Portfolio detailing collaboration between Americorps NCCC Southwest's Class 23 Sun 7 and the City of Topeka, Habitat for Humanity, and Shawnee County Parks & Recreation to improve and modernize infrastructures throughout public spaces within and around Topeka, KS, as well as facilitating various public events organized by town officials to provide legal assistance and environmental conservation (e.g. Justice System Record Evaluations & Improvements, E-Cycle Drives, Housing Construction & Community Center Remodeling)

1. City of Topeka, Habitat For Humanity, and Shawnee County
Parks and Recreation
Sun 7
April 11th, 2017 - July 7th, 2017

2. Table of Contents
1. Executive Summary
a. Abstract
b. History of the Project
i. History of the Sponsoring Organization
ii. Initiation of the Project
iii. Location
iv. Community and Beneficiaries
2. Service Learning
a. Service Learning Goals
b. New Learning and Experiences Acquired
i. Knowledge
ii. Skills
iii. Citizenship
3. Civic Engagement
a. Team-Community Connection
b. Overall Community Impact
c. Information and Insights for the Future
4. Personal Reflections
5. AdvocacyPlan
a. What Worked? What Should Remain the Same?
b. What Didn’t Work? What Should Change?

3. 1. Executive Summary
a. Abstract
Sun7’s missionforRoundthree wastowork alongside HabitatforHumanity,the Cityof Topeka,
and Shawnee CountyParksandRecreation.The maingoal forHabitatwas to assistinbuildingahouse,
as well asprovidingsupportforthe HabitatReStore facility.Withthe Cityof Topeka,the teamlendeda
handin the “CleanSlate Day” event,whichallowedforcitizenstoreceivehelpwithpayingoverdue
fines,andtheirannual electronicrecyclingevent.Additionally,Sun7wentaroundthe community
canvassingforthe free summermeal program, calledRefuelTopeka,tobringawarenesstothe
neighborhoodswhowouldbenefitthe mostinthe program.Finally,the teamalsoconducted
neighborhoodsurveystogatherinformationforthe city.Overall,the projectprovidedanarrayof new
and challengingtasksforthe team;an excellentwayforSun7 to endtheiryearof service for
AmeriCorpsNCCC.
b. History of the Project
I. History of the Sponsoring Organization
Habitatfor Humanitygot startedin1976 in orderto helpprovide people withsimple,
affordable sheltertothose whowouldotherwisenotbe able tohave a home.Its focusisto
mitigate povertyforfamiliesinneed.HabitatforHumanity’smissionstatementisto “Build
Homes,Communitiesand Hope. Topeka HabitatforHumanity providesa pathway to
homeownership forqualified families,In addition weprovideneighborhood revitalization,
construction scienceeducation to local high schoolstudentsand weoperatethe Topeka
ReStore.”
The city of Topekaand Shawnee CountyParksandRecreationplayanimportantrole inthe
continuedimprovementof the community.ShawneeCountyParksandRecreationprovides
citieswithcommunitycenters,campsforchildren,swimmingpools,artprograms,athletic
programs, parks,landscaping,andmuchmore.The cityprovidesresidentsthe opportunity
to participate ineventssuchas“CleanSlate Day”,whichcan reduce the numberof people
servingjail time foroutstandingwarrants.Theyalsoprovide residentsof the citywiththe
opportunitytoparticipate inthe eventknownas“E-cycle”,whichoffersagreat opportunity
for electronicdevicestobe recycledproperly.
II. Initiation of the Project
The city of Topeka,Habitatfor Humanity,andParks andRecreationinitiated thisproject
withAmeriCorpsNCCCbecause thereisawide varietyof needstobe met.AmeriCorps
offersmanyhelpinghandsonawide assortmentof projects.Frompainting,tobuilding
homes,toweeding,toassistingthe citywitheventslike“E-cycle”and“CleanSlate Day”,the
extraassistance providedbyAmeriCorpsNCCChelpedmake thingsrunmore smoothly.
III. Location of the Project

4. The team wasable to explore alotof Topekaand what ithas to offer.While conducting
surveysandhandingoutflyers,Sun7 walkedanddrove all aroundthe city neighborhoods.
WhenworkingwithHabitatforHumanity,Sun7 wasable to workon a Habitat house
and were able toput upsiding,install insulation,installadrainage system, andpaintthe
interiorof the home.Sun7 also workedinthe Restore bytakingindonations,pantingthe
warehouse andextractingalloysfromwindows.
Lastly,Sun7 worked withShawnee CountyParksandRecreationandcompletedjobs
such as plantingflowersatOldPrairie Town,abotanical garden,andassistedwithpainting
at OaklandCommunityCenter.
IV. Community and Beneficiaries
Sun7 servedinTopeka,KSand parts of Shawnee County.The targetbeneficiarieswere
moderate-tolowincome communities.WhileinTopeka,Sun7workedwitha couple of
NeighborhoodImprovementAssociationsbyworkinginthe communitycenters,surveyingthe
neighborhoodsanddistributinginformationtohomeownersaboutthe differentprogramsthe City
of Topekaofferedthroughoutthe summer.
2. Service Learning
a. Service Learning Goals

5. Sun7’s service learninggoalsforRound3 includedlearningaboutandimmersinginthe
culture of Topeka,Kansas. Theyalsowantedtogain skillsandknowledge offeredbythose workingwith
the team,and of course learnmore aboutthe member's’strengths andweaknessessothatthisfinal
projectisa productof Sun7’s bestwork.
b. NewLearning and Experiences Acquired
I. Knowledge
Overthe course of round3, Sun7 learnedmanyvaluable things.Inworkingwiththree
differentsponsorsandchangingworksiteseveryday,the teamwasable to understandthe
Topeka,Kansascommunity.Theygainedbetterinsightof the goalsthe citysetfor improving
the communityinTopeka.ThiswasfacilitatedthroughprojectswithHabitatforHumanity
and the Shawnee CountyParksandRecreationdepartment.
Sun7 was thrilledtogettoknow the staff at Habitatfor Humanityandlearnhow their
organizationpairswithfamiliesinneed.Theyalsovisitedseveralparksandcommunity
centers,gainingknowledge of Topeka
neighborhoodsandthe resourcesofferedto
them.
II. Skills
Sun7 gainedmanynew skillsinworking
withHabitatfor Humanity,including
deconstructingcabinetsandlightfixtures,
painting,andinsulation.The teamwasable to
practice paintingwhile workingwiththe Parks
and Recreationdepartmentatthe Topeka
communitycenters.Theyalsoofferedavariety
of projectsthatbuiltupSun 7’s skill set,suchas
gardeningandconstruction.
Additionally,Sun7builtontheirpreviousfoundationof professionalismandpeople
skillswhencanvassingwiththe Cityof Topeka.Membersof the teaminteractedwith
Topekacitizenswhileconductingsurveysthroughoutneighborhoods,andalsoconducted
professionalismwhentheyhandedoutinformationaboutRefuel Topeka- afree summer
meal programfor kidsinthe city. These skillsmaybe usefulinfuture jobsorinteam
members’personal lives.
III. Citizenship
Sun7 didan excellentjobof immersingthemselvesintothe culture of Topeka,Kansas.
Duringthe work day,teammemberswere able tovisitmanyTopekaparks,community
centersandneighborhoods,givingthemthe privilegeof meetingmanydedicated
communitymembers.
For Service LearningActivities,Sun7visitedthe Capitol buildinginordertolearnmore
aboutthe historyof Kansasand attendedlocal festivalsincludingthe “FirstFriday”artwalk,
and the TulipFestival.Duringtheirfree time,membersof Sun7 enjoyedvisitingShawnee

6. lake where theycouldrelax andenjoyall the nature thatrural Kansashas to offer.
3. Civic Engagement
a. Team-Community Connection
Sun7 startedoff the roundstrongby engagingthe communityof Topekathe firstweekendof
Round3. The teamtook part inthe TopekaEaster Parade alongside one of theirsponsors,Topeka
HabitatFor Humanity.Theywalkedinthe parade,tossingout
candy andinformingTopeka’scitizensaboutAmeriCorps
NCCC.The team alsoengagedthe communitybygoingto
local communityevents,suchasthe “FirstFridays”artwalkin
NOTO(NorthTopeka),afree movie onthe lawnat the Kansas
State Capitol,andthe TulipFestival atOldPrairie Town.By
attendingthese eventsinthe community,the teamfeltmore
connectedtothe city of Topeka.Theywere able tolearn
more about the historyof Topekafromthe people theymet
and the placestheywenttoduringtheirtime there.
b. Overall Community Impact
AfterSun7 leavesTopekathere will be several
impactsthat the communitywill hopefullyfeel.While in
Topeka,Sun7 workedona multitude of projectswithseveral
differentsponsors.The impactfromthe workSun7 didwith
the Cityof Topekawill includethe spreadof informationfor
theirsummerlunchprogram, “Refuel Topeka”.Thiswill
hopefullymeanthatmore childrenreceivedfree lunchesand
snacksduringthe summer,and alsowere able tooccupy
some of theirsummerwithfunactivities.Additionally,with
the surveysconductedbythe team, the city will now have a
bankof informationthatcanbe usedtoprovide more
communityexperiencestheyneed.
The work the teamdidwithTopekaHabitat ForHumanitywill have the lastingimpactof Habitat
familiesnowhavingaplace to call theirhome.Asa resultof the work that the teamdidwithShawnee
CountyParksand Recreation,there are several communitycentersinShawnee CountythatSun7
helpedtoaestheticallyrevitalize.The childrenwhogotothose communitycenterswill now have
brighterclassroomstolearnandhave fun infor a longtime to come.Overall,Sun7’sworkaround
Topekawill strengthenthe community,andithas alreadystrengthenedthe team.
c. Informationand Insights for the Future
The informationandinsightsthatSun7 gainedfromtheirtime inTopeka,KansasduringRound
3 will followall of themforthe restof theirlivesbeyondAmeriCorps.The teamlearnedanotherlevel of

7. professionalismthatwill be takenintothe future.For afew membersof the team, theylearned
differentaspectsof workinginacity governmentsetting,somethingtheywouldlike todointheir
careers.For othermembersof the teamtheywere able tolearnmore aboutHabitat forHumanityand
similarorganizationsthattheyare alsointerestedinworkingwith.
Membersof Sun 7 have learnedthroughoutRound3that servingtheircommunitiesis
somethingthattheywill continue afterNCCCisover.All membershave identifiedorganizationsthat
theywouldlike tovolunteerwithafterAmeriCorps.The teamhaslearnedthatstayinginvolvedwiththe
communitiestheylive andworkin,isbestdone byvolunteeringtimetoserve those communities.
4. Personal Reflections
Marley Donnelly:Workingwiththree differentsponsorsduringroundthree hadbeenfunbecause you
are alwaysdoingsomethingdifferentbutIdon't like thatwe don'talwayssee a projectthroughtill the
end.Workingwiththe Cityof Topekahas allowedme tobe apart of a lotof projectstheyworkon like
CleanSlate Dayand the electronicrecyclingday.ParksandRecreationswasalwaysanoddsandends
jobsday whichgotannoying.Habitatdayswere myfavorite because Ilearnedsomuchworkingonthe
house andI lovedworkinginthe restore withthe faculty,theywere all lovingandcool people.Overall
roundthree was a okay.
Thomas M Adams: All inall round3 hasbeengood.It has beengoodworkingwiththree different
sponsorbutsometimesthere wasn'tenoughconnectionorworksomedays.Ienjoyed workingwith
Habitatfor Humanity.
Hannah Hinson: Workingwiththree differentsponsorshelpedtomake sure thatwe were neverdoing
the same thingday afterday and thatwe nevergotboredof the work.The daysI enjoyedthe most
duringRound3 were the onesspentwitheitherTopekaHabitatforHumanityor workingwithShawnee
CountyParksand Recreationatthe OldPrairie TowninTopeka.Those dayswere alwaysmyfavorite due
to the wonderful people we were able toworkwithandthe nature of the work.At the endof those
workdays,I alwaysfeltlike Ihaddone somethingthatwouldbe there fora longtime tocome.
Jack Popwell:Ihave enjoyedworkingwithmanydifferentgroupsandorganizationswhile inTopeka.
Habitatfor Humanity isa groupI've alwayswantedworkwithandgrateful tonot onlysee the building
side butas well assome of the behindthe scenesside while workingatthe ReStore.Monique our
sponsorhas alsobeenextremelyaccommodating.Itwasnice to someone soexcitedanddedicatedto
wantingtoimprove theircity.Althoughthiswasprobablythe hardestroundof mytwoyearsin the
NCCCthe amountof growthand strengththat I thinkIhave developedbecause of itisworthit.
Erica Peterson:The time I have spentinTopekasofar, I learnedmore thanI expectedandexploredso
much of a communityIneveranticipatedbeingapartof. Thisprojectismentallychallenging,asit
demandsa lotof newskills,patience,andinteractionwithmembers of the community.Workingina
varietyof projects,there are timeswhere youare unsure of whateachworkdaywill be like.However,it
isreallyrewardingtoknowthatour work isappreciatedbymanyareasof Topeka.People have been
verywelcomingandappreciative,andIlove beingapartof a communitysodedicatedtoservice.
Skylar Sade: Roundthree has beenunique inthatwe have three sponsorstoworkwith.We are givena
varietyof projectstowork onthroughoutthe week,some of whichare tasksthat do not take verylong

8. for usto complete,sothatcan be frustratingattimes.However,Ihave enjoyedmeetingsomanynew
people andlearningmore aboutthe communitywitheachjobwe are given.One of myfavorite daysat
workwas whenwe helpedthe cityoutwithCleanSlate Day. Itwas a great opportunityforcommunity
memberstohave anotherchance at gettingtheirlivesstraightenedout.Iparticularlyenjoyedworking
withHabitatfor Humanity.Itwas a great learningopportunity,andfromitIhave gaineda lotof
knowledge aboutbuildinghomes.IalsoreallyenjoyedworkingwithParksandRecreation.One of my
favorite dayswiththemwaswhentheyhadus dosome weedingandplantinginOldPrairie Townin
Topeka.
Sheri Parry: My experience inTopeka,KShasbeeninteresting.MyhighlightisworkingwithHabitatfor
Humanity.Ihave workedwiththeminthe past andI have alwayshad a great experience withthem.I
learnnewskills,tipsandtrickswhenIam onthe worksite.Itisamazingtosee the transformationof a
house thatis bare bonestransformsintoa livable,healthenvironmentforadeservingfamily.Ialso
enjoyedworkingatOldPrairie Town,whichisa historical site andabotanical garden.Plantingflowers
there wasreallyrelaxingandagoodway to wrapup the week.EventhoughIwentthroughssome
challenges,the twohighlightsthatIhave mentionedliftedmyspirits.
Daniel Hoisch: Workingfor the Cityof Topekahasbeenan enlighteningexperience forme.Withthe
extraadditionof Shawnee County&HabitatforHumanity,itwas like havingthree separateprojectsall
mushedtogetherlikeplato.Iwasespeciallyexcitedwhenawildstampede of kangarooscame frollicking
throughthe city streets.Underthe expressordersof ourCommander&Chief,Monique,we lassoed
each one andbrought themall backto Australiawhere theycouldlive inpeace again.Withthe added
guidance of our wonderful site-supervisorRobertinHabitat,we constructedaflyingsaucer-like craft&
drove itall throughoutthe Land of the Free to deliverbreathingmaskstoall the goodlittle girls&boys
whowere sufferingfromexcessbodyodourpollutionwhensomanypeople couldn'taffordtoproperly
showerthroughoutthe country,thoughthe muckchuckalienswere a majorhindrance inourquestfor
safe air,because,youknow,theyprefermuck.Myfavorite highlightthoughwaswhenwe builtatime
machine forShawnee countyParks& Recreationto"modernize"everythingthatwasn'tmodernized.
Afterall,currentstandardsof acceptedbeautyare most important,andthe oldretro 70s vibe
throughoutthe townwasn'tverydiggityforthe people incharge.Luckily,we were able tomasterour
technological spacio-temporalassetstogetridof everythingthatdidn'tbelong.Ihave discoveredthe
joysof makingmagic withcities,counties,&habitatsinthisfanatical pataphysical versionof realitythat
has become the sci-fi space operaof ourproject.I hope the muckchuckaliensdon’tdiscoverthatI
hijackedsome of their"spices"inourflyingsaucer.Thatwouldn'tbe good.Godforbidtheymightforce
me to share.
Callie Rogers:From the momentI steppedfootinTopeka,Kansas,Iknew thatRound3 wasgoingto be
unlike anyother.Ilookedforwardtoworkingwiththree differentorganizations,expectingtomake an
evenbiggerimpactinthe communitythroughmanyvaryingprojects.Thisunpredictable nature of the
roundcertainlykeptusall on our toes,neverknowingwhatwouldcome next.Myfavorite partof Round
3 wasthe verybeginningwhenwe begansettlinginTopeka.Ifeltatease beside myloyal teammatesas
we grewaccustomedto our surroundings,gettingtoknow oursponsorsandlearningthe new skills
necessaryforthe weekstocome.Asthisround isnow comingto an end,I can confidentlysayithas
beena trulymonumental time inmylife andIhave hadthe opportunitytolearna lotabout myself as
well asthe worldaroundme.

9. Advocacy Plan
a. What Worked? What Should Remainthe Same?
Workingwiththree differentsponsors,Sun7was able to have a diverse experience andbreak
up the weekswithnewactivities.Some of the physicallydemandingprojectswere broughtinby
Shawnee CountyParksandRecreation,andthe teamworkedwiththemonlyonThursdays,sothey
couldreceive abreakfromthe manual labor.Habitatfor Humanitydayswere onTuesdaysand
Wednesdays,whichallowedforthe longerprojectstobe continuousovertwodays.
An additional aspectof the projectwasSun7 sharinghousingwithSun1. While this certainly
producedsome challenges,italsocreatedalotof benefits.Socially,the teamwasable tointeractand
participate inactivitieswithmembersof Sun1, andvice versa.
b. What Didn’t Work? What Should Change?
While ForestParkwastypically averyaccommodatinghostfor AmeriCorpsNCCC, whenother
camps or organizationscame touse the facilitythingswere notalwayscommunicatedclearly.There
wouldoccasionallybe restrictionsonwhere NCCCmemberscouldbe onthe camp,and whatbuildings
theycoulduse,howevermultiple staff memberswouldgive differentinformationregardingthis,causing
confusion.
EventhoughSun 7 had multiple sponsoringorganizations,therewasnotalwaysenoughworkto
occupy the time.Priortodeployingfordisaster, the cityof Topekaoftenhadtoplace the teampainting
inthe communitycenterswhichwasoriginallythe inclementweatherplan.There wouldbe dayswhere
Habitatfor Humanitywouldlacktasksfor the teamto do. Onthe otherhand,Sun7 wouldalso
sometimeshave toworkforthe cityon Saturdayswithlittle notice giventothem.