image of barnstable county courthouse

Wrapping Up Year 20 – AmeriCorps Cape Cod

 

Last Thursday July 25, 2019,  AmeriCorps Cape Cod hosted its Year 20 Member Recognition Ceremony at Cape Cod Community College.    

Twenty-one AmeriCorps Cape Cod members officially ended an 11-month commitment of service on Cape Cod.  During the past year they completed 166 projects in 15 towns on Cape Cod, including clearing herring run debris, culling oysters, removing invasive species, volunteering for Housing Assistance Corporation’s ‘Big Fix’ event, installing shorebird fencing, replacing broken and rotting boardwalks, replacing benches at the National Seashore, and much more.  They served tirelessly up until the very end of their service year when they assisted with emergency response and sheltering during the tornado to hit Cape Cod on July 23.   

   

Andrew Platt, former AmeriCorps Cape Cod Program Coordinator, receives a plaque from Year 20 members and congratulations on his recent promotion from AmeriCorps Program Coordinator to Emergency Preparedness Specialist at Barnstable County.

 

Andrew Platt, AmeriCorps Cape Cod Program Coordinator welcomed attendees to the event. (This was Andrew’s last year at AmeriCorps Cape Cod and is now serving as Emergency Response Specialist at Barnstable County) Alexandra Zollo, Stewardship Coordinator at the 300 Committee Land Trust, Emily Baker, CEO of Massachusetts Service Alliance, and Steve Barney, Commission on Military, National and Public Service gave opening remarks. 

Nicole Payne,  Shellfish Constable/Senior Deputy Natural Resource Officer of the Town of Eastham, receives a Service Partner of the Year Award.

Awards and Recognition  

This year members chose Nicole Payne, Shellfish Constable/Senior Deputy Natural Resource Officer of the Town of Eastham and Joshua Wrigley, Assistant Director of Natural Resources of the Town of Sandwich to receive Service Partner of the Year Awards. AmeriCorps member Rachel Robinson from Chicago, Illinois, received the Darlene Johnson-Morris Award.  The Darlene Johnson-Morris Award was created in honor of Darlene Johnson-Morris, founder of AmeriCorps Cape Cod and longtime champion for national service, to recognize dedication and leadership by an AmeriCorps Cape Cod member.  Rachel plans to attend UNC Asheville this fall with a goal of studying Environmental Science and to obtain teaching certification. 

Rachel Robinson, Year 20 AmeriCorps Cape Cod Member and recipient of the Darlene Johnson-Morris Award.

 

AmeriCorps Cape Cod – Making a Difference for 20 Years! 

Since 1999, AmeriCorps Cape Cod members have diligently addressed critical environmental and disaster preparedness and response needs within our community and expanded volunteering opportunities for our community members.  AmeriCorps Cape Cod members have a strong focus on being engaged in the community. They have organized and participated in several annual community events on Cape Cod and also partnered with over 150 departments, schools, community groups, and non-profit agencies.  

 

There is a strong sense of community among AmeriCorps members.  112 Corps members have stayed or returned to the Cape after graduation to live and work for some time; some members have gone on to work at Barnstable County or a Municipal department. From September 1999 to May 2019, AmeriCorps Cape Cod members have served a total of 883,575 hours, and the estimated value of service to the Cape Cod Community in the past 20 years is $29,794,048.   

 

Congratulations to Year 20 AmeriCorps Cape Cod graduates.  We thank you for your service.  You have truly made a difference.