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Media Contact: Aly Ferguson, [email protected]
Service Year Alliance Releases New Equity Agenda with Recommendations for Improving the Accessibility of National Service
WASHINGTON, DC (July 13, 2022) – Service Year Alliance released an equity agenda today detailing recommendations for improving the accessibility of national service, including programs like AmeriCorps and the Peace Corps. The report, Equity Agenda: Recommendations for Improving the Accessibility of National Service, outlines suggestions to make national service more equitable and accessible for potential corps members from diverse and underserved communities, as well as to increase the accessibility of AmeriCorps grantmaking for nonprofits from those communities.
“In order to reach our vision of making national service part of growing up in America, we must prioritize equity so that every young person is able to serve — no matter their background, race, disability status, or zipcode. National service has long been associated as an experience for the privileged few, despite its track record of offering youth of all backgrounds meaningful service experiences, unlocking pathways toward education and career opportunities. We must recommit to increasing the value proposition of service years and enhancing the corps member experience, so that national service is inclusive for all. This equity agenda lays out Service Year Alliance’s priorities to make this vision a reality,” said Kristen Bennett, CEO of Service Year Alliance. “I look forward to sharing this agenda with our partners in the field as we work together to adapt current policies and practices and reform national service long-term, so that it is truly an opportunity for all.”
Service Year Alliance first shared this equity agenda as part of Points of Light’s annual conference on a panel focused on expanding equity through national service — alongside LISC and Public Allies Chicago, and moderated by America Forward.
Many of these proposed solutions detailed in the equity agenda stem from Service Year Alliance’s public comment submissions to AmeriCorps on equity, the criminal history check process, and matching fund requirements, as well as our white paper to the Biden administration, Reimagining National Service: A Roadmap to a Service Presidency. The report has also drawn on recommendations and lessons learned from other partners in the national service field, including America’s Service Commissions, The Next 100, and America Forward.
About Service Year Alliance
Service Year Alliance is working to make a year of paid, full-time service — a service year — a common expectation and opportunity for all young Americans. We envision a future in which national service is part of growing up in America. As we enter a new era for national service fueled by recent investments in AmeriCorps, we are focused on ensuring these expansions are successful and set the stage for future growth of the field. We identify opportunities for shared recruitment and data systems to tackle some of the biggest challenges facing our sector. Finally, we foster collaborative approaches to demonstrate the impact of service years as an experience that transforms lives, strengthens communities, and fuels civic renewal at scale. Learn more about our work at ServiceYearAlliance.org.
