More than 20 years after thousands lost their lives in the attacks of September 11, 2001, Americans continue to demonstrate that what unites us is greater than what divides us by coming together in a day of service.   

Beccah Rendall, the Kansas City Public Library's AmeriCorps program manager, explains, “The September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance is a chance for us to make a positive collective impact in our communities. Across Kansas City, Missouri, and the country, people chose to give back this week in amazing and beautiful ways. We were happy to do our part in the forest.”  
 


As part of the nation's 2023 observance of 9/11, the Library’s AmeriCorps Programs partnered with Kansas City Wildlands through Bridging the Gap. AmeriCorps members and staff from five different local nonprofits worked to remove invasive species from the forest at Hidden Valley Park in Kansas City. Without the work of dedicated volunteers, these invasive species make it impossible for new growth in the forest. After hiking half a mile into the woods, AmeriCorps members cut down and stump-treated honeysuckle plants and learned to identify other signs of invasive species.  

You can learn more about the Library’s AmeriCorps programs at kclibrary.org/americorps.