Voices for National Service Endorses President Biden’s Nomination of Michael D. Smith to Lead AmeriCorps
Washington, DC (June 15, 2021) – Today, President Biden announced his intention to nominate Michael D. Smith to be the Chief Executive Officer of AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteering. AmeriCorps, formerly the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), mobilizes Americans to tackle the country’s most pressing challenges through service.
Following is a statement by AnnMaura Connolly, President of Voices for National Service.
“Voices for National service enthusiastically supports President Biden’s nomination of Michael Smith as the Chief Executive Officer for AmeriCorps.
“As communities and nonprofits struggle to recover from the pandemic and meet local needs, AmeriCorps is in high demand. With decades of executive experience working to improve communities and to create opportunities for young people, Michael Smith is the perfect person to work with the 70,000 nonprofit organizations across the country that leverage national service as a results-driven strategy to meet community challenges – and a way to invest in Americans of diverse backgrounds.
“Michael’s energy and passion for creating lasting change and putting people at the center of solving the problems facing their communities, combined with his broad-ranging expertise, including at the My Brother’s Keeper Alliance, the Social Innovation Fund, and the Case Foundation, make him an ideal candidate to lead AmeriCorps. His deep personal commitment and his unparalleled record of achievement is what’s needed today at the Agency’s helm.
“Given the scale of need in our communities, and the critical role that AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors are playing in helping to meet those needs, we urge the Senate to move expeditiously on Michael Smith’s nomination.”
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Voices for National Service is a diverse coalition of national service programs, state service commissions and individual champions, who work to ensure Americans of all ages and backgrounds have the opportunity to serve and volunteer in their community. Founded in 2003, Voices for National Service has built strong bipartisan support among our nation’s leaders and helped to elevate national service as a powerful strategy for tackling unmet needs, preparing young people for work, uniting our country and developing civic character.