By Greg Tucker
President Obama’s State of the Union proposals highlight CNCS initiatives
During the State of the Union address earlier this week, President Obama laid out his agenda for the upcoming year with several proposals to improve college access and protect the environment. The
Corporation for National and Community Service
(CNCS) is pleased to support the President’s goals through our family of national service programs and initiatives that are dedicated to improving the lives of our fellow citizens.
Education
In reality, college prep doesn’t begin in high school – it starts much, much earlier. From the time before children enter preschool, CNCS programs provide the support and attention to ensure their success.
Through our Social Innovation Fund, we support grantees that are using inventive, evidence-supported methods to help children develop the skills in preschool they need to start kindergarten. Our Senior Corps Foster Grandparents are in thousands of elementary schools providing classroom support along with a mentoring presence for students needing extra care.
To prepare our children for the careers of the future, the STEM AmeriCorps program has placed hundreds of AmeriCorps members in nonprofits to mobilize science, technology, engineering, and math professionals and inspire young people to pursue and excel in the STEM disciplines. AmeriCorps members also serve as mentors and tutors to help students in underserved communities keep pace with their studies and on track for graduation.
As these students open their minds to new possibilities, CNCS grantees like College Possible identify students who may not have believed they could attend college and guide them through the application and admission process. The students who complete these programs often return to help others follow the same path after they finish their college careers.
Environmental Stewardship
We are all stewards of the environment and have a responsibility to protect it for future generations. The Conservation Corps AmeriCorps program in Minnesota and Iowa and AmeriCorps NCCC are prime examples of how national service and our members and volunteers are pursuing this ideal across the nation.
Following the goals of “restoring resources, changing lives,” these AmeriCorps members learn about managing natural resources, responding to disasters, conserving energy, and recruiting and leading volunteers. They also devote time to environmental science education, teaching children and adults about the ways they can conserve energy and protect natural resources.
The benefits of the Conservation Corps, and other AmeriCorps program like it, are that while these members are working to protect our natural resources, they are building the skills that create a strong work ethic and will help them become better employees and citizens when their term of service ends.
We are committed to serving our nation and making an impact that changes lives and communities as we support these programs and initiatives.