Serve Wisconsin

May 2025 Newsletter

Governor Evers recognizes outstanding individuals and organizations for their service at the 2025 Governor's Service Awards

Governor Tony Evers congratulated the honorees at the 2025 Governor's Service Awards, stating, "I want to recognize all the individuals and programs being honored today for the truly extraordinary work and service you've provided to communities across Wisconsin…and I'm incredibly grateful for the work that you do. Whether it's helping communities in need, cleaning up and protecting our natural spaces, or supporting veterans and their families, the work AmeriCorps does makes a difference. And there's no denying that the overall success of our state has always relied on the hard work and dedication of individuals and organizations like yourselves."


Serve Wisconsin Executive Director Jeanne Duffy reflected on the impact the honorees have made and the example they set for others, "the honorees we recognize today represent the very best of Wisconsin—people who give of themselves, who uplift others, and who remind us of the power of compassion in action. Their selfless contributions have created lasting, positive change, and we are proud to share their stories with you. But today is not just about our award recipients—it's also a celebration of all those across Wisconsin who show up every day to serve. Whether through formal programs or quiet acts of kindness, your efforts are building stronger, more connected communities. You all play a vital role in making Wisconsin a better place to live."


The Governor's Service Awards honors outstanding Wisconsin volunteers, AmeriCorps members, AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers, and national service organizations that address serious social needs across Wisconsin. The 2025 ceremony recognized twelve individuals and one organization from throughout the state for their outstanding volunteerism service as well as 33 AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers for reaching the milestone of twenty years of volunteer service in their communities. The awards were presented on May 15 at Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison and were sponsored by Serve Wisconsin, the state commission for national and community service.


After acknowledging the challenges that many national service programs have faced, Governor Evers thanked them for their service, saying, “I will continue to use every lever and power available to me to continue supporting your good work because if there’s one thing I know for sure, we couldn't be more grateful that each and every day you choose to serve the public and the greater good. Thank you all again for your dedicated service to Wisconsin and the people of this state, and congratulations to this year’s award recipients.”

 

Links for Ceremony Recording, Honoree Information, and Media Coverage

Termination of Wisconsin AmeriCorps grants has impacts across the state and leads to multi-state lawsuit

In late April, communities across Wisconsin began feeling the ripple effects of an unprecedented and unplanned disruption in AmeriCorps service. On the evening of Friday, April 25, Serve Wisconsin was abruptly informed—without prior warning—that $14.3 million in federal funding was terminated. This funding supported 25 active AmeriCorps programs, five developing programs, and the state’s Volunteer Generation Fund.


Wisconsin’s grants were among more than 800 AmeriCorps program grants across all 50 states that were simultaneously and unexpectedly canceled. The decision sparked widespread bipartisan condemnation from members of Congress, governors, and lieutenant governors nationwide.


In response, Wisconsin joined 23 other states in filing a lawsuit on April 29 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, challenging the legality of the terminations and related federal agency actions. A hearing on the states' request for a temporary injunction to halt the terminations took place on May 19. As of May 30, the court has not yet issued a ruling.


While legal proceedings continue, the consequences in Wisconsin are immediate and have been far-reaching. On April 25, approximately 430 AmeriCorps members were actively serving at more than 300 sites across 39 counties. Their abrupt dismissal halted valuable services provided at schools, health clinics, nonprofit organizations, local governments, and other community institutions.


The termination of AmeriCorps grants has already caused significant disruption to vital services:

  • Education: Over 17,000 students who previously benefited from tutoring, mentoring, and after-school programs have lost access to these supports.
  • Public Health: Nearly 2,000 individuals in recovery from substance abuse disorders or participating in health education and care access programs are no longer receiving critical services.
  • Youth Services: More than 900 homeless and runaway youth no longer have access to face-to-face crisis intervention or safe placement assistance.
  • Disability Services: Therapeutic recreation programs serving over 1,000 individuals with disabilities have lost key service providers.
  • Nonprofit Support: Over 250 nonprofits that relied on AmeriCorps members for capacity-building support have seen their capabilities diminished.
  • Environmental Conservation: Stewardship efforts on 570 acres of public land and more than 165 miles of trails and rivers have been put on hold.


While the court’s decision is pending, Serve Wisconsin remains committed to advocating for the restoration of funding and the return of AmeriCorps service to communities across the state. These programs represent more than just numbers—they are lifelines to individuals, families, and organizations striving to build a better Wisconsin.


Media Coverage on the impacts of AmeriCorps grant cancellations on communities across Wisconsin

Service story about AmeriCorps member service with

College Possible Wisconsin

May episode of The S-Files podcast

This month on The S-Files, we explored the service story of AmeriCorps member Connor Grossnickle, who served two terms with College Possible Wisconsin. Check out this month's episode below. You can access all of the episodes on The S-Files podcast series website.


Helping College Students on the Path to Graduation and Unenrolled Students toward Future Stability with College Possible Wisconsin

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service story of AmeriCorps member Connor Grossnickle, who served two terms with College Possible Wisconsin. Conner describes his service, which involves providing coaching to roughly 150 students from underserved backgrounds as they pursue their college degrees. Over half of his students attend Milwaukee Area Technical College, others are attending Mount Saint Mary University, UW-Milwaukee, and other colleges across the country. He discusses not only helping them with common pitfalls that students face, such as issues with financial aid and registering for classes, but also helping them become comfortable on campus, particularly with many of them being first-generation college students. Connor also describes how he was assisting a sizeable number of unenrolled students as they navigated various challenges, working to help them on a path to financial stability either through planning out their course towards financial stability, whether reenrolling, becoming a part-time students, or pursuing another path towards certification for a job or starting their future career. Listen in to learn about how Conner started his journey as an AmeriCorps member and how he hopes to build on that experience in his future career endeavors supporting the work of Milwaukee area nonprofits organizations. (listen to the episode here)


NOTE: The interview for this episode was recorded on the morning of April 25, 2025, prior to the unexpected termination of Wisconsin AmeriCorps program grants that evening, which impacts Connor's responses about the remainder of his service term.

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Calendar: Upcoming Events and Key Dates


JUNE 2025

  • June 5 - Wisconsin National & Community Service Board Meeting


JULY 2025

  • July 4 - Independence Day / July 4th (Serve Wisconsin office closed)
 

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