In 2006, I (Matt Blackwell) found myself on the streets of Baghdad, surrounded by a microcosm of America. The soldiers in my platoon were a vast array of almost every racial, ethnic, religious, socioeconomic, and regional background you could imagine. These are all factors that we tend to let divide us in American society today. However, there was no hint of America's social ills in our platoon. We were united in a common cause, giving of ourselves for something bigger; our differences never even registered. It was this common purpose and goal that bonded us, and bonds all of those who serve in the military. I have been out of the Army for eight years now. But yet when I meet someone else who has served, there is an immediate understanding and mutual respect based on our shared experiences.
I wish everyone in America could have this same connection, this sense of pride and belonging. It has been suggested that required military service would give citizens an appreciation for their country, while providing an environment that promotes unity. I agree with the concept, but having experienced combat, when the bullets start flying, I only want to serve with those who are qualified, and more importantly, have the desire to be there. There are other ways to move past the differences that create barriers between us; it is essential to the success of our nation that we become a unified people, and the solution is not as difficult as some may make it seem.
Fast forward to 2015, and once again, I find myself surrounded by a similar microcosm of America's best. This time it's not solely soldiers, but all involved have served their country, worked for a greater cause, and share a common bond with those who have done the same. This group, the inaugural class of Franklin Project Ambassadors, have all been committed to national service in one way or another -- through the military, Teach for America, or one of the other multitudes of AmeriCorps opportunities, such as Atlanta-based Habitat for Humanity. This unifying desire to give of oneself is the solution; this is how we bridge the divides in our community. One of the greatest aspects of this position, and the entire point of promoting national service, is the people I have connected with that I would not come to know in my daily routine. One of whom is the fantastic Lauren Boswell. We probably would not have met if not for the Franklin Project, yet the opportunity to work together has shown us how much we have in common. Our backgrounds and experiences may look different on paper, but it is our similarities, our belief in the importance -- the necessity -- of being a part of the greater good, that have led us both to the conclusion that the benefits of national service are infinite and are vital for success in Atlanta.
Georgia, and Atlanta specifically, are reaping the rewards of national service. Georgia is home to 4,300 AmeriCorps members serving at more than 600 sites around the state. But as a state, we can do more. Over the next 8 months, Lauren and I will be working on the ground in Atlanta to make increasing opportunities for national service a priority for institutions of higher learning, government officials, corporations and local and national non-profits. With 33 Fortune 1000 companies head quartered in Atlanta, and over 20 institutions of higher learning, Atlanta has the potential to be a star in our movement. With a focus on educating and raising awareness about how to create service opportunities outside of the traditional federally funded means, Lauren and I hope to assemble a team of leaders of national service who recognize the importance of having boots on the ground with combatting social ills such as poverty, low educational attainment, supporting veterans and military families, preserving and restoring the environment, and providing health services.
The task before us is not easy, but with an army of over 17,000 Georgia residents that have served over 24 million hours in our state; we believe, as a team, we can bring more opportunities for Georgians to build relationships, bridge divides in our society, and most importantly, serve.
This post is part of a series produced by The Huffington Post and the Aspen Institute's Franklin Project in conjunction with Giving Tuesday. The series, which will run for the month of November, features pieces written by Franklin Project Ambassadors, local leaders who are working with community stakeholders in 25 states toward the Franklin Project's vision of making a year of national service -- a service year -- a cultural expectation, common opportunity, and civic rite of passage for every young American. For more on service year opportunities and organizations, visit https://serviceyr.org.