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Member of the Month – April 2025: Austin Shepherd, Special Olympics Michigan AmeriCorps Program (SOMIA)
Austin Shepherd is serving his third term as an AmeriCorps member with the Special Olympics Michigan AmeriCorps Program (SOMIA). The Special Olympics Michigan AmeriCorps Program focuses on inclusive health and wellness programming for individuals with intellectual disabilities. The Special Olympics Michigan AmeriCorps mission is to break down barriers to good health for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Members serve in five locations: Grand Rapids, Flint, Detroit, Mt. Pleasant, and Lansing. Members facilitate high-quality, research-based programs aimed at tackling the health disparity faced by people with intellectual disabilities. Programs provided by Members include Young Athletes, SOMIfit, Family Health Forums, Health Messenger, and more.
Shepherd served his first term of service at SOMIA and is currently serving his second consecutive term through SOMIA as the Community Outreach and Ambassador Coordinator with the be nice. program of the Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan (MHFWM). Cat Lanting, Shepherd’s site supervisor explains that his strengths are invaluable to his role, “[Shepherd] excels in communication, particularly with the program’s Ambassadors, ensuring they are supported, informed, and motivated to represent the be nice. program, “ Lanting continues, “his diligent focus on the organization’s mission and values ensures that every action aligns with the overarching goal of promoting mental health awareness and reducing stigma.”
Through his service, Shepherd demonstrates independent thinking, constantly finding innovative solutions to challenges, and consistently demonstrates initiative in improving outreach efforts. In Spring of 2024, Shepherd led a project entitled “Intersection of Mental Health and Disability” that hosted a panel of 5 of his peers. During the panel, Shepherd shared that he lives with a vision impairment. Using his experience and abilities, he has brought an immeasurable amount of representation to our organization and to those that we serve.
Shepherd has a strong, long-term commitment to both AmeriCorps and the mental health field. Lanting remarks that Shepherd’s “dedication to his community and his thoughtful approach to outreach make him an outstanding AmeriCorps member.”
Learn more about the Special Olympics Michigan AmeriCorps Program and other Michigan’s AmeriCorps programs making a positive impact in communities across Michigan. For more information about AmeriCorps, visit www.americorps.gov.