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Dear Colleagues and Communicators,
Whether it’s creating new pathways
to employment, helping mayors improve their cities, or uniting Americans around an historical event, service
weaves through the fabric of American life.
We know national service participants strengthen communities. And they can strengthen the federal workforce too. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) announced new
guidelines this week that encourage federal agencies to tap into the talent of
past, current, and future AmeriCorps members and other national service participants. OPM’s announcement supports the mission of the President's Task Force on Expanding National Service, which is designed to create a pipeline of Americans who are ready to enter public service and apply the skills they learn through national service. |
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National service improves cities, too. City leaders across the country are recognizing AmeriCorps members and Senior Corps volunteers who make their cities better and stronger. Just last week, CEO Wendy Spencer joined St. Paul, MN Mayor Chris Coleman and Mesa, AZ Mayor Scott Smith at a Seattle food bank (right) to announce the next annual Mayors Day of Recognition for National Service -- which will take place April 1, 2014.
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As we reflect on the values of national service today, we commemorate the legacy of President John F. Kennedy, a leader who inspired many people to serve in their own communities. Motivated by Kennedy’s call to service, Heather McCool works as an AmeriCorps VISTA at the New Kensington Community Development Corporation in Philadelphia, PA.
Meanwhile, a team of AmeriCorps NCCC members is assisting with JFK Memorial Service commemoration ceremonies in Dallas, TX today (right). In addition, the CNCS state office in Texas supported local events encouraging citizens to mark his legacy through service.
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Thanks and have a great weekend,
The External Affairs Team
AmeriCorps
Kennedy's idealism is not lost on today's young
Cape Cod Times (MA),
November 20, 2013
When Lindsey Zemler was born, it
had been a quarter-century since the assassination of President John F.
Kennedy. She has no "where were you when ..." memories. Yet, across
the generations, the 26-year-old AmeriCorps member feels a connection to the
man who, in the popular imagination, has come to be a symbol for public service
and is often lionized as the embodiment of the idealistic optimism of a bygone
era.
AmeriCorps NCCC
Purposeful Preservation
Parks and Rec Business (OH), November 15, 2013
The project is designed to serve as a model for preserves across the nation.
Through private and public efforts, the Redbud Project established a native
plant preserve for environmental study and public recreation in the city’s
Linwood Nature Preserve. AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps sent two
different teams of volunteers to build sustainable, low-impact trails and
bridges as well as eradicate invasive plants.
AmeriCorps VISTA
Talent-starved industries push for more computer programming education in high schools
Kansas City Star (MO), November 21, 2013
The detailed work in refining programs is “painstakingly hard,” said Malcolm Strickland, an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer helping the Ruskin students. He’s still taking upper level college courses in programming, he said, and he can see students growing discouraged by so much language theory without a taste of creating something of their own. High school programs like the pilot course have to put teens in control and let them see how computer coding is on its way to underlying nearly every industry, innovation and recreational interestlying before them. Done right, plenty of young people will want to be where Strickland is, he said, asking: “Am I going to change someone’s life? Make life easier? More managed?”
Senior Corps
Help and Hope: A TCOG specialty
Herald Democrat (TX), November 16, 2013
Two senior, volunteer-based programs — RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program)
and the Foster Grandparents program — are highly successful, according to
Thomas. Local seniors volunteer in a variety of ways, from helping students in
local schools or delivering Meals on Wheels to helping at hospitals and
hand-making items for persons in need. The programs give seniors ways to keep
their minds and bodies active while helping others. The senior volunteers also
help fill critical personnel shortages in schools, hospitals and other areas
due to lack of funds.
Social Innovation Fund
Colorado literacy project is promising
Denver Post (CO), November 16, 2013
The question is the central focus of Colorado's Social Innovation Fund
portfolio, a set of 10 projects across the state addressing early literacy with
the goal of improving third-grade reading proficiency by at least 25 percent by
2018. The Social Innovation Fund is an initiative of Mile High United Way and
the Corporation for National and Community Service. The portfolio's programs
are all accompanied by thorough evaluations designed to tease out "what
works" so success can be scaled to give all children the skills they need
to read proficiently by the end of third grade.
National Service Blog
5 Ways to Find Volunteers in 140 Characters or Fewer
NationalService.gov, November 19, 2013
National service helps communities and organizations get things done, and finding and managing volunteers is part of the job. Today, as part of the AmeriCorps 20th anniversary celebration we’re highlighting techniques our members have used to mobilize volunteers – and one way has been to use social media.
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