U.S. Mayors Endorse Employers of National Service Initiative
Unanimous resolution from U.S. Conference of Mayors encourages city leaders to open job opportunities to AmeriCorps and Peace Corps alumni
INDIANAPOLIS
– In another sign of the growing support for national service, the United
States Conference of Mayors today unanimously passed a resolution endorsing
Employers of National Service, an initiative that recognizes the unique skills
and experience AmeriCorps and Peace Corps alumni bring to the workforce, and
encourages public and private sector employers to expand the job opportunities
available to those who have served.
The
resolution passed this morning at the organization’s 84th annual meeting in
Indianapolis. The effort, led by Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, recognizes national
service programs, such as AmeriCorps and Peace Corps, as a talent pipeline for
dedicated, valuable employees and urges cities and municipalities to hire
national service alumni.
“We
are thrilled by this strong, bipartisan endorsement of the Employers of
National Service Initiative from the U.S. Conference of Mayors,” said Wendy
Spencer, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the
federal agency that administers AmeriCorps. “Just like mayors, AmeriCorps
members are leaders who get things done, working hard every day to make their
cities better places to live and work. With today’s endorsement, U.S. cities
are making a smart move to attract these talented, dedicated, and
experienced leaders to the municipal workforce.”
“Alumni
of our service corps are highly qualified leaders with experience addressing
some of the most pressing challenges facing our nation and world today,” Peace
Corps Director Carrie Hessler-Radelet said. “Returned Peace Corps volunteers
have so much to contribute to the workplace and we’re thrilled to see Mayor
Walsh and the city of Boston recognize these valuable skills.”
In
support of the resolution, Mayor Walsh, announced today that the City of Boston
has signed on as an Employer of National Service. Boston joins 13 cities that
have previously committed to hiring AmeriCorps and Peace Corps alumni. These
include Anchorage, Ak.; Kansas City, Mo.; Nashville, Tenn.; Newton, Mass.; New York City,
N.Y.; Philadelphia, Penn.; South Sioux City, Neb.; and Avondale, Flagstaff,
Mesa, Phoenix, Tempe, and Tucson, Ariz.
“Boston has a long history of embracing the tremendous value of national service. We know it plays a vital role in connecting passionate individuals with the skills to bring positive change to their communities,” said Mayor Martin J. Walsh. “We’ve seen the impact that our national service members have had on our city, and we are thrilled to sign on as an Employer of National Service. Whether you helped start a library in Western Africa through the Peace Corps, spent time in a classroom with City Year, or served in one of thousands of AmeriCorps programs around the country, Boston wants you on our team. We challenge all cities to join as Employers of National Service and increase their capacity to take on the most important issues of tomorrow.”
Announced
by President Obama at the White House in September 2014 as part of the 20th
anniversary of AmeriCorps, Employers of National Service builds a talent pipeline which
connects AmeriCorps and Peace Corps alumni with leading employers.
Since
the President’s launch of the initiative in 2014, more than 350 companies,
nonprofits, and public agencies have signed on as Employers of National Service
including Disney, Comcast, NBC Universal, Delta Air Lines, MasterCard, CSX,
Sodexo, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, United Way Worldwide, the American
Red Cross, the National Science Foundation, the states of
Montana and Virginia, NASA, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S.
Department of State.
The
resolution builds on the success of the Mayor and County Recognition Day for
National Service that took place on April 5, 2016. On that day, 3,539 mayors, county officials,
and tribal leaders from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, Guam, and
Puerto Rico joined together in a bipartisan show of support for AmeriCorps and
Senior Corps. Together, these mayors, county, and tribal leaders represent more
than 178 million citizens, or one-third of all Americans.
Since 1994, 980,000 AmeriCorps members
have given more than 1.3 billion hours of service to their country, earning
more than $3 billion in education scholarships. Later this year, the one
millionth AmeriCorps member will take the AmeriCorps pledge, committing to "get
things done" for America. AmeriCorps members serve communities across the
country through organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, City Year, Teach
For America, and the American Red Cross.
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