Corps Day provides AmeriCorps members with a chance to serve outside of their normal day-to-day service with Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity. This typically involves learning about another local non-profit organization and spending the day volunteering there. Along with the Fall and Spring Retreats, Corps Days offer AmeriCorps members the opportunity to work more closely with their cohort as a whole.
At the beginning of December, our Cohort went down to Saint Neighborhood Network (SPNN) to learn about various programs they provide to the St. Paul community and ended up shooting and editing our own films. SPNN is a community media and technology center that provides tools and training for youth, adults, and nonprofits to use media and technology to tell stories and gain job skills at an affordable rate.
After getting a brief overview of SPNN and taking a tour of the building, we got to participate in a learning session about filming. To start, we split up into groups of three to four people. Then, each group settled on a genre and prop to use. From there, it was up to us to determine how we incorporated each of those elements into our projects. Finally, once we gathered all of the footage, we edited the movies and watched them on the projector.
At the beginning of February, our Cohort made our way to Second Harvest Heartland in Brooklyn Park, MN. First, we were given a brief overview of the work the employees and volunteers do on a daily basis, as well as the extensive reach of their organization. (You can learn more about Second Harvest Heartland on their website.)
After that, it was time to roll up our sleeves and get to volunteering. On this particular day, that meant repackaging and sorting loaves of bread that local stores donated to Second Harvest Heartland. We then split up into several groups in order to repackage the bread and get it onto the trucks as quickly as possible. When all was said and done, our work translated to more than 148 meals that would have otherwise been discarded.
Overall, I would say these experiences provided an in-depth view of the hunger problems we're facing in the Midwest and of the staggering amount of food waste that occurs every day. Additionally, our AmeriCorps cohort bonded during these shared experiences and the unique perspective they provided. Our next Corps Day will be at the State Capitol to sit in on Legislative Advocacy 101. This trip will involve a behind the scenes look at the Capitol as well as tips for effectively engaging in legislative advocacy. I can confidently say the whole group is looking forward to this experience. So, if you're thinking about joining AmeriCorps, consider this an open invitation.