Photo right: The spirit of AmeriCorps reflects the dedication and enthusiasm of our Commonweal volunteers, like Chuck Oakander, seen here. Chuck generously shared his knowledge and expertise in forest management, fuel-load reduction, and local habitat with the AmeriCorps team members.
Above: Team Member Dane (Jadi) Miller refurbished and cleaned windows
“Service is renewing. When we serve, our work itself sustains us…We are servers of the wholeness and mystery in life.” Rachel Naomi Remen, M.D., ISHI Director
Service-learning is the concept that AmeriCorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps) is built around—making connections between service, social issues, and the greater community need for long-term solutions. With deep gratitude and appreciation Commonweal welcomed 12 members of AmeriCorps NCCC Silver Team One for three rainy weeks in January. Here are some of their outstanding accomplishments:
• Removed fire ladders (brush and hanging dead limbs) and reduced the fuel load (dead wood); a major contribution to our fire prevention efforts.
• Restored paths throughout the Retreat Center grounds with chips created from their tree work.
• Scrubbed and power-washed the Retreat Center Buildings.
• Painted Building Number Nine next to the Main Office.
• Catalogued over 1600 books in the Julie Hopkins Neilson Library.
• Painted and renovated a previously unusable storage area, creating a beautiful room.
• Lovingly and carefully relocated thousands of items from the Sandtray Room to their new home in the conference room and cleaned and painted the old Sandtray Room, creating a new office space.
Their enthusiasm, hard work, and wonderful energy made it a delight and honor to host these young volunteers. Commonweal sends a heart-felt “thank you” to our AmeriCorps team and to the AmeriCorps NCCC Pacific Region for making their stay with us possible.
