The coast-to-coast recognition of AmeriCorps Week, from May 11-18, will spotlight how America's social entrepreneurs at the national, state and local levels, are tackling high-school dropouts, prisoner re-entry, illiteracy and other national challenges in partnership with the Federal program that engages Americans in intense citizen service.

Plans for AmeriCorps week include hundreds of service projects and recruitment events, the release of a major and rigorous longitudinal study of the impact of AmeriCorps service eight years later; the announcement of new recipients of AmeriCorps competitive funding, and participation of Federal, state and local officials as well as nonprofit leaders.

"Across the country, AmeriCorps members are helping communities fight poverty, mentor youth, recover from disasters, raise graduation rates, build homes, and tackle our toughest social challenges," said David Eisner, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service, which oversees AmeriCorps, including state and national grants, VISTA, and NCCC. "What they get done during their service is extraordinary; and their engagement in their communities in their years after AmeriCorps is even more inspiring. We want AmeriCorps Week to inspire millions more Americans to serve, whether through AmeriCorps or Peace Corps or volunteering in your neighborhood."

Mississippi Delta Service Corps/AmeriCorps VISTA Events

• On May 14, The Mississippi Delta Service Corps/ AmeriCorps VISTA Program will be restoring the Grey Russell Memorial Park located on Mississippi 1 at the corner of Rosebud Street in Mayersville. The project will engage Americorp VISTA members and several community volunteers in restoring old wood on several of the parks playing instruments and gazebo that is located in this old historical park. The kick off time for this event is 9 a.m.
      
• On May 15, The Mississippi Delta Service Corps/ AmeriCorps VISTA Program will update a service project at Nailor Elementary School on East Cross Street in Cleveland. This service project will include renovation on a recent AmeriCorps Project called the Magic School Bus. The Magic School Bus is a real school bus which provides a quiet space for children to read and work on their homework. The Magic School Bus contains many other educational technology tools. The kick off time for this event is 10 a.m.
      
• On May 15, The Mississippi Delta Service Corps/ AmeriCorps VISTA Program will begin a second project in Dockery. The team will be divided into two groups along with several other community volunteers. The Dockery project will involve renovation of an old house that is located right in the heart of the town. The current owner is hoping to turn this old abandon home into a community development center for people in the Dockery community and those in the surrounding area. The kick off time for this event will begin at 10 a.m.

While community service is the focus of many events, others are aimed at thanking AmeriCorps members for their service or recruiting others to volunteer in their communities. Dozens of governors are issuing AmeriCorps Week proclamations, and AmeriCorps Week resolutions are pending in the House of Representatives and U.S. Senate. Hundreds of AmeriCorps members will make presentations to schools and community groups, elected officials and other leaders will participate in "AmeriCorps-for-a-Day" events, and several professional baseball teams will host AmeriCorps Appreciation nights.

On May 16, The Mississippi Delta Service Corps/ AmeriCorps VISTA Program will host an AmeriCorps Week Celebration, "Power Week", for VISTA members, Delta Region AmeriCorps Alumni Chapter Members, community partners, Site Supervisors, AmeriCorps members and Staff.

This event will include food, fun, games and so much more. The celebration will begin at 11 a.m. on quad at Delta State University in Cleveland.

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