By JOE HECK, October 5, 2020 

Throughout the course of history, Americans have, time and again, come together in moments of crisis to confront our challenges and move the country forward. As I envision a path out of the current crises facing our nation, I believe this moment is no different.

For the past three years, I served as the chairman of the National Commission on Military, National and Public Service, a position I was appointed to by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and which allowed me to continue my own service to our country, building upon my current service in the Army Reserve and my experience as a former three-term Republican congressman. Throughout the congressionally-mandated Commission’s tenure that explored America’s appetite for service and the potential need for a military draft, we traveled across the country hearing from Americans about their desire to serve, the barriers to service, and their ideas for inspiring more people to serve.

By JOHN BRIDGELAND, October 4, 2020

Even as we face the hard realities of a pandemic, the fight for social justice, and divisive national politics, recent national polling offers a spot of good news. More than seven out of 10 Americans believe they have more in common with one another than many people think.

Those findings are part of a recent survey conducted for Harvard University’s Carr Center for Human Rights and Institute of Politics. Americans, it turns out, are not as divided as our politics and news media might indicate.

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.