First Edition of LeaderCorps Ledger. Alumni feature.

1. L eadercorps Illinois
Leadercorps
edger Newsletter
February 2011
The book my partner and I were
assigned was My dad and me and I
was supposed to act the part of the
daddy bear. It was fun to act silly
and get the kids to smile and read
along. After story time Ms. Hall led
the kids around the room singing
songs while the rest of us handed
out the grab bags and raffled off
special gifts that were donated
by the generous people of
our great city.
“I have a dream” World Doing Good For
Dillion Elementary School Those In Need p.6
“You could hear the cheering, laughing, and horns
honking for at least 4 blocks. It was a sight I
will never forget. People dancing, skipping,
cheering, and laughing. It was hard to Bellville
believe that a group of strangers (young and Dialouge on
old) could come together as one. It almost seemed Race and
as though the roles had reversed. All the inner- Diversity
child had come out in every adult and all the p.4
responsible-adult had come out in the youth.”
Day of Peace and Goodwill in Logan Square p. 5
LVI
Members
Showing
Americorps Project YES! Workshops
Pride
p. 3
In This Issue:
MLK Around the State 3
Alumni Spotlight 7
Leadercorps Conference 9
Leadercorps Bios 10

2. This newsletter is a publication of the 2010-2011 Leadercorps Marketing Comittee
All content in this newsletter was submitted by Leadercorps members and is printed
with permission from individual programs. Leadercorps is not responsible for any
reprint or reuse of this material without permission.

3. As LVI members chopped, stirred, tasted and
tried ever so hard to get that giant pot of water to
finally boil, guests kept sniffing at the fragrances
that spilled from the centrally located kitchen and
wondering when they would finally get to taste the
spoils of VOCAL members' hard work. Before that
pleasure arrived, however, members Ellen Werner
and Ryan Deringer led the interactive workshop on
interviewing tips and preparedness that they had
put together. Shelter guests who participated in the
workshop kept up a lively discussion throughout,
asking great questions, giving one another advice,
and participating in the workshop with insight
and enthusiasm that exceeded our expectations.
Resume writing and job board resources as well as
practice employment applications were distributed,
LVI members preparing Lasagna as well as a hearty thanks to the workshop presenters
Lasagna and Literacy before volunteers and guests alike sat down together
to enjoy the delicious lasagna, green salad, and
Under softly falling snow, eight VOCAL chicken and rice prepared by a wonderful volunteer,
members in purple t-shirts were welcomed Charlotte, who saw an online posting of the project
through the red door of the basement entrance and came along to join.
of Lincoln Park Community Shelter, under
Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church. Although LVI members reflected that they were humbled
I had spoken with the good people who work by the drive and motivation of the shelter guests,
to make the shelter such an inviting place, I who had all landed there after falling on some very
didn't expect to be greeted by the smells of difficult times in their lives, but who were all so
onions sauting and warm smiles from the positive and open to change. Before leaving in the
shelter guests who worked in the computer afternoon, I was practically begged to sit down with
lab, read books at tables scattered around a couple gentlemen who were working together on
the living area, or watched TV on comfy some algebra homework from a class one of them
couches. VOCAL member Beth Hausler had was taking, so I finished my service day with a little
already begun cooking the feast, and I am old GED small group tutoring, as any good VOCAL
sure our meal would not have been so easily member would.
prepared and greatly enjoyed come lunch
time had she not acted as the organizer who -Chrissy Ruby
kept everything moving.
Page 3

4. The Belleville AmeriCorps and the 17th Street
Neighborhood Association invited the community to
bridge social barriers by discussing race in honor or
Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday.
"This event is an opportunity to talk honestly and
compassionately with your neighbors about race,"
Mandy Guinn, Belleville AmeriCorps director,
stated. "This is a great chance for people in the
community to get together and share their honest
feelings and concerns. Our hope is to inspire some
thought-provoking discussion and start 2011 with a
commitment to creating a stronger community."
The free event was held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at
West Junior High School, and included activities for
all ages, lunch and an opportunity to participate in
canned food and coat drives.
(Story: Courtsey of Bellville News-Democrat
Submitted by: Ben Taylor)
Bellville Discussion on Race and Diversity
The participants of the MLK day of service "What's Going On?" learned an
array of information about the dangers of teen dating violence. Participants
also gained insight from a panel of individuals that included administrators of
domestic violence shelters and actual victims of dating violence. The open-panel
discussion allowed students to pose questions, broadening their perspective and
enlightening them of the seriousness of teen dating violence.
-Chrena Douglass
Panel of Experts on Domestic Violence

5. VOYCE working with LSNA Staff, AmeriCorps
Members, and volunteers planned a day of Peace
and Goodwill in Logan Square. They held three
workshops that focused on getting to know each
other, recognizing what MLK has done in his
lifetime to address racism and affect change,
and if his life work continues today.
The day began with VOYCE members welcoming
everyone who came out on such a cold day and
the reading of a letter written by Coretta Scott Youth from VOYCE
King. After that a few rounds of “Guess the For the people that did accept hot chocolate and
Leader” was played. After that everyone broke cookies from the groups they found it hard to
into groups. While the groups were going on believe that they didn’t have to pay for it. These
AmeriCorps members went to make mexican hot people were told that the only payment that
chocolate from scratch. I was skeptical at first, would be accepted was a SMILE. I have never
but I tried it.................It was delicious!!! By the seen that many people walking by with a smile
time the members had the hot chocolate ready to in their faces in my life. So many people truely
be served everyone was ending their workshops. appreciated the genuine act of kindness. The day
ended with a large recap and talk circle with a
VOYCE members, LSNA Staff, AmeriCorps teddy bear as the talking stick, the entire group
members, and Volunteers hit the street. The hot singing “Happy Birthday” to MLK, and slices
chocolate, cookies, and quotes were to be passed of birthday cake being passed out as a way of
out a specific areas within walking distance saying “Thank You” to all that had participated
of each other. You could hear the cheering, in making the project a success.
laughing, and horns honking for at least 4
blocks. It was a sight I will never forget. People - Loretha Y. Edwards
dancing, skipping, cheering, and laughing.
It was hard to believe that a group of strangers
(young and old) could come together as one. It
almost seemed as though the roles had reversed.
All the inner-child had come out in every adult
and all the responsible-adult had come out in
the youth.
Americorps making Mexican Hot Chocolate
Page 5 Multigenerational gatherings

6. REACHING OUT TO THOSE IN NEED
On January 17, 2011 members of UIC Project MORE
(Making Opportunities for Reading Enrichment),
together with volunteers from other Americorps
programs and residents of Chicago, showed up to
various shelters around the city to shine a light on
the importance of literacy in our children’s lives.
The members of the FLO (Family Literacy Office)
office organized and prepared hundreds of reading
materials that would be handed out to the families on
the 17th. Members at FAST (Family Start Learning
Center) West and South Centers prepared donation
boxes for patrons to drop off donations such as non-
perishable food items, clothes and toiletries.
MLK Day arrived and there was a general sense of
purpose as many of the volunteers were anxious to get
out and start helping. Everyone was split into groups
and assigned a specific shelter. The group I was a
part of was sent to a shelter not too far away from
the starting point. When we got there we were told to
set up in a specific room and we started preparing all
the materials to be handed out as well as assigning Shopping for food in the Pantry
stories to read to members of our group.
Once our time with the families was up it was
When the families finally arrived our group sad to say goodbye but knowing the kids
welcomed everyone with smiles and stickers for the enjoyed the activities and that the parents
kids. Our group leader, Shilanda Hall, quickly got loved seeing their kids play and read was very
the parents’ attention and let them know we were heartwarming. We said our goodbyes and
there to honor Dr. King’s legacy and to be there for proceeded to go back to our starting point. I was
each other. The kids were restless but were quickly vey moved and touched by what our group did
ushered and asked to sit down for story time. The that day but it was also incredibly inspiring to
book my partner and I were assigned was My dad hear stories from the rest of our members about
and me and I was supposed to act the part of the the sites they visited. In the end we all agreed
daddy bear. It was fun to act silly and get the kids that we enriched these kids lives today in
to smile and read along. After story time Ms. Hall some form or another. They are very important
led the kids around the room singing songs while because they represent future generations and
the rest of us handed out the grab bags and raffled we have to take great care to keep reading and
off special gifts that were donated by the generous learning an important fixture in their lives no
people of our great city. matter the circumstances.
-Mario Valles
Page 6

7. Alumni Spotlight: Chamala T. Travis
Ms. Travis 1994-1995 Ms. Travis Today
Throughout the rest of the program year, the Alumni Committee will be spotlighting one AmeriCorps
Alumni in each Leader Ledger. This way, we will get to see a few of the many possible paths in
career and in life that have opened up for Alumni once they complete their year of service. Our first
spotlight is Alumni Committee Chairperson Chrissy Ruby's own program coordinator. Yes, it may
have been an easy alum to track down, but Ms. Chamala Travis' story shows how a year of service
can really pay off, and shape your future too.
1. When were you an AmeriCorps member and what program where you with?
I served two program years; the first year was the introductory year that former President Bill Clinton
introduced AmeriCorps in the United States - 1994-95 with Latin Youth in Chicago. My second
year was with Literacy Volunteers of Illinois - Volunteer Outreach for Community Action in Literacy
(VOCAL) AmeriCorps Program in 2004-2005.
2. What are you doing now?
I am currently the VOCAL AmeriCorps Program Coordinator for Literacy Volunteers of IL. I applied
for the position and assumed duties after my year ended.
built relationships with from my service year at the Blue Gargoyle call on me from time to time to
help them with anything from completing applications to transporting them anywhere in the state
to attend conferences.
Page 7

8. 3. Did your experience in AmeriCorps have an impact on the direction you have taken your
career?
As an AmeriCorps member we are exposed to many experiences. Having worked with so many
different individuals along the way gave me a broader perspective on service and community. My
experience with Latino Youth allowed me to work alongside Latin Americans in the Pilsen-Little
Village neighborhood where I would not ordinarily have considered working. I found that they had
similar issues in their community as did mine and that they reached out to surrounding communities
to come up with solutions to basic human needs. During my service with VOCAL I was exposed to
individuals not only from different backgrounds and nationalities but I also interacted with men and
women with more life experience and various abilities. I developed deep friendships with my fellow
VOCAL members as well as the students and staff at my host site, The Blue Gargoyle.
4. What about your service is most memorable to you?
There are many memorable moments, in particular my team leader; Nia Dickett suggested that we
visit one another's site so that we could experience for a day what it was like to be placed at that
organization. She came to the Southside of Chicago to the Blue Gargoyle and my students loved
her. Maybe it's because she has such a great attitude and heart. In turn I visited her site on the
Northside, the Albany Park Community Center and was amazed at the mix of nationalities and
ethnicities who receive ESL, Citizenship and other services.
5. What would you advise to current members?
My advice to current members is that while it is important to serve be it in literacy, the environment
or whatever area of National Service you choose - be sure to READ everything and learn about what
has been done before you became a member instead of going right in, "to change things". It is better
to learn and know the basics first. Believe me, you are in for a rude surprise if you don't learn your
environment first.
6. Are you currently involved with volunteerism and service?
My community is very important to me and I am involved in every area that will help to make
lives safe and add opportunities for growth including education and sustainability. There is an
organization called New Readers for New Life Illinois and a few of my former students who I've
built relationships with from my service year at the Blue Gargoyle call on me from time to time to
help them with anything from completing applications to transporting them anywhere in the state
to attend conferences.
7. If you were a superhero, who would you be?
Jesus, because he could do it all !
Page 8

9. The 2010 LeaderCorps Fall
Conference was the first meeting
of members of AmeriCorps,
AmeriCorps VISTA and Peace
Corps Fellows in Springfield.
After learning about one another
and our individual projects, the
focus turned to how we could work
together and benefit one another.
Dale Evans and Leadercorps
R. Dale Evans, Sr. from the A From a survey of Leadercorps the top five things
Boost Up Coalition, Inc. was a great of the conference:
host who gave an inspirational
presentation focused on the 1. Meeting everyone and learning about their
LeaderCorps members using their past accomplishments and future goals.
talents and leadership qualities to
serve their programs to the best of 2. Making music in the Drum Circle.
their abilities.
3. Dale Evans.
Participants chose between
committees of Alumni, Marketing 4. Finding support and ideas from like minded
and Day of Service. Each committee individuals that have similar experiences.
started to work on their focus areas
with many quick ideas before the 5. Professional skills such as business cards,
end of the two meeting days. talking with people about projects, and plan
implementation.
The like-minded leaders made big
plans for their MLK 2011 service
projects for each program and how
to make the most of publicizing
the events and getting volunteers
to participate in the service
programs.
-Aaron Tebrinkle
Page 9 Encouraging Scott to participate in the Drum Circle

10. Meet Your Leaders
Whitney Allen is the LeaderCorps representative from the Greater Chicago Food Depository,
which is the food bank serving Cook County, Illinois. She is a second year AmeriCorps
member who serves as the Food Pantry Supervisor at Marillac Social Center on the West Side
of Chicago. Since joining Marillac, she has helped transform the pantry from simply handing
out pre-packed bags of canned goods to a personalized shopping experience that empowers
clients to make their own nutrition choices.
Allen grew up in Oak Park, Illinois and continues to live in the area. She attended Carleton
College in Northfield, Minnesota, and majored in Sociology/Anthropology. She is passionate
about social justice and plans to pursue a career in social work or public health. Outside of
work, Allen enjoys spending time with family and friends and learning how to make delicious
vegetarian dishes.
Aaron Tebrinke graduated in 1998 from Red Oak High School in Red Oak, Iowa. After
graduating from Missouri Western with a degree in Commercial Art in 2002 he worked in many
creative fields including publishing in Kansas City, MO and audio engineering in Chicago, IL.
In Beardstown, IL he has contributed as a newspaper correspondent for the Cass County Star
Gazette since 2007.
Aaron’s AmeriCorps service started in 2009 to help set up a GIS (geographic information
system) program for the City of Beardstown in Cass County, IL. This is Aaron’s second year
serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA.
Aaron serves directly, and by training volunteers in the community. He is using the GIS
program for disaster response, tourism, public infrastructure systems, and countless other
mapping services for community service organizations.
Aaron’s service in the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs MAPPING program is helping
eliminate poverty in Beardstown by improving the process of economic development.
Jennifer Foster was born and raised in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. She graduated from
University of Illinois Champaign Urbana in 2009 with a dual degree in Communications and
Spanish. Jennifer’s interest in AmeriCorps started in college after interacting with various
AmeriCorps members and programs.
This is Jennifer’s second year serving with the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago
AmeriCorps Safe Families Program. She began serving in September 2009 and found it so
rewarding decided to sign on for another year. As an AmeriCorps Safe Families member
Jennifer brings American Red Cross health and safety programs to underserved and under
resourced communities in the 7 counties surrounding Chicago. Jennifer serves directly in Lake,
Cook, and DuPage counties. Jennifer works to educate her communities on how to prevent,
prepare, and respond to disasters.
Page 10

11. Madelyne Z. Greene, a Chicagoland native, serves as an AmeriCorps Member at PCC
Community Wellness Center on Chicago’s west side. Madelyne is a recent graduate of
Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. where she studied Women’s and Gender Studies
and was a pre-medical student. She hopes to pursue a career in health care, maintaining a
commitment to service and volunteerism through community health initiatives.
The PCC AmeriCorps team works in conjunction with PCC’s comprehensive care and support
services as Healthy Lifestyle Coaches, who educate patients and community members about
healthy eating, activity and setting goals, and as Breastfeeding peer counselors, who provide
information and support to new mothers. AmeriCorps members educate and promote healthy
lifestyles through one-on-one coaching, group classes, and after-school programs.
Born and raised in Cabrini Green, Loretha Y. Edwards is a born fighter. She has lived in
Chicago, Waukegan, North Chicago, Woodridge, and Lisle She has won several awards
for Speech, Poetry, and other writings. She has worked for many companies in her lifetime
including, Motorola and the Lake County Urban League.
Through the Logan Square Neighborhood Association (LSNA) she has worked for the Parent
Mentor Program and Parent Tutor at Funston Elementary School. This is her first year as
an AmeriCorps member, and serves on the Communications and Marketing Committee as a
LeaderCorps member.
She has laid out a clear goal of becoming an Elementary School Teacher. She is currently
pursuing her AAS in Child Development. After completion she will pursue her BA in Education,
and will continue plans to gain her Master’s in Education and English-Literature.
Alexis is from San Antonio, Tx. After graduating high school, Alexis attended the University
of Texas at Austin and received a degree in government and a minor in Spanish.
Throughout high school and college, Alexis has traveled with a group called Los Quijotes from
San Antonio, Tx. Los Quijotes’ mission is to provide free medical services to the underserved,
impoverished communities of Oaxaca, Mexico. This experience is part of what has inspired her
to continue to serve the community.
Alexis is currently serving her second year as an AmeriCorps member at West Suburban
PADS as a case manager for a transitional housing program. In this position she works with
homeless families and individuals, helping them to become self sufficient with a goal of housing
stability.
After completing her second year with AmeriCorps, Alexis plans on going back to school to
pursue a degree in nursing.
Page 11

12. Mario is originally from Dallas, TX but was raised on the south side of Chicago.
Mario is a graduate of Northside College Prep, class of 2002. Upon graduation he attended the
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where he majored in Spanish.
His volunteer experience includes working in citizenship workshops hosted by SWOP (South-
west Organizing Project), marching for immigration reform in Washington D.C., built his own
computer after volunteering his time and services at Free Geek Chicago and has volunteered at
a few music festivals around the city.
Valles is currently serving his first year as an AC member at the Chicago Center for Early Edu-
cation at Malcolm X College. CCEE is a free resource center that strives to enrich the quality
of early education by providing a wide range of multimedia materials on early childhood issues
from birth to age 8.
Christine is a member of Literacy Volunteers of Illinois’ VOCAL AmeriCorps program during
program year 2010-2011. She joins LVI as the communications, marketing, and resource
development go-to girl, and also as a tutor in the Jump Start program at Illinois Youth Centers-
Chicago.
Determined to embrace every opportunity during her AmeriCorps year of service, Christine
has joined the Chicago North Side Literacy Coalition for which she acts as secretary. She is
also striving to use the privilege of being a part of LeaderCorps Illinois, where she is chair of
the Alumni Committee, to expand the community of service both locally and nationally.
Christine holds the B.A. of English from the University of New Mexico and has a strong
background in communications and creative writing. She joins LVI to spread her empowering
passion for reading, writing and education with those LVI serves and beyond.
Farrah Keong is a second-year AmeriCorps member serving with the Illinois Public Health
Association. She is placed at the DuPage County Health Department where she works in the
Community Health Services Department. This past year, she completed her first term with
AmeriCorps as a VISTA member working for Our Piece of the Pie (OPP), a youth development
agency, in Hartford, CT. There she worked at OPP’s newly established high school-Opportunity
High-where she helped to develop a Job Readiness Training curriculum and program.
Farrah was born in South Africa and lived there until she was 11 years old, when her family
moved to America. She graduated from the University of Georgia with a BA in Biology, Art
History, and Latin. While at UGA, Farrah developed a passion for community service, working
with local non-profits and community agencies. She hopes to return to school to pursue a
Master’s degree in Public Health.
Page 12

13. Judy Torres is currently a second year Peace Corps Fellow at Western Illinois University. She
is currently working to obtain her M.S. in Recreation Park Tourism Administration. Judy is
serving in Savanna Illinois with the Tri-County Economic Development Alliance as the LOIS
Administrator. She served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Dominican Republic from Feb
2007- July 2009.
She received her B.A. in Sociology from Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 2006.
She’s originally from Pilsen a neighborhood in Chicago, Illinois and is extremely proud of her
culture and community.
Nathan Harold currently works with Alternatives, Inc. in Chicago. He mentors high school
students in Uplift Community High School, coordinates college readiness, and works on after
school programming. He also plans college events, collaborating with other non-profits, and
Midwest colleges and universities.
Harold received his BA in English from the University of Connecticut. He previously served
as an AmeriCorps VISTA for the Department of Education in Hawaii. His work there included
building volunteer networks for underperforming schools.
Alternatives, Inc. is a non-profit based in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood that guides youth
toward positive futures by offering development programs and counseling.
Alternatives also offers Girl World, a community development program run by young women;
Connect Force, a hip hop teaching consortium; Restorative Justice, teaching youths how to
solve conflicts; Keepin’ it Real, a substance abuse and prevention program; and Wicked Truth/
Media learning workshops teaching digital technology.
Braden Latham-Jones currently works at Waukegan High School in Waukegan, Illinois, serving
as an AmeriCorps volunteer for the Schuler Scholar Program. Originally from Kankakee,
Illinois, Braden was offered a position with Schuler in the fall of 2010 as a Scholar Coach. He
works one-on-one with High School students in reading tutoring, facilitates group discussions
on writing and ethics, and teaches a seminar on filmmaking.
Braden is a graduate of University of Wisconsin – Madison (’09), with a bachelor’s degree in
Radio-TV-Film and East Asian Studies. After working in TV and film production in the US for
several years, he relocated to Kunming, China where he worked freelance as a video journalist.
A year later, Braden moved back to the U.S.A. to begin his work with AmeriCorps, and with
the Schuler Scholar Program.
The Schuler Scholar Program is a college access program which works to send high-achieving,
motivated high school students to highly selective colleges and universities across the nation.
For more information or partnership opportunities please visit The Schuler Scholar Program
web site.
Page 13

14. Sonya De La Torre is from Chicago, Ill. This is her second year of service with AmeriCorps.
When she was in High School she did her community service at Gads Hill Center, a non-profit
organization in Pilsen, Chicago. Ms. De La Torre loves working in non-profit organizations
because she likes to help people.
Ms. De La Torre now works with the Coalition of African, Arab, Asian, European and Latinos
immigrants of Illinois (CAAAELII) as Volunteer Coordinator, recruiting, deploying and
supporting volunteers. She is also working at Onward Neighborhood House teaching computer
classes to adults.
Ms. De La Torre graduated in 2008 with a Bachelors Degree in Computer Science and a Minor
in Mathematics at Northeastern IL University.
Starting in January 2011 she began helping her community and working for her seventh year as
a tax professional with H&R Block.
Ms. De La Torre plans to go back to school for a Masters Degree in Computer Graphics.
Ashley Mauter was born and raised in Toledo, Ohio. She currently lives in Chicago and serves
as the LeaderCorps representative for Project YES!.
Ashley attended DePaul University where she studied Psychology and Sociology. After
graduating, her passion for working with children lead her to Project YES!. As a program of
the Northwestern Settlement, Project YES! connects caring adults with youth in and around
Chicago’s West Town community through mentorship, educational, service, artistic, and
recreational activities in order to support their academic achievement, provide them with positive
alternatives to destructive behaviors, and foster an ethic of service in the community.
Last year Ashley served at Peabody Elementary where she helped tutor and support students
in the classroom, created after school clubs and planned community service projects for the
students. This year, as the Program Leader, Ashley serves as a mentor for the 27 Project YES!
members and helps to facilitate serving project planning.
Caitlin Morris is proud to represent Public Allies Chicago, a leadership and training development
program dedicated to strengthening communities, nonprofit organizations and civic participation.
Through Public Allies, Caitlin is working with the Rauner Family YMCA to identify interests
and needs of current and future members, as well as helping to establish a solid framework for
successful programming at the Y.
Caitlin is from the Chicago area and is a graduate from The University of Illinois at Urbana-
Champaign. Before joining Public Allies, Caitlin spent a year volunteering in The Republic
of the Marshall Islands where she taught the English language and core academic subjects to
elementary school students and worked towards health, education and community development
in the Pacific nation.
Page 14

15. Chris Rowe grew up in Portola Valley, California, a small town nestled in the south of the
peninsula that terminates in San Francisco. He attended the University of California at Los
Angeles, where he obtained a B.S. in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics.
During his education he worked as a high school science tutor and conducted biochemistry
research in the Weiss Single Molecular Biophysics Lab. Upon receiving his degree, he moved
briefly to London, England to work as a Principal’s Assistant at the diverse and progressive
Westminster Academy. After returning to the United States, he worked two years in San
Francisco for Accenture, an international business technology consulting firm where his roles
ranged from software UI design to project management and spanned multiple industries.
After departing from Accenture, he relocated to Chicago, IL to work as an Adult ESL Educator
and a Community Health Program Assistant for Asian Human Services, a non-profit organization
dedicated to providing basic health and human services to underserved populations in North
Chicago.
Devin Helm is a second year AmeriCorps member in the Land of Lincoln Americorps. She
works at a local school with 4th and 5th graders tutoring.
She is currently enrolled in classes at Rend Lake College and hopes to transfer to Southern
Illinois University in the fall majoring in Elementary Education.
Overall, she is really enjoying her second term in Americorps and can’t wait to see what the
rest of the year has in store.
Megan Walendzinski is the Leadercorps representative for the Academy for Urban School
Leadership (AUSL), a non-profit school management organization devoted to improving student
achievement in Chicago’s high-poverty, chronically failing schools. In addition to serving
students of Chicago’s west and south side, Megan has spent the last 3 years as coordinator of
the Batavia Teen Center.
She received her undergraduate degree in English and secondary education from Aurora
University and will graduate from National Louis University with an M.Ed in Urban Teaching
in Spring 2011. In addition to her teaching duties and coursework requirements, she enjoys
spending time with her dog, Thriller.
Johnedward Mann is a 2nd year americorps member that works with the Children’s Home
association in Peoria, Illinois.
He joined Americorps to have a new experience and to meet new people along the way. He
looks forward to his year as an Leadercorps member and things to come.
After Americorps, John plans on going to college for sound pitch engineering, multimedia,
and graphic design.
Page 15

16. Born in Chillicothe, Ohio, Ben Taylor has lived in the Midwest for most of his life. This has
not stopped him from traveling extensively-after a year teaching in South Korea, Ben spent 3
months backpacking through Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and the Indian subcontinent.
As the LeaderCorps representative for Belleville AmeriCorps, he has made every effort to give
back to the communities in southern Illinois that raised him. This has included organization
of an after-school program, several Day of Service events, and a neighborhood barbecue with
several hundred attendants in the summer of 2010.
Following this year with AmeriCorps, Ben hopes to enroll in Humboldt State University’s
Masters International program-a hybrid academic program with the Peace Corps-with the larger
goal of being an international teacher. His favorite pastimes include hiking and reading.
Tiffany Lewis joins LeaderCorps as a representative of The Volunteer Center of NW Suburban
Chicago in Arlington Heights. She has served as an AmeriCorps VISTA since June of 2010.
Tiffany works as the SAVE Program Coordinator working with local nonprofit agencies
and school to successfully integrate and utilize skills-based volunteers through a strategic
consulting process.
She joins AmeriCorps after working for six years in Iowa City, Iowa as an elementary school
teacher. During her time in Iowa, Tiffany taught first and second grade as well as fifth and sixth
grade. She also was the student council co-chair encouraging students to get excited about
volunteering and community service projects.
She graduated from the University of Iowa with a bachelor’s in elementary education and
enjoys traveling and spending time with family and friends.
Ariana Guadalupe Flores is a second-term member of AmeriCorps. She has served one 450
hour term, and is currently serving a 900 hour term in McHenry County. She can say that she
loves her job because she loves making a difference.
Besides AmeriCorps, she works at Rosati’s and is a freshman at McHenry County College.
She is trying to accomplish getting a major in science, and minoring in psychology. She chose
these careers because she gets enjoyment out of helping people. Ms. Fores considers herself a
humanitarian; she is currently collecting cans for a homeless man and wants to work with the
less unfortunate.
In the future she would like to adopt two kids. She currently resides in Harvard where she has
been living since she was born in 1992. Besides Harvard, she has lived in Mexico and New
Jersey; she is of Mexican heritage. Lastly, she is a really shy person but loves getting to meet
new people, and loves expressing herself through poetry.
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17. Cherena “Rena” Douglass is a native of Springfield, Illinois where she was named 2004 State
Journal-Register’s Female Scholar-Athlete of the year. Rena currently attends the University
of Illinois at Springfield in pursuit of a Bachelor of Science in History.
She holds the LeaderCorps/AmeriCorps position for the Springfield Urban League. Her site is
located at the Boy’s and Girl’s Club of Springfield, where she assists with the Project Ready
college readiness program. This program targets middle school and high school aged youth in
an attempt to prepare them for post-secondary education, work, and life after graduating high
school. Rena is also currently involved as a mentor with Land of Lincoln Goodwill Industries’
Good Guides program. Through this program she has been given the opportunity to coach
youth in an array of sports including boy’s and girl’s basketball. She looks forward to her
term of service and is proud to be an AmeriCorps volunteer.
Born and raised in Sterling, Illinois. Isaias DeLaTorre Jr is the youngest of three children with
two older sisters. His mother was originally from Texas and his father from Mexico.
Isaias is currently enrolled in Sauk Valley Community College to attain an Associates Degree
in Business Administration and then hopes to further his education. His all time goal is to start
his own business. Isaias enjoys playing drums and creating music. He highly enjoys serving
for Americorps because its a great opportunity to learn and experience new things throughout
the beginnings of his college career.
The Americorps experience will always be a part of his life and help him to understand the
importance of serving the community. This is his first year serving for Americorps. He serves
for the YMCA of Sterling and his site is an after school program where he helps tutor and
mentor elementary students.
Samantha Copeland was born in Chicago but had the unique experience of moving to Alabama
as a teen which allowed her to grow up a city girl with southern roots.
She attended the University of Illinois for a Bachlor’s in Landscape Architecture, and a Master’s
in Urban Planning. It was through the planning degree that she developed an interest in social
justice.
Samantha current serves as an Americorps for the Books to Prisoners program which is a
project of the Independant Media Center in Urbana, Illinois. Volunteerism has always been a
passion of hers and the type of work she most enjoys is building playgrounds for children.
In the future she hopes to be able to practice and teach design, particularly Urban Design with
the hope of finding solutions to create better urban environments while being sensitive to the
issues of gentrification. After her time with Americorps she hopes to return to school and obtain
a Phd in Design.
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18. Daniel C.K. Ready is 24 years old and hails from a small town in a corner of Michigan called
Monroe. His life in a small town really shaped much of whom he is today, specifically his
attachment to personal interactions and an empathetic personality.
He attended Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio where he earned my bachelor’s degree in
classical humanities, with minors in mathematics and theater. Upon graduation in May 2009,
he had firmly attached himself to the Jesuit way of being, namely, “Men and Women for
Others”. By surrounding himself with friends who felt strongly about giving back and driven
by social justice issues, He wanted to serve for at least a year in an educationally focused
setting. City Year Chicago presented him with just that opportunity. After one year working
with 6th – 8th graders on personal development and community service through a program
called Young Heroes, he knew he wanted to come back for a second year. This year he is
part of the Civic Engagement Team, a group that looks to provide service opportunities for
corporations, community members, and our corps by finding and addressing neighborhood
needs. They have been in schools, churches, community centers, and various non-profits this
year, hoping to spread the need and desire for service in others.
That is why he is here at City Year for a second year, and more importantly that is why he will
always include service as an integral part of my life, no matter what jobs may come my way. He
looks forward to one day being able to impact the largest possible amount of people, perhaps
as a Dean of Students at a university, but until he gets there, he will maintain perspective and
humility, remember his personal values, and create an environment where others can do the
same.
Woodrow Forrest, Tamika Malone
YouthBuild McLean County AmeriCorps/East St. Louis
Lindsay Ridley, Darcy Hampton,
U.R.B.A.N., Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley
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