It’s that time of year again where national budget cuts propose to limit the amount of funding giving to the Corporation for National and Community Service which overseas the AmeriCorps programs as well as the SeniorCorps programs. The proposed cuts would mean a loss of 20,000 AmeriCorps positions across the nation. There are a handful of people who feel the money could be used better somewhere else other than with the service program. However, the AmeriCorps programs and SeniorCorps programs are too important the communities they serve to be eliminated. The organization Voices For Service rolled out a twitter campaign to try to encourage people who are currently and have previously served with any of the AmeriCorps programs to reach out to their followers and contact the senator who will be making the final decision the the proposed cuts.
The Campaign that was put into motion is called #stand4service.
Congress is still debating the budget & @nationalservice funding is at risk. Reject the cuts and #Stand4Service! pic.twitter.com/3xCrJzS14T
— Voices for Service (@Voices4Service) November 29, 2015
Over the past few weeks, countless AmeriCorps alumni have been jumping on the wagon and asking for their followers to help them save the 20,000 AmeriCorps positions.
If Theo can call … so can you! Tell @RoyBlunt that you #Stand4Service, 202-224-5721. @AmeriCorps https://t.co/vEFQ5lOfoK
— Jennifer Ney (@jenniferney) November 20, 2015
Many Alumni shared which specific programs they served with and share how they not only helped them grow professionally, but personally as well.
I #Stand4Service because I've witnessed first-hand the way @americorps changes lives and builds leaders for change. https://t.co/QJQ3N4xjm0
— Marianne Sierocinski (@MsSierocinski) November 25, 2015
Our @americorps members aren't in it for the income; they're in it for the outcomes. #CYDCappreciates #Stand4Service pic.twitter.com/HvcjBCxIt1
— City Year DC (@CityYearDC) November 24, 2015
.@timkaine I was an #AmeriCorps with @HabitatRVA. Please continue to #stand4service & protect @nationalservice from budget cuts.@BuildLouder
— Carley Ruff (@carleyruff) November 18, 2015
@RoyBlunt please support @nationalservice @americorps will forever be a milestone in my life. I'm a future #engineer and I #Stand4Service
— Corey Shinko (@edward_joseph) November 18, 2015
But it wasn’t just how these programs affected the people who served, the AmeriCorps programs “get things done” for their communities have results to prove it. Like this City Year statistic shared my this twitter user.
Rep. @TomColeOK04: study: schools w/ @CityYear @AmeriCorps 2-3x more likely to increase test scores. #Stand4Service https://t.co/HkOexqmIrg
— Michael Brown (@MBrownCY) November 20, 2015
Many Alumni, like myself, have also used the AmeriCorps as a way to pay for school when they have no other way to receive the money for higher education.
"All the work I put in, I feel like I've gotten back in professional development" @Voices4Service http://t.co/9AD6T4TeOs #stand4service
— Todd Marsh (@Todd_Recruits) August 21, 2015
Even some memes were made and shared! The rendition of Rosie the Riveter below was created by some AmerCorps Members who served with me at the AmeriCorps NCCC Pacific Region Campus during Class 18 of the program.
Voice your support in protecting the future of @AmeriCorps! Take a #Stand4Service today: https://t.co/GXPdc1qPtz pic.twitter.com/QvmvmO1bZZ
— Points of Light (@PointsofLight) November 24, 2015
My @americorps term was such a rewarding & enlightening experience. I #Stand4Service b/c America needs volunteers https://t.co/S3yd6m4tVn
— Susan Duncan (@ForTheBirds41) November 24, 2015
Finally, it just amazes me the strength the AmeriCorps community. How all of these people band together to save something that effected us all so much, we can’t stand to see it minimized. Because we are AmeriCorps members this day and the next. We #Stand4Service because it Gets. Things. Done.