| | | | | | | | OCTOBER 2024 Greetings, LVC Insider! The Lutheran Volunteer Corps and our Fellows are hard at work in the Placement Positions, creating tangible change in communities across the country! In the meantime, our staff have been opening new doors for future Fellows, making strategic connections in a previously unserved U.S. city! We aren’t ready to name names yet, but keep on the lookout for new and exciting opportunities to volunteer with the LVC! | | | | | | LVC STRENGTHENS OUR EMERGENT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FORBES FUNDS | | In previous editions of News & Updates, we introduced you to the LVC’s collaboration with Dr. Craig Maier, an international communications and marketing strategist acquired through our relationship with and funded through The Forbes Funds’ Executive in Residence Program. Dr. Maier provided the LVC with a more comprehensive content and strategy plan, which you will be introduced to in the following editions of News & Updates. Following, the LVC’s Interim President, Jean Ahwesh, and Content and Communications Specialist, Sarah Devan Tomko, met with Fred Brown, President and CEO of The Forbes Funds, and Dr. Hannah Karolak, Chief Program Officer. The informal meeting was to discuss potential collaborations between the organizations and form a strategy for the LVC’s application for a Management Assistance Grant through The Forbes Funds, which would enable the LVC to expand its entrepreneurial capacity and geographic service areas. Our previous collaboration with Dr. Craig Maier also laid a clear path for a new communication strategy between the LVC, our donors, and Fellows. We are eager to start rolling out comprehensive and dynamic content based on the efforts and interests of our Fellows, told through an intergenerational lens. This multi-platform content is expected to be shared with you in early 2025. It will feature an interview series about our mission’s most pressing challenges, told in conversation between LVC Fellows, staff, alums, and volunteers. | |  | | | | | FY 2024/2025 FELLOW SPOTLIGHT | | | DIEGO VARAS RUBÍN: Diego (he/him/his) was born and raised in Apatzingán, Michoacán, where he always dreamed of making a change. His hometown is one of the most violent places in México due to the war against the drug cartels, and his community longs for peace to come to their city, so they can live without fearing for the safety of our families. The peace we so desperately need isn’t going to come if we don’t act and try to make a small but significant contribution. Because of this conviction, he has prepared himself academically (through scholarships) and professionally in three countries (China, Mexico and the US), to acquire the experience, knowledge, and skills to be an agent of positive change. He has expanded his community: he now has beloved friends from many places around the globe and he also wants to fight for them. As an LVC fellow, his goal is to keep learning and to hopefully contribute with my work to make a positive impact in the world. Diego serves as a Refugee and Immigrant Program Intake Assistant for The Advocates for Human Rights. | | | | | | | | | | BOGART NOMAD, Sojourner Truth House, Chicago 1990-1991: "Lutheran Volunteer Corps was one of the last bucket list items I wanted to adventure before attending an ELCA Seminary and 'settling' down in my ministry life. It was fantastic! While in the Sojo House, I dabbled in writing out one of the many book ideas I had accumulated. After my year was completed, I went on a hitchhiking trip with a friend. We traveled from Chicago to Denver, picking up any ride we could get. I then ventured solo from Denver to Los Angeles. I went on another trip in 1992 from San Antonio to Washington DC. Then, I settled down and joined Wartburg Seminary in July of that year. Towards the end of my internship year in 1995, I was moved to take a leave of absence after my last family member passed. I moved back to Austin, Texas, and regrouped. In Austin, I met my wonderful wife Donna, and we started a family. By the year 2004, we had been blessed with two boys, three cats, and a dog. We decided to take a Ministry gig in Blair, Nebraska. I became the Youth Minister as a Rostered AiM/Deacon. Towards the end of our time in Nebraska, I finally wrote and self-published a book. I got on a roll and now have six books on Amazon.com. Check them out! I am currently working on a book that will focus on Chicago LVC in 90-91. It will be called Elevated." | | | | | | | | THE FELLOWS' STIPEND IMPACT FUND FOR LIFE AND LEARNING | | | | We recently sent an email announcement of our new dedicated fund, “The Fellows’ Stipend Impact Fund for Life and Learning”, our new dedicated fund which provides all housing, healthcare, food, and incidental stipends to our Fellows throughout their Fellowship Year. If you prefer a hard copy of our announcement of The Fellows’ Stipend Impact Fund for Life and Learning, please do not hesitate to reach out to our Operations Manager, Theresa Chesney, at operations@lutheranvolunteercorps.org or 202-387-3222. | |  | Any amount donated to the Impact Fund helps provide for our Fellows throughout their service! Please consider offering your best gift or selecting from the tiers below! - $275 - provides all necessities—including rent, food, travel, healthcare and incidentals—to one Fellow for one month,
- $550 - supports all The Alexandria Platz House Fellows for one month,
- $825 - supports all The Twin Cities’ Winona House Fellows for one month,
- $1,100 - supports all The DC Bonhoeffer House Fellows for one month,
- $3,300 - funds all necessities for all the LVC Fellow for one month!
| | | | | | OUR SAVIOUR'S LUTHERAN CHURCH AND LUTHER PLACE'S BLESSINGS FOR OUR FELLOWS | | Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church hosted a Welcome Blessing for our Twin Cities FY24/25 Fellows during their orientation. Luther Place Church hosted a Welcome Blessing for some of our DC FY24/25 Fellows shortly after. At both events, our Fellows were provided prayers and well wishes for their work ahead. A photograph of the Luther Place celebration is featured below. We are extremely grateful for Luther Place Church and Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church’s commitment to celebrating the LVC's past and embracing its future with each new class of Fellows. | |  | | | | | BOARD CHAIR AND INTERIM PRESIDENT MEET WITH ALUM, MARIE RUSEK | | The LVC Board Chairperson, Cynthia Prosek, and Interim President, Jean Ahwesh, met with an LVC alum, Marie Ruzek for dinner this month. (Photo featured below.) Ms. Ruzek is an accomplished lawyer, currently working for Wells Fargo. We are proud of her accomplishments and honored by her continued commitment to our mission. | |  | | | | | Are you looking for new ways to get involved with the LVC? Many of our donors have asked for a more direct way to support the needs of our FY24/25 Fellows and our Fellows have compiled a wish-list of items that will make their communal houses more comfortable. For those looking for a more direct way to support our Fellows in the Twin Cities region, the LVC Meal Train is still requesting home-cooked meals until December! Volunteers should claim time on the list quickly, as the holiday season is approaching! Please contact our National Program Director, Shae Agee, with questions about the meal train or donating an item. HOP ABOARD THE LVC MEAL TRAIN HERE! | |  | | | | | | | MORE WAYS TO GET INVOLVED... | | | | - Please communicate with us and share your insights, observations, and suggestions to news@lutheranvolunteercorps.org
- Spread the word! Tell your community why you support Lutheran Volunteer Corps by sharing your support on social media.
- JOIN OUR MISSION! We invite you to become an LVC insider! Click here to join our campaign of inclusion to receive News & Updates, announcements, and invitations for in-person and video gatherings!
- To make an even more significant impact: Make a gift to our "Fellow's Stipend Impact Fund for Life and Learning" by reaching out to our Interim Executive Director, Jean Ahwesh at jahwesh@lutheranvolunteercorps.org or by calling her at 724-316-9507.
| | | | | | | | A FEW OF OUR TREASURED PARTNERS & BENEFACTORS | | | | | | | | | | Lutheran Volunteer Corps
1226 Vermont Avenue NW | Washington, District of Columbia 20005
202-387-3222 | operations@lutheranvolunteercorps.org | | | | | | | | | | | |
