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WIU graduate student Whitney Fowler recognized as an Outstanding AmeriCorps Member for her service with The Giving Gardens in Macomb.
WIU Graduate Student, Whitney Fowler, Recognized as Outstanding AmeriCorps Member
May 16, 2025
MACOMB, IL - - ´ºÓêÖ±²¥ Illinois University graduate student Whitney Fowler was among the volunteers recognized for their commitment and dedication to service by the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS)-Serve Illinois commission, in partnership with the Office of the Governor, on Thursday, April 24 at the 15th ´ºÓêÖ±²¥ Governor's Volunteer Service Awards.
Fowler is pursuing a Master of Arts in Community and Economic Development through the at WIU and is an AmeriCorps member in WIU's Peace Corps Fellows & AmeriCorps Program.
She was recognized as an Outstanding AmeriCorps Member for her service with The Giving Gardens in Macomb, where she has been essential to realizing the organization's vision to build a greener, more abundant, more hopeful community by providing access to gardens in every neighborhood. She has done so by helping plant and maintain multiple gardens; recruiting, training and managing community volunteers to assist with garden tasks; and helping develop a media program to promote the gardens and educate community members on best practices in gardening.
Fowler is committed to sustainability and community development. She believes in the power of gardening to nurture both while creating beautiful, healthy, abundant places for community members to gather and share, thereby fostering a deeper connection to the community and environment.
"Whitney embodies the welcoming and generous spirit at the core of The Giving Gardens and she has been very well received by local volunteers and community members," Fellows Program director K. Mauldin-Curtis (KMC) said. "Volunteers trust her to plan and manage activities and the community members visiting the gardens approach her for information, assistance and to share stories, recipes, etc. Whitney's service is an example of what is possible when personal interest, commitment and service to others come together! Everyone in the equation wins."
Prior to her AmeriCorps service, Fowler received her bachelor's degree in Earth, Society and Environmental Sustainability from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). While at UIUC, she was an active student leader in sustainability clubs and graduated as a Bronze Tablet Scholar.
AmeriCorps is the federal agency for national service and volunteerism - its mission is to improve lives, strengthen communities and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering. AmeriCorps provides opportunities for Americans to serve their communities. Each year, the agency places more than 200,000 AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Senior volunteers in service roles. Learn more at .
To learn more about the Fellows Program in Community Development, visit wiu.edu/pcf or contact KMC at k-mauldin-curtis@wiu.edu.
To learn more about the WIU MA in Community and Economic Development program, visit wiu.edu/IIRA/community_and_economic_development/.
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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