Dear Voices Community,
Congress is back in session this week, and our work continues!
Senators Coons and Senator Cassidy are leading a sign-on letter in support of FY19 funding for CNCS. Thirty-eight senators have added their names to this letter including: Cassidy (R-LA), Kennedy (R-LA), Feinstein (D-CA), Harris (D-CA), Bennet (D-CO), Blumenthal (D-CT), Murphy (D-CT), Carper (D-DE), Coons (D-DE), Hirono (D-HI), Schatz (D-HI), Duckworth (D-IL), Durbin (D-IL), Donnelly (D-IN), Markey (D-MA), Warren (D-MA), Van Hollen (D-MD), Peters (D-MI), Stabenow (D-MI), Klobuchar (D-MN), Smith (D-MN), Tester (D-MT), Hassan (D-NH), Shaheen (D-NH), Booker (D-NJ), Menendez (D-NJ), Heinrich (D-NM), Brown (D-OH), Wyden (D-OR), Casey (D-PA), Reed (D-RI), Whitehouse (D-RI), Kaine (D-VA), Cantwell (D-WA), Baldwin (D-WI), Manchin (D-WV), Gillibrand (D-NY) and Merkley (D-OR).
The House Education and Workforce Committee announced today that they will hold an oversight hearing on Tuesday, April 17th at 10AM. The hearing is titled “Fraud, Mismanagement, Non-Compliance, and Safety: The History of Failures of the Corporation for National and Community Service.” This is the third in a series of CNCS oversight hearings held by Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC). We are reaching out to the members of the committee in advance of the hearing. We are encouraging them to attend and making sure they are briefed on the national service programs in their district and the impact service members are having on the ground. We want to make sure the tone and spirit of the hearing is positive and constructive.
Here are some highlights from the past week:
- Congratulations to the AmeriCorps and Senior Corps members in Flint, Michigan for their innovative work that garnered the attention of AmeriCorps director Chester Spellman and a profile in Flint Side for their outstanding impact!
- Thanks to Kari Pardoe and the Mott Foundation for supporting AmeriCorps members with your great generosity and for sharing stories of the broad reach impact of national service programs in Flint, Michigan.
- In this Columbus Dispatch opinion piece, Jim Simon highlights the potential of national service in healing divides.
- Thank you to Volunteer Tennessee for hosting the Governor’s Volunteer Stars, an award ceremony which celebrated the efforts of 101 volunteers statewide who have worked to improve their communities through service.
- This News Review Article features the health benefits of volunteering and the transformation of social and physical environments in the Umpqua Region.
We were also thrilled to see the excitement around the Corporation for National and Community Service’s National Service Recognition Day on April 3. A record-breaking number of city, county and tribal officials participated in the day. CNCS estimated more than 5,200 leaders recognized AmeriCorps and Senior Corps on this day. Here are some highlights from the day:
- Big thank you to NYC Service for celebrating the contributions of AmeriCorps members by announcing the launch of the National Service Support Center, which will provide training and resources to service year programs across the city. Thank you for investing in service programs in your community!
- We are grateful to Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes who hosted a roundtable with AmeriCorps service members in Frankfort, Kentucky to discuss service in the state.
- Thank you to Mayor Sandy Stimpson of Mobile, Alabama for lifting up local AmeriCorps Members on National Service Recognition Day.
- Big thanks to Mayor Kirk Caldwell of Honolulu, Hawaii for commemorating the state’s first ever National Service Recognition Day and to Derrick Ariyoshi, director of the Corporation for National and Community Service Hawaii for lifting up AmeriCorps members.
- Thank you to Mayor Jorge Elorza of Providence, Rhode Island for honoring the leadership of AmeriCorps members throughout the country.
- Thanks to Major Sefatia Romeo of Gloucester, Massachusetts for celebrating Senior Corps volunteers at City Hall.
- Thank you Mayor Jacob Frey of Minneapolis, Mayor Melvin Carter of St. Paul and Sam Schuth, Director of Minnesota CNCS for lifting up AmeriCorps members in your communities.
- Thank you to Mayor Jamael Tito Brown of Youngstown, Ohio for acknowledging efforts of AmeriCorps members to revitalize the community.
- Thanks to Mayor Carrie Tergin of Jefferson City, Missouri who credited AmeriCorps members with increasing the resiliency and healing of youth, and strengthening communities in their communities through personal engagement and service.
- We are grateful to Mayor Tim Kabat of La Crosse, Wisconsin for lifting up stories of volunteers who serve children and seniors across the state.
- Thank you to Morehead, Kentucky Mayor Jim Tom Trent and Rowan County Judge-Executive Walter Blevins joined the recognition day by highlighting the impact on national service in the state.
- Thanks to Salem, Ohio Mayor John Berlin who encouraged residents to recognize the positive impact of national service in Ohio and to thank those who serve by giving back.
- We loved seeing The University of Arkansas joining the celebration by highlighting the contributions of AmeriCorps programs in the community.
- Thank you to Worland, Wyoming Mayor James Gill for encouraging residents to recognize the positive impact that national service has in Wyoming.
- We loved seeing Richmond, Virginia celebrating National Service Recognition Day by hosting FIVE service projects throughout the city.
- We were excited to see United Way of Escambia County, the city of Pensacola and Escambia County hosted a National Service Recognition event to honor the more than 12,600 AmeriCorps members across Florida.
- Thank you to Cision PR Newswire for featuring local voices on the value of AmeriCorps members in Little Rock, Arkansas and Tarrant County, Texas.
- Check out this Times Free Press article featured the Foster Grandparent Program in Chattangooga, Tennessee on National Service Recognition Day.
Keep up the fabulous work!