SERVES: a Facilitators’ Perspective
by Kat Vellos

During March 11-13, the Power of Hope returned to the bi-annual SERVES conference for AmeriCorps members. Peggy Taylor and Kat Vellos continued The Power of Hope’s long-standing partnership with the Washington Service Corps as workshop facilitators. They facilitated workshops for service members on “Integrating the Arts into your Program,” “Theater for Community Building,” and “Creative Development and Personal Renewal for Service Workers.” Each of the five workshop sessions they led had a great mix of folks who were both new and returning to Power of Hope sessions. Members overwhelmingly reported that they found the workshops both informative, rejuvenating and practical to implement in their lives and at their sites. One member even commented on her evaluation form that coming to Power of Hope workshops should be mandatory for all AmeriCorps members! Surely, the kind of feedback we like to hear.

SERVES: Participants’ Perspective
by Jen Dickenson & Devon Little

Over seven hundred AmeriCorps volunteers from all over the state of Washington flocked to Yakima for the SERVES institute. The SERVES institute is the bi-annual conference for the Washington State Service Corps, which is the managing organization for most AmeriCorps volunteers throughout the state, including the Youth Voices Coordinators at Power of Hope. Participants get the unique opportunity to choose from a diverse array of workshops, covering topics like green building, communication and partnership across diversity, grant writing, developing ESL programs, you name it! On the first night, there were workshops in the arts, and on the second, an AmeriCorps Talent Show! Our Youth Voices Coordinator Jen emceed the entire Talent Show, with humor, gusto and positivity! And during the arts evening, Peggy Taylor lead a group of Service Corps members in what has been deemed the “AmeriChoir.” These AmeriCorps members performed a song at the closing ceremony of the conference.

Power of Hope’s partnership with the Washington State Service Corps has brought many program volunteers as well as Youth Voices Coordinators. Many people, myself included, have found The Power of Hope through the SERVES institute. Great work, Peggy and Kat!