Nevada Volunteers

NEVADA VOLUNTEERS IS STRENGTHENING NEVADA THROUGH AMERICORPS AND VOLUNTEERISM.

NEVADA VOLUNTEERS IS AMONG A NETWORK OF STATE SERVICE COMMISSIONS IN THE UNITED STATES, WITH COMMISSIONS ESTABLISHED ALSO IN WASHINGTON DC, PUERTO RICO, AND GUAM NEVADA VOLUNTEERS WAS ESTABLISHED AS A 501(C)(3) AND IS RECOGNIZED AS THE GOVERNOR'S COMMISSION ON SERVICE. AS A STATE SERVICE COMMISSION, NEVADA VOLUNTEERS WAS ORGANIZED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEVADA TO CARRY OUT NATIONAL SERVICE ACTIVITIES IN NEVADA. AS A FEDERAL FISCAL ADMINISTRATOR FOR AMERICORPS, NEVADA VOLUNTEERS PROVIDED FUNDING FOR AN EXPECTED 420 NATIONAL SERVICE MEMBERS TO ENGAGE IN INTENSIVE SERVICE TO ALIGN WITH NEVADANS TO MAKE CHANGE IN 15 OF OUR STATE'S 17 COUNTIES. MEMBERS AREA OF SERVICE INCLUDE K-12 EDUCATION MENTORING AND SUPPORT, STEM ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, HEALTHY LIVING EDUCATION IN RURAL COMMUNITIES, ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE, ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND ACCESS TO PUBLIC LANDS, AND DISASTER RESPONSE. IN ADDITION TO ACQUIRING LEADERSHIP AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT SKILLS, NATIONAL SERVICE MEMBERS RECEIVE A VARIETY OF BENEFITS THAT INCLUDE A LIVING STIPEND, AN EDUCATION AWARD AT THE END OF THEIR TERM SERVICE, STUDENT LOAN DEFERMENT DURING SERVICE, AND TRAINING. FULL-TIME MEMBERS RECEIVE HEALTH CARE AND CHILDCARE.

FUNCTIONAL ACCOMMODATIONS MADE DURING 2020 REMAINED IN PLACE IN 2021, ALLOWING THE NEVADA VOLUNTEERS TEAM TO MAINTAIN EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE TO GRANTEES, COMMUNITY PARTNERS, AND STAKEHOLDERS. OUR ORGANIZATION ENHANCED NVVOLUNTEERCONNECT-A PLATFORM TO MATCH NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WITH VOLUNTEERS SEEKING OPPORTUNITIES-TO INCLUDE TWO PIONEERING FEATURES: 1) BOARDCONNECT, ENGAGING PROFESSIONALS WITH NON-PROFITS SEEKING TIME AND TALENT FOR THEIR WORKING BOARDS, AND 2) A COURT-ORDERED COMMUNITY SERVICE SEARCH ENGINE THAT HELPS NEVADANS FIND VIABLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR VOLUNTEER SERVICE. AMERICORPS SUPPORT ALLOWED US TO INTRODUCE VOLUNTEER GENERATION FUND MICRO GRANTS TO 32 NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WITH NO PRIOR EXPERIENCE WITH AMERICORPS, VOLUNTEER GENERATION FUND, OR NEVADA VOLUNTEERS. THE AWARDS OF UP TO 5,000 WERE INVESTED IN STRENGTHENING VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS AND RECOGNITION, ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS OF BUILDING AND MAINTAINING A ROBUST UNPAID WORKFORCE ACROSS OUR STATE. WE RESCHEDULED AND REALIGNED THE GOVERNOR'S POINTS OF LIGHT AWARDS, OUR ORGANIZATION'S ANNUAL SIGNATURE EVENT, TO APRIL TO COINCIDE WITH NATIONAL VOLUNTEER MONTH, IN ANTICIPATION OF LEVERAGING STATEWIDE CONVERSATION ABOUT VOLUNTEERISM. ONLY ONE MONTH BEFORE THE EVENT, PANDEMIC-RELATED CLOSURES BECAME THE CATALYST TO TRANSITION TO A VIRTUAL STREAMING EVENT IN OCTOBER 2020 TO MINIMIZE TRAVEL. GOV. STEVE SISOLAK AND MRS. KATHY SISOLAK INTRODUCED THE EVENT VIRTUALLY AND OFFERED THEIR WARMEST REGARDS TO THE FINALIST HONOREES.