Allen Neighborhood Center

New VISTA Deadline

We've extended the open period for VISTA applications until October
8th -- so if you'd like to apply, there's still time!

VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America)

Allen Neighborhood Center has two openings for VISTA workers
(Volunteers in Service to America). These positions will begin in mid-
November, though selection will take place by mid-September.

Our VISTA workers will enjoy a rich set of experiences working in this
lively community, while learning the fundamentals of community
development and neighborhood revitalization. Projects in which our new
VISTAs will be working include:

* Community Organizing/Outreach/Engagement, to help build organized
and connected neighborhoods of people working together on a wide range
of neighborhood improvement initiatives;
* Volunteer Recruitment and Management
* Working with the Allen Street Farmers Market and/or the Hunter Park
GardenHouse on food security issues.

The positions are full-time, and pay approximately $750.00/month, plus
benefits (Note: VISTA is known as the 'domestic Peace Corps'â€”providing
rich experiences, not riches). VISTA workers also receive a cash award
of $1200 at the end of the year of service, or if they prefer, a $4700
educational stipend that can be applied toward education or a student
loan.

Candidates interested in 'healthy community-building', community
organizing, or neighborhood-based education will find much to excite
them here. Folks with solid 'people skills', energy and enthusiasm,
good written and verbal communication skills, and computer skills are
especially welcome. Familiarity with the Eastside is helpful.
Extensive training and mentorship are guaranteed. A one-year
commitment is requested.

Call Joan Nelson at (517) 999-3912 for further information; or email
her at joann@allenneighborhoodcenter.org. To be considered for this
position, please send a cover letter and resume to 1619 E. Kalamazoo
St., Lansing, MI 48912 no later than October 8, 2008.

Neighborhood Lighting

Adequate lighting enhances the walkability of the neighborhood and helps detour crime. If you notice a dim, flickering, or burnt out street light, please notify our Eastside Councilman, Eric Hewitt, immediately; before the Board of Water and Light gets flooded with repair requests. The best method for contacting Eric is by email.

Eric Hewitt
First Ward Councilman
EMAIL: ehewitt@ci.lansing.mi.us
PHONE: (517) 483.4181

GardenHouse Fall Series

Please join us at the Hunter Park Garden House for demonstrations and tastings of some of our winter crops. We will also talk some about the nutritional benefits of fresh greens grown right in your neighborhood all year long!
This series will take place September 27, October 18 and November 15 from 11am-12noon.

Leaving for the winter?

You can request a vacation check by the Lansing Police Department by calling (517) 483.4660. They will get your information and periodically check on your residence while you are away.

Your Child’s Future, Your Child’s Health

On Thursday, Sept. 18 from 5:30 to 8:30 PM, Allen Neighborhood Center will host a non-partisan community event on voting and health care. Chris Swope, Lansing City Clerk, will be registering voters as well as teaching how to use voting machines. Staff from ANC and the Ingham Co. Health Dept. will give out information and register people who qualify for free or low-cost health care programs. Members of the Great Start Collaborative will present info on safe sleep, lead-free homes, infant mortality, and other health issues. Come join your neighbors for free food, free information, and free gifts!

This event is supported by Cooley Law School, the Lansing Area Community Trust Fund, League of Women Voters, Great Start Collaborative, and ICHD.

Several Job Openings at ANC

Deadline for applying is September 12!

ANC has several full and part-time positions opening up in September. The deadline for applying is September 12. See the descriptions below to determine where to send resumes or direct your questions.

Coordinator of the Youth Service Corps

Do you have a passion for digging in the dirt? Thoroughly enjoy working with the energy and enthusiasm of young teens? Allen Neighborhood Center is seeking to hire an 18 hour/week Coordinator for our Youth Service Corps. The Coordinator, working in conjunction with the Director of the Hunter Park GardenHouse and Gardening Programs will 1) develop, schedule, plan and supervise YSC sessions which will involve both service chores and gardening projects, 2) recruit and train youth for this neighborhood-based program which will include such projects as, growing food for their own families and/or selling it at our farm market, doing landscaping projects for neighbors, and bi-monthly newsletter delivery; 3) recruit and train the adult volunteers who serve as one-on-one coaches to YSC members, and 4) work with Eastside non-profits and neighborhood organizations to create useful and enjoyable service work and ‘green’ projects.

Solid communication skills, program development know-how, and experience working with youngsters are essential. This is an 18 hour per week position which pays $15/hour. A one-year commitment is requested.

Call K’Anna Burton at 999-3910 for further information; or email her at kannab@allenneighborhoodcenter.org

Community Health Worker

Interested in women’s health issues? Like to learn more and then help inform others about breast cancer prevention? We are seeking to hire a 10/hour per week community health worker who will be in charge of our breast health education program activities. These include developing our monthly self-exam reminder cards, organizing our annual breast health luncheon, participating in mobile workshops on breast cancer prevention, and more. We are looking for someone with excellent communication, people, and computer skills.

Call Sarah Steele at 999-3917 for further information, or email your resume to her at sarahs@allenneighborhoodcenter.org.

Administrative Assistant

We are seeking to hire an administrative assistant for 15 hours/week at $14/hour. Please consider applying if you have good communication and computer skills, are organized and efficient, and enjoy a fast-paced environment. Hours are flexible.

Call Joan Nelson at 999-3912 for further information, or email your resume to her at joann@allenneighborhoodcenter.org

VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America)

Allen Neighborhood Center has two openings for VISTA workers (Volunteers in Service to America). These positions will begin in mid- November, though selection will take place by mid-September.

Our VISTA workers will enjoy a rich set of experiences working in this lively community, while learning the fundamentals of community development and neighborhood revitalization. Projects in which our new VISTAs will be working include:

* Community Organizing/Outreach/Engagement, to help build organized and connected neighborhoods of people working together on a wide range of neighborhood improvement initiatives;
* Volunteer Recruitment and Management
* Working with the Allen Street Farmers Market and/or the Hunter Park GardenHouse on food security issues.

The positions are full-time, and pay approximately $750.00/month, plus benefits (Note: VISTA is known as the ‘domestic Peace Corps’---providing rich experiences, not riches). VISTA workers also receive a cash award of $1200 at the end of the year of service, or if they prefer, a $4700 educational stipend that can be applied toward education or a student loan.

Candidates interested in ‘healthy community-building’, community organizing, or neighborhood-based education will find much to excite them here. Folks with solid ‘people skills’, energy and enthusiasm, good written and verbal communication skills, and computer skills are especially welcome. Familiarity with the Eastside is helpful. Extensive training and mentorship are guaranteed. A one-year commitment is requested.

Call Joan Nelson at (517) 999-3912 for further information; or email her at joann@allenneighborhoodcenter.org. Additional information is also posted on our website, www.allenneighborhoodcenter.org. To be considered for this position, please send a cover letter and resume to 1619 E. Kalamazoo St., Lansing, MI 48912 no later than September 14, 2007.

Eastside 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament, part of Saturday in the Park!

WHAT: Free Basketball Tournament for participants 18 and under
DATE: Saturday, July 26, 2008 (at the Saturday in the Park festival
LOCATION: Hunter Park in Lansing, MI (click for a map)
TIME: Sign in from 9 - 10 a.m.
Games will be played ALL day!
TO REGISTER: Call (517) 999-3917 or stop in to fill out your parental consent form.
Each team needs at least three players but no more than four.

Click here to view the Eastside 3 on 3 tournament Poster!

Hunter Park GardenHouse Grand Opening

Thanks to everyone who came to our GardenHouse grand opening! If you would still like to view the poster/evite for it, click here.

Now Hiring Summer AmeriCorps Position–Apply by May 1st!

Summer LISC AmeriCorps Position: Saturday in the Park Organizer

Allen Neighborhood Center and Lansing Parks and Recreation will be hosting Saturday in the Park, a fun and festive community health and fitness extravaganza on July 26 in Hunter Park. The Center is seeking a part-time organizer to work with our Outreach and Engagement Team to help plan the event and do follow up. The event will feature a wide range of activities including: a 3K Family Fun Walk on the beautiful Hunter Park path, a 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament, a Bike Jam with gear give-away, a Mini-Farmers Market, Tours and Workshops in the newly constructed Hunter Park GardenHouse (the Eastside’s first state-of-the-art, computer operated greenhouse), exercise samplers where folks can learn salsa, belly dancing, yoga and more, non-stop live music, a mini health and housing fair, giant inflatable climbing wall and obstacle course, and the First Annual Neighborhood Kickball Tournament.

Job Description for the Saturday in the Park Organizer

Engaging Neighbors as Volunteers, Planners, Participants in Saturday in the Park
Our LISC-Americorps will be involved in all aspects of organizing a major neighborhood event: recruiting and training volunteers, planning events, promotions (designing posters, flyers, radio ads, PSAs), helping to organize kickball teams among Eastside neighborhood watches and other associations, recruiting sponsors, and more. On the day of the event, they will be supervising activities. Following the event, our LISC-AmeriCorps will link as many participants as possible to ongoing activities, such as walking groups, gardening clubs, the Allen Street Farmers Market, the Hunter Park GardenHouse, and organized neighborhood groups.

Creating Connections/Place-Making: The neighbor-to-neighbor connections fostered in preparation for, during, and following Saturday in the Park help build a sense of place, belonging, and pride. This is a wonderful opportunity for someone interested in community development, neighborhood organizing, volunteer recruitment, events planning, and building health while building community.

Requirements
Commitment: The position will start in May 2008 and last until August 31, 2008. There are a total of 300 hours to be completed during this time. Weekly hours are somewhat flexible.

Benefits
LISC Americorps: Americorps and Local Initiatives Support Corporation are nationally renowned organizations, leading the campaign to create healthy communities for everyone. LISC Americorps will provide a $1000 educational stipend that can be applied to educational loans or costs.

Credit: The Allen Neighborhood Center will work with MSU and LCC to provide college credit for this position. A small stipend of no less than $1000 will also be provided to the internship.

Interested applicants please send a letter of intent and resume to Sarah Steele sarahs@allenneighborhoodcenter.org by May 1st.

GardenHouse Grand Opening

Hunter Park GardenHouse Grand Opening: Saturday, May 10, 12:00-4:00

Please join us to celebrate the grand opening of our neighborhood greenhouse. Mark your calendars for the Saturday before Mother’s Day from 12 noon to 4 PM for our very special celebration of the Grand Opening of the GardenHouse. A ribbon cutting will occur at 12:30PM with the Mayor and others.

The event will also include:

Food Station: tasty veggies grown this spring in the GardenHouse;
Children’s activities: Come paint a pot and plant a flower (gift idea?); Play some garden games and win prizes.
Perennial plant exchange (bring what you’ve got too much of and take home some new plants for your yard!)
Mini-workshops all afternoon on Home Gardening basics
Free starter plants (veggies and flowers) for home gardeners
Tours of our wonderful GardenHouse and parkland youth gardens
Live local music, door prizes, and Neighbors galore!

Please come out and support this history-making project!