Please visit our recently migrated blog at www.nationalservice.gov/blogs. This Tumblr blog will be used to house archived posts only. We are the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency that helps more than 5 million Americans improve the lives of their fellow citizens through service. Working hand in hand with local partners, we tap the ingenuity and can-do spirit of the American people to tackle some of the most pressing challenges facing our nation.
Senior Corps volunteering improves health, community engagement
America’s older adult population faces a variety of challenges as they age, including social isolation and associated health concerns like depression. Senior Corps not only serves this population through our Senior Companion and Foster Grandparent programs but also makes it possible for older adults to give back to their communities. A recently released independent report by the Corporation for National and Community Service reveals the impact of this service – seniors who volunteer are healthier and happier.
More than 80 percent of volunteers surveyed reported feeling healthier and feel less socially isolated after serving in Senior Corps. Older adults are more likely to face physical, financial, or social barriers to volunteering, but Senior Corps provides opportunities that accommodate these concerns and makes it possible for seniors to reengage as active community members.
The Benefits of National Service
Senior Corps and AmeriCorps programs provide solutions that are at the forefront of our country’s most complicated and pressing issues. They assist underserved populations and introduce a spirit of civic engagement that empowers communities to build solutions that fit their specific needs. National service members and volunteers take on difficult-but-necessary tasks to overcome challenges affecting Americans and, in the process, address underlying issues such as social isolation.
One key difference between Senior Corps and other volunteering opportunities is the provision of a small hourly stipend for income-eligible volunteers. For many, this aid makes all the difference. While the report says most volunteers reported serving in their community because they want to help, close to one-third had an underlying financial reason. The modest stipend provided by Senior Corps helps remove obstacles to volunteering and ensures participants don’t incur additional costs while serving.
Through Senior Corps, 55 and older volunteers find new avenues for personal growth, a sense of accomplishment and meaningful community service, and a chance to make friends. They feel less socially isolated and are able to put their years of experience back into the community.
Celebrating Older Americans Month
May is Older Americans Month and it’s more than a celebration of the contributions made by this group of citizens. It’s an opportunity to connect older Americans to a sense of community. The Administration for Community Living offers a variety of easy ways to build this connection – arrange a community meal, plan a resource fair, use social media to connect older adults to each other, or simply be available to chat and listen.
Senior Corps and AmeriCorps are often the muscle behind programs that provide essential services to underserved communities, but more importantly, they foster relationships with the people they serve. National service brings humanity and compassion to a conversation that too often is focused on the issue. Members pledge to improve lives and strengthen communities and that begins with human connection.
Click here to learn more about the impact of national service and the benefits of volunteering with Senior Corps.
Want a Healthier, Happier Life? Volunteer with Senior Corps
By Deborah Cox-Roush, Director, Senior Corps
Join CNCS as we celebrate Older Americans Month
Community leader, mentor, disaster responder, tutor, patient advocate – these are just a few terms I am proud to use to describe Senior Corps volunteers. Tailored to adults age 55 and over, our Senior Corps Foster Grandparent, Senior Companion, and RSVP volunteer programs include more than 200,000 seniors nationwide who engage in volunteer activities that support critical community services that improve the quality of life for all generations. Now, as we enter May and Older Americans Month, I am delighted to report that while our volunteers are helping others, they are also improving their own health.
The Benefits of Senior Corps Service
How do I know this? We conducted a rigorous, independent study of more than 1,000 of our Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion volunteers across a three-year period to determine if their service had any effect on their overall health and well-being. The results of the study were astounding and confirmed what we had long suspected – volunteering in Senior Corps bears tremendous health benefits.
Our volunteers reported higher self-rated health scores compared to other older adults in similar circumstances who did not volunteer. After two years of service in Senior Corps, 84 percent of older adults reported improved or stable health. And, of those who reported depression at the beginning of the study, 78 percent said they felt less depressed after two years of volunteering. This study shows lower mortality rates, increased strength and energy, lower rates of depression, and fewer physical limitations in those who volunteer in our programs.
Combating Depression
Beyond the health benefits, what really excites me about this study is the potential it demonstrates for older adults. Older adults are especially vulnerable to health problems linked to depression and social isolation, and often face increased barriers to finding volunteer opportunities. Seniors with financial or physical limitations are also underrepresented in volunteering and are considered a high-risk for poorer health outcomes and other health disparities. Eighty percent of the individuals in this study have household incomes of $20,000 or less and are often underrepresented in other volunteer programs.
Senior Corps provides access, structure, and financial support for programs that engage older Americans who otherwise would not be able to volunteer. As a result, volunteers are actively serving their communities, feeling a sense of accomplishment and purpose, and reaping the health benefits.
Keeping Up with a Growing Population
For more than five decades, older Americans have been serving their communities through Senior Corps programs that meet needs in education, health care, and other safety net services across the country. These volunteers contribute more than 55 million hours annually, service worth more than $1 billion to the U.S. economy. The contributions of senior volunteers will likely grow as this age group grows to make up one-fifth of the U.S. population by 2030.
We know older adults are tremendous assets who provide enormous social and economic benefits to their communities. So, if you or a senior in your community wants to live a healthier, happier life – join Senior Corps. And join us as we celebrate Older Americans Month and support Senior Corps by spreading the word about the personal and community benefits of volunteering.
Click here to read President Trump’s Older Americans Month Proclamation
Deborah Cox-Roush is Director of Senior Corps at the Corporation for National and Community Service. Click here to learn more about Senior Corps and visit our Healthy Volunteers page to discover more about the health benefits of Senior Corps volunteering.
April is a big month for those who give their time to serve; it is National Volunteer Month and National Volunteer Week from April 7-13. The Corporation for National and Community Service encourages all Americans to see this celebration of service as an invitation to connect with their community and lend a helping hand. If you are interested in volunteering but aren’t sure where to start, now is the perfect time to learn a bit more and join the fun.
National Volunteer Week is a reminder of the power and passion of volunteers, and all the ways they make a difference. Senior Corps volunteers and AmeriCorps members are a prime example of this; they volunteer their time and come together to meet and exceed community goals.
And when you volunteer, you do more than serve your community, you open yourself up to health benefits like increased energy, improved mood, and decreased social isolation.
Volunteers are the lifeblood of many organizations, faith-based groups, community projects, and nonprofits, so we urge everyone with a heart for service to get involved now – and keep coming back.
Use our 12 Easy Ways to Volunteer list as a jumping-off point and visit Serve Your Community for more information about volunteering and national service.
If it’s the first Tuesday in April, it’s time for National Service Recognition Day!
Today, thousands of leaders across the country will celebrate AmeriCorps members and Senior Corps volunteers serving in their communities by hosting events, issuing official proclamations, and sharing their appreciation on social media. Join the celebration by following #NationalServiceWorks on Twitter and Facebook.
National Service Program Has Opened Path to College and Careers for 25 Years
By Chester Spellman, Director of AmeriCorps State and National
Everybody has a story to tell, as the saying goes. Within that story there is often an event that influences the direction of a person’s life. For the last 25 years, AmeriCorps has provided a setting for more than 1 million women and men to have experiences that changed lives and communities all across this nation.
Each year during March, the Corporation for National and Community Service celebrates AmeriCorps Week to highlight the accomplishments of our members and alumni in the communities they serve. And the stories are as diverse as the members and the thousands of ways they volunteer to serve their nation. Every day we hear stories about how AmeriCorps service transforms communities — and also has a transformational effect on our members.
Reading Partners AmeriCorps Members ‘Get Things Done’
Program works to narrow the opportunity gap by improving early childhood literacy
By Luke Soon-Shiong, Reading Partners
[Editor’s note: A headline in the National Service News email on March 15, 2019, incorrectly listed the name of this program. We apologize for the error. ] Since 1993, the Corporation for National Community Service has inspired people across the country to give back as part of a national service movement. We’re incredibly proud to have 357 members from all over the country joining Reading Partners for a year of service. Our team of talented AmeriCorps members are committed to narrowing the opportunity gap for students through early childhood literacy. For this year’s AmeriCorps Week, we celebrate the work that AmeriCorps members accomplish with Reading Partners.
Volunteer coordinators mobilize the community
Together, we are better. We believe that the power of community volunteers can be harnessed to help students thrive. That’s why the work of our AmeriCorps volunteer coordinators is vital. Every day, they inspire communities to step up to the challenge of bridging the achievement gap. Twenty-nine AmeriCorps members chose to spend this year in service with Reading Partners doing just that.
Literacy leads empower students
Our AmeriCorps literacy leads go above and beyond to ensure students receive quality individualized literacy support. They work with a whole portfolio of students on a daily basis, and partner with site coordinators to identify, assess, and tutor students in need of additional support. They have a strong understanding of the Reading Partners program, which has proven to accelerate our students’ reading comprehension, fluency, and sight-word reading by approximately two months in just one year.
Site coordinators lead daily reading center operations
Just this year alone, Reading Partners is projected to serve approximately 11,000 students in need. With reading sites across 14 different regions nationwide, we rely on AmeriCorps site coordinators to run our reading centers in more than 200 school sites across the country.
Lead the charge!
Reading Partners’ AmeriCorps members serve with heart and passion to provide students greater opportunities to succeed in reading and thrive in school. Even still, there’s a lot of work left to accomplish. According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, only 34 percent of American fourth graders can read at grade level. The statistics are even lower for low-income students—of which a mere 18 percent are reading at grade level. This is a crucial stage in a child’s development. When students are behind grade-level reading in fourth grade, they are at higher risk of falling further behind at a faster rate with every passing year.
That’s why we need AmeriCorps members to step up to the challenge and help narrow the opportunity gap and build greater equity for the next generation of Americans. If you’d like to get involved, consider applying for an AmeriCorps year of service with Reading Partners. You can also sign up to volunteer as a tutor at a reading center near you!
This article originally appeared on the Reading Partners blog. Luke Soon-Shiong is a Marketing and Communications Coordinator AmeriCorps VISTA at Reading Partners.
More True Tales of Lives and Futures that were #MadeInAmeriCorps
We’re sharing more stories of AmeriCorps alumni whose paths were influenced by national service
By Katherine Parker
At the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), we are passionate about the work we do and the mission that drives it. As part of AmeriCorps Week – our annual celebration of AmeriCorps members, alumni, and programs – we are sharing the many ways lives and futures are being #MadeInAmeriCorps.
The following vignettes come from a sample of CNCS staff members who served in AmeriCorps and were transformed by the experience and lasting impact of service.
Dina Manco
Dina Manco served as an AmeriCorps NCCC FEMA Corps member from 2016-17 on disaster preparedness and response efforts in Louisiana, Georgia, North Carolina, and Mississippi.
“My experience in FEMA Corps taught me to use my voice,” said Dina. “I made it a goal at the beginning of the year to volunteer for new tasks and build my communication skills. I pushed myself to take on different roles and responsibilities, which enabled me to develop my passion and enhance my skills in written communication.”
Manco found a way to combine her love of service and communication by working in public relations for local government, joining the AmeriCorps Alums DC Board, and in her current role as the Executive Correspondence Specialist at CNCS.
Kaitlyn Norden
Kaitlyn Norden served two terms as an AmeriCorps VISTA with the Manchester Homeless Services Center under the Catholic Charities New Hampshire intermediary in 2013-14, and as a VISTA Leader with Catholic Charities New Hampshire during 2014-15. She credits service as a big part of her career path.
“Even with a master’s degree, as a first-generation college student, I struggled to get my foot in the door in the professional sphere,” Kaitlyn said. “VISTA gave me the experience, the confidence, and the network I needed to turn my education and experience into a career.”
“I tell everyone I know who is just getting out of school or thinking about a career transition to consider AmeriCorps,” said Norden, who currently works as a Program Officer at CNCS. “You can make a difference, experience new things, and build your resume all at once. What a deal!”
Sumika Petrowski
Sumika Petrowski served two terms with AmeriCorps VISTA with Every Person Influences Children from 2010-11 and with Afterschool Alliance as a VISTA Leader during 2014-15. Between her first and second terms, she attended graduate school and earned a master’s in public administration, with an emphasis on nonprofit management. After her second service term she was hired by Afterschool Alliance and then by CNCS in late 2016.
“My service taught me how challenging it is to live in poverty. In VISTA, members live at the poverty line to better understand the communities they serve,” said Sumika. “Once, I cried in a grocery store parking lot because I didn’t have enough money on my SNAP card to buy food. I also had my car window smashed in, property stolen, and a mice infestation in my apartment because I did not have access to safe, affordable housing. The experience of ‘choosing’ to live at the poverty level is something I will never forget. Many Americans do not have the option to voluntarily opt out of such circumstances and for that, I am humbled.”
Petrowski continues, “My AmeriCorps experiences motivated me to choose a career in national service, to help our country’s highest-need communities.” Petrowski is currently a Program Officer at CNCS Headquarters.
Sherry Petrowski
Sherry Petrowski, mother of Sumika Petrowski, served two terms in AmeriCorps State and National with Char Em ISD at Central Elementary School in Petoskey, MI, from 2011-13. While telling her own service story, Sumika said, “One particularly interesting thing about my AmeriCorps story is I encouraged my mom to serve after she was laid off from her job and she became a two-time alumna with a rural State and National program, teaching children at the elementary school I attended.”
After Sherry’s service, she was hired by the Women's Resource Center of Northern Michigan, Inc., as a teacher’s assistant in their Child Development Center. “My mom bravely served in her late 50s, and through AmeriCorps, she was able to pursue a new career experience that wasn’t previously available to her,” said Sumika. “She truly is my hero and another reason why I love the work we do.”
Kayleigh Remavich
Kayleigh Remavich served as an AmeriCorps VISTA from 2016-17 with the Center for Women in Charleston, SC. During her service, she often interacted with clients, volunteers, and the community, and as a result noticed a significant improvement in her written and oral communication skills.
“One highlight from me was participating in Mayor’s Day of Recognition (now called National Service Recognition Day),” said Kayleigh. “I met the Mayor of Charleston, who at the time was John Teckleburg (pictured with Remavich above), and spoke to him about national service and its merits.”
Remavich received non-competitive eligibility as a benefit of serving with VISTA and immediately pursued a federal career after completing her service. She was hired as a VISTA Member Support Specialist at CNCS in 2018 and says, “I truly believe the skills I gained as a VISTA member made me a much more competitive candidate and have greatly helped me in my current role.”
When it comes to national service, there are thousands of opportunities to choose from. Find the one that fits you and see how you can be #MadeInAmeriCorps. Visit our AmeriCorps Week portal to learn more about AmeriCorps and read more #MadeInAmeriCorps stories.
Building Service: A Look Back at the 2017 CNCS Evidence-based Intervention Planning Grants (Part 3)
Earlier this year, the CNCS Office of Research & Evaluation (ORE) introduced recipients of the 2017 AmeriCorps State and National Evidence-based Intervention Planning Grants from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). At the start of the summer, we checked in with the grantees to get the latest scoop on their program planning and see what lessons they learned along the way.
By now, most of the grantees’ planning periods have come to a close. For some, program development will carry on through continued efforts, while others have compiled their findings, which provide valuable guidance for other organizations seeking similar types of grants. With that, we conducted a final follow up with the grantees to hear about their latest program development updates, overall experience with their grants, and what’s next.
Appalachian Regional Coalition on Homelessness
Appalachian Regional Coalition on Homelessness (ARCH) continued working with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to plan a coordinated entry system – a streamlined platform for housing the most vulnerable homeless people first. Through the system, AmeriCorps members provide services to homeless and economically disadvantaged populations in Northeast Tennessee. That planning was made possible thanks to the CNCS grant, and ARCH has since connected with the United Way to proceed with implementation.
Toward the end of the planning grant, ARCH focused on seeking a new grant opportunity to get its program off the ground for fiscal year 2018-2019. The planning grant enabled ARCH to connect with all of the service providers, eventually leading them to the United Way organizations, where the team was able to educate them about the Housing First program model and how AmeriCorps members can be involved.
With five members ready to begin the program back in August, ARCH was working through some back-end challenges with the AmeriCorps portal. An employee departure at the time left the ARCH team to navigate the portal themselves until its new AmeriCorps Development Coordinator was hired, so it was a slower process to onboard the AmeriCorps members.
Still, ARCH was pleased with what the CNCS grant allowed them to accomplish. It provided an opportunity to incorporate AmeriCorps members into the Department of Housing and Urban Development-mandated Housing First model while giving them time to learn as much as possible about the planned program. ARCH recommends that all grantees explore the CNCS website and attend all training sessions, as they provide invaluable information.
Most recently, Volunteer Tennessee, which began its program on Sept. 15, funded ARCH for FY18-19.
Artesian Schools
Using the Talent Search youth development program as a foundation, Artesian Schools, Inc., (Artesian) finished its initial planning grant to build a program that leverages AmeriCorps programs as mentors to tutor disadvantaged high school students in academics, career planning, and financial counseling.
Toward the end of the grant, Artesian hired a new principal, who reviewed data from separate Talent Search implementations to identify potential adjustments to how the tutoring is delivered and its curriculum. Artesian also partnered with an instructional consulting group that helped them determine the best use of tutoring time. The goal of the tutoring is not just to build missing skills, but also to “scaffold up” the knowledge students need to fully comprehend and apply what they’re learning. At the same time, Artesian worked on the mentoring aspect of its program, which is separate from tutoring and ensures a cohesive experience.
Although the team is using Talent Search as a foundation, Artesian is adapting the intervention and customizing its own program to address the unique needs of its students. This is simultaneously an opportunity and challenge. Artesian has the chance to make something new and different – a program that could then be the model for the county, Tennessee, and the nation as a whole. At the same time, it requires significant buy-in and contribution from Artesian staff, which means maintaining enthusiasm and gathering feedback are significant priorities.
Artesian was very appreciative of the opportunity to participate in this planning grant, especially the focus on the evaluation aspect, as it wasn’t something the team might have thought about as early in the program development. Looking to the future, the team received another AmeriCorps grant back in August, which has allowed them to continue tweaking the member experience this semester and plan for the following one.
Association of Clinicians for the Underserved
Since the last update, Association of Clinicians for the Underserved (ACU) focused on further refining and strengthening its proposed program, which trains AmeriCorps members as patient “connectors” that provide patient-centered interventions such as case management assistance with coverage enrollment. ACU held a web-based meeting with its field partners to gather their feedback. It was an affirming moment, as the partners reported that the intent of the program, its interventions, and the proposed community support hit all the right notes with their expectations. That said, ACU continued to collect feedback from partners for further planning and potential improvements.
ACU then turned its attention to confirming the details of the model with its program officer and ORE, who they met with throughout the entire grant process. One of ACU’s priorities during the grant was to make sure the team was confident in the program design, so they could translate it to a strong program on paper and submit it for official review. Focusing heavily on program design and model would also enable ACU to dive back into work with little disruption once the notice of funding opportunity was release for the next application cycle.
Overall, ACU described its experience with the evidence-based planning grants as eye-opening in terms of the steps to build a program. One of the challenges it faced throughout the process was understanding the AmeriCorps program structure and terminology, which were essential for designing a program that fit within AmeriCorps. The team recommends that any future grantees be prepared to hit the ground running and reach out to everyone in the AmeriCorps community for recommendations on planning a program with members. While it can feel a bit overwhelming at first, ACU was grateful for the Knowledge Network, current grantees, and its program officer for the support to make its program design successful.
In September, ACU successfully completed its planning grant period and submitted its grantee progress report. The team did not seek additional funding opportunities.
Campus Compact of the Mountain West
Throughout the evidence-based planning grant, Campus Compact of the Mountain West (CCMW) spent considerable time building potential partnerships that were essential to its Civic Futures program that supports students, kindergarten through higher education (K2H). K2H Civic Futures seeks to work with these partners to organize education teams that enhance civic learning and engagement in students. Through these partnerships, CCMW built a strong pipeline of contributors and facilitators for its Civic Futures program.
CCMW was in a unique position. While in the midst of its planning grant, CCMW also applied for – and eventually received – full funding for program implementation. However, the approval for funding came two months later than expected, which presented additional challenges during that period of uncertainty. The Civic Futures partners include K-12 principals, faculty, engagement staff, school counselors, and teachers; all of whom committed time and energy to the program development, so CCMW wanted to make sure their time and energy were honored, regardless of funding outcome. It also meant keeping these partners and the internal team focused and motivated to continue work, so they were ready to proceed at a moment’s notice.
Still, CCMW found the time of the planning grant to be invaluable. As one employee at CCMW put it: “I seriously believe that planning grants should be part and parcel of any new national service program to allow for in-depth program planning, evaluation planning, and partnership development.” The team encouraged other grantees to ask as many questions as possible to CNCS research and evaluation staff to get a firm understanding about expectations and possibilities around research and evaluation for CNCS programs.
Toward the end of the grant, CCMW worked with faculty in Research Methods and Information Science at the Morgridge College of Education at the University of Denver to design and implement a comprehensive evaluation of the Civic Futures program. Since then, CCMW has finalized all of the partnerships for its Civic Futures program. More recently, it is working to recruit AmeriCorps members for all of the partnership sites, provide orientation and training to members and site supervisors, and ultimately get the program off the ground. CCMW is looking forward to the grant cycle and making some headway with civic learning and engagement initiatives across the region.
Children’s Forum (The Forum)
The Children’s Forum (The Forum) had a busy couple of months as it wrapped up work on its program to train AmeriCorps volunteers to serve as coaches for early learning programs. In that time, it developed and refined a projected budget for the program, prepared a plan for member orientation and training, and outlined a detailed logic model that incorporates intervention, assessment, and data collection components into the program. The Forum also continued to engage its advisory team members as well as other community and state partners to inform the program development efforts.
As the grant came to an end, The Forum focused its attention on the feasibility of recruiting diverse individuals to serve in the early learning program, as building the diversity in this area was an overarching goal of theirs. The team also worked to determine how to pilot its intervention model in steps in order to estimate the likelihood of success.
One of the biggest opportunities from the grant was the ability to work with community and state partners. The Forum appreciated the support and insight provided by those partners, which also helped reinforce the need and importance of such an early learning model. At the same time though, the inclusion of so many partners presented challenges, as it became difficult to bring all of them together to work on the program. Despite that challenge, The Forum still recommends other grantees engage a broad group of community partners to secure buy in and support.
At the end of the grant, The Forum was looking to make more progress in selecting communities to participate in its program before it moved to piloting its program. The Forum felt that ensuring those communities have an engaged and diverse workforce will allow it to be most successful in meeting the goals and objectives of the program. Although the Forum is no longer participating in a grant, it is continuing to evaluate and seek funding opportunities for the future.
True Tales of Lives and Futures that were #MadeInAmeriCorps
We're highlighting stories of AmeriCorps alumni whose paths were influenced by national service
By Katherine Parker
At the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), we are passionate about the work we do and the mission that drives it. As part of AmeriCorps Week – our annual celebration of AmeriCorps members, alumni, and programs – we are sharing the many ways lives and futures are being #MadeInAmeriCorps.
The following vignettes come from a sample of CNCS staff members who served in AmeriCorps and were transformed by the experience and lasting impact of service. Come back on Thursday for another set of profiles.
Lisa Bishop
Lisa Bishop served as an AmeriCorps VISTA member from 1998-99 with the James McGregor Burns Academy of Leadership in College Park, MD. Bishop’s path to service began in high school, when she actually traveled from state to state promoting national service and service learning.
After one year as an AmeriCorps VISTA, Lisa was hired by the Maryland Governor’s Office on Service and Volunteerism, spent 10 years working in education, and found herself feeling right at home after coming to CNCS in 2015. She is currently the Senior Advisor for Education Initiatives and says, “There was no other way for me. I always believed in service and service learning.”
Katrina French
Katrina French served three AmeriCorps terms: as an AmeriCorps NCCC member from 1997-98; an NCCC Team Leader, 2009-10; and an AmeriCorps VISTA member with the Mississippi State Service Commission, Volunteer Mississippi, 2010-11. Between her first and second terms, Katrina earned a bachelor’s degree and spent 10 years in the veterinary field.
French says the most valuable skill she picked up during her service was “cat herding,” which she describes as, “being able to get a diverse group of people on the same page, progressing towards the same goal.” She is currently a Disaster Services Specialist at CNCS.
Meghan Hines
Meghan Hines served two terms as an AmeriCorps VISTA with a Habitat for Humanity affiliate in central Texas from 2007-09. During her service she developed a $50,000 home sponsorship and worked alongside more than 500 AmeriCorps members during the Gulf Coast hurricane recovery Habitat Build-a-Thon.
After completing her service terms, Hines used her two education awards to attend graduate school at Carnegie Mellon’s Heinz College, where she earned a master’s in art management. Hines even wrote a policy paper about the need for AmeriCorps in one of her classes, and she was hired in the VISTA Member Support Unit after graduation. She is currently a Program Officer and not at all shy about her feelings for AmeriCorps.
“Our programs have shaped so much of who I am both personally and professionally,” said Meghan. “I am a proud VISTA alum and proud to be #MadeInAmeriCorps.”
Jennifer Irwin
Jennifer Irwin served as an AmeriCorps VISTA member, 2004-05 with Ohio Campus Compact at Walsh University in Ohio. Irwin names a long list of skills she acquired while serving, including volunteer recruitment, event planning, and community relations, and says, “I was able to learn the most about who I was and what I could accomplish when I was working towards goals that I was passionate about.”
After her VISTA term, Jennifer attended graduate school at Kent University and earned a master’s in education and then was hired at Ohio Campus Compact, a CNCS Learn and Service America grant. Irwin is currently a Program Officer at CNCS and recently had the opportunity to return to her VISTA project site and see how the impact of her service continued to grow long after she left.
Brendan and Jennifer (Prall) Murphy
Brendan and Jennifer (Prall) Murphy served separately but met years later, while working at CNCS. What started as “AmeriLove” turned into marriage – and two “AmeriBabies”! Brendan served as an AmeriCorps NCCC member in 2005-06 and a NCCC Team Leader in 2006-07 out of Colorado. Jennifer also served as an AmeriCorps NCCC member during 2004-05 and a NCCC Team Leader in 2005-06 out of Washington, DC.
Brendan said the most valuable lesson he learned while serving was teamwork, “It was remarkable to watch myself gain a better understanding of the diversity of thought and experience on my team. I saw that if we used our different perspectives to work together we could produce an even greater outcome.”
“It was project management for me,” said Jennifer. “I learned to prioritize tasks and tackle them one at a time.”
Brendan is now a Program Manager for Operations at CNCS and Jennifer is the Lead Disaster Services Specialist. Both say they didn’t necessarily plan this path but knew early on they loved national service. Jennifer sums up her feelings by telling a story from her first service term, “A local newspaper ran a story about our team and the name fantastically got lost in translation because the headline read, ‘Miracle Workers’ instead of ‘AmeriCorps Workers.’”
When it comes to national service, there are thousands of opportunities to choose from. Find the one that fits you and see how you can be #MadeInAmeriCorps. Visit our AmeriCorps Week portal to learn more about AmeriCorps and read more #MadeInAmeriCorps stories.
Service in Spotlight as National Commission Releases Report
Bipartisan Leaders Call National Service ‘America’s Best-Kept Secret’
By Sandy Scott, CNCS Senior Advisor
National service was in the house and on the agenda Wednesday as the National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service released findings from its interim report to an audience of nearly 200 leaders from the national service, military, and public sectors.
Launched in 2018, the bipartisan Commission was tasked to holistically and comprehensively review the Selective Service System and recommend policies to strengthen the ethic of service and increase service opportunities in America.
During the last year, the Commissioners visited 24 cities in 15 states, and met with more than 300 organizations to listen and learn about ways to encourage and inspire more Americans to serve.
At every stop of the way, the Commissioners met AmeriCorps members and alums, Senior Corps volunteers, program staff, State Commissions, and others that make up our large and decentralized national service network. Corporation for National and Community Service CEO Barbara Stewart and CNCS staff from headquarters and the field have met with Commissioners and staff in Washington, D.C., and across the country.
Commission Chairman Joe Heck, a former Congressman from Nevada, kicked off the event by recognizing Harris Wofford’s extraordinary life of service and leadership in helping create and expand AmeriCorps and Senior Corps. Harris’s vision that service should be the common expectation and experience of every American illuminated the conversation and will be a source of continuing inspiration for the Commission as it moves forward.
Commissioners reported that while service is encouraged throughout our communities and country, there is no widely held expectation of service in the United States. In a country of more than 329 million people, the extraordinary potential for service is largely untapped.
The topline findings of the report included: Universal service is an ongoing conversation; Selective Service is a mystery to many; military service is a responsibility borne by few; national service is America’s best-kept secret; public service personnel practices are a barrier; and civic knowledge is critical to democracy. (You can read the full interim report here.)
During the event, AmeriCorps VISTA alum Stephanie Alphee received a Daily Point of Light award from Points of Light for her service to expand STEM education for underserved youth and ongoing volunteer service with a Baltimore youth development group.
The event capped off with a powerful video produced by CNCS (see above) that highlighted Senator John McCain’s lifelong dedication to service and leadership in expanding service opportunities in AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, the military.
The Commission will embark on another year of traveling and listening to the American people as it develops its final recommendations for the President, Congress and the public by March 2020. They are eager to hear ideas from all corners, and we encourage all those engaged in national service to visit their website and join the conversation.
Ruby Bridges’ walk to school became a symbol of the Civil Rights struggle
By Greg Tucker
(The following post previously appeared on the National Service Blog in 2015.)
In 1960, 6-year-old Ruby Bridges’ daily walk to class took her past an angry mob and into Civil Rights history when she became the first African American child to attend an all-white elementary school in the South.
Though she only lived five blocks from her new school, Ruby previously attended an all-black segregated school several miles away. After the Louisiana State Legislature exhausted all its options in a long battle against a federal court order to integrate the schools, Ruby was allowed to attend the classes near her home.
“I understood it was important but it didn't hit me until I saw that Norman Rockwell painting. And I realize that it wasn't something that just happened in New Orleans but it was something that people all across the country, all around the world actually, recognized, especially through the painting." -Ruby Bridges
Each day, Ruby was escorted to the William Frantz School by federal marshals who ensured her safe arrival. Her first year at the school was tumultuous to say the least, and many white parents refused to allow their children to attend classes as long as Ruby was there. She also had to continue to navigate the mob every day, and endure threats to herself and her family.
But Ruby’s trials were eased by the kindness of Barbara Henry, the only white teacher who agreed to work with her at William Frantz.
An interview with a reporter when Bridges was 17 or 18 brought home the significance of her walk past a throng of angry protesters.
“I understood it was important but it didn't hit me until I saw that Norman Rockwell painting. And I realize that it wasn't something that just happened in New Orleans but it was something that people all across the country, all around the world actually, recognized, especially through the painting.
“And I always say that the lesson I took away was a lesson that Dr. King tried to teach all of us -- and that was we should never look at a person and judge them by the color of their skin.”
Ruby's story is a reminder that it only takes a few people to come together and create the change that can help heal our nation’s deepest wounds.
Watch the video below and learn more as Ruby Bridges tells her story, discusses the kindness of Henry, and how her experience relates to Dr. Martin Luther King’s message of racial equality.
Learn more about the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service at MLKDay.gov
Admiral Earl Gay knows a lot about inspiring others from 33 years of Navy service
January is National Mentoring Month and the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) is supporting our friends at MENTOR by sharing some advice from a man who, among his many achievements, has made mentoring his mission: retired Navy Admiral Earl Gay.
Admiral Gay (pictured above, right) is the Senior Advisor for Wounded Warrior and Veterans and Military Families Initiatives at CNCS and says a lot of what he does is rooted in establishing trust, building relationships, and leading change, all of which fall under his concept of mentorship.
These traits come naturally to the Admiral as a leader of men and women in the armed forces. He willingly shares his life story, using wall-mounted photos of family and friends to illustrate his points, “I like people to have the whole story; it extends an arm of trust.”
Admiral Gay grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, and is the youngest of three siblings who inspired him to strive for greatness. After high school he applied to the U.S. Naval Academy, which he turned into 33 years of military service, flying as a Navy pilot, commanding an amphibious aircraft carrier, earning two master’s degrees, and enjoying countless opportunities to mentor. He says it was an honor to serve in uniform and now in national service and credits his service to the idea that mentoring is a mutual investment.
“It is almost familial; it’s a responsibility to the next generation, to colleagues, to neighbors,” he said. “I feel blessed to have had so many learning opportunities and that this country invested so much in me; I feel it is my duty to share my knowledge and skills with others.
“I see it as everyone’s responsibility to continue learning and continue sharing so that we all become better,” said Admiral Gay. “Teach the fisher to fish so there are more fish to eat.”
Always returning back to the Naval Academy, Admiral Gay has mentored members of the Navy football team and incoming midshipmen, and he continues this role in both structured mentorship programs and as an informal advisor to people adjusting to new environments.
“We’ve all been there, in an unfamiliar situation, we have to look out for each other and share our knowledge to reach the next goal,” said Admiral Gay, noting that mentoring is an educational experience for the mentee and the mentor. “No one is ever too young to be a mentor or too wise to be a mentee.”
This idea resonates with the spirit of service and volunteering; as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Everyone can be great because everyone can serve.” CNCS urges Americans to take up this spirit of service by becoming a mentor or joining another volunteer effort in their community. Visit our website to learn more about mentoring and to search volunteer opportunities.
With a cheerful expression on his face Admiral Gay drives home his belief that trust, compassion, service, and mentorship are synonymous. His military leadership and mentor expertise are clear as he closes with “If you ever wonder what I am all about, just check my email signature; it says ‘One Team, One Fight.’ That message has transcended my career.”
Remembering the Top National Service Stories of 2018
At the end of December, we like to look back over the last 12 months to get some perspective on the last year in national service. Take a few minutes and join us as we remember 2018 at the Corporation for National and Community Service.
Barbara Stewart Named CEO of CNCS
Barbara Stewart (pictured above) became the new CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) after her nomination by President Donald Trump and unanimous confirmation by the U.S. Senate on Feb. 7, 2018. With more than 25 years of experience in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors, Stewart hit the ground running at CNCS with her strong management skills, operations experience, and passion for service.
Elder Justice Initiative Enlists Senior Corps
Our nation’s seniors are targets for those who would prey on the vulnerabilities that often come with aging. To combat this problem, Senior Corps partnered with the Department of Justice to support the Elder Justice Initiative to prevent elder abuse. The initiative combines the use of federal resources, law enforcement, and state and local officials to protect seniors from financial, emotional, and physical threats to their well-being. You can learn more about how Senior Corps supports these issues at our Elder Justice resource portal.
National Service Recognition Day
This year, more than 5,200 leaders – including legislators from Congress and state houses, mayors and city leaders, county officials, and tribal leaders – recognized the contributions our 300,000 AmeriCorps members and Senior Corps volunteers during the fifth-annual National Service Recognition Day. The event drew the support of leaders representing 216 million Americans and has grown exponentially from its start in 2013.
National Service Responds to the Opioid Epidemic
CNCS continued its service in the battle to end the opioid epidemic by investing more than $14.9 million in opioid-related AmeriCorps and Senior Corps projects to address the problem in October. The federal investment supports 1,800 AmeriCorps members and Senior Corps volunteers in all 50 states. This invest builds upon other national service efforts in communities to end this crisis including Senior Corps support of Prescription Drug Take Back Day events. You can learn more about this initiative on our Response to the Opioid Epidemic portal and by watching this video.
AmeriCorps Alum Crowned Miss America 2019
AmeriCorps alumna Nia Imani Franklin was crowned Miss America 2019 in Atlantic City, N.J., in September. Franklin, who competed as Miss New York, received a master’s degree in composition from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts School of Music in 2017, and was awarded a Kenan Fellowship at Lincoln Center Education in New York. While pursuing her master's degree, she was a member of ArtistCorps, an artist-driven AmeriCorps service program that places accomplished artists in public schools and community-based institutions to work with high-need students.
Volunteering in America Grows
More Americans than ever are volunteering, according to the 2018 Volunteering in America report. The CNCS study found that 77.34 million adults (30.3 percent) volunteered through an organization last year. Altogether, Americans volunteered nearly 6.9 billion hours, worth an estimated $167 billion in economic value, based on the Independent Sector’s estimate of the average value of a volunteer hour for 2017. Millions more are supporting friends and family (43.1 percent) and doing favors for their neighbors (51.4 percent), suggesting that many are engaged in acts of “informal volunteering.” Learn more at our Volunteering in America portal.
Disaster Response
One of the most visible initiatives of national service continues to be our AmeriCorps members and Senior Corps volunteers who respond to natural and manmade disasters. This year wildfires, hurricanes, volcano eruptions, floods, tornadoes, and other disaster events affected communities around the nation. Our national service volunteers provided valuable assistance to disaster survivors in their greatest time of need. And as always, our volunteers continue to serve during the recovery phase, which can last for years after the initial event.
Remembering the Champions of Service and Volunteering We Lost in 2018
This year the national service family lost three great leaders and advocates: U.S. Sen. John McCain, former First Lady Barbara Bush, and President George H.W. Bush. Sen. McCain was one of national service’s strongest supporters on Capitol Hill and recognized the need to provide additional avenues for service outside of the military. Barbara Bush was a tremendous advocate for volunteering and literacy, and supported AmeriCorps and Senior Corps programs. President George H.W. Bush is remembered for his role in establishing the modern national service movement and encouraging volunteering and good deeds through the Points of Light Foundation. These three great Americans will be missed as they set high standards that few will meet and examples we all would be proud to follow.
Transformation and Sustainability Plan
CNCS has embarked on an effort to establish a sound footing for the future of the agency and our AmeriCorps and Senior Corps programs guided by the Transformation and Sustainability Plan. This effort is designed to increase efficiency, provide greater accountability, and improve customer service. You can learn more about the plan here.
New PSA Focuses on AmeriCorps Recruitment
This fall we debuted a new "Join AmeriCorps" PSA at the AmeriCorps Symposium that is being used to raise awareness of the program and boost recruitment. The video shows the diversity of AmeriCorps programs and the many ways our members serve communities across the nation.
We continue a Corporation for National and Community Service holiday tradition of sharing our remix of Clement Clarke Moore’s poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas” (commonly known as “’Twas the Night Before Christmas”). We hope you enjoy this salute to our national service programs and volunteers.
A National Service Night Before Christmas
(with sincere apologies to Clement Clarke Moore)
'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the land,
AmeriCorps members were driving, in a basic white van.
But their stockings weren't hung; no, not with care.
They’re riding fast as they can, going to who knows where.
They had to be tired, many nodded their heads,
But when duty calls, no one sleeps in their beds,
This assignment was special, it came in a snap,
Santa needs help; grab your boots, grab your cap!
I looked out my window; wondering “What’s all the fuss?”
My wife and kids were sleeping, should I tell them to hush?
All these people in khakis, well branded with A’s,
But others came with them, I didn’t know what to say.
The snow was falling; I had just come home,
Three tours of duty; no more holidays alone.
Christmas might miss us, but we had each other,
Here, just four of us gathered, along with my mother.
All of a sudden, an SUV tore ‘round the corner;
It stopped in our drive, out popped folks with hand warmers;
The front door flung open and who did appear;
It was a special Team Leader, in red khaki gear.
She looked all around, like she had a plan,
Her team followed her lead, at a wave of her hand,
We had heard of her legend, who knew she was real?
She called out her groups, with vigor and zeal!
“On NCCC and VISTA, FEMA bring your Corps,
Come on State and National, we need you, of course!
Senior Corps got here first, thanks to RSVP,
And Foster Grandparents brought gifts for the tree!”
There were Senior Companions, and a team named “Spruce,”
They make the holidays happier, we just turn them loose!
“When Santa calls, we answer, each and every one,
Service is what we do, we ‘get things done!’”
Just then on the roof, a commotion began,
Santa and eight tiny reindeer found a nice spot to land.
He popped down the chimney, and appeared at the door,
“My elves can’t be here, I could use a few more.”
Then he saw National Service, all bunched in a pack,
They were clad in snow boots, carrying whatever they could pack,
His eyes -- they twinkled, as a grin crossed his face,
“I’m glad that you’re here, let’s decorate this place.”
He said, “They need toys, a tree -- make this home festive.”
But his new elves were so quick, he exclaimed, “Now that is impressive!”
He sat for a moment, and let his belly sag,
His elves were slackers; it was really a drag.
“Leader, can I borrow your elves just one night, for you see,
I would love the help of someone, who works even harder than me.”
She shook her head, and told Santa, “Tough luck”
America still needs us. Everyone -- back to the trucks!”
I watched in amazement, dumbstruck, as they left,
They brought Christmas to us before we could catch our breath.
Everything was so sparkly, so merry, so bright,
It was hard to believe, it was done in one night.
We tell you this tale, to fill you with glee,
‘Cause we love people like you, who are not just about me.
National Service is awesome, just a wonderful sight,
Happy Holidays to all, and to all, a good night!
Happy Holidays from the Corporation for National and Community Service!
The holiday season moves quickly, transitioning from friends-and-family time at Thanksgiving to the hustle and bustle of the holiday shopping season on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. However, we have the chance to remember the needs of others on Giving Tuesday.
Giving Tuesday began in 2012 on the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving to elevate philanthropy and volunteering during the holiday season. This event is a fitting celebration for a country filled with generous people.
This giving spirit was apparent in the findings of the Corporation for National and Community Service’s 2018 Volunteering in America study. Our study found that a greater percentage of our citizens are giving their time to the causes they support and being better neighbors in their communities. That’s good news for philanthropy and charitable organizations, because we also learned that volunteers are more likely to donate money to causes and groups in need.
Once you start to give, it’s hard to stop.
The Value of Service
We understand the benefits of giving and volunteering intimately at the Corporation for National and Community Service. We lead and support the nation’s volunteer sector along with guiding nearly 300,000 people in impactful community action through our AmeriCorps and Senior Corps national service programs.
CNCS programs not only encourage service, but this federal agency also encourages public-private partnerships that leverage the dollars we are appropriated to stretch those investments to increase the impact our programs make. Thanks to contributions by private businesses, foundations, and other sources, CNCS programs generated $1.25 billion in outside resources, an amount that exceeds the amount of our federal appropriation.
In a statement, President Trump said, “Through acts of charity, we reveal the compassionate foundation of our country. Acts of kindness are hallmarks of our great Nation, and we acknowledge the tremendous contributions of the many organizations that provide love, hope, care, and counseling all year long, especially on #GivingTuesday.”
During a season of thanks and giving, we encourage our fellow citizens to use Giving Tuesday as an inspiration for not just one day, but all year long.
National Service Salutes and Remembers Our Veterans
Friends of the National World War II Memorial paid tribute to the more than 16 million men and women who served with the U.S. Armed Forces during World War II at a special Veterans Day event at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.
World War II veteran Ewing H. Miller (pictured above right) delivered the ceremony's keynote address. Miller served in the U.S. Army Air Force from 1942 to 1945 as a B-24 heavy bomber pilot assigned to the 15th Air Force, 719 Squadron (The Flying Horsemen), which flew from a base in Italy. Nicknamed "Wing" by his fellow flyers, Miller flew more than 20 missions during the war. In February 1945, Miller’s plane was downed by a direct flack burst in the bomb bay, and he was the sole survivor. He spent the rest of the war as a POW.
Just one month after celebrating his 95th birthday and braving Sunday's chilly weather to attend the event, Miller says he participates in the ceremonies at the World War II Memorial as a way to honor his lost crew members and friends.
After his speech, Mr. Miller and other veterans placed wreaths at the Freedom Wall in remembrance of the more than 400,000 Americans who lost their lives during WWII. With the assistance of his four-wheeled walker, Miller then posed for photos and chatted with onlookers. Corporation for National and Community Service Adviser for Wounded Warriors, Veterans and Military Family Initiatives (Ret.) Admiral Earl Gay is pictured with Miller after the ceremony.
"A day doesn't go by that I don't remember those fellows," Miller told Admiral Gay. "But time has dulled their memory and they now have become part of that America that gave their lives from the time of the Revolution.”
President Trump Delivers Remarks at White House Event Honoring Veterans and Military Families
“Earlier this week, our nation celebrated Veterans Day, and we also marked the 100th Anniversary of the Armistice that ended World War I,” said President Trump.” … We will never forget what these heroes did to win — and win they did, the war — and to secure peace. To everyone here today who has served our country in uniform, and to every veteran and military family across our land, I want to express the eternal gratitude and thanks of our entire nation.”
Read President Trump’s complete remarks here
National Service Vet Corps Mission video
Watch the video above to learn more about some of the CNCS Veterans Corps programs serving across the nation.
National Service Veterans Day Events
Collier County Board of County Commissioners/RSVP Veterans Day Breakfast – Florida
Collier County Board of County Commissioners / RSVP hosted a Veterans Day Breakfast at the Collier County Museum in Naples, FL, to honor its veteran volunteers. Volunteers in attendance received an RSVP Veteran pin.
RSVP of Barbour County Veterans Day Event – Eufaula, AL
The RSVP of Barbour County has 14 veteran volunteers. The veterans started the morning with coffee and Danish at the RSVP office and shared stories of their time spent in military service. Then the volunteers participated in a city-wide parade that highlighted several of RSVP’s veterans who are among are the oldest living in the area.
Volunteer Center/RSVP of Allen County Inc. – Fort Wayne, IN (Oct. 24)
Volunteer Center/RSVP of Allen County Inc. serves on the planning committee of the annual Veterans Stand Down event designed to provide assistance and resources to homeless vets. Veterans were assessed to determine if they are homeless and were connected with VA resources and programs available to assist them. Veterans received a health screening, flu shot, food, clothing, and information on housing, legal, food, and health care resources in the community. More than 125 veterans were expected to attend.
RSVP/Meridian-Lauderdale County – Mississippi
RSVP/Meridian-Lauderdale County in Mississippi held two programs on Nov. 9 for Veterans Day to honor the nation’s veterans. The mayor, City Council, Lauderdale County Supervisors attended.
Nevada Rural Counties RSVP – Veterans VIP Program
Nevada Rural Counties RSVP Program kicked off its Veterans Day celebration by partnering with local veterans advocate, Sally Wiley of Welcome All Veterans Everywhere (WAVE). WAVE is a nonprofit founded in 2014 and dedicated to helping veterans obtain the care they earned and were promised, and is an RSVP partner organizations. Wiley’s son was killed in Afghanistan about 10 years ago, and she has been collecting items to send to our troops ever since. RSVP placed a collection box in its office to collect items such as Christmas cookies, signed Christmas cards to the troops, hot cocoa, oatmeal, and other goodies that will be sent out to our troops just in time for Christmas.
INCA-RSVP Veteran Day Program – Tishomingo, OK
RSVP volunteers led a program at the veterans memorial, performing the "Laying of the Wreaths" on each war memorial. Oklahoma Speaker of the House Charles McCall and State Sen. Frank Simpson attended and addressed the audience at the event.
Flint Hills Volunteer Center/RSVP Veterans Day event/ceremony – Manhattan, KS
Following the Veterans Day parade a ceremony was held inside the City Auditorium. Senior Corps RSVP presented cash awards to winners of the Poster and Essay contests. Kansas Lt. Governor Tracey Mann, and 1st ID Maj. General John Kolasheski attended the event.
SOWEGA Council on Aging/RSVP – Albany, GA
On (observed) Veteran’s Day, Monday, November 12 two Ramp Team of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program will be building a ramp for two veterans. Many of the men on these ramp teams are veterans themselves and spent several hours of the last fiscal year in community service along with other RSVP volunteers to help 616 local veterans in the 14-county area represented by the SOWEGA Council on Aging. One team, the RSVP Ramp Crew, arrived at their location at 7:45 a.m. to begin constructing the ramp. The other team, the RSVP WECAP Ramp Crew, arrived at a separate location at 9 a.m. to begin building the second ramp.
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