long-term West Virginia activists arranged by Step by Step's Executive Director Michael Tierney in April 2009. Afterward, the students interviewed the panelists on tape so that their [the activist's] stories can be adapted to digital stories.")
