AmeriCorps Serves Southeast Wisconsin, Greendale Included

If you blinked at all this spring you probably missed our select, selfless and caring group of young visitors to Greendale, and that's a bit of a shame.

Back on St. Patrick's Day, the "Cedar 3" ten-person team of AmeriCorps volunteers converged here from around the country, jammed into the little, yellow roadhouse next to the big red barn on Loomis Rd., and did what they came to do: serve.

For seven weeks the group removed invasive species of weeds such as buckthorn and honeysuckle from county parks, built trails, picked up trash, installed a community garden in a vacant lot of the Harambee neighborhood of Milwaukee and helped out with the Spring River Cleanup.

By the time you read this they'll be on the road again, assisting with the pressing and dire local needs of the recent tornado victims in northern Mississippi.

Matt Turner, 19, of Burlington, Vt., a first-time visitor to Wisconsin and one of the youngest members of the ten-person team, enjoyed his brief stay here and talked about his 10-month commitment to the NCCC.

"It's a learning and growing experience," he said. "It tests your strength to pack up your life randomly and live with nine people you've never met and work with them as a team. I really wanted to go where help is needed and I can make a difference. I like to travel and I've never seen Mississippi either. I'm excited."

When his AmeriCorps stint is up in November, Turner will receive a grant toward school and return home to attend college in Vermont. During these 10 months Turner and the others will have fulfilled the required 1,700 hours of service and the expected additional 80 hours of duty on their own time.

Lacy Caristi, 20, from Rohnert Park, CA., joined up "for the adventure and to help people."

"It's a perfect opportunity to serve the country in a volunteer way," she said.

The AmericCorps NCCC program is considered the "domestic version of the Peace Corps" by many, and strives to "improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering." Its structure and training of dedicated and energetic young adults allows for rapid deployment of teams in emergencies, hence the upcoming trip of Cedar 3 to aid the victims in Mississippi.

Dave Condlin, 23, of Norfolk, MA., a recent college graduate and an older member of the team, embraces the "big brother" role he's found himself in.

"It's like a family atmosphere here," he said. "I want to help my teammates grow. When you share a small house and sleep inches apart it toughens you up. It's a great opportunity to find a career path and really tests your strength and abilities. It's definitely a different transition than going from college straight to a career, but I hope to continue to serve the country in a volunteer way."

So in the weeks and months ahead, if you missed them this time, you may want to keep an eye on that small, yellow youth hostel nestled along the Root River Parkway and stop and greet the next group of special young adults in for a short stay.