AmeriCorps CEO Michael D. Smith shares his reflection on a recent The Washington Post article, "America should make it easier for young people to serve their country":
As the Washington Post editorial board noted, “People see the benefits of serving their country, whether it be through the military or helping out at their local soup kitchen. But the costs of doing so can be high.” National service is a triple win. National service strengthens communities and transforms the lives of not only the individuals served, but the members who serve while in communities across the country – urban and rural –Americans of all demographics provide on-the-ground support to critical community programs such as schools, food banks, homeless shelters, health centers, youth organizations, veterans’ facilities, and more.
I've had the honor of meeting our members, volunteers, and alums from coast to coast, who have transformed their lives through service, like Heather in Las Vegas, Nevada, who was laid off from her job as a hotel housekeeper during the COVID-19 pandemic. She didn't have a high school degree and became a stay-at-home mom. Her son enrolled in the mobile pre-K center, and when she saw how beneficial it was for him, she started getting involved as a parent. She had limited options when she began looking for a job, but through the mobile pre-K, she learned about AmeriCorps and joined. She discovered a passion for teaching, and after mentioning she was interested in going back to school, her AmeriCorps site supervisor helped her get the resources and support that enabled her to obtain her GED, and today, she continues to work in classrooms.
I also think of our alum David, who served with AmeriCorps Urban Safety Program in Detroit, Michigan, before finding his career as a police officer. David was studying criminal justice and psychology when he decided to join AmeriCorps because it offered a different approach to public safety. Unlike law enforcement, he was intrigued by the approach to decreasing crime by increasing public safety. Since graduating and joining the police force, David continues to mentor at-risk youth, provide them with occupational, vocational, and educational resources, and have round table discussions on character development and leadership principles every week. He credits national service as instrumental in his personal and professional development.
Since 1993, AmeriCorps has been and will be committed to expanding
#NationalService opportunities to transform the lives of not only our communities but also those who serve.
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