Author Archives: Amy Potthast

03.02.10
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AmeriCorps Connect Launches – New Site to Help You Access AmeriCorps Stuff

Today, the Corporation for National and Community Service announced the launch of its new web portal, AmeriCorps Connect — a one-stop shop for frequently-used national service content.

Frequent visitors to other national service sites like NationalService.gov and AmeriCorps.org will notice that AmeriCorps Connect’s homepage is less-text heavy.

The home page features three types of links, explained this way in today’s announcement:

LEARN includes links to resources designed to help you with the day-to-day aspects of your job such as grant management, member management, and service-related activities.

CONNECT includes social media and other tools, including a wiki to help you collaborate with your staff, partners, and other stakeholders. Use it to create and edit shared documents or other project communications. Subscribe to an AmeriCorps e-mail list, or check out the upcoming national service events Continue reading →

03.01.10
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Happy Peace Corps Week 2010

This week — March 1st-7th — is Peace Corps Week 2010.

For Returned Peace Corps Volunteers, this is a time to share your experiences in your current community, in fulfillment of the Third Goal of Peace Corps, bringing the world back home:

For people considering Peace Corps service — in the next year or in their “next life” — it’s a prime time to check out a presentation from an RPCV.

Take a look at a new video explaining Peace Corps Week and introducing Peace Corps:

Are you a current, former, or prospective Peace Corps Volunteer? What are you doing for Peace Corps Week?

02.11.10
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Senate Confirms Patrick Corvington as New Chief of CNCS

Annie E. Casey Foundation staffer has been confirmed to lead Corporation for National and Community Service—Obama to sign his appointment.

Late this afternoon Acting CEO of the Corporation Nicola Goren issued this announcement:

While a record snowstorm has quieted much of official Washington this week, we have exciting news to share: the Senate today unanimously confirmed Patrick Corvington as the next CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service.

Patrick has devoted his career to helping people in need and building the capacity of organizations to solve problems.  He brings strong leadership skills and extensive knowledge of key issues facing the nonprofit sector, shaped by a wide-ranging series of positions including Senior Associate at the Annie E. Casey Foundation; Executive Director of Innovation Network, policy researcher at The Urban Institute, a case manager for migrant workers, an advocate for adjudicated youth, a director of a group shelter home, and a patient advocate in a community-based HIV/AIDS clinic.

Patrick’s first-hand work in and with communities, his research and evaluation experience, and his knowledge of the nonprofit sector will help the Corporation and the larger national service field achieve higher levels of impact, innovation, and effectiveness.  He is committed to advancing and expanding national service through a strong focus on governance, management, diversity and streamlined operations.

The next official step is for President Obama to sign Patrick’s appointment.  We will let you know when that occurs, and when Patrick begins his service.  Please see the press release below, and join me in welcoming Patrick at this exciting time for the Corporation and the larger service movement.

02.02.10
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A Chance (Every Day) to Vote for ServeNext, Atlas Corps, and other Groups

ServeNext— the organization whose mission is to expand opportunities in voluntary service as a way to address social ills and strengthen democracy— is participating in this month’s Pepsi Refresh Project.

So is Atlas Corps, the international service corps with the online contest Midas Touch.

And you can vote for them both every day in February.

While online contests to benefit nonprofits have been questioned recently (especially the recent Chase Giving contest, which my organization Idealist took part in and won money from), the Pepsi contest is ostensibly trying to do something Continue reading →

02.02.10
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Blue Engine Launches this Week — a New Corps for NYC Schools

This week a new national service corps launches its website and application process. Blue Engine, based in New York City, aims to recruit a corps of about a dozen fellows to facilitate daily, differentiated, small-group instruction for high school freshmen.

Nick Ehrmann—Blue Engine’s engine and a Teach For America alum—says that we know how to get high-needs kids into college, or getting them “college eligible” — nonprofits and schools have been targeting and tackling hurdles like high school completion, college admissions, and financial assistance.

But, while the high school drop-out problem is far from solved, groups are paying far less attention to college completion rates for high-needs kids, or “college readiness.”

Blue Engine aims to close the gap between college eligibility and college readiness. Watch the video that explains:

A startling statistic: for every 100 kids from low-income families who make it into college, only 15 end up graduating Continue reading →