VCC : Serve America

Serve America:President Obama's National Service Agenda Information and Resourcesg

President Obama Signs the Serve America Act on 4/21/09

Joined by Vice President Biden, First Lady Michelle Obama, Dr, Jill Biden, Members of Congress, former President Clinton, former First Lady Rosalyn Carter, and an audience of nonprofit leaders and national service volunteers, President Obama signed the landmark Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act into law on April 21. President Obama called for passage of this legislation in his address to Congress on February 25, and it went from introduction to final passage in just 22 days. The most sweeping expansion of national service in generations, this law reauthorizes and expands the Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America programs administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service, puts AmeriCorps on a path to grow from 75,000 to 250,000 positions over the next eight years, increases opportunities for students and older Americans to serve, and strengthens America’s civic infrastructure by investing in social innovation and volunteer generation. For a bill summary, click here. (photo courtesy of M.T. Harmon)

UPDATE FROM THE WHITE HOUSE: Barack Obama's Agenda for Service

Obama Administration Makes Major Progress On National Service in First 100 Days

Corporation for National & Community Service: President Obama's National Service Budget Request for FY 2010

U.S. House Adopts Platts Resolution to Promote Education and Community Service

United We Serve nda for Service

President Obama Kicks off "United We Serve" Initiative on June 22 at the National Conference on Volunteering and Service- video

The initiative will run through the new National Day of Service and Remembrance on September 11. All the tools for participating in this initiative can be found on the Corporation’s website, Serve.gov. Visit the site to post your own volunteer projects.

President Obama launches summer call to service via You Tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6E5OnQ2FUPQ.
The White House administration along with the Corporation for National & Community Service has taken this call to service to our local communities, grantees and citizens alike to renew America’s passion for service. Many of you are doing great things in your communities this summer, whether it is a new or existing program, and CNCS would like to encourage you to list these projects on the www.serve.gov website. The site will make volunteer opportunities from around the country available in one easy place for interested citizens to go find volunteer projects to meet their personal needs. United We Serve is the launch for summer service, but the hope is to instill a dedication to service that will continue far beyond the summer months.

Please go to www.serve.gov TODAY and list any project opportunities you have for volunteers to serve. We are counting on you, local citizens and organizations to post listings and get individuals involved in a lifetime love of service and volunteering. We are attaching a story template, so that you may send us the exciting things taking place across our great nation, so please begin sending stories of service and you may be one of the organizations highlighted by the President and the White House!

If you need assistance with uploaded a large number of projects at once, please contact field outreach staff Kara Klein kklein@cns.gov or 414-297-1118 x 12 for assistance.

As of July 6, 2009, we do not have even half of our CNCS grantees listed on the site and would love to have every project and every state listed on the website. Please make this a priority and contact the field outreach staff if you have questions or require assistance. A guide on how to post your listings will be available by the end of the week.

Sincerely,
Elson Nash, Acting Director, Learn and Serve America
Kara Klein, State Program Specialist, CNCS Wisconsin State Office