A team of AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps members helped reignite what Vicksburg South Ward Alderman Willis Thompson hopes is a burgeoning relationship between the volunteer organization and the city.

Thursday, Thompson and city officials hosted a fish fry for Team River One, which has been working directly with the city to improve public parks and playgrounds such as Halls Ferry and Fuzzy Johnson Memorial Park.

 

“That’s what AmeriCorps does,” Thompson said. “They’re a great service organization, and we’re fortunate enough to have them housed right here in Vicksburg.

The team’s work in infrastructure improvement included minor repairs such as painting, fixing equipment and other projects.

With city governments tightening expenditures in recent years, Thompson said, NCCC could be a vital resource for the city as the relationship between Vicksburg and AmeriCorps continues to grow.

“We just thought it would be a good idea to form a partnership with NCCC because they’re right here in our backyard,” he said. “We have a lot of projects that we can use their help with.”

He was unsure how the project would pan out, but said the response from city employees told him all he needed to know.

“The guys were very complimentary on how hardworking and respectful they were I thought that was a very good compliment to receive from our employees …,” he said.  That really resonated with me.”

Thompson, who oversees much of the city’s youth outreach and scholarship programs, said the success of the public park improvement project is encouraging for city leaders.

“It’s something I want to continue to do,” he said. “I feel like they can help the city out a whole lot, especially with with our effort to keep the city beautiful. With this project they did, they helped us revitalize some of the parts of the city the public use often. Anything we can do to keep it aesthetically pleasing to those that live here is a good thing for Vicksburg.”

About 120 volunteers come to Vicksburg each year to serve 10-month terms with AmeriCorps NCCC, often being sent to places such as New Orleans to assist with post-Hurricane Katrina cleanup efforts or to areas damaged by tornadoes.

Thompson said encouraging NCCC to work with the city on local projects is a win-win for both.

“I’ve already met with the AmeriCorps administration here in Vicksburg and we’re looking to continue with the project in the fall,” he said. “One of the things I’m looking to do is to build some neighborhood playgrounds with their help. I would like to get them back as many times as we can.”