Thursday, July 20, 2006

Americorps

My sister forwarded me an alert the other day about Americorps. Apparently every year they go through this funding dance where the Republicans in the House try to kill it by gutting the budget. (They have a habit of doing that with public television as well.)

My sister works with Americorps, and says:

To me the most compelling reason to fund Americorps is that its existence is a win/win situation across the board. The recipients of the services win because Americorps provides reading tutors to grade school children, relief to natural disaster victims, conflict resolution training, elderly support, juvenile offender assistance, environmental cleanup and education, assistance to Habitat for Humanity, and many other services. The volunteers win because they receive career training and personal development that allows them to enter the workforce or an educational path with a solid foundation of real-life skills. They learn the value of service and giving to others.The taxpayers win because the cost to fund Americorps is pocket change. There is no other way we could fund such services for a little as it costs through Americorps. Our country wins because our citizens, our land, our cities and states are all better for the work done.


(Link added by me.)

Being the cynic I am, I can't help but wonder if all this isn't the reason the House wants so badly to get rid of it. After all, it's hard for Grover Norquist to strangle government in the bathtub if it's working, eh? But anyway. Let's get to the solution.

Here's what to do to help:

1. Call Labor HHS Appropriators and tell them to restore funding for
national service. Click here for instructions.

2. Write members of Congress and tell them that the national service
programs in their states are in jeopardy. Click here to identify your Congressional representatives and click here to view a draft letter that you can customize.

3. Forward the New York Times editorial, Keeping the Faith with AmeriCorps to your local paper and urge them to write about national service funding.

4. Spread the word on to fellow AmeriCorps alumni and supporters.

I'm going to ask my sister to describe her job for you all in the comments section. This is a program that makes our country better. If you have a spare moment and want to do something worthwhile today, let your congresscritters know.