Ingham County Health Department’s AmeriCorps programs highlighted as AmeriCorps CEO spotlights service with visit > Health Department

LANSING, Mich. – In a celebration of service and community well-being, Michael Smith, CEO of AmeriCorps, will visit the Ingham County Health Department's (ICHD) AmeriCorps programs for a morning of service at the Allen Neighborhood Center and Allen Community Health Center. Members of the Michigan Community Service Commission, the Ingham County Board of Commissioners, and the Ingham County Board of Health will also be in attendance.

The event will be hosted at the Allen Neighborhood Center, 1611 E Kalamazoo Street in Lansing on Wednesday, June 7, 2023, at 9 a.m. During the visit, guests will tour the Allen Neighborhood Center and the Allen Community Health Center. Additionally, guests are invited to engage in a community service project, reinforcing the spirit of service that underpins the AmeriCorps program. Following remarks from ICHD AmeriCorps leadership and Michael Smith, guests will have the opportunity to participate in a Q&A session.

The health department currently manages both an AmeriCorps State and an AmeriCorps VISTA program with 15 members currently serving in either program. Allen Neighborhood Center is one of 12 host sites; AmeriCorps members at Allen Neighborhood Center support and facilitate outreach workshops, maintain the GardenHouse, and support Bread Basket food distributions.

"The contributions of our AmeriCorps members play a pivotal role in tackling pressing community challenges, including literacy, hunger, healthcare accessibility, and sustainability," stated Nike Shoyinka, Ingham County Medical Health Officer. "We are thrilled to share this work with Michael and his team, whose continued efforts to promote and fund AmeriCorps allow our member's work to press forward."

Members of the media are invited to attend the event. Interested media personnel should contact Victoria Coykendall, Health Communications Specialist, at (517) 331-7012 prior to the event to secure their participation, as venue space is limited.

Michael Smith's visit is part of a celebration of ongoing AmeriCorps program efforts across Michigan and highlights the $15.5 million federal AmeriCorps funding Michigan will receive to increase health access and strengthen communities. ICHD AmeriCorps programs are among the 23 organizations in Michigan supported by this funding.

The Ingham County Health Department is dedicated to protecting, improving, and advocating for the health and well-being of all residents in Ingham County by identifying and advancing the conditions under which all people can achieve optimum health through education, prevention, and intervention programs. Through their AmeriCorps program, they work tirelessly to address pressing community challenges and improve the overall health of the community. Learn more about ICHD AmeriCorps Programs at hd.ingham.org.

Posted on Tuesday, June 06, 2023