WFHB

Molly Wagschal has been volunteering every Monday to tutor children in a variety of subjects at the Monroe County Public Library’s ‘El Centro Comunal Latino’ outreach programs. The parents of these students are non-native English speakers, who are unfamiliar with the U.S. public school system, and are grateful for native English speakers who volunteer to help their kids with literacy and their homework assignments. As a high school student balancing advanced placement courses and studying violin through IU’s Jacobs School pre-college program, she wants to support the educational development of Latino children in our community, and help their families succeed in U.S. society through educational achievement. She has made it a commitment to make her community a more welcoming place for Latino immigrants.

FEATURED ORGANIZATION

Activate is a co-production of WFHB Community Radio and the City of Bloomington Volunteer Network.

Dr. John Labban has volunteered his services through Volunteers in Medicine since they opened in 2007, providing prenatal care for many women in the community who are not U.S. citizens or may not have access to insurance coverage for prenatal and delivery services. Without his compassionate service through the VIM clinic, these women would typically go without care for themselves or their babies. Being of service is a family tradition for Dr. Labban, an immigrant himself, who is the third generation of physicians with a tradition of helping in their community where needed.

FEATURED ORGANIZATION

Activate is a co-production of WFHB Community Radio and the City of Bloomington Volunteer Network.

Abbi Surles is one of the inaugural participants in a new volunteer program through Monroe County CASA called Child Visit Monitors (CVM). CVMs make monthly visits to a child or sibling group who have not yet been assigned a Court Appointed Special Advocate, but could still benefit from a volunteer bridge to case workers, ensuring them safety and stability during their wait. Abbi has been a CASA for the past three years, but is now transitioning back to becoming a full-time student and did not have the time to continue her involvement at that level. She has redirected her dedication to serving children and families in a new capacity as a CVM and has been able to continue to fit volunteering into her busy schedule. For Abbi, it’s a win-win.

FEATURED ORGANIZATION

FEATURED VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY LINKS

Activate is a co-production of WFHB Community Radio and the City of Bloomington Volunteer Network.

Sue Cull has been a driving force at Teachers Warehouse, a Bloomington-based nonprofit providing free classroom supplies to teachers in numerous Indiana counties. Teachers Warehouse supports equitable and exciting education, creative problem-solving and student engagement, and offers an opportunity for local businesses, organizations, and individuals to donate useful items. As President, Sue is a remarkable visionary, fundraiser, and connector, whose leadership has transformed Teachers Warehouse into what it is today. She took the organization, whose supply inventory was dangerously depleted, and built it up through supply drives, successful grant proposals, and presentations to Rotary Clubs. She also worked to increase the number of teachers using supplies from Teachers Warehouse and the value of donations brought in.

FEATURED ORGANIZATION

Activate is a co-production of WFHB Community Radio and the City of Bloomington Volunteer Network.

Gavin Everett spends hours involved in Commission on Hispanic and Latino Affairs activities, often saying, “just tell me what I can do to help.” The Bloomington community shares a rich and diverse Hispanic and Latino community and the commission works to identify and research the issues that impact this population, especially in areas of health, education, public safety and cultural competency. Gavin exemplifies the highest commitment to the community through his service and displays a seemingly never-ending compassion and concern for Hispanic and Latino community members.

FEATURED ORGANIZATION

Activate is a co-production of WFHB Community Radio and the City of Bloomington Volunteer Network.

Jim Harvey’s decade-long history of volunteer service at Shalom Community Center has encompassed all facets of center operations – from board governance to fixing leaky toilets. At the core of his contributions is his concern for those suffering from the devastating impacts of poverty. Motivated by his desire for social justice, Jim transferred the skills and abilities that he used to successfully run the school corporation to assisting in the operations of the Center. Jim served on the Board of Trustees from 2008 to 2017, during which time he consistently provided leadership on the Operations Committee. Jim led the fundraising efforts for the new building campaign in 2010 and coordinated the entire operation – scouting locations, consulting with architects, and overseeing the contractors throughout the remodel.

FEATURED ORGANIZATION

Activate is a co-production of WFHB Community Radio and the City of Bloomington Volunteer Network.

The support of Bloomington’s growing Latino population has soared with the hard work of Lillian Casillas. Her work for the past sixteen years with El Centro Comunal Latino and the AMIGOS Club has been transformative for Latino families integrating into the Bloomington community. Lillian’s personal experiences allow her to bring both a warm lightheartedness and a grounding understanding to her encounters with new families to the area.  She has established, supported, and catalyzed the growth of many resources and organizations for the Latino community. Lillian is a stand out in her determination to overcome barriers, creating pathways to resources and opportunities, and believing in a Bloomington in which all families can thrive.

FEATURED ORGANIZATION

Activate is a co-production of WFHB Community Radio and the City of Bloomington Volunteer Network.

Mona Clay sets the standard for volunteers at Girls Inc. The reliability of volunteers mentoring these girls is incredibly important – for the functionality of the programming and for the strength of the mentoring relationship. Girls know that Mona will be there week after week, and they know that she cares for them. Volunteers who nourish their relationships with the girls are priceless and Mona understands this. During Mona’s time with Girls Inc., she has consistently sought ways to contribute more. She views her service from the perspective of what is needed by Girls, Inc., going above and beyond in the quality, quantity, and timing of her service. She truly shows these girls how to be strong, smart, and bold as she sets an amazing example for other volunteers.

FEATURED ORGANIZATION

Activate is a co-production of WFHB Community Radio and the City of Bloomington Volunteer Network.

Air date: 04/30/2018

Mary DePew’s herculean volunteer efforts at Volunteers In Tutoring Adult Learners (VITAL) have directly impacted nearly 100 English language learners locally. Those new to the U.S. and new to English often have little interaction with the community until they have achieved the ability to communicate. Mary’s many groups allow her students to work toward their personal literacy goals, gaining self-sufficiency, and enhancing their English conversation skills, while engaging in arts and crafts, discussing literature, and learning about U.S. customs. Since 2011, Mary has lead up to four ‘English as a New Language’ sessions per week. She engages with her learners on Facebook, takes them on field trips in the community and encourages them to try new experiences.

FEATURED ORGANIZATION

Activate is a co-production of WFHB Community Radio and the City of Bloomington Volunteer Network.

Air date: 04/23/2018

FEATURED ORGANIZATION

Activate is a co-production of WFHB Community Radio and the City of Bloomington Volunteer Network.