AmeriCorps is an exciting concept, engaging more than 80,000 Americans in service at nonprofits, schools, public agencies and community and faith-based groups. Since its founding in 1994, more than 800,000 AmeriCorps participants have provided more than 1 billion hours of service to our country.
But in Mary Jo Rakowski’s case, it’s what has happened since she was in AmeriCorps that led to her being honored by Gov. John Hickenlooper at the end of July.
Rakowski was named Outstanding AmeriCorps Alum in a ceremony at the state Capitol in Denver. It was one of 12 awards as part of Serve Colorado that Hickenlooper presented at the ceremony, but the only one that went to someone in Southwest Colorado.
Cathy Cowles, director of Regional Substance Abuse Prevention Partners, nominated Rakowski, who is currently the organization’s board president. Rakowski was a “Pioneer” AmeriCorps member during the partners’ first year as an AmeriCorps state program from 2009 to 2010.
She was one of eight members in a brand-new program, serving with the La Plata County Step-it-Up Coalition as a community prevention organizer. After her term of service, she became a solid supporter of the Regional Substance Abuse Prevention Partners, serving on its steering committee, becoming a founding board member and now serving as board president.
This is a cause Rakowski wishes she didn’t know so much about, but it’s because of her personal experience that she’s so effective. Her mother, Virginia “Ginny” Fleming, was killed by a drunken driver. Rakowski took her grief and her anger and channeled them into a passion for sparing other families the same tragedy.
That also gives her magnified visibility in the community to represent the cause of prevention.
Last fall, I wrote about her efforts as a Jersey girl to take relief supplies back to her home state after Superstorm Sandy, and she and her sister, Sandra Fleming, threw a fundraiser with all things New Jersey (Sinatra, Springsteen, Snookie!) before hitting the road and actually heading to the East Coast to help with the cleanup.
She has a tremendous sense of fun. I occasionally am able to make it to her annual Witches Lunch on Halloween, and recently, she stood on a corner (along with her sister and Nancy Ehlenbeck) with a sign offering “Free Hugs.” She had a lot of takers, giving passersby the sense of human connection and caring most of us need more than we get.
(I read once that sociologists had determined we needed a minimum of three hugs daily to meet our human connection needs. That means many of us generally run on a deficit on one of our most fundamental needs as human beings.)
There are many reasons I admire Rakowski. One is her persistence – she has worked one way or another as a leader against drunken driving for as long as I can remember – along with her ability to find joy and hope after such a searing loss. Another is that she leads by example, which we all know is the most effective way.
A case in point? After graduating from Leadership La Plata in the Class of 2010-11, she organized a group of her classmates to prepare dinner at Manna Soup Kitchen the fifth Wednesday of every month.
She has become certified as an Infinite Possibilities trainer, which teaches, well, that many things are possible as long as we take control of our reality. She shares the training with AmeriCorps members at no cost and offers low-cost training to nonprofit organizations.
She is currently working to set up the training at Manna and the Volunteers of America Community Shelter because those are people who need help being hopeful about their future, as Cowles puts it.
Congratulations, Mary Jo. It’s nice to know the governor recognizes something special when he sees it.
HHH
Celebrating the last of the Leo birthdays are Fred Riedinger, Connie Belles, Scott Wallace, Crystal Douesnard, Jill Carlson, Joan Kuhn, Bruce Spahr, Sheri Collins, Ken Fusco, Tom Kyser, Courtney Peterson, David Custer, Jim Martin, Tom McCarl, Dylan Araujo, Vic Sanderfer, Howard Preston, Richard Stockton, Bob Newlin, Noel Peterson, Bailey Smith and Cliff Summers.
HHH
Liz Mora, executive director of the Women’s Resource Center, perhaps said it best when she wrote, “We are saddened, yet excited to announce that Deborah Uroda, our director of marketing and fund development for the past four years, has decided to leave the Women’s Resource Center.”
Sad to see her go, of course, because the WRC has achieved a higher level of financial security and community awareness during Uroda’s tenure. But also excited, because who doesn’t enjoy watching a friend take on a fun new challenge?
Uroda is returning to her media roots – she used to be a reporter here at the Herald – at Inside Durango TV, its video production company, FASTFORWARD Media and the new owner of FASTFORWARD, FASTSIGNS.
Her job will be to create marketing and communications programs using all the various entities under the FASTSIGNS umbrella for business, education and nonprofit clients. She’ll also be developing new programs for IDTV, which features a look at all the fun to be had in our area. Her previous experience at Durango Community Access Television will come in handy there.
I’m a big believer in adults getting their juices going by trying new things, so I wish my friend the very best in her new adventure.
Uroda’s last day will be Sept. 27. She may be showing up to work every day somewhere else, but she’ll continue to support the center in its mission to empower women and help them reach financial security. She has promised to help with the transition, be available for consultation and enter a team for the Men Who Grill fundraiser.
The other teams better step up their game because she is a fabulous cook.
HHH
This seems like the perfect time to remind women that Girls Night Out, one of the Women’s Resource Center’s main fundraisers, will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday at LePlatt’s Pond on the Pine River. The theme this year is “Rhinestone Cowgirls and Diamond Divas: It’s a Bling Thing,” and it promises to be a blast.
Tickets are $45 for WRC members and $50 for the rest of you. They’re available at 247-1242 or members@wrcdurango.org. I hope those of you who read my rant in Wednesday’s column will be inspired to buy your tickets now, so organizers can get a good head count for the food and libations.
HHH
Celebrating their anniversaries with something sizzling on the grill are Bruce and Suzanne Rodman, Jon and Linda Geer, Tom and Cris Spahr, Lou and Jane Steele, John and Stella Welcher, Paul and Susan Plvan, Fred and Shirley Gale, Jeff Huber and Tami Bradshaw, Paul and Marty Sheppard, Dana and Stephanie Strength, Gary and Tina Trotter, Charley and Sherry Wilmoth, Jeff and Dee Booton, Calvin and Kim Buffalo, Duane and Gay Smith, Ray and Geri Wilson and Al and Sandy Studer.
Special greetings to Jim and Marty Monn, who are marking four decades together today.
HHH
neighbors@durangoherald.com
