It is with great honor that I nominate the three AmeriCorps members – Christopher Leet, Kyle, and Shakira Davis – for the National Service Impact Award.

Chris, Kyle, and Shakira are deeply committed to the service of others and compassionate about the ‘Finding a Voice’ (FAV) project. The three were formally homeless, completing the addiction recovery program, and have a true understanding of the homeless population they are serving. They offer invaluable insight into the needs of the homeless and allow our project to build essential trustworthy relationships. They serve as inspiring role models to current homeless guests, individuals in treatment, health professions students, and other community members.

Through FAV, the AmeriCorps are fostering Healthy Futures and improving the overall well-being of homeless individuals and addicts. The program takes place at the Siena/Francis House homeless shelter and treatment center, the largest in Nebraska – is a collaboration between the University of Nebraska Medical Center, College of Public Health, Service Learning Academy and Metropolitan Community College.

The project’s approach is highly innovative – addressing the needs of homeless while teaching and touching the lives of students and various community members. ‘FAV ‘was first developed in 2008 as a service-learning program that brings homeless guests and health professions students together. Its mission is to celebrate dignity, promote wellness, and create a safe community where all participants can find a voice through creative expression, interaction, and self-reflection. The project strives to enhance awareness about homelessness among students and the broader Omaha community.

‘FAV ‘consists of three components (each workshop occurs once per week): 1) Artists in Recovery: Shelter guests, students, and other community members work on a range of art from drawing to music. 2) Creative Workshop: Health professions students and guests interact to form positive relationships as well as express themselves through writing. 3) The Turtle Project: High school students creatively engage with homeless children and mothers.

In their critical roles, Chris, Kyle, and Shakira help facilitate and coordinate workshops, recruit participants (particularly homeless guests and those in treatment), and give valuable insight for project direction at team meetings. Thanks to their diligence and dedication in recruitment efforts, this year, over 700 participated in the program, with over 50 students. In March 2012, a successful art exhibition was held at a local gallery, where Artists in Recovery participants shared their voice through poetry, music performances, and displayed artwork. With over 200 individuals in attendance, and TV coverage, the exhibition reached out to the broader community and raised awareness about homelessness and transformation. (See Video).

The AmeriCorps also presented a poster at the national Community-Campus Partnerships for Health in Houston, Texan in May 2012. Our poster won 2nd prize among at least 90 other posters (See photo).

Those involved take away more than they bring in: One health professions student shares her experience: “I thought that I was going to be the one to help ‘those’ people, but through this, I was the one who was helped.” And another stated: "The project reinforced the idea of recognizing human dignity in each person; not just see a person as homeless, addict, or prostitute, but as a human being and honoring that."

We are honored to have these three extraordinary individuals on our ‘Finding a Voice’ team. The project would not have the same impact, growth, and heart without them!

'Finding a Voice' article: http://www.hektoeninternational.org/Finding-a-voice.html