Posted 04/21/2009 - 12:54:56pm by Terry Nagel
With Senator Edward Kennedy (far right) and others looking on, President Obama signs the Serve America Act.
"We need your service right now, at this moment in history. I’m asking you to stand up and play your part. I’m asking you to help change history’s course, put your shoulder up against the wheel. If you do, I promise you your life will be richer, our country will be stronger, and someday, years from now, you may remember it as the moment when your own story and the American story converged, when they came together, and we met the challenges of our new century.
--President Barack Obama, April 21, 2009
Today is a landmark day for encore careers, with President Obama’s signing of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, which creates Encore Fellowships in all 50 states.
He gave an inspiring speech in which he challenged Americans to answer the call to service, saying, "A week from tomorrow marks the 100th day of my administration. In those next eight days, I ask every American to make an enduring commitment to serving your community and your country in whatever way you can."
Encore.org members from 47 states and two U.S. territories overwhelmingly supported this legislation through a petition campaign that generated more than 7,500 signatures. Civic Ventures is presenting the petition to the administration today.
The Serve America Act creates 10 Encore Fellowships in each state – one-year leadership and management positions that help individuals over age 55 transition to nonprofit or public sector careers in areas of “national need,” such as education, health care, energy, the environment and poverty.
Although applications for Encore Fellowships won’t be available before 2010, we’re already hearing from lots of members who are interested in them. You can read all about them, and about other transition programs, on our new Encore Fellowships page.
The Fellowships were inspired by the Silicon Valley Encore Initiative, a pilot program sponsored by Civic Ventures that is tracking the progress of 10 Encore Fellows in Northern California.
Here are links to other news and views about the growing enthusiasm for encore careers:
- Marc Freedman, founder and CEO of Civic Ventures, reflects on the tidal wave of talent that Encore Fellowships may unleash in “A New Wave of Service.”
- John Gomperts, president of Civic Ventures, writes, “Internships aren’t just for kids anymore,” in a column reflecting on the Encore Fellowships created by the Serve America Act.
- Read what others are saying about the Serve America Act in “Encore Careers for America.”
- Visit Encore.org’s new Encore Fellowships page to learn more about this new opportunity for boomers.
- Read the Civic Ventures press release about the historic signing of the Serve America Act.
- Learn about provisions in the Serve America Act that benefit Americans age 55 and over.
- Terry Nagel's blog
- Login to post comments
- 1293 reads
- Email this page
Next steps on Serve America
The coalitions (Voices for National Service, Service Nation, etc.) and service providers (like Experience Corps) are now very active on securing fiscal year 2010 appropriations to carry out the new expansion provisions: increase AmeriCorps positions to 250,000 by 2017 (with new focus areas and with 10% for programs engaging 55+), Volunteer Generation Fund, Fund for Social Innovation, Encore Fellows, Silver Scholarships and others.
Senior Corps was successful in having the age eligibiliy for Foster Grandparents and Senior Companions reduced to 55 and the income eligibility increased to 200% of peverty level. These are both good moves.
Report from the signing ceremony
Guests gathered at the SEED school yard entry, checked in at folding tables and proceeded through the mag card routine upstairs into a small gym. It felt more like a community event than a White House production.
Even with a few gate crashers, it was a smaller gathering than what I was expecting. I’ve read in the press the signing was before VIPS, but if that’s who was there, the term VIP has taken on new meaning! Just a few examples: National Service leaders (including Alan Khazei, Vanessa Kirsch, Michael Brown, AnnMaura Connolly, Eric Schwartz, Michelle Nunn, Dorothy Stoneman, our own Lester Strong and of course Harris Wofford); participants from the early days of AmeriCorps (Shirley Sagawa, both Robert Gordons, Michael Camunez, Susan Stroud, Jack Lew, Tracy Gray, Catherine Milton – definitely a spirit of reunion); Corporation for National and Community Service leaders and staff (including Board Chair Alan Solomont, acting CEO Nicky Goren – who the President graciously acknowledged); Kennedy family and many elected officials. The large number of White House staff members present signaled the strength of service within this administration.
The sense of triumph and joy was palpable. But so was the emotion – tears were streaming all around. Ted Kennedy was the hero of the day, with standing ovations and each time we cheered, he seemed to grow stronger.
The President connected directly and personally with service. For example, his remark to Bill Clinton that FLOTUS (First Lady of the United States) was one of the many people transformed by the AmeriCorps Clinton started – because of her job running Public Allies, an AmeriCorps program in Chicago. And FLOTUS’ thumbs-up signaled her deep attachment as well.
The SEED school, where the ceremony was held, is led by an AmeriCorps alum, Charles Adams.
President Obama spoke of “pathways” for boomers – are we feeding White House speechwriters our lingo?
As for the actual signing, it seemed there would not be enough pens to go around, as the Senators and Repesentatives on the platform all wanted one. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi held back until she was sure everyone else got a pen, and then with one more on the table, reached for it with glee. Guess no one is too sophisticated or powerful to covet this important piece of history.