It is Time to Serve
Americans love heroes, and leaders are crucial. So when we look at the accomplishments of the civil rights era, we tend to focus on Martin Luther King, Jr. However, as Diane Nash, a student sit-in leader in the '60s, points out, the actions of ordinary people are decisive in creating successful movements. "If people think it was Martin Luther King's movement, then today they--young people--are more likely to say 'Gosh, I wish we had a Martin Luther King here today to lead us.' ... If people knew how that movement started, then the question they would ask themselves is, 'What can I do?"
Americans have often responded to this question by pushing forward the movements of their time. Millions of regular Americans made the impossible possible. They were abolitionists who fought (and are still fighting) to end slavery, seamstresses and lettuce pickers who struggled to establish labor unions, suffragists who championed voting rights for women, and organizers who worked to secure civil rights for African Americans. While many braved fire hoses during civil rights protests, others drove shuttles for people boycotting bus companies or tutored adults in basic reading skills to increase the number of eligible voters. Through these mundane activities, ordinary people changed laws, shaped a new culture, and drove America closer to ideals of social justice. One movement sparked others, as public intellectuals and politicians debated whether fare wages, decent housing, and opportunities for education were rights of citizenship. Most recently, those movements have spawned a new set: insistence on a clean, sustainable environment, appreciation for immigrants' contributions to our society, and respect for sexual diversity.
In his inaugural address, President Obama reminded us "It has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things -- some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom." The social injustices of our time, intensified by our recent fiscal crisis, challenge us to replicate the contributions of earlier generations of Americans. We are in an historic moment. Right now. This is what an historic moment looks like. And every one of us should be asking, "What can I do?"
Most of the grassroots organizers of the past shaped our democracy through voluntary service. In her book America the Principled, Rosabeth Moss Kanter postulates that "community service can bring us together, under leaders who inspire and engage us." President-elect Obama inspired others when he spent Martin Luther King Day painting walls at a local community center in Washington, DC. And people across the United States from all walks of life responded to his invitation to serve:
o Two hundred volunteers turned out to help the League of Conservation Voters, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, and several corporations install solar panels at Sousa Junior High School and to increase the energy efficiency of hundreds of homes in a Washington, DC neighborhood.
o At the Korean Resource Center in Los Angeles, veteran volunteers were joined by first-timers Sharon Allerson, Isaiah McGee, and Eileen Weisinger, who signed up through www.usaservice.org, a website created by the Presidential Inaugural Committee. The volunteers educated children about tolerance and the civil rights movement. They read books and created art to share their own dreams.
o Lisa Jillson, a marketing manager at Chicago-based Allstate Insurance, and her co-workers sifted through and organized piles of textbooks that had been gathering dust inside closets at a local school.
o College students with Campus Kitchens assembled food donations in Waco, TX.
As single acts they seem like "community light." But multiply these actions by a million or more. Yes, millions came out on January 19 to make their communities cleaner, safer, and stronger. That's a movement. It's called service. National service.
Now, as with any social movement, we need to codify these values in public policy. Alan Khazei, David Gergen, and Steven Waldman have made a strong case for passing the Serve America Act, which would provide funding and incentives for service programs so that many more Americans can serve at any and every stage of their lives.
Alan Khazei is one of the visionaries behind the Serve America Act. He's spent his life "turning on people's justice nerves so they become active, contributing citizens in our democracy." With his colleagues at BeTheChange, Inc., Khazei has garnered the support of politicians on both sides of the aisle, including Senators Kennedy, Hatch, McCain, Cochran, and Dodd. As senators, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama were strong supporters. However, the significant support the initiative enjoyed during the campaign waned in the extended discussions about the economic recovery package. While the American Recovery and Reinvestment act signed in law yesterday by President Obama makes a down payment to expand national service programs by 16,000 volunteers, it's insufficient. We need to intervene, to insist that national service is a priority.
Khazei has urged prompt action: "Within his first 100 days in office, President Obama needs to support a significant expansion of national service programs, like AmeriCorps, in line with the detailed plan he proposed during his campaign." AmeriCorps is a federal program that was launched by President Clinton. It offers opportunities for adults to serve through a network of partnerships with local and national nonprofit groups. Candidate Obama proposed increasing the size of AmeriCorps from 75,000 to 250,000 annual members. President Obama could sign this into law. This would not only fulfill Obama's campaign promise. Expanding Americorps is not just a way to feel good. It would address some of the most pressing problems we face as a country. For example, it would mitigate the effects of unemployment through a stronger social safety net. As Khazei and Gergen highlighted in their recent op-ed, "The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimates that if unemployment rises to 9% the number of Americans driven into poverty will increase by anywhere from 7 million to 10 million. Expanding the number of AmeriCorps volunteers working with low-income families in schools, clinics, and non-profits is one of the fastest and least expensive ways to reinforce our social safety net."
Americorps provides jobs for those hardest hit by unemployment--the young. The program would put hundreds of thousands of enthusiastic young people to work. But because their pay is through a stipend for their public service, the total cost per year for a full-time AmeriCorps member is $10,970.
We're with Khazei when he asserts that "in a time of crisis and uncertainty, you will see what Americans have always done best: gone to work, united, to overcome great challenges and build a better future." One day of action was a good start, and President Obama provided a model for getting involved. Other generations of Americans have created the path, volunteering their time and contributing their resources, however meager, to the social justice issues of their time. Now is our time. The new recovery act is a start. But we can all do more. Through individual voluntary acts and by strengthening our national service programs, we can each be part of the change we seek, as individuals...who make up a nation...that shapes the world.
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It never has not been "time to serve". After JFK's speech to "ask not what your country can do for you , but what you can do for your country" it was not a problem to find those who would do for the country. Another cry for this has gone out but maybe this speech or part of it should be rerun for the country to be reminded. But in this day and society the expectation "for something in return" is prevelant. So in return for x amount of proven service how about another version of the GI type Bill which gives school credits? Money toward school? I can see that working like it is for some who join the military now with the belief if they can hang for a few years they can go to school on the new GI Bill like thir fathers or grandfathers did before them. I still believe we are not doing enough for those active duty soldiers who see war action and do support duties. The GI Bill and school is a start but getting these soldiers into houses is the next thing we shold do.
I agree that national service should be a priority, and I also agree that we, as Americans, need to intervene. I think using our voices to make our desires known to Mr. Obama is key. This website invites users to post what they think he should be focusing on ... what his priorities should be ... and hopefully he'll take note! The website is http://www
How refreshing to see posts here in favor of military service. QM1SS USS Puffer SSN652 1979 thru 1986
I like the idea of national service to help provide opportunities for young people and to help those who really need help. However, I will always be fearful that an expanded national service will end up serving the military in its drive for recruits to fight its imperial wars.
LET'S ORGANIZE A WORLD WIDE STRIKE !!!!!
ONE WHOLE WEEK EVERYONE STAYS HOME.
LET THE MINIONS WHO BELIVE THEY RULE THE WORLD DO IT WITHOUT THE WORKERS.
LET THEM EAT CAKE.
I spent time in the military a number of years ago. That satisfaction in service to country influenced me to become an AmeriCorps VISTA a couple of decades later. Not only was there the satisfaction of service to country, but even more, the satisfaction of service to my own community.
Although I don't regret my military service in the least, I do feel that in the long run, my AmeriCorps service has been the most professionally useful.
As far as increased funding for AmeriCorps - I'd love to see the end of year award for VISTAs, which can be applied towards college loans, increased. It's a little over $4000 right now, and I've been told that's what it was when the VISTA program was created in 1964. At the time of my service, I owed about 7 times that. I'd like to see the new benefit be somewhere between 4K and 28K. 10K maybe?
On the other hand, 4K in 1964 dollars is worth over 27K in 2008 dollars.
I don't know what the end-of-service awards were in 64, but I very much doubt they were $4K. I was a volunteer in the late 70s, and the weekly stipend was, I believe, $65 (or, about $3.4K per year total), and I believe the end-of-service award either $1K or $2K. A year's tuition at a private college was running about $3-4K at that point, so a $4K stipend would have wiped out a year's cost.
That being said, I agree with you that the end-of-service award should be higher. The volunteer needs to have cash to relocate, to put down a security deposit on an apartment, and time to find a paying job. Alternatively, it could be keyed to student loan forgiveness, perhaps half a year of tuition forgiven for a year of service? Tuition costs are now more than ten times what they were in the 60s and 70s, so even if $4K is four times the 60s stipend, it's lost tremendous value over the years. This form of service should be affordable for everyone.
One problem is jumping into a problem, hoping to do good, but getting left in a worst position. Before we jump on the volunteer wagon, I hope there's more discussion and feedback on what we're volunteering for, and what oversight there will be.
Another thing young people can do to be part of "national service" that isn't just "community light" is to join the military. This is another way to insure our national community is safer. Although there's nothing wrong with painting walls, etc, this would be a long term commitment that takes real sacrifice
Right on. Although the military isn't for everyone, if you can serve, I believe you should. There are incredible benefits from military service. As a former Marine, it definitely gave me the foundation for all of the success I enjoy today. But like i said, it's certainly not for everyone, and I'm glad that it's not mandatory like other nations. And if you can't serve in the military there are plenty of other opportunities to serve and to strengthen or nation. liberal and conservative alike do great things everyday.
We completely agree - military service is national service. Although we were highlighting ordinary Americans who volunteered on January 19, we deeply value the extended service and contributions of our men and women in the US military. Paul Rieckhoff, the founder of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), is building the new veteran's movement. Check out his work at www.iava.o
I'm so glad to see a post about how the acts of ordinary people, in aggregate, are what will (and do) change the world. The media attention typically goes to the leader of a movement, the President of a company or organization, or a movie star - but it is the sum of the efforts of ordinary people that really makes a difference.
Recent political campaigns have understood this - Obama was elected because the sum of the effort of so many people was so great - and now we see a lot of talk about how to try to focus that collective effort for social change. There are many efforts to use the internet to do this, but I think we have only scratched the surface of what can be done, and what is necessary. For instance, the USAService
We need to do two things to really support and modernize a spirit of service: one, as you pointed out, is update the old tried-and-true programs so they make sense in modern times; two is to continue to expand the role of technology and to think far outside the box very efficiently connect people and service opportunities. We can not stop at at building a website, we need to look at a range of technologies and data in terms of what can be put to use for this effort; and how best to do it.
Thank you for an excellent post!
I can speak from experience that encouraging volunteerism not only pays off immediately, but continues to pay lifelong dividends for the volunteers. I was fortunate to be able to spend a rewarding year as a VISTA volunteer, and have never forgotten it. Since then, no matter what my school, work, or family responsibilities, I've always been committed time to community activity and social justice work. It has always been more than worth the effort.
The cost of living has grown greatly since the Peace Corps and VISTA were established, and it would be wise to include some additional financial incentives so that service would be attractive to men and women from all economic backgrounds. One would be health care coverage that extended for a period of time beyond the year of service. Another would be enhanced Social Security credits: Although Americorps generally attracts a group of participants who are far from retirement and not focused on Social Security benefits, the year of service should be treated as a year of contributions of at least minimum wage. Women are still the majority of the poor, and for them, every year of contribution matters.
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