Moving On: AmeriCorps Term of Service Ends

Rebuilding Together Twin Cities was incredibly fortunate to have Kelly Bandman, Tim Erkel and Brent Suski serve as AmeriCorps Project Coordinators with us over the last year.  Their terms of service ended this month, and we would like to thank them for their hard work and dedication.

Tim will be continuing his AmeriCorps service with the Rebuilding Together affiliate in Seattle.  Both Brent and Kelly plan to stay in the Twin Cities and continue working in the nonprofit world, helping people in need and working to improve the quality of their lives.

Kelly, Tim and Brent have been incredible to work with over the last year.  Your hard work, dedication, professionalism and enthusiasm for our mission have proven invaluable.  Best of luck with this next chapter of your lives!

Welcome New AmeriCorps Members!

We are proud to welcome three new AmeriCorps members to the Rebuilding Together Twin Cities team: Kelly Bandman, Tim Erkel and Brent Suski.

Kelly holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Luther College in Iowa.  She has extensive experience working with groups of children of all ages as a camp counselor, program coordinator and student teacher.  Kelly’s background is in the performing arts, which provided her the opportunity to work with volunteers and gain construction experience.  She has a passion for community service and is excited about working with communities in need.

Tim holds a Bachelors degree in Political Science and Classics from Macalaster College.  Most recently, he worked as a Business Licensing intern for the City of Minneapolis.  He also interned with HOME Line, a nonprofit focused on renter’s rights, where he worked on public policy issues to help level the playing field between renters and landlords.  Last year, Tim stepped in to volunteer as our Volunteer Coordinator after our AmeriCorps Volunteer Coordinator couldn’t complete his full term of service.  Tim has been volunteering with us on a full-time basis since mid-February.

Brent recently completed a Masters of Architecture degree from the University of Minnesota.  He also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Gustavus Adolphus College.  Brent has contributed to several large-scale rebuilding projects in Haiti that centered on community building and engagement.  He served as a teaching assistant at the University of Minnesota and volunteered for Art Buddies at Bancroft Elementary School in Minneapolis.

This is the fifth year that Rebuilding Together has been awarded an AmeriCorps grant through the Corporation for National and Community Service.  The goal of the AmeriCorps CapacityCorps program is to build the capacity of grassroots Rebuilding Together programs so they can be more sustainable, effective, and efficient in helping homeowners in need.  Welcome Kelly, Tim and Brent!

2012 Shining Star Volunteer Is Tim Erkel

This month, we recognized the hard work, passion and dedication of Tim Erkel by naming him our 2012 Shining Star Volunteer.  Tim stepped in to serve as our Volunteer Coordinator after our AmeriCorps Volunteer Coordinator couldn’t complete his full term of service.  Tim has been volunteering with us on a full-time basis since mid February.  Thanks to his hard work and enthusiasm, we have been able to continue to recruit and coordinate volunteers and our volunteer base has grown.

Tim holds a Bachelors degree in Political Science and Classics from Macalaster College.  He also played football and ran track for Macalaster and has worked to leverage those relationships to recruit volunteers for Rebuilding Together.  Most recently, he worked as a Business Licensing intern for the City of Minneapolis.  He also interned with HOME Line, a nonprofit focused on renter’s rights, where he worked on public policy issues to help level the playing field between renters and landlords.

Tim loves that his volunteer work with Rebuilding Together has tangible results on people’s lives.  On his very first project, the homeowner came up to the volunteers and said that thanks to their efforts, he was going to be able to take a bath in his home for the first time in a year.  Tim feels passionately that his work with Rebuilding Together has a very real impact on people’s lives.

Our AmeriCorps Safe at Home Coordinator, Tyler White, said “Tim’s enthusiasm and energy really showcase the essence of the volunteer spirit. To work with him is a wonderful display of altruism, because I know that he strives towards the same goals and vision that everyone on staff does, yet he does this with no financial incentive. It is an honor to be in the company of such a great person and friend.”

Thank you Tim for everything you have done and continue to do to help homeowners in need!