 AmeriCorps
Members celebrate the planting of 1,000 trees and thousands of sea oats at Virginia
Key Beach Park
May 18. »
THE 2008 AMERICORPS AND NATIONAL SERVICE CONFERENCE and
the closing ceremonies for NATIONAL AMERICORPS WEEK, held in
Miami May 17 - 18, were marked by nationally renowned speakers, member enthusiasm,
a phenomenal "green" service project at Virginia
Key Beach Park, an
exciting closing rally at Bayfront
Park, and loads of media coverage!
The weekend event kicked off with "Life After AmeriCorps" trainings
held at the conference hotel, the InterContinental
Miami. Following the training events,
600 AmeriCorps members gathered in the InterContinental's Grand Ballroom for
a fabulous dinner, entertainment, and inspirational speeches from AmeriCorps
CEO David Esiner; Deputy Assistant to the President
and Director of USA Freedom Corps Henry Lozano; winner of the
second season of Donald Trump's "The Apprentice" Kelly Perdew;
New York Times best-selling author Brad Meltzer; and nationally
known author, singer and speaker on disability inclusion Shari Rusch,
just to name a few!
 David
Eisner, CEO of AmeriCorps,
speaks at the conference opening session,
held May 17 at the InterContinental Miami's Grand Ballroom. »
But the weekend was just beginning! AmeriCorps
members from all over Florida gathered at Virginia Key Beach Park for a very
special and historic "green" service
project. This project, sponsored by AmeriCorps, the City
of Miami,
and EcoMedia, restored 16 acres of Virginia Key Beach.
Virginia
Key Beach Park, dedicated in 1945, remained segregated through the 1950s until
civil rights laws opened public beaches to all. In 1982, Virginia Key Beach was
closed, citing high maintenance and operational costs.
In August 2002, Virginia Key Beach was placed on the National Register of
Historic Places and given a Florida Historical Marker. In February 2008, the
park reopened.
In partnership with the City of Miami and EcoMedia, AmeriCorps
and National Service members joined with Miami Mayor Manny
Diaz and other city
officials to plant 1,000 trees and thousands of sea oats simultaneously,
restoring Virginia Key Beach Park to its former glory and leaving a legacy that
will impact Miami, our state and our nation for years to come!
 Tina
Hills Pavilion and Bayfront Park was the site for National AmeriCorps Week's
Closing Ceremony May 18. »
After working hard at the beach, what better
way to close the event than with a Finale Rally at Bayfront Park's Tina Hills
Pavilion? After being served a tasty lunch by ACTS
World Relief, the rally kicked off
with rousing music from Island
Heat,
followed by a marching band, more celebrity speakers, and a special performance
by the Exit
Youth Choir from Trinity Church.
AmeriCorps members then took a recommitment
pledge, led by Miami Justice Bernard S. Shapiro, and Volunteeer
Florida CEO Wendy Spencer presented an environmentally themed
painting created by AmeriCorps members and Environmental Event Artist "SusieQ"
Wood to the City
of Miami.
A “Finale
Service Fair” provided an opportunity for AmeriCorps volunteers and the
general public to learn about the environment and service opportunities.
National
AmeriCorps Week was capped off by a ceremonial planting of 10 trees at Bayfront
Park. This special tree planting is a part of the City of Miami's effort to increase
the tree canopy in the city 30 percent by the year 2017!
 A
ceremonial tree planting at Bayfront Park capped off the National AmeriCorps
Week Celebration.»
After four events in two days, tired but happy
AmeriCorps members boarded buses to return home, knowing they had both made a
difference in Miami and showcased service opportunities through AmeriCorps to
the entire nation!
Volunteer Florida thanks its AmeriCorps members,
and everyone who took part in this very special two-day event!
Watch the CBS WFOR-TV News Coverage of the events
Visit the Event Web site
A special thank you to our partners! |
