Today, Service Year Alliance, the national organization striving to make a year of paid, full-time service — a service year — a common expectation and opportunity for all young Americans, unveiled their newest initiative, “Service Year 100.” The announcement took place at the National Service Symposium in San Francisco, CA.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday June 27, 2017

WASHINGTON, DC (June 27, 2017) – Yesterday, in response to the White House’s budget proposal, Vermont leaders and alumni of national service programs joined Service Year Alliance to call for the protection and expansion of national service. The President’s budget for Fiscal Year 2018 threatens to eliminate national service programs like AmeriCorps and dramatically cuts the Peace Corps.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, June 23, 2017

Nearly 600 higher education professionals gathered in Baltimore, MD, earlier this month for the Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement Conference. Service Year Alliance helped to sponsor this conference, hosted by The American Democracy Project (ADP), The Democracy Commitment (TDC), and NASPA for those committed to advancing the civic engagement movement in higher education.

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Service Year Alliance’s very own Stephanie Armstrong and Csilla Aglaure-Szekelyhidi represented Service Year Alliance at the 2017 Bonnaroo Music Festival in Tennessee! I caught up with Stephanie to find out just what they were up to, check it out!

WASHINGTON, DC - "Service Year Alliance applauds Rep. John Larson and Rep. John Lewis for their leadership making a year of service a common expectation and opportunity. The ACTION for National Service Act marks an important contribution to this goal", says Shirley Sagawa, CEO of the Service Year Alliance.

Pictured from left to right: General (Ret) Stanley A. McChrystal (Service Year Alliance Board Chairman), Rob Gordon (President of Be the Change, Inc.), Shirley Sagawa (CEO Service Year Alliance), Congressman John Lewis, Congresswoman Doris Matsui, Congressman Joe Kennedy III, AnnMaura Connolly (President of Voices for National Service) and Congressman John B. Larson

“The proposed budget cuts are taking us back to the stone age as a nation. They’re short-sighted and fail to address modern challenges or invest in the next generation of American leaders. In the name of all national service organizations we deeply condemn the proposed elimination of the Corporation for National and Community Service — including AmeriCorps — and the deep cuts to the Peace Corps. This budget is the latest in a series of reckless steps aiming to eliminate national service as we know it”, says Shirley Sagawa, CEO of the Service Year Alliance.

When a state of emergency was declared due to lead in the main water supply of Flint, Mich., service year corps members were already on the ground. Now, they’re key to the community’s long-term recovery effort.

Last week gap year providers, advisors, and higher education leaders gathered in Denver for the annual International Gap Year conference. The conference was hosted by the American Gap Association (AGA), Service Year Alliance’s gap year partner.

The conference explored barriers to students completing a gap year including funding, parental support, lack of awareness, and concern that these experiences might lengthen time to graduation or dissuade students from attending college at all.