500 Reasons Why (and Counting)

What qualities do job seekeers need to thrive in the 21st-century workforce? Think about it for a minute -- we'll wait. ("Final Jeopardy" music plays.)

Time's up. Let's see your answers.

Maybe you wrote down words like teamwork, persistence, leadership, open-mindedness, or ingenuity. Hopefully, you didn't forget to give your answer in the form of a question.

This week, the Corporation for National and Community Service and Peace Corps marked an important milestone for our Employers of National Service initiative. We're celebrating the more than 500 public, nonprofit, and private sector employers that have pledged to expand opportunities for AmeriCorps and Peace Corps alumni during the hiring process.

This means these employers, representing more than 2 million jobs in the United States, understand what national service alumni can add to their companies and organizations, and are actively seeking to hire them. 

Altogether, more than 1.2 million Americans have served in AmeriCorps and Peace Corps with tens of thousands more making the commitment to serve each year. 

Just a few of the hundreds of employers participating in this initiative include Disney; Timberland; Farmers Insurance; MasterCard; United Way Worldwide; Habitat for Humanity; the cities of Nashville, Philadelphia and Phoenix; the states of Montana and Virginia; the U.S. Department of Agriculture; and NASA.

“Peace Corps and AmeriCorps alumni bring an incredible array of skills and experiences into the workplace,” said Peace Corps Chief Executive Officer Sheila Crowley. “The world is increasingly interconnected, and service corps alumni understand other cultures, speak other languages, and have demonstrated flexibility and cultural awareness."

Many of our AmeriCorps members discover their passion for education, health care, construction, firefighting, civic service, emergency management, social work, and other fields during their service terms. In fact, a CNCS study of AmeriCorps alumni found that 8 of 10 members said that national service helped clarify their career path.

And by the time our AmeriCorps members complete their service terms, they have developed qualities in teamwork and leadership - along with other hard and soft skills - that are crucial to career success. 

“Today’s announcement further proves what we already know," said AmeriCorps Director Chester Spellman. "AmeriCorps and Peace Corps alumni offer a unique set of skills and experiences that employers find valuable in their workplace.”  

We thank the 500-plus employers that have recognized the qualities national service alumni can bring to the job -- and then put them to work.

In Service, 

CNCS Office of External Affairs

The Impact of National Service

AmeriCorps Team Helps with Habitat, Other Projects (AmeriCorps)

A team of 14 college-aged adults from around the country are rounding out their third week of helping the Tahlequah community. In three weeks, this AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps crew will move on to complete 24 more weeks of assisting where they are needed. "All of the sponsors we're working with have been really great. Everyone we've met has been enthusiastic," said team leader Sarah Shotts, 22, a sociology graduate of the University of San Diego. "We are enjoying the variety of projects."

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A Grandparent Celebrates 18 Years of Mentorship (Senior Corps) Barb Schemenauer isn’t a typical grandmother. Although she’s raised seven children of her own, her grandchildren number in the dozens – her adopted grandchildren, that is. Seventeen young students at the Lake Holcombe School crowded around Schemenauer Monday, each excited to present her with birthday gifts. Not only is Schemenauer – fondly known as “Grandma Barb” to the Lake Holcombe students – celebrating her 80th birthday this December, but she’s capping off her 18th year as a foster grandparent for the school district. Read more

Senior Companions Provide Social Outlet for Lonely Seniors (Senior Corps) Maurinda Rosemore is 93 and lives on her own in Jamestown. She has relatives who stop by and see her as often as possible, but one of her favorite times of the week is Thursday afternoon. That is when Beverly Haugen stops by for lunch, coffee, cards and a whole lot of talking. “Bev comes every Thursday afternoon and I have something to look forward to,” Rosemore said. Rosemore and Haugen are part of Lutheran Social Services Senior Companions, a program that pairs senior volunteers with senior citizens who identify as lonely, homebound, isolated or disabled. Andrea Lang, the eastern program coordinator for Senior Companions, said the program’s primary purpose is providing seniors with one on-one companionship and social recreation. “We (the program’s volunteers) are there to stop and visit a while,” she said. Senior Companions serves about 650 clients statewide and has about 80 volunteers. Read more

AmeriCorps Member Inspired by Local Community (AmeriCorps) Tim Gustav sorted through the bins of winter coat donations piled high and taking over the conference room at United Neighbors’ Bedford Street office. Gustav, a city native, is about six weeks into his 10-month AmeriCorps service stint at the human service agency. “It’s great,” Gustav said. “I think I’m making a small difference.” That’s the idea for AmeriCorps volunteers who strive to make big and small positive changes, often in their own communities, as well as in places where there has been a natural disaster. They also build houses for the poor, protect the environment, and promote healthy living. There are currently some 175 AmeriCorps and Senior Corps members serving in Fall River today at some 35 sites, according to spokeswoman Samantha Jo Warfield. Read more

Watch It: 500+ Employers of National Service

Each week, we provide a social media shareable to use on your networks. As we mentioned earlier, the joint CNCS and Peace Corps Employers of National Service initiative has surpassed the 500-employer milestone. To celebrate, we made the video above to mark this achievement and explain how the program works. Take a few moments to watch the video and share it on your social media networks.

National Service in the News

How a Dropout Factory Raised its Graduation Rate from 53 Percent to 75 Percent in Three Years (AmeriCorps)

The Hechinger Report, New York

The first thing you notice during morning arrival outside Daniel Webster High School is the cluster of red-jacketed young adults, each holding up a sign identifying their favorite hobby. They’re members of City Year, a nonprofit partner of AmeriCorps that recruits college-age members from across the country to serve as tutors and mentors in high-poverty urban schools. Many of the Webster upperclassmen simply walk by the City Year members, but several younger students stop and engage in conversations about a shared love of video games or binge-watching YouTube clips.

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Two High Schools and 11 Elementary Schools Receive STEM Grant Funding (AmeriCorps)

The Logan Banner, West Virginia

Two high schools in Logan County received two grants through the West Virginia Educational Alliance (WVEA) that will help improve student achievement in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Last March, Logan and Man High Schools submitted a grant application to the educational alliance to fund STEM subjects using a makers space. "It (makers space) is a space in the school where teachers and students go to create things and use innovative thinking," Assistant Superintendent of Logan County Schools Darlene Dingess-Adkins said. "They have both been awarded those grants and will have the opportunity to have a fulltime VISTA teacher."

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Area Woman Honored By President Trump For Community Service (Senior Corps)

The Post-Journal, New York

Joanne Malecki’s simple philosophy — if you see a need, take care of it — has earned her recognition from far beyond her home area of Clymer/ Findley Lake. Malecki has recently been awarded a host of citations from public officials for her community service, ranging from the Chautauqua County Executive, all the way up to President Donald Trump. Malecki, who says, “I just enjoy helping people, no matter how big or how small,” learned from the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) that she has put in over 4,000 hours of service over the last four years. In recognition of this accomplishment, Malecki has received a Lifetime Achievement Award from President Trump and the Corporation for National and Community Service, whose mission is to “support the American culture of citizenship, service, and responsibility.”

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IGNITE Youth Group Gets Award (AmeriCorps)

The Harrison Daily, Arkansas

On Nov. 9, Boone County Ignite, a youth group supported by North Arkansas Partnership for Health Education (NAPHE) and the Boone County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition received the 2017 Youth Program of the Year Award at the annual Prescription Drug Summit in Hot Springs for their work in helping to increase enforcement of tobacco free park policies in Harrison’s city parks. NAPHE staff and AmeriCorps VISTA members attended the 2017 Prescription Drug Summit at the Hot Springs Convention Center where the award was given. “We were delighted when we heard that our own Harrison IGNITE youth program from the Harrison High School was honored with the 2017 Oustanding Youth Group Award,” said Chrissie Larchez, Youth Program Coordinator for the Drug Free Communities program.

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Coats for Kids Drive Ongoing (Senior Corps)

The Marietta Times, Ohio 

A mild start to winter might have dulled the urgency for warm coats, but temperatures are forecast to cool off in about a week, and despite recent daytime highs in the 60s, the mornings are sharp and cold. The Coats for Kids volunteers said Tuesday that donations have been lagging somewhat because the winter cold has yet to set in, but they expect donations to pick up as December arrives. Sitting by the bright windows on the first floor of the Dime Bank Building Tuesday afternoon, RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program) volunteer Pearl Guyer said the drive to provide both needy children and adults with winter coats is still accepting donated outer wear, including gloves, coats and hats.

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The Most And Least Charitable States In The U.S. In 2017 (CNCS)

Forbes

Americans are a generous people. According to the Charities Aid Foundation—a UK-based organization that provides services and assistance to charities around the world—144 million people in the United States donated money to charity in the past year, and 106 million donated their time. The foundation also reported that 56% of Americans had donated money, volunteered time or helped out a stranger this past year, placing it fifth among 140 nations (Myanmar came in first, with 65% of its populace taking action in one or more of those categories).

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The Real Value of a Volunteer Cannot truly be Calculated (CNCS)

The Courier, Ohio

Schools, youth organizations, religious groups, civic organizations, and more depend on the dedication of volunteers to make their programs work. The time, energy and skills provided by volunteers to organizations would be considered priceless. According to the Corporation for National and Community Service’s website, Volunteering in America, 2.5 million Ohioans produced 268.0 million hours of service in 2015. The website volunteeringinamerica.gov provides a breakdown of volunteerism nationwide. For a local example, 348 4-H volunteers, both youth and adults, provided 7,640 hours of service for Hancock County. The commitment of these volunteers served 2,900 youth in a variety of programs in 2017.

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