An AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) team is again set for service in the Village of Park Forest this summer.
The NCCC team this week begins its first of an eight-week stay in the community.
“The Village of Park Forest is very happy – and fortunate – to host a team of volunteers from AmeriCorps for the summer of 2019,” said Village Manager Tom Mick.
The group of seven, from the North Central Region campus in Vinton, Iowa, is working on goals of Park Forest’s sustainability plan. Adopted in May of 2012, the plan supports the three E’s of sustainable development: environment, equity, and economics.
The team will conduct a tree inventory to support the Village’s greenhouse gas reduction goals, improve trails in a local wetland and nature preserve, and support Park Forest’s annual Growing Green Recycle Fest later this month.
The Village's equity goals will be furthered by the team's efforts at a local food pantry and in local community gardens. The group will also support the Park Forest’s Youth Commissions annual back-to-school event Youth Day next month and the Park Forest Police Department’s annual community relations celebration Unity Day also happening in August.
Several infrastructure projects, including painting Village facilities and painting fire hydrants, will also receive attention from the group.
In the process of fulfilling these projects, the members of the NCCC team will learn about the Village's commitment to sustainability and ecosystem management and will also provide a direct service to residents of the community.
This summer marks the fourth consecutive summer that Park Forest has hosted a team of volunteers from AmeriCorps.
This year's team was in attendance for Monday night's board meeting where they officially introduced themselves to the community and expressed their eagerness to offer their assistance.
About AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC)
AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) and its FEMA Corps unit engages up to 2,800 young Americans in a full-time, 10-month commitment to service each year. AmeriCorps NCCC members address critical needs related to natural and other disasters, infrastructure improvement, environmental stewardship and conservation, and urban and rural development; FEMA Corps members are solely dedicated to disaster preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery work. The programs are administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). CNCS is a federal agency that engages millions of Americans in service through its AmeriCorps and Senior Corps programs and leads the nation's volunteering and service efforts. For more information, visit NationalService.gov.