Standing Up for Service

At the risk of sounding obvious, there’s a lot of heartbreak in the world right now. More than usual, I think. 

It’s a lot, all of it.

But one thing that took me down last week? DOGE coming for AmeriCorps. 

If you’ve been reading this newsletter for a while, you know AmeriCorps changed my life. I’m an alum and I believe SO. FERVENTLY. in national service and all of the good that comes from it.

So, when I heard that AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) members were suddenly demobilized last week and that 85% of core AmeriCorps staff were placed on administrative leave, my heart dropped. I have to imagine that it’s just a matter of days or weeks before DOGE also cancels AmeriCorps VISTA, State and National, Senior Corps – all of it.

This is bananas. B-A-N-A-N-A-S.

AmeriCorps mobilizes 40,000+ volunteers every year to support disaster relief, education, public health, and more. 

Want to know the return on investment? For every $1 invested, AmeriCorps generates more than $17 in impact.

Wondering how this country builds an incredible pipeline of civic-minded leaders? Just look at AmeriCorps. 

AmeriCorps responds to disasters. It fuels nonprofits. It builds communities. It builds people. It’s not partisan; it’s purpose.

True to form, AmeriCorps alums – more than 1.3M strong – are already jumping into action. They’re rallying: sharing job openings, offering housing, reviewing resumes, sharing stories. I love it so, so much.

Just yesterday, I met a demobilized VISTA member over Zoom. He moved to LA in February for his service year and…well, now he’s out of a job. I’m helping him with his resume and job search. These kinds of conversations are happening around the country right now and, as the kids would say, it’s giving.

Want to help, too? Here’s how:

➡️ Sign this Change.org petition to preserve AmeriCorps NCCC operations.

➡️ Sign this other Action Network petition.

➡️ Have a job opening that might be perfect for an enterprising AmeriCorps? Share it here.

➡️ Are/were you an AmeriCorps? Share your service story here. And then consider ticking off ways you can help here.

➡️ Contact your lawmakers and tell them to protect AmeriCorps. Here’s a simple form for doing just that.

At the end of the day, this is about more than AmeriCorps. 

We’re a country built on service. And so this is about who we are and how we’ve always shown up for one another. It’s also about building a critical workforce, plus civic and life skills. 

And even if DOGE does do away with all of AmeriCorps, we’ll build it back. Because there are millions of people in this country who believe in the power of service. 

So yes, the heartbreak is there. But the hope is there, too. And we choose hope.

Go, team! 😉

With love and appreciation,

Sarah

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💡SIX DEGREES FROM KEVIN BACON

Kevin Bacon founded the nonprofit SixDegrees.org to support youth empowerment, justice and equality, and sustainable living environments. Just this week, SixDegrees announced a partnership with Advertising Week that will amplify the voices of six nonprofits this year.

Each selected nonprofit will receive a custom advertising campaign valued in the millions. These campaigns will run across major digital platforms and will be crafted for TV and billboards. (This is soooo cool!)

Eligible nonprofits will have focus areas that align with SixDegrees.org’s core pillars and operate on a budget of $3M or less. Full details here.

🎞️ A FILM TO SEE

‘Long Night’ is a film by award-winning journalist Lynzy Billing, created in partnership with the international aid organization, EMERGENCY. It’s a film that tells the story of EMERGENCY’s 25 years of work in Afghanistan, through intimate first-hand accounts of Afghan healthcare workers and their patients across the country.

I’ve done work with EMERGENCY and this organization is incredible — it’s a nonprofit worth knowing more about.

The film will premiere in the U.S. soon:

• April 28 at the Quad Cinema in NY

• April 30 at Landmark’s Atlantic Plumbing Cinema in Washington, D.C.

• May 4 at the Landmark Westwood in LA

Please go see it!

💻 A VIRTUAL SUMMIT ON COLLECTIVE GIVING

The 5th Annual We Give Summit will take place online May 13 - May 15…and maybe you want to go. 🙂 

This gathering is all about collective giving, a powerful model of philanthropy where individuals come together to pool their resources, make decisions collectively, and support amazing causes.

Collective giving is a growing philanthropic movement and the Summit is an opportunity to learn more and get involved. All the details are here.

💘 NONPROFIT LOVE

Service Year Alliance was formed in January 2016 as a result of a merger of three national organizations: ServiceNation at Be The Change, Inc., The Franklin Project at The Aspen Institute, and the Service Year Exchange at the National Conference on Citizenship.

Service Year Alliance is working to make a year of paid, full-time service — a service year — a common expectation and opportunity for all young Americans. This organization envisions a future where one million young people are serving every year, solving our nation’s most pressing challenges while transforming their own lives (yessss!).

Service Year Alliance works with state and federal policymakers to unlock new resources for national service and develop new service year positions modeled on equity, career connections, and climate impact. Additionally, Service Year Alliance supports innovations that enhance the service experience and lead to better career pathways.

Want to learn more about this vital organization or get involved? Click here.