I spent a good number of years in various AmeriCorps programs, and let me tell you it was by far one of the best times I have ever had in life. That is why I am pretty excited about this pending legislation. Be sure to contact your local senator/representative and let them know you are all for this great bill.

On Friday, May 16, Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) will introduce the AmeriCorps Act of 2008, legislation which will:

• Raise the education award to $6,185, the average annual cost of tuition and fees for an instate student at a four year public university;
• Make the education award tax exempt;
• Restore the Corporation’s previous authority to partner with other Federal agencies to use national service as a strategy to carry out Departments’ priorities; and,
• Promote the Corporation for National and Community Service to Cabinet level status.

Ever supports this effort to recognize the importance of service and to promote access to education by increasing the value of the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award. Since inception in 1994, more than 540,000 citizens have served through AmeriCorps to address the unmet needs of our nation. These citizens have given over 700,000,000 hours toward improving the lives of other Americans.

Click here to read the bill language.

You can build support for national service by encouraging your Senators to join as original cosponsors of the bill. Call today; the deadline for cosponsors is Thursday, May 15th at 4:00pm.

Action Steps for the AmeriCorps Act of 2008:

1. Call the Capitol operator at (202) 224-3121 to be connected to your Senator.
2. Ask your elected official to be an original cosponsor of the AmeriCorps Act of 2008.
3. To cosponsor, interested offices should contact Mary Ellen McGuire with Senator Dodd’s office by email: MaryEllen_McGuire@help.senate.gov. Deadline for cosponsors is Thursday, May 15th at 4pm.

New Release of AmeriCorps Longitudinal Study

The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) released the results of a new evaluation that takes a close look at the long-term impacts that a single year of service in AmeriCorps has on its participants. The study tracked members who participated in either the AmeriCorps State and National or the AmeriCorps NCCC program between 1999 and 2000, and the results prove that AmeriCorps has positive effects on its members and helps develop individuals who are high engaged in promoting the public good in their careers and communities. Specific findings.

• AmeriCorps generates civic leaders.
• AmeriCorps is a pipeline to public service careers in government and the nonprofit sector.
• AmeriCorps has an even greater impact on the public service career choices of minority members and those individuals from disadvantaged circumstances.

Please click here to read the full report, “Still Serving: AmeriCorps’ Impact on Alumni Eight Years Later,” and access related fact sheets on the Corporation for National and Community Service website.

AmeriCorps changed my life, it was amazing and I encourage everyone to give a year or more of their lives to service. Please support this legislation by calling your senator and getting them to co-sposor this bill.