From Service to Politics

This past Tuesday, I was thrilled to welcome fellow Returned Peace Corps volunteer Congressman Joseph P. Kennedy III to speak at “From Service to Politics.” Hosted by Service Nation, New Politics, AmeriCorps Alums, and George Washington University's Center for Second Service, this event brought together service veterans from the civilian and military sectors to ignite a discussion about transitioning from service to elected office. My welcoming remarks from this inspiring event are below.

I’m pleased to introduce fellow Returned Peace Corps volunteer, Congressman Joseph P. Kennedy III.  Following in the footsteps of my father, all four of my uncles, & cousin who were all in the military, I chose to serve our country with AmeriCorps in the D.C. public schools. I took the AmeriCorps pledge seriously, service “this year & beyond.” So, I later joined the PeaceCorps in Morocco, and served in the youth development sector.  I now work as Senior Education Advisor at Civic Enterprises and serve as Chair of the AmeriCorps Alums National Advisory Council. I truly believe in the power of national service - the power of those who serve - to strengthen their communities, the nation, the world - this year & beyond. Which is why I'm so pleased to introduce the Congressman, who represents Massachusetts’ 4th Congressional District. 

I actually just learned that the Congressman and I served at the same time, from 2004 to 2006. So, while I was in Morocco, the Congressman served with the Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic doing community development work which led to more jobs, better wages, and higher safety and environmental standards.

What’s so remarkable to me is that the Congressman’s service neither started, nor ended in that rural village. In law school --  he's a graduate of Stanford University and Harvard Law -- he volunteered with legal aid.  He worked to improve the living conditions of low-income tenants in the Boston area.  He served as Assistant District Attorney in MA.  During his campaign, he actually coordinated service projects throughout his district.  This week, his offices hosted a Service Academy Night for all 4th District high school rising seniors to learn about a pathway to service through the military. 

In his speech at a City Year event earlier this year, the Congressman explained, one person can make a difference -  not just through the big heroic things, but the small constant commitments. 

Congressman Kennedy, you are making a difference - through the big heroic things, and the small constant commitments.  You're a hero, every day, through your work as a Congressman, but also a leader & a model of a national service alum who chose politics as a critical path to strengthen communities, our nation, and our world.  As we say in Morocco, shurkran bsaf, marhaba. Thank you, and welcome Congressman Kennedy!

Peace Corps Connect June Featured Advocate

Originally published in Peace Corps Connect on Friday, June 7th, 2013, by Guest Contributor

During the upcoming Stand for Service mobilization at the U.S. Capitol on June 19th, at least one participant will have the dual distinction of service in both the Peace Corps (Morocco, 2004-2006) and AmeriCorps (Washington, D.C., 1999-2000).  According to Mary Bruce, these two groups “represent the best of America – hardworking, skilled, enthusiastic Americans eager to embrace the idea of ‘big citizenship’.”

In Afourer, Morocco, where I
served in the Peace Corps.

Inspired by her father and cousin’s service in the Marines, Mary always knew she wanted to give back to her country. She also needed extra financial support for college, so she signed up for AmeriCorps. She served as a teacher’s aide in D.C. Public Schools in partnership with the Latin American Youth Center in Washington, D.C., where she continues to volunteer today.

Following the events of September 11, 2001, Mary joined the Peace Corps in Morocco to better understand the Arab Muslim world. There, she supported various community projects, from small business development to latrine construction.  Like her time with AmeriCorps, Mary also worked at a youth center.

Despite the vastly different settings, Mary found many similarities between her service experiences in Washington, D.C. and Morocco. “You’re often working in situations where flexibility, creativity, and tenacity are the keys to success. You’re developing an incredibly useful and unique set of 21st century skills while also working to address some of the toughest problems on the planet.”

Mary’s past service has shaped her present, both professionally and as a citizen advocate.  Professionally, Mary serves as the Senior Education Advisor at Civic Enterprises, overseeing the organization’s education policy portfolio.  This includes working with the Civic Marshall Plan Leadership Council, which brings together more than 40 leading national partners to support the Grad Nation goal of 90 percent high school graduation rate by 2020.

As a volunteer leader and citizen advocate, Mary serves as Chair of the National Advisory Council of AmeriCorps Alums, one of the lead organizations planning the Capitol Hill action.  “These opportunities helped me hone my skill set and refine my career path – all while making positive and lasting contributions to my community.”

We congratulate Mary’s dual-dedication to serving America and invite members of the Peace Corps community in the Washington area to join her at the Stand for Service event on the morning of June 19th!

Let’s Help AmeriCorps Alums Use Their Experience to Keep Giving Back

By Ben Duda

Originally posted on Beth's Blog, http://www.bethkanter.org/americorps-give-back/

Last summer, I met a young man in Arizona named Kyle. He had spent his AmeriCorps term as a liaison between a mayor’s office and the homeless community, building relationships and creating resources. But even with all that valuable experience, Kyle was stuck working double shifts at a local pizza joint.

Countless organizations could benefit from Kyle’s skills, yet there is no system connecting national service alumni with nonprofits and public sector agencies most in need of young talent. We at AmeriCorps Alums are working toward a solution by launching Employers of Service, a program exploring how we can link national service experience and a career pipeline. We’re kick-starting this initiative and conversation on June 20 in Washington, D.C., at Points of Light’s Conference on Volunteering and Service, which runs from June 19 – 22.

During the conference, I’m hosting a session, AmeriCorps Alumni as Leaders: How to Grow as a Leader After Your Term of Service – showcasing Echoing Green’s Work on Purpose platform, which applies lessons from social entrepreneurs to professional development strategies for young people looking to make a difference. The session will also feature a roundtable conversation and Q & A with three nonprofit leaders (all AmeriCorps alumni­): Linda Kay Klein, director of Work on Purpose; Michael Omenazu, recruitment manager at Commongood Careers and Nakeisha Neal, executive director of Public Allies Washington, D.C.

The discussion is just part of a larger conversation about innovation and uniting communities woven throughout this year’s Conference, the largest gathering of its kind, assembling roughly 5,000 nonprofit, corporate and government leaders. It will feature such big names as Grammy award-winning singer John Legend, and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. Will you join us? Click here to register.

We often hear of an impending leadership shortage in the nonprofit sector. Meanwhile, more than 800,000 AmeriCorps alums are uniquely positioned to be the sector’s 21^st century leadership pipeline. Together let’s figure out how to leverage this tremendous resource to benefit smart, young people with fresh ideas, while better serving our communities.

We’d love to hear about your experiences and ideas.  Email ben@americorpsalums.org.

Ben Duda is executive director of AmeriCorps Alums, a Points of Light enterprise.

Getting to the Top of the Staircase - the Common Core

Check out this great new video on the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), which explains how CCSS can help everybody compete on the same kind of staircase.  With the help of teachers, families, community groups, and (of course) students themselves, the Standards provide clear goals - which in turn will help students be better prepared to pursue their dreams.  The National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers - the two lead organizations on the development of standards - host helpful materials at www.corestandards.org.  Also check out the recently released Grad Nation guidebook for guidance, resources, and tools to help your community and your schools raise graduation rates and better prepare young people for success.

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