Increasing Access and Opportunity Through State-Led National Service Programs
Voluntary civilian national service can be a powerful catalyst for the social and economic growth of young adults, the revitalization of American communities, the development of skills to address workforce needs, and the bridging of societal divides. Since its inception 30 years ago, the federal AmeriCorps program has made profound contributions by providing a way for people to spend a year, or more, serving with participating nonprofit organizations and local government and education agencies. Nearly 1.5 million people have provided billions of hours of their time to address critical needs in local communities, from tutoring students in elementary schools and staffing food banks to supporting communities affected by natural disasters. These contributions, while significant, still are not commensurate with the many challenges communities are facing across the country. Our country needs more Americans to serve.
This paper summarizes insights gained from the first two years of the National Service Challenge, an initiative created by the Schultz Family Foundation and co-funded by the Ballmer Group that has invested in eight state service commissions to pilot, expand, and scale new approaches to making service accessible and impactful for more young adults. The National Service Challenge has shared its learnings, many of which are detailed here, with the broader national service field to support further innovations in the space. This paper offers recommendations on how states, when assisted by key partners, can better design national service programs to benefit individuals, communities, and entire states.
