AmeriCorps funding secured for 2 Northeast Wisconsin programs

OSHKOSH, WI—(WISS)— Governor Tony Evers announced this week that Wisconsin will receive over $9 million in federal AmeriCorps grant funding following a legal battle over federal cuts to the program.

According to a press release, the state will receive $9.3 million to support 20 AmeriCorps Programs and local volunteer projects across the state. This includes funding to The United Way of the Fox Cities – Be Well Fox Valley and the Green Bay Conservation Corps programs.

The funding aims to address a wide variety of issues, such as supporting critical early literacy and math tutoring programs for youth, conservation efforts, and providing assistance to unhoused youth.

“AmeriCorps members and Serve Wisconsin have been a fixture in our communities for generations, helping to provide care and support to address many of the greatest challenges facing our state,” said Evers in the press release. “But when the president unilaterally and illegally gutted funding for this critical program earlier this summer, the future of this work—and the individuals who dedicate their valuable time and energy to make it all possible—was suddenly called into question. We worked hard to fight to restore funding for this program, and now, we’re glad to see these funds go out the door and into the hands of folks who are on the ground, doing important work all across the state.”

Northeast Wisconsin AmeriCorps agencies receiving funding

United Way Fox Cities – Be Well Fox Valley 

Seven AmeriCorps members will provide capacity-building services to improve health and well-being and address social determinants of health at nonprofit organizations and public agencies throughout Calumet, Outagamie, Winnebago, and neighboring Wisconsin counties.

Green Bay Conservation Corps 

Thirty-nine AmeriCorps members will complete conservation projects and engage the public in educational programming and volunteer service. Members will address areas such as habitat restoration and preservation, trail maintenance and expansion, invasive species removal, native plant establishment, community garden upkeep, and access improvements in Green Bay’s parks and other outdoor spaces.

Other Wisconsin agencies receiving funding

Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee – ClubCorps 

96 AmeriCorps members will provide youth with in-school or afterschool academic enrichment, early literacy instruction, college preparation and career readiness programming, arts programming, social-emotional instruction, community service programming, and afterschool sports programming at local Boys and Girls Clubs and environmental education activities at Camp Whitcomb-Mason. 

Central Conservation Inc. 

158 AmeriCorps members will complete high-priority conservation projects across Wisconsin and facilitate environmental education programming. Conservation crew members will improve public land, manage habitats, build or maintain trails, plant trees, and complete other projects. Members will engage students and the public in environmental education and support conservation efforts at Wisconsin nonprofit organizations.

Easterseals Wisconsin 

25 AmeriCorps members will provide intensive personal care and lead or facilitate therapeutic recreation activities for individuals with disabilities and their families at Camp Wawbeek and Respite Camp. AmeriCorps members will also provide therapeutic recreation activities at Veteran Family Camps for veterans and their families.

Marquette University – 414 Fellows 

27 AmeriCorps members will engage children from birth to three in one-on-one language-building activities to increase school readiness through gains in language skills. 

Marshfield Clinic Health System AmeriCorps – Community Corps 

40 AmeriCorps members will be placed in nonprofits and public health organizations across the state to increase their capacity to address local health needs.

Marshfield Clinic Health System AmeriCorps – Recovery Corps 

15 AmeriCorps members will be trained as recovery coaches to help people recover from opioid and other substance addictions and provide community education about substance use disorders and recovery resources.

Milwaukee Justice Center – MJC AmeriCorps 

31 AmeriCorps members will provide information and assistance to the public accessing the Milwaukee County Courthouse by providing information and helping individuals navigate the processes of filing documents at the courthouse.

Public Allies Wisconsin 

24 AmeriCorps members will work to enhance and expand the capacity of nonprofit organizations to deliver critical direct services to Wisconsin residents, primarily in Milwaukee, Racine, and Kenosha.

Racine Zoo AmeriCorps Program 

Four AmeriCorps members will provide environmental education programming to elementary, middle school, and high school students to reinforce the grade-level science curriculum through inquiry and research activities, environmental presentations, and programming for participating classes at the zoo.

Teach For America Milwaukee 

30 AmeriCorps members will lead classrooms across the city of Milwaukee while growing and strengthening the movement for educational equality and excellence.

United Way of Dane County – Achievement Connections 

14 AmeriCorps members will tutor high school students in math and leverage additional volunteers to provide tutoring to increase the number of students who pass algebra by 10th grade.

United Way of Dane County – Schools of Hope AmeriCorps Project 

Eight AmeriCorps members will serve as literacy tutors and tutor coordinators in high-need elementary schools, working with staff to increase students’ literacy skills in kindergarten through fifth grade.

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire – ECLIPSE 

36 AmeriCorps members will provide one-on-one interventions to three-to-five-year-old children at risk and/or from low-income families to help them grow in language, literacy, social interaction, and initiative skills.

University of Wisconsin System – Wisconsin 4-H Expanding Access 

40 AmeriCorps members will be placed throughout the state in partnership with county-based youth development professionals to design and implement community-based, highly effective, and evidence-based youth development programming to assist youth in underrepresented and underserved communities.

Western Dairyland EOC Inc. – Chippewa Fresh Start 

15 AmeriCorps members will construct new homes for income-eligible families in the local community while working on achieving high school diplomas/HSEDs, developing career goals, improving self-esteem, and alleviating barriers to economic self-sufficiency.

Wisconsin Association for Homeless and Runaway Services 

19 AmeriCorps members will meet the immediate needs of youth experiencing homelessness in their community by connecting them with supportive services, shelter, and basic needs. Activities include outreach, shelter support, crisis management, and response to community referrals.

Wisconsin Association of Free and Charitable Clinics 

20 AmeriCorps members will help build capacity and support Free and Charitable Clinics and Community Health Departments throughout Wisconsin. Through this program, members increase access to healthcare services for low-income and uninsured patients by creating new resources, programs, and opportunities in their communities.

Wisconsin Math Corps 

50 AmeriCorps members will provide math tutoring to kindergarten through eighth-grade students to help them build their math skills to become algebra-ready by the end of eighth grade.

AmeriCorps History

AmeriCorps is a federal government agency created over 30 years ago, devoted to helping address poverty, improve the environment, and support education and student achievement with a mission to “improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering.” Serve Wisconsin is Wisconsin’s state Board for National and Community Service, which administers federal AmeriCorps funding for organizations in communities across the state.

Every year, roughly 75,000 AmeriCorps members serve across the country at thousands of nonprofits, community, and faith-based organizations. Since 1994, AmeriCorps members have provided more than 1.8 billion hours of service and earned nearly $4 billion in education awards to pay for college or pay back student loans. Included within those numbers are the more than 32,000 Wisconsin residents who have served approximately 48 million hours and earned education awards totaling more than $124.8 million. Additionally, Wisconsin higher education institutions and applicable organizations have received more than $270 million in education award payments since 1994. 

Those interested in serving can learn more at servewisconsin.wi.gov/become-a-member.