“I hope to improve my Spanish fluency and make lifelong connections with both my community in the Dominican Republic and other Peace Corps volunteers. After service, I intend to attend grad school for a master’s in international development,” said Loffing. “I am most excited to learn how to dance merengue and bachata!”
Loffing is a graduate of Ohio State University with a bachelor’s degrees in business administration and Spanish, Iberian literatures and cultures. He will serve as a volunteer in the Dominican Republic in the youth in development sector. The volunteer cohorts are made up of both first-time volunteers and volunteers who were evacuated in early 2020. Upon finishing a three-month training, volunteers will collaborate with their host communities on locally prioritized projects in one of Peace Corps’ six sectors – agriculture, community economic development, education, environment, health or youth in development – and all will engage in COVID-19 response and recovery work. Currently, the agency is recruiting volunteers to serve in 59 countries around the world at the request of host country governments, to connect through the Peace Corps’ grassroots approach across communities and cultures. Volunteers have already returned to a total of 55 countries around the world. The Peace Corps continues to monitor COVID-19 trends in all of its host countries and will send volunteers to serve as conditions permit. Americans interested in transformative service and lifelong connections should apply to Peace Corps service at www.peacecorps.gov/apply. About the Peace Corps: The Peace Corps is an international service network of volunteers, community members, host country partners and staff who are driven by the agency’s mission of world peace and friendship. At the invitation of governments around the world, Peace Corps volunteers work alongside community members on locally prioritized projects in the areas of education, health, environment, agriculture, community economic development and youth development. Through service, members of the Peace Corps network develop transferable skills and hone intercultural competencies that position them to be the next generation of global leaders. Since President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps in 1961, more than 240,000 Americans have served in 143 countries worldwide. For more information, visit peacecorps.gov and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Submitted by Peace Corps Come out and help support people of Champaign County. Breast Friends Forever of Champaign County helps those with breast related issues from mammograms to breast cancer patients.
Berry's new venture is focusing on giving high school students the support and resources they need to keep their entrepreneurial spirit here in Champaign County. Robin Henry of Junior Achievement has been working alongside Berry to establish the Entrepreneur Club of Champaign County. At the first meeting of new members, Henry said, "We are so excited to be a part of this project. It has been a need in our community for quite some time, and seeing that need being filled is extremely rewarding." The new club's first meeting included a field trip to the newly renovated offices of Berry Digital Solutions, where members enjoyed coffee from The Spotted Owl Coffee Bar while brainstorming ideas on whiteboards throughout the space. Club members completed activities supplied by the local Junior Achievement chapter with a focus on entrepreneurship. The group ended their trip enjoying pizza from the rooftop at Urbana Brewing Company where they heard the story of how the new downtown business became a reality after years of planning. Future meetings of the Entrepreneur Club of Champaign County hope to include more community support and stories from fellow entrepreneurs. Berry hopes the organization will grow and brainstorm future ideas to make money to support club initiatives and fund future business ideas.
"Ryan's energy around this project is what is going to keep the students engaged," said Patrick Johnson, Triad High School's Director of Academic Programs. "I didn't know what to expect at our first meeting, but I think everyone there agreed that it exceeded all of our expectations." The new club hopes to meet once per month going forward. There are even plans for summer meetings, as well as appearances at future local events.
Look no farther than OhioMeansJobs. For those looking for a job, you can find resources and even post your resume. They also have a ton of resources for students including career path exploration and resume building. And it’s a great place for employers to find their next great employee. With great programs and free resources, OhioMeansJobs is an invaluable resource for our community. They are committed to helping those in need of a job get connected to the right employer. Check them out at https://www.champaigndjfs.org/ohiomeansjobs.html
A chamber of commerce provides networking for business owners along with free publicity and access to discounts. Our Chamber has partnered with Business Equipment Company to provide goods and services to members. The Chamber also has a boardroom that is free for members to use. The Champaign County Chamber also hosts events such as an Annual Golf Outing, the Chamber Night at the Races and their Annual Dinner that is happening tonight at Wren Farms.
Our Chamber also has several programs such as iLead for Young Professionals, Leadership Champaign County, Safety Council and the Local Ag Council. A part of the Chamber is also the Visitors Bureau. The Visitor’s Bureau showcases the array of activities Champaign County has to offer. Check out their website for the current activities happening throughout the County. From that point, Marcia Bailey, former director of the Champaign Economic Partnership (CEP), along with the city began to work with True inspection Servis (TIS) and Orbis to redevelop the existing building and sell the remaining parcels.
All of that hard work has come to fruition in the past few weeks as we saw the Grand Opening of the Community Health and Wellness Partners new facility in the old building and Orbis officially became the owners of the remaining parcels. At the ribbon cutting, guests were treated to a tour of the new facility. They had pictures of various locations that depicted what the original building looked like. A testament to hard work and dedication, and seeing the potential beyond the current reality, the new Johnson's building stands as a shining example of not judging a book, or a city, by its cover.
To register, click here.
In these sessions families will grow in their understanding of nourishing their own resilience. Together we will engage in activities that integrate the mind and the body. The experiential nature of the sessions will invite introspection as well as connection with others as a way to foster nourishment and well-being.
This session will help families understand how toxic stress impacts the brain and body and our behavioral patterns. We’ll then put special focus on how we can join one another on the healing journey. In our time together we’ll unpack 5 Core Convictions that support building a trauma-responsive lens in order to address people and situations in a trauma-responsive manner. To register, click here. The first 5 people who register for the workshop are eligible for either a $10 gas card or gift card to Chakeres, now UEC, Theatre in Springfield, after attending both sessions. |
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