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Home My WebLink About03/21/2017 15 Other Business Distributed at the Meeting Z //?- A IT VOLUNTEER CORPS L4r� iRTHWEST March 3, 2017 Dear Mayor Coffey, Jesuit Volunteer Corps(JVC)Northwest AmeriCorps Program is pleased to invite you to join more than 3,200 city and county leaders in support of Mayors, County,and Tribal Day of Recognition for National Service on Tuesday,April 4, 2017. The day of recognition acknowledges and thanks AmeriCorps members and Senior Corps volunteers for the service they provide every day in Yakima. We are reaching out to ask you to sign on as a participating mayor Information of how to do this is found below. JVC Northwest responds to local community needs in the Pacific Northwest by placing 148 Jesuit Volunteers(JVs), 142 of whom are AmeriCorps members,with partner agencies providing social services,health care,and education to those most in need Fifty-Four(54)JV AmeriCorps members serve in the state of Washington,including seven(7)in Yakima at the programs listed below my signature. JVC Northwest has had JVs in Yakima since 1984: over 30 years of dedicated service to the community. We have been a National Direct AmenCorps program since 2010. Register as a Mayor who supports National Service. "Signing up"as a supporter of national service is easy and lets everyone know how much you value those serving in your community-https f lwww.nationalservice.gov/special- initiatives/mayor and county-recognition-day-national-servicelregister-2oi7-recognition-dav Other ways you can support national service in your community are by issuing a proclamation or becoming an employer of national service. • Issue a proclamation*naming April 4, 2017 as National Service Recognition Day.We invite you to participate in either a Proclamation Signing event at one of our partner organizations or at a City Council meeting with our AmenCorps members and supporters present when you issue the proclamation! We will contact your office in a few days to learn if one of these options is more attractive to you At this time, a service project is being planned at one of our partner agencies where a Jesuit Volunteer AmeriCorps member serves,the Foster Youth and Housing Services On April volunteers will pack snack bags for the foster youth and housing services youth who will go on a field trip to look at colleges later in the week This service project could be a venue for the proclamation signing. • Become an Employer of National Service(and announce it on Mayors Day)-Join the over 150 companies, organizations, and agencies,including six cities and counties,that are prioritizing AmenCorps Alumni in their hiring process.To sign up to be an Employer of National Service or request additional information,please contact employers@cns gov *Sample proclamations,press releases,social media options and op-eds are available at the above link Thank you in advance for your time and consideration in highlighting the impact of AmeriCorps in Yakima! We will follow up with you and/or your office regarding your participation in the 2017 Day of Recognition Sincerely, Jeanne Haster Executive Director 335-8202P I PO BOX22125 I 2780 SE Harrison St I RNORTHWESURB 249-1118f Portland, OA97269 Milwaukie, OA97222 In the 2o16-17 PrOgrain yeai,XV AmeriCorps rrieinbers'service in Yald- ma organizations includes: • Catholic Family&Child Services:The JV AmeriCorps Foster Teen Program Employment Trainer serves directly with current and former foster youth between the ages of 14-23 to support them in making a successful transition from the foster care system to independence The AmenCorps member conducts individual and group work with youth to increase their skills,knowledge and competency in all life skills areas,with an emphasis on employment. • Northwest Justice Project:The JV AmenCorps member interviews clients and witnesses gathering information to support attorneys'case work; participates in community education presentations to community service providers and client populations, drafts community educational/outreach matenals in Spanish on a variety of legal topics; and assists attorneys in screening clients regarding eligibility for legal services, and assists with client communications. • Rod's House:The JV AmenCorps member is responsible for forming relationships with homeless and at-nsk youth who come to ltod's House.The AmenCorps member helps youth access immediate-needs relief resources, build programs engaging the youth,assist with daily operations,and participate in street and school outreach • Catholic Charities Housing Services: The J-�7 AmenCorps member provides support in the implementation of various resident services programs at CCHS-owned housing sites and assists with data collection and input, translation services and other duties including writing a quarterly newsletter,volunteer recruitment,and capacity building. • Yakima Neighborhood Health Services(YNHS):The JV AmeriCorps Homeless Specialist reaches out to individuals and families experiencing homelessness and advocates for them by helping them access needed services which will improve health,housing stability,and ultimately self-sufficiency • Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital, Palliative Care Program:The JV AmenCorps member serves clients in the community who have been diagnosed with a progressive,life limiting illness and their families.The AmeriCorps member also serves with program development,volunteer recruitment and retention,and direct in- home social support of patients and families of an expanding outpatient based palliative care program • Yakima Valley"T ICA:The JV AmeriCorps member connects at-risk youth with a caring adult in the community. The AmeriCorps member matches volunteers with youth,provides monthly communication with volunteers,and organizes monthly activities The member further engages youth by developing relationships in the YMCA's drop-in center through daily interaction and planned activities. 2 Distributed at the Meeting " March 20, 2017 Name Address City, state, zip Dear On behalf of the Yakima City Council and the entire Yakima community, I would like to thank you for your leadership and efforts to sustain Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs and funding. The City of Yakima has experienced tremendous success employing HUD programs over the years which have made a significant, positive difference in our community The benefits that HUD has provided to Yakima cannot be understated, especially for low and moderate income children and families and the elderly Below is a brief summary of how the City of Yakima has been able to help with CDBG and HUD funding in just the past ten years. • 1,303 affordable housing units were constructed and/or rehabilitated with a total investment of $12,032,571.00 • 162 homes repaired through the Senior/Disabled Home Repair Program • 233 homes received exterior paint through the Senior/Disabled Home Repair Program • 713 homes received Emergency home repairs through the Senior/Disabled Emergency Repair Program • 63 jobs were retained and another 42 jobs were created through Microenterprise and Work Source assistance programs • Meals on Wheels have helped countless shut-in senior citizens • Henry Beauchamp Jr Community Center (FKA Southeast Community Center) after school assistance programs helped children and youth with critical educational programs HUD funding has made a significantly positive impact on our community and continuing current levels of funding is crucial. Thank you and HUD for your efforts to help improve the Yakima community's vitality through continued funding and programming. Sincerely, Kathy Coffey Mayor