As you might know, I served with AmeriCorps in Providence for 3 years. AmeriCorps pays people a small stipend to serve in nonprofit organizations, schools, and other public agencies. These volunteers provide vital classroom support, clean up after natural disasters, and help build the capacity of nonprofits. Nonprofits increase and improve their services, and corps members receive irreplaceable professional training and financial support for education.
All of this work occurs for a tiny fraction– just .029% – of the total federal budget.
Unfortunately, President Trump’s new budget proposal calls for the complete elimination of AmeriCorps.
This move will eliminate about 80,000 jobs, mostly filled by young people who are just starting out in the workforce or trying to find their way. It will eliminate 80,000 positions that support these areas: disaster relief, economic opportunity, education, environmental stewardship, healthy futures (such as drug and alcohol prevention training), and veterans and military family support. It will also eliminate the Senior Corps, which provides an opportunity for 270,000 people, ages 55 and up, to give back to their communities.
This is where we come in. Because of the unique position of current AmeriCorps volunteers, they are unable, by contract, to advocate for their own jobs. It is considered lobbying. The continuation of this program depends on alumni, like me, and our networks.
Please call your representatives and tell them to fight for AmeriCorps.
If you have questions, please let me know.
My best friend wrote and sent this out yesterday. AmeriCorps needs you, call your representatives!
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