IN THIS EDITIONAmeriCorps Update | September 30, 2020
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Important Deadlines & Events |
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Final PER and End of Year AFR due for programs with a budget end date of August 31, 2020, including COVID-19 Planning Grants. Access the form
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OneStar Webinar Series: Disability Inclusion. 1-2 PM CT. Register
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Updates from the Field Call. 1-2 PM CT. Register
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Disaster Basics Training for AmeriCorps members. 11 AM-12 PM CT. Enter the password americorps to join the training. Register
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OneStar closed in observance of Veterans Day.
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New AmeriCorps Staff Orientation. Hosted virtually online. Registration pending.
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| AmeriCorps Launches Rebranded New Look
For more than 25 years, AmeriCorps has been bringing out the best in America and creating opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to make a difference in local communities. We are excited to share the launch of a fresh new look for AmeriCorps that builds on this proud legacy while also creating an opportunity to tell a more unified and connected story of service as we look to the future!
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"For years, we’ve been dreaming of a better way to tell the story of national service. Today, we will start to make that dream come true."
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OneStar understands that implementing the new brand will have varied ramifications for AmeriCorps Texas grantees and may be an overwhelming undertaking for some of our programs. While we encourage you join us in embracing and promoting the new AmeriCorps brand identity, no action is required from your program at this time. Over the coming months, OneStar is committed to sharing clear guidance and robust resources to ensure a successful and impactful transition for all grantees. We will also begin gradually rolling out and modeling the new AmeriCorps assets within OneStar's own branding framework.
If you would like to get a head start and begin planning for your implementation, AmeriCorps has created an AmeriCorps Brand Resources page that includes general brand guidelines, graphics, resources, gear, and registration links for training & "office hour" webinars. Meanwhile please feel free to reach out to your OneStar Program Officer with any immediate questions or concerns.
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| Equal Heart Recognized with Excellence in AmeriCorps Award for COVID-19 Hunger Response
Please join us in congratulating AmeriCorps Texas program Equal Heart, which was recognized with the Excellence in AmeriCorps Award for Most Impactful Service. The organization was recognized alongside four other AmeriCorps honorees representing the best of national service at the annual AmeriCorps Symposium, held virtually earlier this month.
Equal Heart was selected for its response to the increase in community hunger caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Through its Texas Service Corps, the organization created the state’s first COVID Disaster Response Team. This new team deployed 270 AmeriCorps members to 28 sites working to alleviate hunger, providing 20 million pounds of food to over 900,000 Texans. OneStar is proud to support the outstanding and innovative work of the Equal Heart AmeriCorps program!
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| Value of State Service Commissions Evaluation Survey
OneStar Foundation is participating in an evaluation project to understand the value that state service commissions bring to states. We are conducting a brief survey that is intended for AmeriCorps Texas grantees, National Directs in Texas, currently serving AmeriCorps members, and AmeriCorps Alums.
The survey will take less than 10 minutes to complete. The data will inform our work in the state and help to identify best practices for commissions across the country to benefit national service programs and the nonprofit sector nationwide. The survey closes on Friday, October 9. We encourage as many as possible to take this survey. Thank you in advance for your time!
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| Jaclyn Kolar Recognized in ASC Innovation & Leadership Awards
Please join us in congratulating Jaclyn Kolar, Director of National Service, for being recognized as Outstanding Commission Staff in the 2020 Innovation & Leadership Awards! Hosted by America's Service Commissions, the awards program is held each year to recognize the leadership and accomplishments of state service commissions and their commissioners, staff, service programs, and legislative champions from across the United States and its territories.
Jaclyn is a fierce advocate for AmeriCorps in Texas and has gone above and beyond to leverage national service to combat COVID-19, while continuing to provide thoughtful support and resources to all of our partners. We are so proud to have Jaclyn in the OneStar family and join with America's Service Commissions in recognizing her extraordinary leadership, adaptability, and brilliance in the sector!
Watch Jaclyn's remarks at the awards ceremony here:
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| Texas Nonprofit Leaders COVID-19 Impact Survey
COVID-19 has had a devastating effect on the Texas nonprofit sector’s ability to sustain an important workforce and provide critical services all Texans depend on. Now more than six months into the pandemic, COVID-19’s long-term impact to our sector continues to evolve. OneStar is partnering with United Ways of Texas, Center for Nonprofits and Philanthropy, and numerous regional partners to survey Texas nonprofits to better understand your latest needs and emerging trends. Your responses will help us better support and advocate for the Texas nonprofit sector and secure the resources you need to continue your critical mission.
Please respond by Friday, October 16. This survey is intended to be answered only one time per organization and should be completed by a senior leader or executive with insight into financial and operational impacts. The survey will take about 20 minutes to complete, and all responses are optional and confidential. For more information, visit txnonprofits.org/covidimpact
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| AmeriCorps Texas 2021-2022 Notice of Funding Opportunity
OneStar is releasing our Notice of Funding Opportunity for AmeriCorps Texas 2021-2022 grants this week. The Notice and all accompanying documents and resources will be posted on our Apply for Funding page on our website.
OneStar will be reaching out to all recompeting programs (those currently in Year 3 of their grant) to share training and discuss plans for recompete applications. OneStar will also reach out to all competitive continuation programs to provide instruction on the continuation application process. Due dates for the Notice of Intent and Application for competitive and formula are outlined below.
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Notice of Intent to Apply Form Due
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Recompete/New Application Due in eGrants
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Continuation Application Due in eGrants
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| Disaster Basics Training for AmeriCorps Members
OneStar requires that all AmeriCorps Texas programs equip their members with basic disaster training. OneStar Outreach Officer, Taylor Wolter, will be hosting a one-hour virtual training for members and program staff on Thursday, October 22, from 11 AM-12 PM CT to train on basic disaster information and what types of activities members may be asked to support in times of disaster.
Use the password americorps to join the webinar.
Attendance on this webinar will fulfill the disaster training requirement as outlined in the OneStar Terms and Conditions. This webinar will be recorded and shared so those that cannot join live may listed afterward.
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| OneStar Webinar Series Continued
We are continuing the OneStar Webinar Series with more sharing of best practices from programs in the AmeriCorps Texas portfolio. Webinars will be recorded if you cannot attend. Please join us for the following webinar
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Debbie Kizer and Rick Hernandez from Imagine Art will share how their program practices disability inclusion in all aspects of their work including having robust and inclusive policies and procedures, inclusion in member recruitment and management, and creating an inclusive environment for staff, members, and beneficiaries.
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| Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Resource Corner
OneStar is furthering its commitment to being more intentional with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work by sharing out a few resources in each AmeriCorps Update to help further our community’s learning and growth around how to create change in Texas.
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Understanding Intersectionality
This article unpacks intersectionality. It describes how our social group identities can intersect and impact our experiences and structures of power and oppression.
The Urgency of Intersectionality
Kimberlé Crenshaw, who coined the term intersectionality, looks at the reality of race and gender bias in this TED Talk. She "uses the term ‘intersectionality’ to describe this phenomenon; as she says, if you're standing in the path of multiple forms of exclusion, you're likely to get hit by both. In this moving talk, she calls on us to bear witness to this reality and speak up for victims of prejudice." Content Warning: Please note that at minute 16:26 there is violent imagery.
Effective Allyship: A Transgender Take on Intersectionality
In this TED Talk, Ashley Marie Preston describes intersectionality and steps we can take toward allyship in our everyday lives. Ashley is the first trans woman to become editor in chief of a national publication, named one of The Root 100’s Most Influential African Americans of 2017, and the first openly trans person to run for the California State Legislature.
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Session 1: Understanding and using foundational principles of equity, inclusion and social justice. | September 23, 2 PM CT
Session 2: Analyzing patterns in our individual work practices and using critical consciousness to build an AmeriCorps that works in the interest of everyone. | October 28, 2 PM CT
Session 3: Using collaborative approaches to strengthen the impact of AmeriCorps in local communities. | November 23, 2 PM CT
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| RESOURCES & TRAINING
Grantee Resource Library + eNewsletter ArchiveLooking for helpful forms and templates? Miss a recent AmeriCorps Update eNewsletter? Make sure to check out OneStar’s online Grantee Resource Library on our website. You can now also find AmeriCorps Update eNewsletters from the past year archived here.
If someone at your organization needs to be added to the AmeriCorps Update distribution list and is not receiving them, you can now directly request to be added to OneStar's AmeriCorps Updates list by registering here.
2020-2021 Grantee Monthly Call Schedule
Recordings of previous Updates From the Field calls can be found here.
Recordings of previous Fiscal Update calls can be found here.
AmeriCorps Texas Grantee Portal
For technical assistance and instructions, please visit our AmeriCorps Texas Grantee Portal Support Hub, which we will continuously update as new functionalities are added. Please contact your Program or Grants Officer if you have further questions or concerns.
You must be an authorized user to access the Grantee Portal. A current authorized user on your grant can add additional users. If you need assistance, please contact Kailee Selzer, kailee@onestarfoundation.org.
Updating Program Contact Information If during the year, you have any changes, additions, or deletions to your program’s contacts, please update your Authorized Representative through the Authorized Rep Update button on your grant record in the AmeriCorps Texas Grantee Portal. As a reminder, OneStar requires the following roles to be designated and corresponding contact information to be on file:
- Legal Authorized Signatory
- Primary Program Contact
- Primary Fiscal Contact
- Secondary Contacts (Primary or Fiscal) – as applicable
- Pre-Award Contact or Grant Manager - as applicable
Please note that it is a grantee requirement to update this form within 10 working days of a change in your program’s key personnel assigned to your AmeriCorps project.
Reasonable Accomodation Request FormThe Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) may have funds available to help cover the costs of providing reasonable accommodations to AmeriCorps members. CNCS promotes inclusive service environments, where disability is valued as a part of the range of diversity that exists in the human condition, and persons with disabilities are welcomed and given every opportunity for full inclusion and participation in national service.
For additional questions about reasonable accommodations and/or reasonable accommodation reimbursement requests, please contact Betty Jo Schafer at bettyjo@onestarfoundation.org.
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