The S-Files

Latest Episodes:

Bringing a Passion for Literacy to Serving Students with Schools of Hope after a Career in Journalism Jun 20, 2024

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In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps member Kathy Esposito, who served this year with Schools of Hope at Lowell Elementary in Madison. Kathy discusses her service this year as a literacy tutor, from helping some of her students learn their alphabet and letter sounds to helping others build up their skills and confidence for more challenging books. She describes how she came to her AmeriCorps service this year after a career in journalism and with a passion for language and literacy, finding enjoyment working with the students to develop their reading skills. Listen in to learn about how Kathy has been able to serve neighborhood students at the same school her own children attended and some of her favorite books for helping her students become better readers.

Building Literacy Skills and a Love of Reading with Schools of Hope May 29, 2024

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In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps member Rowan Russell-Berry, who is currently serving with Schools of Hope at Lake View Elementary in Madison. Rowan discusses their service this year as a literacy tutor, describing the different activities they are doing with and their work coordinating and supporting volunteer literacy tutors at the school. Rowan describes several additional projects they are working on this year, including the program-wide Books of Hope project that provides books to all of the students the program serves, a new interactive training for volunteer tutors in the Madison Metropolitan School District, and new surveys to gauge student attitudes as readers. Listen in to learn how Rowan has worked to boost student interest and enhance participation in literacy tutoring, incorporated song writing, comic writing, and a dice rolling story creation activity, as well as forging connections with students through assisting with the walking school bus program and numerous clubs at the school.

Providing Support at Pathfinders Youth Shelter while serving with WAHRS Apr 18, 2024

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In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps member Angelica Morales, who is currently serving her fourth AmeriCorps term with the Wisconsin Association for Homeless and Runaway Services (WAHRS) at Pathfinders in Milwaukee. Angelica discusses her service over the last four years at the Pathfinders Youth Shelter, which provides short-term shelter for adolescents aged 11-17 and crisis counseling for older youth. She describes the assistance she provides for youth, including her role in the intake process, their intervention plans, and group meetings, as well as the overall support, guidance, and supervision she provides during their stays at the shelter. Listen in to learn how Angelica has grown to love working with youth through her AmeriCorps service at Pathfinders, as well how she has found opportunities to use her artistic abilities to help providing education and awareness about a variety of topics.

Serving with the Green Bay Conservation Corps while studying sustainable agriculture Mar 22, 2024

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In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps member Brittany Arnold, who is serving this year with the Green Bay Conservation Corps. Brittany discusses how she has helped educate the public and engage the community in volunteer service projects through numerous outreach efforts. She also describes the different conservation projects she has worked on so far, including native species maintenance, clearing invasive plant species, and preparing seeds for planting later this year. Brittany discusses how she came to the Green Bay Conservation Corps after working on projects alongside them previously as part of the Brown County Food Forest Coalition. Listen in to learn how she is serving while studying sustainable agriculture and brings her passion for agroforestry to her service, educating people about the plants around them and helping them try different edible plants, like baby dandelion leaves.

Serving with the Green Bay Conservation Corps between Wildland Firefighting Seasons Feb 27, 2024

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In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps member Sam Greenberg, who is serving this year with the Green Bay Conservation Corps. Sam discusses the service he has done this winter with the Green Bay Conservation Corps while he is between seasons fighting wildland fires in the American West, which he typically does each year in Washington. He describes his service over the last few months, which has primarily focused on clearing invasive plant species from parks and public lands in Green Bay, as well as participating in community outreach efforts and volunteer projects. Listen in to learn about how Sam has brought his experience to his AmeriCorps service with the Green Bay Conservation Corps and participating in its leadership pathway program and the difference he hopes to continue to make in the future.

Leading the Sober Strong program while serving with MCHS Recovery Corps Jan 25, 2024

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In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps member Julie Wilson, who is serving with Marshfield Clinic Health System (MCHS) Recovery Corps at the YMCA of the Chippewa Valley in Eau Claire. Julie discusses the Sober Strong program that she created to provide support to women in early recovery from substance abuse disorder, including how she was inspired to create the program based on her own experiences in early recovery. She describes the recovery support meetings and group exercise classes she holds for program participants, as well as the recovery coaching that she provides to individuals throughout the week. Listen in to learn about how Julie has drawn upon her own recovery journey to help others and educate the public and the future steps she hope to take to continue helping women in recovery.

Finding Joy Providing Opportunities through the Girl Scouts while serving with MCHS Community Corps Dec 20, 2023

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In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps member Sigourney Vandeveer, who is serving her second term with Marshfield Clinic Health System (MCHS) Community Corps at the Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes in Green Bay. Sigourney discusses the multiple ways she helps provide activities for girls in underserved communities that otherwise might not be able to participate in the Girl Scouts, including sessions during the school day, after-school programming, and staff-led troops. She also discusses her experience leading girls during summer camp and the opportunities she has had to expand the reach of those she serves through participation in numerous community events across the year. Listen in to learn about how Sigourney uses her specialty in origami at a strategy for connecting with the girls she works with and to help teach several things at once, as well as the overall joy she finds serving at the Girl Scouts that is “bundled up in cookies and laughter and friendship bracelets.”

Providing Support through Nutrition Classes and a Friendly Ear while serving with MCHS Community Corps Nov 29, 2023

Show notes

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps member Emily Cowles, who is serving her second term with Marshfield Clinic Health System (MCHS) Community Corps at HopeChats Community in Green Bay. Emily discusses some of the ways she is providing support for the individuals accessing services and support at HopeChats Community this year after primarily assisting people at the Peshtigo River Center during her first term. She highlights the various nutrition and cooking classes she will be leading throughout the year, including classes designed to help individuals with Diabetes or in recovery from substance abuse, as well as those to help people with easy meal preparation and discerning facts around nutrition fads. Listen to learn how Emily is using research to create classes based around the dietary needs of those she is serving, as well as providing a listening ear and opportunities for building community during crafting activities and group meetings.

Reconnecting with a Passion for Healthy Foods while Serving with Farm to School Oct 26, 2023

Show notes

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps member Emily Stockinger, who is serving her second term with Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction AmeriCorps Farm to School at the Arbor Vitae Woodruff School District. Emily discusses harvesting numerous items with students in their outdoor school garden this fall while the weather allows and how the students will continue growing lettuce throughout the year indoors with their hydroponic garden. She also describes how these foods are used in nutrition education lessons she has done with her students and additional activities they will do as they transition more into the classroom during the winter. Emily discusses the food tastings she has done with the students, including their schoolwide participation in the Great Lakes Great Apple Crunch earlier this month, and how she communicates these recipes and other information to the parents. Listen to learn how Emily is reconnecting with a passion for healthy food through her service with Farm to School after a career in another field and the continued development of the activities she will be doing as she builds upon her experiences during her first term.

Finding a Spirit for Service at Camp with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee Aug 31, 2023

Show notes

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps member Kara Jorgensen, who completed her second AmeriCorps term with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee (BGCGM) – ClubCorps this August. Kara discusses the different roles she has undertaken supporting youth at Camp Whitcomb/Mason during her first term last summer and her yearlong term that concludes this summer. She describes her experience guiding youth on the new challenge course that opened at camp this spring, including training them in safety during ground school and them supporting them as they take on the 22 elements up on the course, including 18 high ropes elements, climbing walls, and the zip line. She also shares about the joy she has found helping the campers during her AmeriCorps service and the skills and experiences she will carry forward with her. Listen in to learn about how Kara received her “camp name” as “Spirit” and how the magical experience she has had serving at camp has led to her to continue with a third AmeriCorps term over the next year.

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