The Serve America Act, a Really Big Deal

The Serve America Act, just signed, is a really big deal, a call to service for us all.

It's not hard to see that it's never been more important for us all to work together. There are a lot of problems to be solved, but maybe that's good; solving tough problems is something Americans are good at, when we have a leader who shares our values.

Many people want to fully dedicate themselves to service: they're troops, teachers, social workers, cops, and all manner of public servants. We should remember the nobility of the public service they perform.

Me, I spend a lot of every day performing customer service and see real human behavior. I see everyday that Americans are eager to help out, particularly the millennial youth, maybe the new "civic generation."

Serve America provides means for those who want to fully engage, such as by seriously increasing support for Americorps, increasing the number of participants from 75,000 positions annually to 250,000.

This act includes a lot of special efforts intended to help Americans figure out how to better help America. That includes the Social Innovation Fund to expand proven initiatives and provide seed funding for experimental initiatives.

Serve America provides for serve.gov, which brings together service opportunities from a number of sources. It's genuinely innovative, the first U.S. web site which brings together data from a number of sources, Web 2.0-style.

The Summer of Service program helps kids start a career in service.

The Serve America Act's a great start; let's get moving.

Comments

[Mixpixlix]

I hope there really are opportunities for all. As one of the estimated 500,000 - 1,000,000 educated, skilled, long term unemployed I can tell you most charities and service organizations are badly structured and poorly managed. The scream they need volunteers and when volunteers show up have no idea how to use their skills.

Right now I drive for Meals on Wheels one day a week. It's mindless, but the people getting the food appreicate my effort.

The other issues is age, will any of these groups actually use the experience and skills of those over 55 or will they see it as a threat to their position.

[StL]

So.....how will H.R. 1444 play into this? It is VERY interesting !!!!

[overd0g1]

Odd, I thought there were already countless charities that could use volunteers. "Service", as orchestrated by politicians, is a very, very bad thing.

[Ballston]

Every American should serve their country. I'm a firm believer in mandatory 2 year service at age 18 (or graduation from high school) in either a branch of the military, the Peace Corps, Serve America, etc. I speak from experience. It was only through voluntary service in the U.S. Navy that I overcame the prejudices drilled into my brain as a child in rural Virginia in the 1950s and 60s. In the Navy, I learned to live with and respect others from every walk of life, something that is sorely missing in today's culture. Such service would contribute to repairing the divisions in our society created by the desires of political gain.

[VikingQuest]

Another great investment, a so called "volunteer" organization needs $1 billion per year for 250,000 people . . . do the math on that once . . . doesn't sound very efficient at $40,000 per "volunteer"

[frantaylor]

Where did you get the $1 billion figure?

[classicalgeek]

Where do you get the "$40,000 per volunteer" figure?

[Cathryne Callaway]

I served in AmeriCorps two years, once for $9,900 and once for $10,400. It's a difficult but rewarding year and an excellent opportunity in this economic environment.

[ImAllCorporationey]

Sigh....

Craig, I completely agree. I too look forward to serving my community and country what little I'm able in these scary yet exciting times.

BUT

C'mon man, take the hookers off your site. Boston is losing med students.

[PlaceboStudman]

This is a great program for people who want to think big and try to affect the lives of a lot of people at once. But, true service, real meaningful service isn't done on a regional or national level, it's done on a personal level. One person can do more good for the world by making a phone call to a lonely neighbor, taking an elderly feeble person to the grocery store or pharmacy, or just sitting around playing cards with a kid stuck up in a hospital bed.

We need to focus this country on working to improve the people in the world, and when we improve the people of the world, we improve their lives and their circumstances. Sure, working several hours a week at a soup kitchen might feel good for awhile, but imagine how good the other person will feel when you give a real personal touch to your service by communicating, actually talking...and more importantly listening to others.

Everybody needs food to survive. But, everyone need a friend just as much, to live a good life

[Pearlswan]

Sounds like the story Obama told when he signed the service bill, the one about the young man tossing starfish back into the ocean, one at a time. Your version puts a human face on the story. Its so relevant and so true. You don't have to sign up for anything grand to be of service to your country, just help out your local neighbor when in need. That helps a lot and it helps right now, not after someone's application for help is processed and approved and then funded.