Local Grit Beats Washington: Superior AmeriCorps Member Wins Award

Callie Grones was named Wisconsin AmeriCorps Member of the Year after local supporters stepped up to save her job when the Trump administration cut federal grants in April 2025.

How Did Local Action Save Callie Grones' Position After Federal Cuts?

When the Trump administration terminated $400 million in federal grants for AmeriCorps in April 2025, Grones' tenure with the Friends of the Lake Superior Reserve was nearly destroyed. But the community didn't wait for Washington to fix the problem. The Friends of the Lake Superior Reserve held an emergency meeting, pooling together funding, some from their own pockets, to keep Grones on staff. Their grit paid off. In June 2025, a federal judge blocked the cancellation of grants in states that filed suit, including Wisconsin.

What Did Callie Grones Accomplish on Wisconsin Point?

Grones, 23, didn't sit behind a desk collecting a government paycheck. She got her hands dirty. Her service included bringing back controlled burns on Wisconsin Point, organizing the annual Christmas Bird Count, and coordinating over 100 volunteers to rip out invasive species and haul away nearly 600 pounds of trash from the shoreline. She also co-hosted Everyone Can Bird programs, giving folks accessible bird-watching opportunities during migration season.