The best summer

This was the best summer a kid could ask for. i made new freinds leo was kool always ready to help people. the teachers were really kool too. Everyone was kool. Food could have been better thou lol ;) but it was the best summer of my life hope i get to hang with them for more years to come.
peter

Share Our Strength

SOSL students, Ms. Moylan and AmeriCorps VISTA Sasha sold chocolate chip cookies to benefit Share Our Strength which raises money to fund summer meal programs in Chicago and the U.S. Passersby at the Loop Hostel International learned about the SOSL program and bought all 50 bags of cookies and donated extra dollars too! We raised $70 to supply at least 70 meals for youth this summer! Thanks to Ariel at the downtown hostel, hostel staff, inquisitive and kind travelers and the wonderful students who organized this project!

Two Li'l Fishes

On Thursday July 22 we went to Two Li'l Fishes in Uptown to serve people in need of food. First we met the volunteer coordinator. He was a tall, skinny and kind man. He told us that the center was not as dangerous as it used to be because of the new director Isaac. They call Isaac a big teddy bear. The coordinator taught us that people who come to Two Li'l Fishes come for different reasons. Some are on drugs, some have lost their homes in foreclosure, and some don't have family to lean on when they need help.
We went to help workers in the kitchen but there were other groups there. Although we were a bit shy at first we eventually spoke to a couple community members who come to the center. We played Monopoly with Charlie who is waiting on an apartment to move into. He didn't speak much but he smiled a lot.
After Charlie left we met Brenda. Brenda grew up in Tennessee and has a strong accent. She came to Chicago with her parents. When her mom and son passed she decided to stay. She said if she had a car and a driver's license she'd be back to the Tennessee in a second.
It was difficult to interact with people we didn't know but overall we had a good time.

Week Before Last: How Hunger Affects Us

This week we're taking a trip to Two Li'l Fishes, a neighborhood meal program in Uptown. To prepare we studied hunger abroad, the history of hunger in the U.S. and how our community's children are fed in summer.

Hunger impacts me because every year millions of kids die worldwide because they don't have anything to eat, yet we take food for granted. I think back and remember how my mom asked me, and sometimes still does, to eat all my vegetables and I refused because I didn't like them. Now I know that there are kids that would rather eat broccoli than throw it away. Another fact I found out recently is that the world actually produces enough food to feed everyone in the world! So why are people still going hungry?!
Well poverty is one of the main causes, that include poor people's lack of resources and unequal income in the world. But I'm sure everyone's heard and seen this unequal income. All you have to do is look around you. While you might be able to afford a car, you neighbor might be rummaging through their couch just to find change for the bus. Next time you turn down food because you don't like it or don't want it anymore think about how many kids would be dying to have at least a taste of it. Don't take what you have for granted...

Miriam

Hunger is a world-wide crisis that affects everyone. Thankfully I have never had to experience hunger like other kids, but that doesn't mean it doesn't effect me. Not many people really think about others going hungry because they don't see it for themselves or experience it. I myself have seen people on the streets who day in and day out are struggling to find something to eat whether it's by begging for food or looking for it in garbage cans. It can be shocking to discern how many actual families are struggling with poverty. Many of us throw away food like nothing while there are people out there who wish they had even just a slight portion of what we toss away. But we can all cooperate to help these people in need and make the world a better place!=)

Karina

Hi, the question of the day is: "How does hunger affect you?" Well hunger affects me because I get really mad when I don’t eat. I get very violent. I always eat. My family calls me the bottomless pit and I really don’t know if I should take that as a compliment or an insult. But I shouldn't complain 'cause there are a lot of hungry kids out there that need food and a home to sleep in. It's sad to see them like this. Next time you are about to throw food away ask yourself how many kids are hungry in the world. Think of ways you can help the homeless and the hungry p eople. More than 1.02 billion people in the world are hungry. Try to go to your local food bank and help the poor. Give people money if you really care about them and all the stuff that happens to them. Donate stuff. Help as much as you can.

Peter

I learned that hunger effects 14.6 percent of houses in the U.S and that more than 49 million people; that's with 16.7 children. And that one out of four children is probably at risk of hunger. These could be people living in your neighborhood, or in your community. Did you know 90 percent of students at our school are getting free or reduced breakfast lunch at school because their parents can't afford the meals for them? Luckily their are programs that help with hunger in the U.S like WIC or SNAP.

SELENA

Week Two: The Environment

Global warming, air pollution, oil spills, landfills, animal extinction, nuclear waste, non-renewable energy - so much environmental degradation, and only one week to work on an issue.
Instead of troubleshooting how to plug the overwhelming oil hole in the Gulf, we decided to focus a smaller, local issue, something we can literally dig our hands into: a community garden.

A Fun Greenhouse

We went to a natural green house and I got to help plant and pull out the weeds and other plants. It was ok but a lot of work. Other people were making posters. This was at Kilbourn and Addison. We got to know some of the people that worked there like Lupe. She was very nice and she told me that she's been working there for six weeks. Kirsten has worked there for four years. She told us that the garden wasn’t there four years ago. I got to taste some mint. It was good till the end. At the end it was strong. They let us take some home. It was fun working in the garden. At the end of the day I got to play with water and wet Sasha in the face. I got to see a small garden snake in a barrel. It was so fun.

Peter

Greenhouse

On the second week we went to Kilbourn Park Greenhouse. This greenhouse was located at Kilbourn and Addison. There we met some of the people who are in charge of the greenhouse. One of them was Kirsten. In the Greenhouse we did many things. For example, the lady gave us a tour of the greenhouse and we got to smell and taste many things like mint and strawberries. After the tour was done we got to help them out with their upcoming event. They were having some of us help them out by making posters and cutting out butterflies and triangles. Others helped them out outside by fixiong the garden and water the plants. This greenhouse is very helpful because not only does it help the community be cleaner but it helps the people use less gas and money for their vegetables and fruits and going to the store.

Jenny

MIRIAM AND KARINA'S EXPERIENCE AT THE GREENHOUSE!!!!!!!!!!!! :)))))

Last week we went to the greenhouse thats located in Kilbourn Park. We met Ms. Kirsten, who is in charge of the green house, and Lupe, who is one of the people that helps to take care of the garden. We also met Jessica and Sarah, two high school volunteers. This community garden is open to the neighborhood. Ms. Kirsten also has little kids come explore and learn about the importance of a garden.
We cut out triangles for a ceremony they're going to have in honor of some trees that are going to be removed from the park on the 24th of July. This community garden is important because it teaches little kids to value nature and the importance it has to us as humans. It also teaches them how to eat healthier. Not many people know this but gardens or parks improve our health and help us with the environment.
While there we got to taste and learn about plants, fruits, and vegetables. For example we tasted mint leaf which wasn't all that great. There were also other plants that Lupe told us we could eat but we didn't because we were too scared of trying something new. But what we did try were strawberries which we got to pick ourselves. All in all we had a fantastic time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!=)

"Garden Buddies"

On Thursday July 15th We Went To The Kilbourn Park Orgnic Green House. This Green House Is Located At Chicago's Kilbourn Park Neighborhood On The South Side Of Addison Street Between Cicero And Milwaukee Avenues, At 3501 N. Kilbourn Avenue, Chicago, IL 60641. At The Kilbourn Green House I Met Kirsten. We Helped Her Create Some Banners For The Event For The "Garden Buddies" Event That's Going To Be Taking Place On Saturday July 24th. Something Interesting That I Did Was Paint The Banners :) The Banner That I Created Said "Pounding Flowers." Community Gardens Are Important Beacuse They Help Our Community By Bringin' Us Together To Make Our Lives Healthier! In This Community The People That Help The Garden Benefit For The Environment. Yes, Families Can Use The Garden But They Have To Pay For The Space That They Are Going To Be Using. We Could Help Our Environment By Doing All Of The Things That We Don't Even Think About Like Why Should We Waste Money Buying Vegetables From The Store When You Could Plant Vegetables In Your Backyard :).
And Another Thing: The The Greenhouse Is Open Tuesday Through Saturday. Their Hours Of Operation Vary With The Season. The Fieldhouse Is Open 7 Days A Week.

Erika;<333

Community Garden

A community garden is important because it helps the community by coming together and planting food that is organic. It also helps because you can do it with your family, neighbors, friends and new people. It's a time to spend with the people you love. And if you grow your own food it is healthier for you. Not only can you choose the way you plant all your food but you can also decide if you want to grow the food with chemicals or not. The Kilbourn Organic Garden is an example of a community garden because little kids and other adults of the community plant in the garden. All the people that live around the park benefit from the garden. Me and my family can use the garden because it's for the community.

Karla

We went to Kilbourn Park Greenhouse. It is located on Kilbourn and Addison. We met a lady named Kirsten and she showed us around the greenhouse. We saw all the plants, fruits and vegetables they were growing amd we got to pick and eat strawberries and chew on mint. After the tour of the greenhouse Pedro and Sasha stayed outside to help out with the garden and the rest of us went inside to help out with making posters and other stuff for an upcoming event.The event is called Garden Buddies. It is gonna take place on July 24. The event is gonna have a lot of fun things for little kids to do.

Selena

Neighborhood Walking Tour

Do you take the same route to school or work every day? When you stop in a market to grab a snack do you ask about the history of the neighborhood or why the shop is decorated the way it is?
On our neighborhood walking tour we decided to do stop in familar and new places to ask questions that would help us better serve our community. We found happy children in bright t-shirts at Kelvyn Park, unexpected news on foreclosure at LSNA, and most literally a refreshing taste of Logan Square from Ziggy at his decades-old shop.

Kelvyn Park Field House

On July 9, 2010 the Summer of Service youth went on a walking trip around the neighborhood of Logan Square. Their first destination was the Kelvyn Park Field of the Chicago Park District located just half a block southwest from Kelvyn Park High School.

Students were able to visit the field house of the park. The field house provides summer programs for kids. The Summer of Service youth leaders were able talk to some of the volunteers and had the chance to interview them. Through the interview the leaders were able to discover that the park not only provides programs for kids during the summer, but also opportunities in which youth from the area can begin to volunteer at age 13 to work with the young kids. In fact, the volunteers who were interviewed were adolescents from the neighborhood. One of the adolescents was a recent Kelvyn Park High School graduate. All of the volunteers told the Summer of Service leaders that volunteering with the young kids was a great experience.

The young kids who were there seemed to appear to enjoy themselves and have a great time being with the youth volunteers. Two children, a seven-year-old girl and an eight-year-old boy, were interviewed and asked what they thought of the summer programs offered by the park. They both responded with, “fun.” The two children went on to describe their older volunteers as “funny” and “nice” people.

The young boy went on to express his thoughts about whether or not he will participate in the summer programs next year by stating, “Yes, and next year and the next one, until I am 13.” When asked if he plans to volunteer when he is 13 he answered, “Yes.”
The Summer of Service youth leaders had a great experience visiting the Kelvyn Park Field House. They bided farewell and continued their walking trip their next destination . . . Ziggy’s Corner Store.

Leo

Ziggy's Store

This organization is really a store/diner. This place has a store and a little place were you can eat. It has low prices. There are nice people that work there. The owner's name is Ziggy and he also works with his wife. They both are very nice people. When we were there he talked to us about how he used to work in a bar and his friend used to own the store, that the store is over 30 years old, and how the people changed: first it was Polish and Italian people, then, because they have more family they moved and more Puerto Ricans and Mexicans moved in. We went to his store as a class on July 8, 2010. You can find this place on Monticello and Wrightwood. We went here so we can get to know our neighborhood.

Peter

Logan Square Neighborhood Association

On July 9 we went on a walking tour around Logan Square. On our way there, we stopped at the Logan Square Neighborhood Association. LSNA helps not only the community of Logan Square, but also other neighborhoods around. LSNA helps with problems on immigration, house foreclosures, and education. They have a parent mentor program. The parents learn English or take computer classes, while the kids do fun activities. The parents are trained to work with local schools and help with the attendance rate.

Karla and Erika (:

First Trip: The Douglas Center

OUR FIRST TRIP!!!!! We were to go to the Douglas Center which is located in Skokie, Illinois, which we where all nervous about, to visit and interact with elderly people - and it was an amazing experience!

There were around 15 senior citizens all waiting for our arrival, some were watching T.V., others where seated at the tables or in rooms. The room itself wasn't that big, it only had a few tables and couches along with some furniture.

I have never imagined working with senior citizens, I always thought it be a difficult job and boring, but it was the opposite. They were all very welcoming and friendly. There was one who stood out: his name was Russel and he LOVED to talk and tell us how much he liked our company.

The experience was amazing. There was a cabinet in the corner close to the entrance that held games which we went and took out so we could play. I got to play BINGO with all the senior citizens and a few other students. There were prizes that varied from ribbons, to puzzles and small toys, and all the senior citizens were really energetic, which got me to be more energetic and talkative!
It was really interesting because we all got to meet new amazing people and Nykia even got the chance to cook, how cool is that?! We were all very happy and appreciative with everyone. We had a blast. I even heard that Nykia was so excited she accidently burnt a piece of bread! But in the end the cooking group pulled through and the B.L.T.s were delicious! It was so cool and fun, we loved it there are really no words to describe how amazing this experience was for all of us!

Nykia and Miriam

We're Leaders!

Hi, my name is Karina, I’m 15 years old. I first got acquainted with this service program through my cousin Miriam. She explained to me how the program works and how it helps us learn new things. I’m all for trying new things so I said yes. I also said yes because I didn’t want to be stuck at home all summer long. I went to my first project and it was so much fun. I met lots of new people and I feel much more confident. Some other fun things about me that you might want to know are that I like to try new things whether it's food, games, sports, etc. I am still looking forward to the rest of the time I will be spending in this service program, and somehow I just know it will be super fun!

Hi, my name is Miriam, I am 16 years old. I joined Summer of Service because my friend told me he was doing it and that it was going to be fun. Then Ms. Moylan talked to me about it so I decided to join because most summers I just spend at home doing nothing - this summer I decided to spice it up! Also, it was a good way to get more hours while doing something fun! I love spending time with my dog, Casper. I also love to read, cook and play soccer.

Hello there! My name is Karla. I’m 14 years old and I’m going to be a freshman at Kelvyn Park High School this September. My favorite color is purple, but it tends to change depending on my mood. I love all sorts of food but mostly sweets (: A cool fact about me is that I was born on April Fool’s Day. I’m in this program called Summer of Service, which helps the community with daily problems and which we, the students at KP, get to help with! Not only that, but you also get your service hours. I joined the program because I didn’t have anything to do in my house and thought that this would be a good experience to help my community and to meet new people. Even though we have to wake up early to come to school in the summer instead of enjoying the warm weather, I’m happy that I’m going to be helping my community. This is pretty much it, so yeah . . . go read our blog!!!

My name is Lucia, but I prefer Lucy. I am 17 years old and go to Kelvyn Park High School. After high school I plan to go on to college and major in nursing. I joined Summer of Service because I heard it was fun and you get hours. The one thing I can’t live without is my music.

Hellooooo Students And Teachers! My Name Is Erika And I Come From Thurgood Marshall Middle School. I'm Going To Be A New Student Here At Kelvyn Park High School In September of 2010. I Love Getting Gifts And I Love To Eat. My Favorite Food Is Mole Verde Which Is A Mexican Dish (: I'm In Summer of Service And In This Program We Talk About Things That Are Going On In Our World. This Program Helps Us To Get Our Service Learning Hours For High School. I'm Happy That I Joined This Program Because It Is Going To Help Me To Graduate. I Wake Up This Summer Just To Come Here And Talk About Our World, But Mostly It Helps Me Learn New Things About Our World That I Haven't Even Known About That Well. Kelvyn Park's Staff Really Helps Us Students To have A Better Future (: The Staff At Kelvyn Park; Hmmmm I Think That My Freshman Year Is Going To Be Great With The Teachers I'm Going To Have (: You Should Join Summer of Service. It Is Really Fun. I Recommend It For Those Kids That Need Their Hours. Well, This Is It. Hope You Boys And Girls Enjoy Our Blog!

I’m Sasha, an AmeriCorps VISTA/service-learning coordinator at KP and Foreman high schools. I’m brand new to Chicago – moved in November from sunny California. Although the weather has been a shock to my senses, the toughness and kindness of Chicagaons makes up for it. I’m continuously impressed by how articulate and action-oriented Kelvyn Park students are. Excited for the next couple of weeks, I’m confident we'll experience life-changing activities and positively affect hundreds of others in the process.

Hello, my name is Selena. I’m 14 years old and I'mma be a freshman at Foreman High School this September. I came to Summer of Service because Erika, Karla and Peter called me to come. I LOVE Candy!!!!! And I LOVE Chocolate!!!!!

Hi, I’m Peter I’m am 15 years old. I like pie and my favorite pie is Boston cream pie. I am in Summer or Service because I need all the help I can get for my hours, and also I was bored at home. I came from Thurgood Marshal Middle School, class of 2010.

My name is Araceli I’m going to attend to Kelvyn Park High School for my freshmen year. I graduated from James Monroe Middle School. I decided to come to Summer of Service because I'd rather do something than just being at home doing nothing. I’m 14 years old, about to be 15 in a couple months. I was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. My nationality is Mexican. Favorite things to do: I like to play soccer, go chill around wit' my friends, go party a lot, I love dancing, to text, sleep and eat :D. Favorite colors are purple, green, blue and black. These past days in Summer of Service has been all right. I enjoy going on field trips, meeting new people and having so much fun with them.

My name is Jenny. I am currently at Kelvyn Park High School and this is my freshman year. I recently graduated from James Monroe Middles School and decided to join the Summer of Service program. I have made this decision because I would be able to meet new people during the program and also be able to do my 40 hours of service along the way. I’m 13 years old turning 14. I was born and raised in Chicago but my nationality is Mexican. I’m an outgoing person and like to hang out with friends. I like to party and listen to what others have to say. I enjoy playing soccer and hearing music. My favorite colors are blue and yellow. During these past days in the Summer of Service program I have really enjoyed going to field trips, teachers and friends, and I hope the next week will even better.

Hi, I'm Cassandra :D I attend Pomona College. I am a Posse Scholar and I graduated from Kelvyn Park in 2009. I am the college mentor and I like working with teenagers, so I decided to come out and volunteer my time with them. I hope they are having fun. ^_^