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AmeriCorps

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AmeriCorps (/əˈmɛrɪkɔːr/ ə-MERR-ih-kor[citation needed]; 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. Image CEO Service dates Appointed by Notes
1   Eli Segal 1993–1995 Clinton
2   Harris Wofford 1995–2001
3 Leslie Lenkowsky 2001–2003 G.W. Bush
4 David Eisner 2004–2008
–   Nicola Goren (Acting) 2008–2010 Obama
5   Patrick Corvington 2010–2011
–   Robert Velasco II (Acting) 2011–2012
6   Wendy Spencer 2012–2017
– Kim Mansaray (Acting) 2017–2018 Trump
7   Barbara Stewart 2018–2021
– Malcolm Coles (Acting) 2021–2022 Biden
8   Michael D. Smith 2022–present

Board of directors

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The board of directors is composed of 26 members, 15 of which are appointed by the president of the United States with the consent of the United States Senate. Of these fifteen, one is an appointee between the ages of 16 and 25 who has served in a school-based or community-based service-learning program or is or was a participant or a supervisor in a program. All members are appointed based on criteria of being people who have extensive experience in volunteer or service activities, which may include programs funded under one of the national service laws, and in State government; who represent a broad range of viewpoints; who are experts in the delivery of human, educational, environmental, or public safety services; and so that the Board is diverse according to race, ethnicity, age, gender, and disability characteristics. No more than eight of the appointed members may be affiliated with the same political party. Members are appointed to terms of five years, but they may continue to serve on the board until a successor is confirmed, though for a maximum of one year after expiration.[17]

In addition to the 15 appointed members, the U.S. Secretary of Education, the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Secretary of Labor, the U.S. Secretary of the Interior, the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, the U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, the U.S. Attorney General, the director of the Peace Corps, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and the CEO of AmeriCorps serve as ex officio nonvoting members of the board.[17]

The board elects a chairperson and a vice chairperson from among its membership.[17] A majority of the appointed members of the board constitutes a quorum.[18]

Current board members

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The current board members as of September 27, 2024:[19]

Position Name Party Assumed office Term expiration
Chair Catherine McLaughlin Democratic December 18, 2021 October 6, 2024
Member Fagan Harris Democratic December 18, 2021 October 6, 2023
Member Alvin Warren Democratic March 23, 2022 October 6, 2023
Member Flor Romero Democratic May 19, 2022 December 1, 2025
Member Leslie Bluhm Democratic July 21, 2022 October 6, 2023
Member Lisette Nieves Democratic July 21, 2022 October 6, 2027
Member Shirley Sagawa Democratic August 4, 2022 October 6, 2024
Member Vacant
Member Vacant
Member Vacant
Member Vacant
Member Vacant
Member Vacant
Member Vacant
Member Vacant
Member (non-voting)
(ex officio) 		Miguel Cardona Democratic March 2, 2021 —
Member (non-voting)
(ex officio) 		Xavier Becerra Democratic March 19, 2021 —
Member (non-voting)
(ex officio) 		Julie Su (acting) Democratic March 11, 2023 —
Member (non-voting)
(ex officio) 		Deb Haaland Democratic March 16, 2021 —
Member (non-voting)
(ex officio) 		Tom Vilsack Democratic February 24, 2021 —
Member (non-voting)
(ex officio) 		Adrianne Todman (acting) Democratic March 22, 2024 —
Member (non-voting)
(ex officio) 		Lloyd Austin Independent January 22, 2021 —
Member (non-voting)
(ex officio) 		Merrick Garland Independent January 26, 2021 —
Member (non-voting)
(ex officio) 		Carol Spahn Democratic December 21, 2022 —
Member (non-voting)
(ex officio) 		Michael S. Regan Democratic March 11, 2021 —
Member (non-voting)
(ex officio) 		Michael D. Smith Democratic December 2021 —

Nominations

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President Biden has nominated the following to fill seats on the board. They await Senate confirmation.[20]

Name Party Term expires Replacing
Leslie Bluhm Democratic October 6, 2028 Reappointment
Alvin Warren Democratic October 6, 2028 Reappointment
Shirley Sagawa Democratic October 6, 2029 Reappointment

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
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Member Term Appointed by Term ended due to
James A. Joseph February 8, 1994 – 1995 Clinton resignation
Eli Segal December 22, 1995 – February 8, 1999 expiration
Leslie Lenkowsky May 24, 2000 – February 8, 2004 expiration
Vince Juaristi May 19, 2006 – February 8, 2009 G. W. Bush expiration
Lisa Garcia Quiroz March 29, 2012 – February 8, 2014 Obama expiration
vacant February 8, 2014 – present —
Seat 2
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Member Term Appointed by Term ended due to
Andrea N. Brown October 7, 1994 – October 7, 1995 Clinton expiration
Victor Ashe July 16, 1996 – October 6, 2000 expiration
Stephen Goldsmith May 9, 2001 – October 6, 2005 G. W. Bush expiration
January 4, 2006[21] – October 6, 2010 expiration
vacant October 6, 2010 – present —
Seat 3
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Member Term Appointed by Term ended due to
Thomas Ehrlich October 7, 1994 – October 7, 1997 Clinton expiration
May 21, 1998 – October 6, 2002 expiration
Cynthia Boich December 26, 2003[22] – October 6, 2007 G. W. Bush expiration
Tom Osborne November 16, 2007 – 2008 resignation
Richard Christman March 29, 2012 – October 6, 2012 Obama expiration
July 14, 2015 – October 6, 2017 expiration
Lisette Nieves July 21, 2022 – present Biden —
Seat 4
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Member Term Appointed by Term ended due to
Christopher Gallagher October 7, 1994 – October 7, 1998 Clinton expiration
May 24, 2000 – October 6, 2003 expiration
Henry Lozano December 26, 2003[22] – 2007 G. W. Bush resignation
Hyepin Im June 4, 2008 – October 6, 2013 expiration
Alvin Warren March 23, 2022 – present Biden —
Seat 5
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Member Term Appointed by Term ended due to
Reatha Clark King October 7, 1994 – 1997 Clinton resignation
Marc Racicot May 24, 2000 – October 6, 2004 expiration
Donna N. Williams November 16, 2007 – 2006 G. W. Bush resignation
Jane D. Hartley April 26, 2012 – October 6, 2014 Obama expiration
Shirley Sagawa August 4, 2022 – present Biden —
Seat 6
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Member Term Appointed by Term ended due to
Carol Kinsley October 7, 1994 – October 7, 1999 Clinton expiration
Alan Solomont May 24, 2000 – October 6, 2004 expiration
November 16, 2007 – 2009 G. W. Bush resignation
Shamina Singh July 14, 2015 – October 6, 2019 Obama expiration
Catherine McLaughlin December 18, 2021 – present Biden —
Seat 7
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Member Term Appointed by Term ended due to
Leslie Lenkowsky October 7, 1994 – October 7, 1998 Clinton expiration
Amy Achor May 24, 2000 – October 6, 2003 expiration
Leona White Hat November 21, 2004 – October 6, 2008 G. W. Bush expiration
Matthew McCabe May 24, 2012 – October 6, 2013 Obama expiration
Romonia Dixon July 14, 2015 – October 6, 2018 expiration
Fagan Harris December 18, 2021 – present Biden —
Seat 8
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Member Term Appointed by Term ended due to
Marlee Matlin October 7, 1994 – October 7, 1996 Clinton expiration
Robert B. Rogers September 8, 2000 – October 6, 2001 expiration
Donna N. Williams December 26, 2003[22] – October 6, 2006 G. W. Bush expiration
James Palmer June 28, 2007 – October 6, 2011 expiration
Victoria Ann Hughes July 14, 2015 – October 6, 2016 Obama expiration
vacant October 6, 2016 – present —
Seat 9
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Member Term Appointed by Term ended due to
Arthur Naparstek October 7, 1994 – October 7, 1998 Clinton expiration
May 6, 1999 – October 6, 2003 expiration
Jack Lew November 21, 2004 – October 6, 2008 G. W. Bush expiration
Phyllis Segal March 29, 2012 – October 6, 2013 Obama expiration
Leslie Bluhm July 21, 2022 – present Biden —
Seat 10
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Member Term Appointed by Term ended due to
John Rother October 7, 1994 – October 7, 1996 Clinton expiration
Toni Fay December 27, 2000[23] – March 19, 2001 recess appointment not confirmed
Carol Kinsley December 9, 2003 – October 6, 2006 G. W. Bush expiration
Stan Soloway June 28, 2007 – October 6, 2011 expiration
vacant October 6, 2011 – present —
Seat 11
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Member Term Appointed by Term ended due to
Walter Shorenstein October 7, 1994 – October 7, 1997 Clinton expiration
Dorothy A. Johnson May 21, 1998 – October 6, 2002 expiration
November 21, 2004 – October 6, 2007 G. W. Bush expiration
Eric Tanenblatt June 4, 2008 – October 6, 2012 expiration
vacant October 6, 2012 – present —
Seat 12
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Member Term Appointed by Term ended due to
Robert B. Rogers June 11, 1996 – June 11, 1999 Clinton expiration
Juanita Doty May 24, 2000 – June 10, 2004 expiration
Rick Hill June 28, 2007 – June 10, 2009 G. W. Bush expiration
Marguerite Kondracke March 29, 2012 – June 10, 2014 Obama expiration
vacant June 10, 2014 – present —
Seat 13
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Member Term Appointed by Term ended due to
Carol Kinsley September 8, 2000 – September 8, 2001 Clinton expiration
William Schambra April 22, 2003[24] – September 14, 2006 G. W. Bush expiration
Julie Fisher Cummings November 16, 2007 – September 14, 2011 expiration
Dean Reuter July 14, 2015 – September 14, 2016 Obama expiration
vacant September 14, 2016 – present —
Seat 14
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Member Term Appointed by Term ended due to
Mark Gearan December 15, 2000 – December 15, 2002 Clinton expiration
Mimi Mager November 21, 2004 – December 27, 2007 G. W. Bush expiration
Layshae Ward June 4, 2008 – December 27, 2012 expiration
Eric Liu July 14, 2015 – December 27, 2017 Obama expiration
vacant December 27, 2017 – present —
Seat 15
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Member Term Appointed by Term ended due to
Mark Gearan November 21, 2004 – November 21, 2005 G. W. Bush expiration
November 16, 2007 – December 1, 2010 expiration
Flor Romero May 19, 2022 – present Biden —

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,[25] 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.[26]

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.[27][28]

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.[29]

Criticisms

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AmeriCorps programs have been criticized as being exploitive of their volunteers, being "voluntourism",[30] and serving to privatize or de-professionalize public services.[31]

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.[32]

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. ^ a b c 42 U.S.C. § 12651a
  18. ^ 42 U.S.C. § 12651b
  19. ^ "Board of Directors". AmeriCorps.gov. AmeriCorps. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  20. ^ "Quick Search Corporation for National and Community Service". Congress.gov. Library of Congress. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  21. ^ "Personnel Announcement". The White House. January 4, 2006.
  22. ^ a b c "Personnel Announcement". The White House. December 26, 2003.
  23. ^ "Appendix A / Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000-2001". U.S. Government Publishing Office. 2000.
  24. ^ "Personnel Announcement". The White House. April 22, 2003.
  25. ^ (2004) "Transcript - March 31 AmeriCorps Rulemaking Session", Corporation for National Service. p. 7. Retrieved 8/12/07.
  26. ^ 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.
  27. ^ 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.
  28. ^ 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.
  29. ^ 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
  30. ^ Writer, Guest (2019-10-17). "Hopes dashed: the downside of AmeriCorps' VISTA program". Retrieved 2022-08-26.
  31. ^ "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.
  32. ^ Clinton, William (September 21, 1993). "Remarks on Signing the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993".
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