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AmeriCorps

AmeriCorps (/əˈmɛrɪkɔːr/ ə-MERR-ih-kor; officially the Corporation for National and Community Service or CNCS) is an independent agency of the United States government that engages more than five million Americans in service through a variety of stipended volunteer work programs in many sectors. These programs include AmeriCorps VISTA, AmeriCorps NCCC, AmeriCorps State and National, AmeriCorps Seniors, the Volunteer Generation Fund, and other national service initiatives.[4] The agency's mission is "to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering."[5] It was created by the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993.[6] In September 2020, the agency rebranded itself as AmeriCorps, although its official name is unchanged.[7]

Corporation for National and Community Service
Agency overview
Formed1993
Preceding agency
JurisdictionFederal government of the United States
Headquarters250 E Street, SW Washington, D.C. 20525 [1]
Employees586 (2020)[2]
Annual budget$1.055 billion USD (2013 Annualized CR level)[3]
Agency executive
Websiteamericorps.gov

Programs

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AmeriCorps delivers several programs designed to help communities address poverty, the environment, education, and other unmet human needs. The programs include:

AmeriCorps VISTA

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Main article: AmeriCorps VISTA

AmeriCorps VISTA, or Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA), was founded in 1965 as a domestic version of the Peace Corps. The program was incorporated into AmeriCorps and renamed AmeriCorps VISTA to create AmeriCorps in 1993.[8] VISTA provides full-time members to nonprofit, faith-based and other community organizations, and public agencies to create and expand programs that ultimately bring low-income individuals and communities out of poverty. There are currently over 5,000 VISTA members serving in 1,200 VISTA programs nationwide.

VISTA members take the following oath:"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God."

AmeriCorps NCCC

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Main article: National Civilian Community Corps

AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) is a full-time, residential team-based program for men and women ages 18–26. Members serve at one of four regional campuses located throughout the United States (Vicksburg, Mississippi; Vinton, Iowa; Aurora/Denver, Colorado; and Sacramento, California). Each campus focuses efforts on states within its region but may travel to other areas in response to national crises. Former campuses were located in Washington, DC; Charleston, South Carolina; San Diego, California; Baltimore, Maryland; and Perry Point, Maryland.

AmeriCorps State and National

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Volunteers from AmeriCorps in Mississippi

AmeriCorps State and National is the largest of the AmeriCorps programs, and provides grants to local and national organizations and agencies, including faith-based and community organizations, higher education institutions, and public agencies. Public Land Corps programs and Urban Youth Corps are specifically authorized for funding. The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act authorizes Education Corps, Health Futures Corps, Clean Energy Corps, Veterans Corps, and Opportunity Corps programs as qualifying for AmeriCorps programs. Grants assist these groups in recruiting, training and placing AmeriCorps members to meet critical community needs in education, public safety, health, and the environment.[9] AmeriCorps State operates through Service Commissions in each state, such as Volunteer Florida and the Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service; South Dakota is the only state without a Service Commission. Each state's Service Commission dispenses funding from AmeriCorps to organizations in their states through annual grant competitions. Since the program's inception, thousands of organizations across the nation have been awarded AmeriCorps State and National grants.

AmeriCorps State and National members engage in direct service activities, such as after-school tutoring or homebuilding, and capacity-building activities, such as volunteer recruitment, for the organizations they serve. After successfully completing their term of service, AmeriCorps State and National members may be eligible for an Education Award of up to $6,095 or equal to the full Pell Grant for the year in which service was approved.[10] The Education Award can pay for additional college or graduate school courses, or it can pay off existing student loans.[11] Full-time members typically complete 1,700 hours of service over 11 months; they also receive a living allowance, health benefits, and child care assistance during their term.[12]

AmeriCorps State and National members take the following pledge:[13]

I will get things done for America – to make our people safer, smarter, and healthier.
I will bring Americans together to strengthen our communities.
Faced with apathy, I will take action.
Faced with conflict, I will seek common ground.
Faced with adversity, I will persevere.
I will carry this commitment with me this year and beyond.
I am an AmeriCorps member, and I will get things done.

AmeriCorps Seniors

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Main article: AmeriCorps Seniors

The AmeriCorps Seniors umbrella includes three programs that engage seniors aged 55+ in volunteerism: the Foster Grandparents program, through which volunteers teach and mentor children; Senior Companions, through which volunteers help older adults live independently in their homes; and RSVP, through which volunteers can serve in a variety of roles to meet their communities' needs.[14]

American Climate Corps

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Other programs

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Special initiatives

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Employers of National Service

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On September 12, 2014, President Barack Obama launched the Employers of National Service initiative at the 20th Anniversary of AmeriCorps event on the South Lawn of the White House.[15] Employers participating in the initiative connect to the talent pipeline of AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other service year alumni, by indicating in their hiring processes that they view national service experience as a plus. The initiative is a collaboration between AmeriCorps with the Peace Corps, Service Year Alliance, AmeriCorps Alums, and the National Peace Corps Association. To date, over 500 employers have joined the initiative.[16]

History

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The Commission on National and Community Service was a new, independent federal agency created as a consequence of the National and Community Service Act of 1990, signed into law by President George H. W. Bush.

The Commission was intended to bring about a renewed focus on encouraging volunteering in the United States and was charged with supporting four streams of service:

  1. Service-learning programs for school-aged youth
  2. Higher education service programs
  3. Youth corps
  4. National service demonstration models

In 1993 the Corporation for National and Community Service was created by merging another agency, ACTION, and the Commission on National and Community Service together, thus ending the Commission.

Timeline

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1990: President George H. W. Bush signs the National and Community Service Act of 1990 into law, ushering in a renewed federal focus on encouraging volunteering in the U.S. This legislation created the new independent federal agency called the Commission on National and Community Service.

1992: Enacted as part of the 1993 National Defense Authorization Act, the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) is created as a demonstration program to explore the possibility of using post-Cold War military resources to help solve problems here at home. It is modeled on the Depression-era Civilian Conservation Corps and the United States military.

1993: President Bill Clinton signs into passage The National and Community Service Trust Act, formally merging the federal offices of ACTION and the Commission on National and Community Service, including Serve America and NCCC, to form the Corporation for National and Community Service, along with the addition of the new AmeriCorps program.

2002: President George W. Bush creates the USA Freedom Corps.

2020: The agency is rebranded as "AmeriCorps".[7]

CEO

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Past CEOs of the agency include:

No.ImageCEOService datesAppointed byNotes
1 Eli Segal1993–1995Clinton
2 Harris Wofford1995–2001
3Leslie Lenkowsky2001–2003G.W. Bush
4David Eisner2004–2008
– Nicola Goren (Acting)2008–2010Obama
5 Patrick Corvington2010–2011
– Robert Velasco II (Acting)2011–2012
6 Wendy Spencer2012–2017
–Kim Mansaray (Acting)2017–2018Trump
7 Barbara Stewart2018–2021
–Malcolm Coles (Acting)2021–2022Biden
8 Michael D. Smith2022-present

Board of directors

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The Board of Directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service has fifteen seats. Members are nominated by the President of the United States for five-year terms, and are confirmed by the United States Senate. Unless otherwise specified, dates are taken from Congress.gov.[17]

Current board members

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MemberTerm beganTerm expiresAppointed by
Fagan HarrisDecember 18, 2021October 6, 2023Biden
Catherine McLaughlin, chairDecember 18, 2021October 6, 2024
Alvin WarrenMarch 23, 2022October 6, 2023
Flor RomeroMay 19, 2022December 1, 2025
Leslie BluhmJuly 21, 2022October 6, 2023
Lisette NievesJuly 21, 2022October 6, 2027
Shirley SagawaAugust 4, 2022October 6, 2024

Succession of board seats

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Seats are ordered in the order in which they were initially filled by the senate.

Seat 1

MemberTermAppointed byTerm ended due to
James A. JosephFebruary 8, 1994 – 1995Clintonresignation
Eli SegalDecember 22, 1995 – February 8, 1999expiration
Leslie LenkowskyMay 24, 2000 – February 8, 2004expiration
Vince JuaristiMay 19, 2006 – February 8, 2009G. W. Bushexpiration
Lisa Garcia QuirozMarch 29, 2012 – February 8, 2014Obamaexpiration
vacantFebruary 8, 2014 – present—

Seat 2

MemberTermAppointed byTerm ended due to
Andrea N. BrownOctober 7, 1994 – October 7, 1995Clintonexpiration
Victor AsheJuly 16, 1996 – October 6, 2000expiration
Stephen GoldsmithMay 9, 2001 – October 6, 2005G. W. Bushexpiration
January 4, 2006[18] – October 6, 2010expiration
vacantOctober 6, 2010 – present—

Seat 3

MemberTermAppointed byTerm ended due to
Thomas EhrlichOctober 7, 1994 – October 7, 1997Clintonexpiration
May 21, 1998 – October 6, 2002expiration
Cynthia BoichDecember 26, 2003[19] – October 6, 2007G. W. Bushexpiration
Tom OsborneNovember 16, 2007 – 2008resignation
Richard ChristmanMarch 29, 2012 – October 6, 2012Obamaexpiration
July 14, 2015 – October 6, 2017expiration
Lisette NievesJuly 21, 2022 – presentBiden—

Seat 4

MemberTermAppointed byTerm ended due to
Christopher GallagherOctober 7, 1994 – October 7, 1998Clintonexpiration
May 24, 2000 – October 6, 2003expiration
Henry LozanoDecember 26, 2003[19] – 2007G. W. Bushresignation
Hyepin ImJune 4, 2008 – October 6, 2013expiration
Alvin WarrenMarch 23, 2022 – presentBiden—

Seat 5

MemberTermAppointed byTerm ended due to
Reatha Clark KingOctober 7, 1994 – 1997Clintonresignation
Marc RacicotMay 24, 2000 – October 6, 2004expiration
Donna N. WilliamsNovember 16, 2007 – 2006G. W. Bushresignation
Jane D. HartleyApril 26, 2012 – October 6, 2014Obamaexpiration
Shirley SagawaAugust 4, 2022 – presentBiden—

Seat 6

MemberTermAppointed byTerm ended due to
Carol KinsleyOctober 7, 1994 – October 7, 1999Clintonexpiration
Alan SolomontMay 24, 2000 – October 6, 2004expiration
November 16, 2007 – 2009G. W. Bushresignation
Shamina SinghJuly 14, 2015 – October 6, 2019Obamaexpiration
Catherine McLaughlinDecember 18, 2021 – presentBiden—

Seat 7

MemberTermAppointed byTerm ended due to
Leslie LenkowskyOctober 7, 1994 – October 7, 1998Clintonexpiration
Amy AchorMay 24, 2000 – October 6, 2003expiration
Leona White HatNovember 21, 2004 – October 6, 2008G. W. Bushexpiration
Matthew McCabeMay 24, 2012 – October 6, 2013Obamaexpiration
Romonia DixonJuly 14, 2015 – October 6, 2018expiration
Fagan HarrisDecember 18, 2021 – presentBiden—

Seat 8

MemberTermAppointed byTerm ended due to
Marlee MatlinOctober 7, 1994 – October 7, 1996Clintonexpiration
Robert B. RogersSeptember 8, 2000 – October 6, 2001expiration
Donna N. WilliamsDecember 26, 2003[19] – October 6, 2006G. W. Bushexpiration
James PalmerJune 28, 2007 – October 6, 2011expiration
Victoria Ann HughesJuly 14, 2015 – October 6, 2016Obamaexpiration
vacantOctober 6, 2016 – present—

Seat 9

MemberTermAppointed byTerm ended due to
Arthur NaparstekOctober 7, 1994 – October 7, 1998Clintonexpiration
May 6, 1999 – October 6, 2003expiration
Jack LewNovember 21, 2004 – October 6, 2008G. W. Bushexpiration
Phyllis SegalMarch 29, 2012 – October 6, 2013Obamaexpiration
Leslie BluhmJuly 21, 2022 – presentBiden—

Seat 10

MemberTermAppointed byTerm ended due to
John RotherOctober 7, 1994 – October 7, 1996Clintonexpiration
Toni FayDecember 27, 2000[20] – March 19, 2001recess appointment not confirmed
Carol KinsleyDecember 9, 2003 – October 6, 2006G. W. Bushexpiration
Stan SolowayJune 28, 2007 – October 6, 2011expiration
vacantOctober 6, 2011 – present—

Seat 11

MemberTermAppointed byTerm ended due to
Walter ShorensteinOctober 7, 1994 – October 7, 1997Clintonexpiration
Dorothy A. JohnsonMay 21, 1998 – October 6, 2002expiration
November 21, 2004 – October 6, 2007G. W. Bushexpiration
Eric TanenblattJune 4, 2008 – October 6, 2012expiration
vacantOctober 6, 2012 – present—

Seat 12

MemberTermAppointed byTerm ended due to
Robert B. RogersJune 11, 1996 – June 11, 1999Clintonexpiration
Juanita DotyMay 24, 2000 – June 10, 2004expiration
Rick HillJune 28, 2007 – June 10, 2009G. W. Bushexpiration
Marguerite KondrackeMarch 29, 2012 – June 10, 2014Obamaexpiration
vacantJune 10, 2014 – present—

Seat 13

MemberTermAppointed byTerm ended due to
Carol KinsleySeptember 8, 2000 – September 8, 2001Clintonexpiration
William SchambraApril 22, 2003[21] – September 14, 2006G. W. Bushexpiration
Julie Fisher CummingsNovember 16, 2007 – September 14, 2011expiration
Dean ReuterJuly 14, 2015 – September 14, 2016Obamaexpiration
vacantSeptember 14, 2016 – present—

Seat 14

MemberTermAppointed byTerm ended due to
Mark GearanDecember 15, 2000 – December 15, 2002Clintonexpiration
Mimi MagerNovember 21, 2004 – December 27, 2007G. W. Bushexpiration
Layshae WardJune 4, 2008 – December 27, 2012expiration
Eric LiuJuly 14, 2015 – December 27, 2017Obamaexpiration
vacantDecember 27, 2017 – present—

Seat 15

MemberTermAppointed byTerm ended due to
Mark GearanNovember 21, 2004 – November 21, 2005G. W. Bushexpiration
November 16, 2007 – December 1, 2010expiration
Flor RomeroMay 19, 2022 – presentBiden—

Effectiveness

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While discussion has occurred about the range and efficacy of evaluating the successes of AmeriCorps State and National, VISTA, and NCCC programs,[22] there has been a variety of documentation supporting the programs. AmeriCorps provided fiscal resources and personnel to support the start-up of national programs, including Public Allies and Teach For America. It also brought vital resources to established programs, including City Year, Boys and Girls Club, Big Brothers Big Sisters, JusticeCorps and the American Red Cross.[23]

AmeriCorps is reported to increase the effectiveness of community service. Successes for individual AmeriCorps State and National, VISTA, and NCCC members include increasing their commitment to community service, increasing community-based activism, connection to their communities, knowledge of community problems, engagement in the political process, and voting participation.[24][25]

Additionally, according to a 2007 study released by AmeriCorps, a majority of AmeriCorps State and National, VISTA, and NCCC alumni within the study period claimed they had gained life and job skills, such as leadership, teamwork, time-management, and hands-on experience in a field of interest. The study further reported that 71% of alumni were incentivized to join by the prospect of earning a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award; 41% of members went on to receive a four-year college degree within three years of entering AmeriCorps.[26]

Criticisms

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AmeriCorps programs have been criticized as being exploitive of their volunteers, being "voluntourism,"[27] and serving to privatize or de-professionalize public services.[28]

In 2018, a A CBS News Radio did an investigation into years of complaints about AmeriCorps programs which found multiple allegations of sexual harassment, abusive behavior and mismanagement since 2013.[29]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Contact Us | Corporation for National and Community Service". Archived from the original on 2013-05-07.
  2. ^ "Open Government Data". U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Retrieved 2020-09-21.
  3. ^ [1] cncs?government. Retrieved 1/14/2014.
  4. ^ "National Service". Nationalservice.gov. Retrieved Nov 21, 2011.
  5. ^ "ABOUT CNCS". Corporation for National and Community Service. Retrieved 2020-09-21.
  6. ^ Bill Text, 103rd Congress (1993-1994), H.R.2010.EAS Archived 2020-05-17 at the Wayback Machine Library of Congress
  7. ^ a b Bur, Jessie (September 29, 2020). "Public service agency rebrands itself under a familiar name". Federal Times. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  8. ^ Frequently Asked Questions About AmeriCorps VISTA Archived 2013-02-15 at the Wayback Machine. AmeriCorps website. Retrieved 12/5/08.
  9. ^ AmeriCorps State and National. AmeriCorps website. Retrieved 12/4/08.
  10. ^ [2] AmeriCorps website. Retrieved June 26, 2018
  11. ^ AmeriCorps Benefits: Education Award Archived 2013-04-05 at the Wayback Machine. AmeriCorps website. Retrieved August 10, 2009.
  12. ^ AmeriCorps State and National Archived 2013-04-21 at the Wayback Machine. AmeriCorps website. Retrieved August 10, 2009.
  13. ^ "The AmeriCorps Pledge", AmeriCorps.gov. Retrieved 11/10/16.
  14. ^ "Senior Corps Programs". Corporation for National and Community Service. Retrieved 2020-09-21.
  15. ^ Archive of Obama White House Blog https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/blog/2015/03/09/employers-national-service-and-americorps-vista-champions-change Accessed 6 March 2018.
  16. ^ Employers of National Service Website. https://www.nationalservice.gov/special-initiatives/employers-national-service Accessed 6 March 2018.
  17. ^ "Nominations for Board of Directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service". United States Congress.
  18. ^ "Personnel Announcement". The White House. January 4, 2006.
  19. ^ a b c "Personnel Announcement". The White House. December 26, 2003.
  20. ^ "Appendix A / Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000-2001". U.S. Government Publishing Office. 2000.
  21. ^ "Personnel Announcement". The White House. April 22, 2003.
  22. ^ (2004) "Transcript - March 31 AmeriCorps Rulemaking Session," Corporation for National Service. p. 7. Retrieved 8/12/07.
  23. ^ Gomperts, J. "Towards a bold new policy agenda: Five ideas to advance new civic engagement opportunities among older Americans," Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine Generations. XXX(4). p. 87.
  24. ^ VeraWorks. (2006) "AmeriCorps Service Effects on Member Civic Engagement." Archived 2007-10-26 at the Wayback Machine Washington State Office of Financial Management. Retrieved 8/12/07.
  25. ^ Abt Associates. "Serving Country and Community: A Longitudinal Study of Service in AmeriCorps Factsheet" Archived 2007-09-28 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 8/12/07.
  26. ^ Shelton, LaMonica; Nicholas, Brooke; Dote, Lillian; Grimm, Robert Jr. (May 2007), "AmeriCorps: Changing Lives, Changing America" (PDF), Corporation for National and Community Service, Office of Research and Policy Development, CNS, archived from the original (PDF) on Jul 25, 2020
  27. ^ Writer, Guest (2019-10-17). "Hopes dashed: the downside of AmeriCorps' VISTA program". Retrieved 2022-08-26.
  28. ^ "De-professionalizing Public Schools During Covid-19: The Problem with Bill Gates's Projects". Nancy Bailey's Education Website. 2020-08-30. Retrieved 2022-08-26.
  29. ^ "AmeriCorps programs accused of sexual misconduct and breakdowns in oversight". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2022-08-26.
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