The University of Wisconsin-Parkside issued the following news release:
Wisconsin Campus Compact (WiCC), headquartered at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, has named six people to lead AmeriCorps*VISTA programs. Working with the Center for Community Partnerships, Ben Lehner, Caitlin DeLap, Erin Morey, Christopher Kugel, Ann Pratt, and Evan Witalison promote service and civic engagement by students, faculty, and community partners. UW-Parkside has been involved in WiCC's AmeriCorps*VISTA program since 2003 when WiCC received the largest VISTA grant in the country.
Ben Lehner has served as AmeriCorps*VISTA's environment coordinator for the past year. He was instrumental in developing Racine's Root River Environmental Education Community Center (REC) and Kenosha's Center for Environmental Education, Demonstration, and Applied Research (CEDAR). He also organized a highly successful coat drive and helped 1300 4th graders learn conservation through the River Bend SWIMR program.
Lehner continues to work on the environmental centers while supervising new environment coordinators Caitlin DeLap and Erin Morey. In September, DeLap and Morey spearheaded the collection of bicycles for Racine's 'Earn a Bike' program. They are now leading a coat drive to benefit local charities and Racine's homeless shelters, and in spring 2009 both will play major roles in the opening of CEDAR.
Chris Kugel is the education and development coordinator for Peace Learning Circles (PLC). PLC promotes a culture of peace through the education of youth and communities. The program, now in its third year, has improved communication, conflict resolution, and peaceful living skills among the 4th grade students it targets. Kugel is working to increase PLC's capacity and sustainability by building awareness of its programming and making connections with like-minded individuals and groups interested in becoming involved with PLC on various levels.
In the past year, Ann Pratt helped launch Mentor Kenosha & Racine and the HOPES Center. A collaboration between UW-Parkside, Racine Dominicans, and other service providers, the HOPES Center builds awareness of poverty and finds solutions to alleviate it. The HOPES Center opened in October 2008 and is anchored by the Just Trade retail shop and Cup of Hope coffee shop. The HOPES Center also provides mental health and substance abuse services to the uninsured and underinsured.
Evan Witalison recently assumed leadership of Mentor Kenosha & Racine (MK&R). MK&R helps mentoring programs increase their capacity to meet participants' needs and provides them with a certification process. Big Brothers/Big Sisters and Racine's San Juan Diego Middle School have received certification. Professional development and volunteer training are available to all area mentoring programs.
Wisconsin Campus Compact is a network of 32 public and private colleges and universities that share knowledge and resources with their communities. For more information on WiCC, call 262-595-2002.
