AmeriCorps Members and their volunteers receive awards during National AmeriCorps Week event, Houston, TX, May 6, 2009.

When/Where: On May 6, 2009, Congressional representatives Al Green and Sheila Jackson Lee in conjunction with collaborating non-profits will award Houston AmeriCorps members and volunteers for their dedication and commitment to national community service. This recognition event will start at 11:00am and end at 2pm at Fifth Ward Missionary Baptist Church, 4300 Noble Street, Houston, Texas 77020.

Who: The AmeriCorps members from Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC, lisc.org) and Center for Faith and Health Initiatives (CFHI) will host this National AmeriCorps Week recognition event in order to honor their AmeriCorps members as well as their collaborative partners who have been getting things done through volunteers. A few of the agencies that they have partnered with to get things done include: Caring Communities Home Restoration Project who train and coordinate volunteer teams to build wheelchair ramps and restore homes for low income disabled people and seniors; Greater Fifth Ward Congregational Health Coalition volunteers who work in collaborations with 35+ churches, health and social service agencies, and schools to improve community health providing more than 30,000 free and donated services; Rebuilding Together Houston volunteers who have helped provide free home restoration materials and training for more than 250 homes; and Faith Revitalization Center volunteers who host conferences such as mental health and HIV/AIDs conferences. Working together, these organizations inspire further participation and recognition of volunteers.

What: AmeriCorps is a national service program (AmeriCorps.gov). AmeriCorps members tackle poverty issues across the state such as disaster relief, homelessness, literacy, and health care, demonstrating the power of service as a solution to tough community problems and recruiting fellow volunteers. Center for Faith and Health Initiatives has 45+ AmeriCorps members who build networks of volunteers and partnerships in needy neighborhoods. The Center's AmeriCorps members brought more than $28 million in services to Houston and nearby cities last year. Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) provides 20 AmeriCorps members who help provide direct services including: foreclosure prevention counseling, family asset building counseling and organizing neighborhood revitalization projects in distressed Houston neighborhoods.

This will be an exciting day. The office of Congressman Al Green and the office of Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee will present awards for the volunteers' well noted hard work. This Wednesday recognition event will be leading this next generation into a new era of national community service

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