Last week President Barack Obama addressed Congress and the rest of the nation with his plans to restore America. The president highlighted the importance of the Serve America Act to the spirit of renewal and commitment to country. The president’s challenge to young people to complete high school and to commit to at least one year of post high school education reminds us that every American can and will be pivotal to moving our country to its next level of excellence.
NCoC partner, Youth Service America reports how service may help young people with direction and leadership skills. ServiceNation offers some views on the president’s Congressional Address. Read what’s happening.
Do you have a story you’d like to share about service and its role in renewing America? Go to our comment section and let us know.
Powering America’s Defense: Energy and the Risks to National Security is a report by CNA’s Military Advisory Board (MAB) that explores the impact of America’s energy choices on our national security policies. This report follows the MAB’s groundbreaking 2007 report National Security and the Threat of Climate Change, which found that “climate change, national security, and energy dependence are a related set of global challenges.”
Job displacement is affecting long-term steady employment, hindering workers’ ability to sustain a successful career characterized by upward mobility.
On January 28, 2009 the U.S. House of Representatives passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (HR. 1), also known as the economic stimulus plan. The legislation includes $200 million for the Corporation for National and Community Service which supports AmeriCorps. AmeriCorps is to receive $160 million with the remaining $40 million going to the National Service Trust.
We want to hear from you. Is this a down payment on civic engagement or is this merely a Band–Aid? Please read more and leave your comment.
Editorial in the Orlando Sentinel discusses the state of Florida’s civic learning and says informed and engaged citizens are the bedrock of American democracy.
A special Independence Day column from former Congressman Lee Hamilton, “July 4th Is Your Call to Duty.”
In this month’s Public Policy Chat, NCoC Communications Fellow Alice Murphy talks to Julie Murphy about volunteerism and how the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act has progressed since President Obama signed it three years ago.
The citizenship world lost a dear friend today. Senator Kennedy served in the United States Senate for 47 years and often authored landmark legislation.
Through the recently passed Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, his work “will go on, his cause will endure, this hope will still live, and his dream shall never die.”
Today, we celebrate this by remembering and highlighting the passing of his namesake legislation, the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act.
“Democrats in Washington say the nation needs more jobs. Republicans say the economic stimulus isn’t working fast enough.” In a Politico op-ed, NCoC advisors John Bridgeland and Alan Khazei present a simple, low-cost, bipartisan solution to both complaints: fully funding the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act to allow for expansion of national and community service programs. Because the bottom line is, America needs economic recovery, and meaningful public engagement could be the solution to pulling us out of these tough times.