Friday, July 30, 2010
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Inspired by President Obama's call to action, a group of Council on Environmental Quality interns volunteered on Earth Day, knowing that even a seemingly small effort can make a large impact. Using Serve.gov, they found an opportunity to help remove non-native plants in Rock Creek Park. After a trip on the metro, a bus ride, and a short walk,they arrived at the Rock Creek Nature Center and Planetarium.
Rock Creek Park Rangers teach CEQ interns about garlic mustard.
They met with two park rangers who taught them about Alliaria Petiolata, more commonly known as Garlic Mustard, an invasive, non-native plant species that is having a negative impact on the Rock Creek ecosystem. After learning about the plant, they donned work gloves and headed into the woods.They were fortunate that after days of rain, the sun was out! In addition, the ground was still damp, making it much easier to extract the long carrot-shaped roots.
CEQ Interns get hands-on for Earth Day
The two hours they spent weeding gave them both the opportunity to bond further as a group, and to join the other volunteers throughout the country participating in service projects in honor of Earth Day. They - and all the staff at CEQ - are happy to play any small part in a movement far larger than ourselves. After dropping off their bags of garlic mustard at the nature center, they beganthe trek back to the office, a little sunburnt, a little dirty, but with a renewed spirit to make sure that every day is Earth Day!
Christine Glunz is the Communications Director at the White House Council on Environmental Quality
This post can also be found on the White House Council on Environmental Quality blog.
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Posted on
4/29/2010 12:46:11 PM
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Wow! What a special day it was! On King Day, January 18, 2010, Boulevard Townhomes (BTH) came to life as the children put aside their own desires to make life for some local senior citizens a little bit fresher.
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Posted on
2/24/2010 11:37:24 AM
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In preparing for Monday's Energy Canvass in honor of the MLK Day of Service, I restored in my mind Dr. King's vision of the attainable "Beloved Community," where the all-inclusive spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood nurtures an environment of conversation, reconciliation, and progress. Over 40 volunteers of all ages joined WeatherizeDC Monday ready to serve and in pursuit of this Beloved Community, but in a bit of a new way: by talking about energy.
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Posted on
1/22/2010 10:30:12 AM
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Wyoming County, WV, 4-H FLOW, an AmeriCorps Learn and Serve grantee of the West Virginia Commission for National and Community Service, completed more than 500 hours of watershed service-learning projects.
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Posted on
12/22/2009 9:06:46 AM
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Volunteers have the power to transform their community. As co-founder of Friends of the San Jose Rose Garden, I have witnessed how people of all ages and abilities can come together to make a difference, transform neglect into beauty, and inspire change in other communities. In less than two years, volunteers took a historic landmark park from probation to elation. This is our story.
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Posted on
12/15/2009 9:10:57 AM
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Our project is the landscaping and on-going care of the grounds of the new Hospice House of St. Mary's County.
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Posted on
12/14/2009 11:54:56 AM
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In celebration of Global Youth Service Day 2009, high school students in El Paso planted tree seedlings behind three major non-profit organizations to provide a windbreak and safety screen for their outdoor areas.
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Posted on
11/23/2009 3:19:10 PM
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Green Road Community Center in Raleigh has a brand new playground today thanks to a coordinated effort of 200 volunteers from Foresters™ and the community who erected the facility.
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Posted on
11/17/2009 8:16:06 AM
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Our team members grab a cup of coffee, some eggs and bacon, a tool, and a hardhat – and the day’s adventure begins.
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Posted on
11/13/2009 10:22:12 AM
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he current economic downturn and challenges of raising a family in the 21st century has an impact on young boys.
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Posted on
11/9/2009 10:45:51 AM
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To honor the first annual 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance, Rebuilding Together partnered with United We Serve to distribute 50,000 outreach bags filled with energy efficient savings information in 19 states.
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Posted on
11/5/2009 2:57:00 PM
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EPA's ENERGY STAR and Boys & Girls Club offer Dallas homeowner a youthful energy check-up.
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Posted on
11/2/2009 8:00:50 AM
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The high cost of energy in rural Alaska prompted a VISTA member serving with the Rural Alaska Community Action Program to look into using the local hot springs as an energy source.
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Posted on
10/29/2009 11:25:47 AM
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Creating a New Path is a Learn and Serve America subgrantee at CASMAN Alternative Academy in Manistee, Michigan. Students at the school recognized a need for a better place to walk dogs instead of down a dirt road.
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Posted on
10/24/2009 12:46:33 PM
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California Lutheran University students partnered with the City of Ventura for a Ventura Riverbed Cleanup.
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Posted on
10/16/2009 4:29:08 PM
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Crenshaw High School opened in 1968 in the historic Crenshaw District of South Los Angeles. Students here face more than the normal teenage dramas; they also deal with shifting cultural alliances and the threat of gang violence. 85% qualify for the Free/Reduced Lunch Program. Out of these difficult circumstances, the Crenshaw Eco Club has risen to become the largest and most ethnically diverse club on campus.
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Posted on
10/13/2009 3:20:32 PM
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Students at Woodmere Middle School on Long Island completed a service-learning project at the Town of Hempstead's Marine Nature Study Area in honor of the 16th Annual National Public Lands Day. They lent a helping hand to Long Island's tidal wetlands, which provide protection for shellfish, small fish, mirgratory birds, and other animals.
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Posted on
10/8/2009 11:26:37 PM
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On the first-ever September 11 Day of Service and Remembrance, young people from across the nation planted trees in Keystone, Colorado, to honor fallen heroes and increase their knowledge of nature.
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Posted on
10/5/2009 3:10:13 PM
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This August, a group of Girls Inc girls at our Brooklyn site volunteered at Rooftop Farms in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.
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Posted on
10/2/2009 3:48:35 PM
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UPS employees have completed a project that benefits both Atlanta residents and the environment. These employee volunteers transformed a small patch of unused land into a garden full of hearty produce: corn, onions, okra, squash, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, carrots, beans, sweet potatoes and watermelon now fill a space that was previously vacant and unattractive.
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Posted on
9/29/2009 11:16:41 AM
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The Northeast Ecological Corridor, protected as a Nature Reserve in April 2008, lies between the towns of Luquillo and Fajardo on Puerto Rico's northeastern shoreline. Its 3,200 acres include forests, wetlands, beaches, coral communities, a bioluminescent lagoon and one of the hottest surfing spots on Puerto Rico's east coast: "La Selva" (the jungle).
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Posted on
9/29/2009 11:16:36 AM
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When I first found out I’d be interning in the New York City Mayor’s Office this summer, I resigned myself to a summer of desk work, with perhaps some filing thrown in for variety. So imagine my surprise when I began working at NYC Service, an office launched by Mayor Bloomberg in April in response to President Obama’s national call to service.
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Posted on
9/22/2009 9:56:02 PM
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Eastern Colorado experiences blizzard conditions every winter. Living snowfences are tree plantings strategically planned to provide protection along roadways by capturing wind driven snow, keeping snow and ice from creating driving hazards. In my career, I have coordinated or participated in 36 living snowfence plantings.
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Posted on
9/22/2009 9:55:43 PM
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In 2007 we started the Boston Latin School Youth Climate Action Network as a student led extracurricular club devoted to helping the environment.
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Posted on
9/10/2009 9:19:53 PM
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When Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated asked its members to support United We Serve’s Summer Service Initiative, the ladies of the Xi Zeta Omega Chapter located in Washington, DC, joined right in to provide “service to all mankind.”
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Posted on
9/9/2009 4:17:33 PM
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Students at Von Steuben High School painted a 15-foot mural depicting their experiences at Foster Beach in Chicago. The mural is a daily reminder of more than six years of monthly stewardship and seasonal adventures. “I like knowing that the trash we help to remove from the beach makes things better,” says teacher CarolLynn Chmielewski, who has headed the Von Steuben High School Environmental Action Club in adopting and caring for Foster Beach.
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Posted on
9/4/2009 3:21:55 PM
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Cisco employees decided that they wanted to “make an impact” and not just “write a check” for the Guadalupe River Park and Gardens in downtown San Jose, an area maintained entirely by volunteers. Thirty-eight Cisco employees rolled up their sleeves to clean and provide maintenance for the Guadalupe River Park and Gardens
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Posted on
9/2/2009 3:49:39 PM
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My name is Carolyn and I am a volunteer at the Piney Creek Watershed Association (PCWA). I am so grateful that I was introduced to PCWA because it is a wonderful group of people who have a passion for the community, access to clean water and protecting the environment.
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Posted on
9/2/2009 10:03:01 AM
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“Number 3, number 3 number 2, number 2 number 9, number 9 number number 9, number 9 number 5!” The Student Conservation Association (SCA) youth crew chants out their rhythm game to warm up before hiking into National Park Service land to perform trail work at the Phleger Estate.
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Posted on
8/31/2009 8:39:15 PM
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The US Department of Commerce is answering the President's call to service through an all-volunteer "Green Team" at our headquarters building in Washington, DC. The Team is comprised 134 volunteers with representatives from the Office of the Secretary and all seven Operating Units located at, or nearby, the Herbert C. Hoover Building (HCHB).
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Posted on
8/27/2009 1:57:03 PM
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I decided since I can't throw away things from my toothbrush to computers, to microwave or deck furniture; one thing I sure can do is to use reusable grocery bags to reduce the toxic trash.
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Posted on
8/26/2009 1:40:23 PM
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This was the first I’d even heard of a Duck Drop Race, so I was intrigued and wanted to participate. It was a chance to bring together community youth, families, the Chamber of Commerce who started the event, and the community watershed organization with which I work: the Shamokin Creek Restoration Alliance (SCRA).
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Posted on
8/25/2009 7:26:09 PM
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This summer, Sierra Club’s Cool Cities program launched its Home Energy Ambassador Training program in partnership with United We Serve
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Posted on
8/24/2009 8:27:24 PM
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As a communications instructor at Volunteer State Community College in Gallatin, Tenn., I am always looking for new ways to re-invent my communication courses for first and second-year students. In September 2008, I took 10 students to National Public Lands Day at our local state park, Bledsoe Creek State Park.
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Posted on
8/21/2009 4:00:29 PM
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At Intel, we strive to be an asset to our communities around the world. Under the Intel Involved Skills Based Volunteer program, employees are encouraged to use their professional skills to make a sustainable impact in their communities.
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Posted on
8/20/2009 7:25:26 PM
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As part of United We Serve’s Energy and Enviornment Week, the Community Action Agency of Delaware County in Pennsyvania conducted a two-week volunteer initiative.
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Posted on
8/19/2009 7:10:31 PM
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Every year in America, over 100 million new cell phones are sold at stores and malls. Of these sales, 95% are going to consumers that already have a phone. What do you do with your old phone? Secure the Call, www.securethecall.org, relies on volunteers to collect used and unwanted phones and then recycle them back to the community to be used as free 911 emergency-only phones.
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Posted on
8/18/2009 4:17:41 PM
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On Saturday, July 18, volunteers from Goldman Sachs and more than 130 volunteers from The UN Foundation’s second annual Youth Leadership Summit gathered to assist the New York Restoration Project (NYRP) with the reparation of northern Manhattan’s 119-acre Highbridge Park.
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Posted on
8/17/2009 4:25:58 PM
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70 percent of the work at the Gaining Ground organic farm in the historic Concord, Mass., is completed by volunteers. In fact, volunteers of all ages, abilities and backgrounds harvest approximately 20,000 lbs. of organic produce at the farm each growing season.
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Posted on
8/17/2009 10:36:47 AM
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I am a summer intern in the Office of the Mayor of New York City, and I am a proud member of the brand new NYC Service team. NYC Service is a new municipal initiative by Mayor Michael Bloomberg to answer President Obama’s national call to service, and its primary goal is to increase volunteerism and civic engagement in the city
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Posted on
8/13/2009 6:12:01 PM
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Among the many difficulties facing the Appalachian communities of Southwest Virginia is the quality of education. With limited funding, many primary and high schools struggle to meet the Standards of Learning (SOL), set forth by the state of Virginia in accordance with the No Child Left Behind Act. In recent years, the rural elementary schools of Russell County have sought to incorporate an environmental education aspect in their curriculum. They’ve experienced difficulty in implementing the project due to lack of resources and few qualified instructors.
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Posted on
8/12/2009 2:55:21 PM
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Linda Loi has been volunteering in the Golden Gate National Park for the last five years. First in the Urban Trail Blazers Program and most recently with the program Inspiring Young Emerging Leaders, Loi has dedicated hours of her time each week to giving back, not just environmentally but also as a youth leader and role model to others in her programs.
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Posted on
8/11/2009 5:10:01 PM
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What started with a single vegetable garden on the grounds of USDA headquarters in Washington, D.C. has grown into global movement. In their offices across the country and all over the world, USDA employees are volunteering their time to create community gardens, demonstrate sustainable agricultural techniques that everyday people can incorporate into their homes and lives, and showcase the importance of preserving the environment and conserving energy.
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Posted on
8/10/2009 5:54:17 PM
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The YMCA Earth Service Corps joined forces with the Washington Trails Association to get dirty at Mount Saint Helens for a week of environmental restoration.
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Posted on
8/7/2009 4:41:08 PM
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United We Serve to Save Energy & the Earth!! I organized a home energy efficiency event in Battle Creek, Michigan. The overarching goal was to reach out to the Battle Creek community to help lower their energy costs and decrease carbon pollution emissions.
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Posted on
8/6/2009 5:02:24 PM
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Governor Timothy M. Kaine of Virginia participated in two United We Serve volunteer projects at the end of July including a park clean up and weatherization of a home.
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Posted on
8/5/2009 5:40:38 PM
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One of the most beautiful places in the Deckers Creek watershed is the scenic gorge along route 7 in Morgantown, WV. Despite the beauty found here, the area is frequently used as a dumping ground for trash.
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Posted on
8/4/2009 4:31:23 PM
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When I arrived at work the other day (I collect tolls and distribute information at a booth along a 20-mile stretch of road that cuts through the park), a memo sat by the cash register: To: All Department of Interior Employees From: Secretary Subject: United We Serve What a revelation. Just a short time ago, I sat in an audience hearing from the First Lady about the idea that this summer, service would become an activity of all Americans. Now, two months later, a memo from the DOI Secretary announces a “call to action for all employees to participate in United We Serve and commit to a volunteer service goal this summer.”
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Posted on
8/3/2009 7:31:23 PM
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My name is Robby Riess, Assistant Cubmaster of Pack 353 Brooklyn, NY & Brooklyn District Committee Camping Chairman. We set out to tackle the task of getting a few scouts for the much needed clean up of the shorelines of Floyd Bennett Field which impacts the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge area of Gateway National Parks.
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Posted on
7/31/2009 6:49:58 PM
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I started interning with New Jersey Community Water Watch , which is a program ran by AmeriCorps and NJPIRG in a joint project. The program works by informing community members and students and encouraging them to be active stewards of their local water ways.
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Posted on
7/30/2009 5:17:35 PM
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Students at Scituate High School decided that their school was not “green” enough and decided to take action by entering Do Something’s “Increase Your Green” competition, where students across the nation competed to see who could get their school to be the most environmentally friendly.
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Posted on
7/29/2009 2:35:31 PM
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Working with other community organizations, businesses, the City Council, Solano County, faith-based groups, non-profits, WIA and colleges, I am happy to report that we are helping to develop youth training programs, which empower youth to finish school and get jobs. Solano Community College also plans to have a Green Center, teaching green job practices, which will lead to more jobs with livable wages.
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Posted on
7/28/2009 4:25:45 PM
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Over 4,500 pounds of water chestnut were hand pulled from the pond in just one day, a volume of 14 cubic yards.
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Posted on
7/27/2009 5:14:30 PM
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On June 14, 2009 groups of volunteers emerged to “Go Beyond” and help clean and restore the baseball field and park surrounding the Roller and Recreation Facility in St. Louis, Missouri.
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Posted on
7/24/2009 9:14:49 AM
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LHVA is currently building a 40-mile trail along the Lackawanna River. A mile and a half of it runs through Scranton and this section of the trail tends to be one of the dirtiest areas
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Posted on
7/23/2009 10:29:38 AM
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My name is Mitch and I am a volunteer fishing instructor for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and an Anglers’ Legacy Ambassador. The Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation’s (RBFF) Anglers’ Legacy Program is a nationwide mentoring program to introduce newcomers to fishing and boating.
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Posted on
7/22/2009 8:25:03 AM
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At Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet High School in Tennessee, a group of students decided to take Do Something’s “Increase Your Green” challenge, where students across the nation competed to see who could make their school most environmentally friendly.
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Posted on
7/21/2009 8:27:00 AM
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MillionTreesNYC is a 10-year initiative to plant and care for one million new trees throughout the City’s five boroughs.
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Posted on
7/20/2009 8:26:53 AM
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I am an advocate for energy efficiency and have replaced all the light bulbs in my home with CFL's.
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Posted on
7/17/2009 2:45:30 PM
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I am the day to day manager of a nonprofit farmers' market that was founded in February, 2008 with the mission of growing and sustaining a local food economy in and around Pass Christian, Mississippi.
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Posted on
7/16/2009 6:36:49 PM
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The US Forest Service has hosted a volunteer historic preservation program called "Passport in Time" since 1989.
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Posted on
7/15/2009 5:36:53 PM
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On June 22nd, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar joined volunteer and youth groups at Shenandoah National Park as part of a national kickoff for President Obama’s new “United We Serve” campaign.
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Posted on
7/14/2009 9:54:52 AM
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On June 23, 2009 St. Johns Housing Partnership (SJHP) launched its first volunteer-based weatherization project under the President’s United We Serve initiative.
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Posted on
7/14/2009 9:54:44 AM
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Join your friends and neighbors to
reduce energy by auditing your home and helping maintain public
lands.
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