ACE News
Keep AmeriCorps Local—Austin AmeriCorps Awareness Week
July 2, 2012
AmeriCorps is a national service organization that partners with local nonprofits, giving them the human power and organizational support to address the critical needs of each community they serve. ACE is one of eleven AmeriCorps partner programs currently serving Austin.
On May 14th–19th, Austin AmeriCorps programs celebrated their eighth annual Austin AmeriCorps Awareness Week. The spirit of AAA week is to raise awareness of the impact AmeriCorps programs have on our community, and to connect current volunteers, alumni, and community members. The week was filled with service events and awareness campaigns, including a basketball tournament with the Boys and Girls Club, college campus visits, and informational tables at the farmers' market.
To conclude the week, on May 19th, over 200 AmeriCorps volunteers partnered with the Austin Parks Foundation to complete an environmental restoration project at the Colorado Wildlife Refuge wetlands across from Roy G. Guerrero Park. With the determination and critical mass of volunteers, we completed a projected 10-year project in one day!
We removed 220 bags of trash from the wetlands, along with dozens of invasive trees. It was really amazing to see all of the Austin AmeriCorps programs working together and having such a huge impact. The Colorado Wildlife Refuge can now be a healthy home and nesting ground for waterfowl and other animals, as well as a beautiful place for Austinites to enjoy.
By Catherine Garth, ACE full-time tutor