By JESSE COLVIN, September 22, 2020

Our country faces mounting public health, economic, and educational crises, as well as a nationwide reckoning on racial injustice — challenges that require thoughtful solutions to move the country forward. When it comes to addressing these critical issues, there are few solutions that have both bipartisan support and can be a true antidote in helping to rebuild in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a proud member of the Nonprofit Infrastructure Investment Advocacy Group (NIIAG), convened by Independent Sector and KABOOM!, Service Year Alliance is thrilled to see NIIAG lifting up national service as a way to strengthen our country’s civic infrastructure.

As we determine how best to address each of these individual challenges, we also must confront the growing lack of trust in our institutions and the hyperpolarization that threaten the civic fabric of American society. If we are to truly tackle these issues, it will require a solution that unites Americans around a common cause in order to knit our communities back together.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

Coalition of Leading Military and Civilian Service Organizations Calls on Presidential Campaigns to Prioritize National Service

The coalition is part of the Serve America Together campaign to make national service part of growing up in America.

WASHINGTON, DC (September 14, 2020) – Today, over a dozen leading military and civilian service organizations released a letter calling on President Trump and Vice President Biden’s presidential campaigns to prioritize a significant expansion of national service in the first 100 days of their potential administrations. The first-of-its-kind coalition — which is the backbone of the Serve America Together campaign to make national service part of growing up in America — unites the military and civilian service movements under one banner behind a bold call to action for national service expansion.

We, at Service Year Alliance, are deeply saddened by the tragic, brutal, and thoroughly preventable death of George Floyd. We offer our sincerest condolences to Mr. Floyd’s family, friends, and community members.

We stand in solidarity with African Americans across our nation who have been marginalized, mistreated, and discriminated against for decades because of the color of their skin. We hear you! We understand you! Together, we want to work alongside you to have the difficult, yet necessary conversations to address and break down systemic racism and inequities that exist in our country. When you cannot breathe, we cannot breathe as a country. 

Until black lives matter, our mission to make national service a common expectation and opportunity for all young Americans cannot be realized. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Service Year Alliance Commends Sen. Coons and Senate Leaders’ Pandemic Response and Opportunity Through National Service Act

Legislation will dramatically expand national service programs to support coronavirus response and recovery efforts

WASHINGTON, DC (April 27, 2020) – In response to the recently announced legislation from Senator Chris Coons (D-MD) and his fellow Senate colleagues, Service Year Alliance commends Sen. Coons’ leadership and his efforts to expand national service programs, including AmeriCorps, in an effort to combat COVID-19. The Pandemic Response and Opportunity Through National Service Act would fund 750,000 national service positions over a three-year response and recovery period, create partnerships between AmeriCorps and federal health agencies, and increase the AmeriCorps living allowance so that Americans of all backgrounds are able to serve.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Service Year Alliance Applauds Civilian National Service Recommendations from the National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service’s Final Report

The Commission’s report calls for one million people serving annually in civilian national service by 2031.

WASHINGTON, DC (March 25, 2020) – Service Year Alliance applauds the civilian national service recommendations included in the final report that was released today from the National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service. The Commission’s report calls for expanding opportunities to serve so that five million people are serving annually in civilian, military, and public service by 2031. Specifically, the report aims to have one million people serving annually in civilian national service — the largest call to expand national service in decades. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Local Leaders Gather in Washington, DC for first-ever Service Year Community ChangeMaker Summit

Co-hosted by Service Year Alliance and National League of Cities, local leaders from 38 communities to discuss utilizing and expanding service years to meet community needs

WASHINGTON, DC (September 23, 2019) – Today, through September 25, mayors, local leaders, service year programs, and Service Year Impact Communities will gather in Washington, DC at the National League of Cities for Service Year Alliance’s first-ever Community ChangeMaker Summit. Participants from 38 communities across the country will share insights and strategize ways to utilize service years as a powerful, multi-faceted community development tool to solve local needs like education inequity, workforce development, housing, and more. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Jesse Colvin joins Service Year Alliance as new CEO

A veteran and former congressional candidate, Colvin brings a dedication to service and a strategic mindset to the service year movement. 

WASHINGTON, DC (September 3, 2019) – Today, Jesse Colvin officially joins Service Year Alliance as the organization’s next CEO. An Army Ranger, intelligence officer, business leader, and former congressional candidate, Colvin brings both military and public service experience to the role at a deciding moment for national service.

SAN JOSE, Calif. and DENVER – Aug. 28, 2019 – Silvernest and Service Year Alliance are partnering on a homesharing pilot designed to bring more affordable housing options to service year corps members committed to serving full-time for a year in San Jose, California. Through the Silvernest homesharing platform, service year corps members will be matched with homeowners in the area – many of them boomers – who are open to rent out their unused rooms at a discounted rate.

San Jose is a notoriously expensive city with some of the highest rent prices in the nation. A one-bedroom apartment rents for an average of $2,563 a month, making it difficult for service year corps members to live there on their modest monthly stipend. At the same time, census data shows that 70% of Californians over the age of 60 are homeowners, and many have empty rooms that could be rented out.