In 2004, I was deployed to the Middle East and then forward deployed to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, in the early years of Operation Enduring Freedom.

As AmeriCorps turns 30, there's no denying the tremendous impact it has had on our communities nationwide.

It’s been 30 years since AmeriCorps was created, and we celebrated in style. From Hollywood actors to political figures and grassroots activists, the entire nation came together in September 2023 to recognize the importance of national service in our country. The landmark event featured speeches from President Bill Clinton and Secretary Hillary Clinton to actor Jay Ellis, The King Center CEO Bernice A. King, and Senator Chris Coons, among others.

To commemorate AmeriCorps’ 30th anniversary, alumnus Rob Haynes shares what service was like in the 1994 AmeriCorps inaugural class.

Dear AmeriCorps members, AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers, alumni, grantees, and partners,  

In spite of the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, national service  programs continue to respond to the needs of their communities in innovative and timely ways.

Since the beginning of the public health crisis, more than 21,400 AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers have responded to the pandemic through direct service initiatives. Collectively, these  members and volunteers have:

It takes an important commitment to community and others to put service before self. Recently, AmeriCorps CEO Barbara Stewart and Retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Earl Gay, the AmeriCorps advisor for veterans and veteran-service organizations, had the honor of meeting a special cadre of AmeriCorps members who chose to do so twice.

For decades, our agency has engaged people of all ages and backgrounds in getting things done - improving lives, strengthening communities, and expanding opportunity. Today, service is needed more than ever. To meet current and future challenges, it is essential that more individuals know how they can serve their communities and country. But all too often, the public doesn’t know what national service is, the benefits, or how to get involved. That’s why we are taking steps to increase awareness and ensure more people know about opportunities to serve. 

When Jessica Bulling went for an interview at the Phenix City Housing Authority (PCHA), she felt completely out of her comfort zone. She hadn’t worked in housing before, and it wasn’t her goal to become an AmeriCorps VISTA, but a relocation to Benning, Georgia had made it necessary for Jessica to look for a new job. She was drawn to the description of the role at Phenix City Housing Authority. Her belief that education is the key to unlocking the chains of poverty fit perfectly with the work of PCHA’s Resident Services team.