by Katrina Mathis

My Thoughts on National Service

The New Service welcomes new blogger Katrina Mathis. This is her introduction.

I decided to join the Peace Corps in the 10th grade during a brief Civics class discussion about volunteers in Africa.

Years later, during my senior year in college, I threw caution to the wind and finally dropped that “no postage necessary if mailed in the U.S.” tear card in the mail box, requesting an application from Peace Corps. A month or two or three later—I honestly can’t remember—I received my Peace Corps application and began a life changing journey.

At 22, when I touched down in Guinea, West Africa—to live abroad, immersed in another culture and language — my primary Continue reading →

03.17.09

by Amy Potthast

Politicorps Launches Application for Summer 09

The fellowship program for emerging activists and campaigners based here in Portland, OR, is accepting nominations and applications for this summer.

PolitiCorps is looking for “hotshot young activists ready to run a campaign, polish up her public speaking skills, and manage a volunteer team.”

Fellowships provide a total of 24 young activists a free 10 week training in high impact grassroots organizing skills and next generation leadership skills. Fellows are college juniors or seniors, or recent grads (up to age 24).

Two applications periods exist for Summer 2009.
Round 1: Applications due March 20th (12 Fellows)
Round 2: Rolling admissions until the program is full (12 Fellows)

To apply or to nominate someone else, find a nomination form here.

This national Fellowship offers:

A cleared path toward a career in the public interest
Training in communications, community organizing, public policy analysis, networking, data management, and project management
Round-table conversations with nationally-known politics, wonks, strategists, and change-agents
Housing and cost of living stipends are offered on top of tuition for the 10 week training

Check out the Idealist podcast show featuring the folks at Politicorps.

03.14.09

by Amy Potthast

Music National Service Initiative Looking for Interns

People eager to support national service and music can contribute as interns for the Music National Service Initiative (MNSi).

Kiff Gallagher’s Music National Service Initiative has recently launched three new internships in Idealist.org.

MNSi is looking for self starters who will be critical players in MNSi’s fundraising and community-building strategy, who love project management, have an eye for detail and who will follow through. The “Musical Peace Corps” is looking for:

Campus and Community Organizer who will strengthen and expand the volunteer base for Music National Service Continue reading →

03.13.09

by Amy Potthast

AmeriCorps VISTAs Reflect on their Service through “V is For ____”

AmeriCorps VISTAs and alums reflect on their service through the “V is For _” Campaign.

V is for ideas + action = making visions happen.

“V is For__” is a Campaign on Flickr that allows AmeriCorps VISTAs and alumni to post a photo of themselves, ostensibly holding up the V sign with their fingers, and saying something meaningful. Since several of us involved with Idealist.org are also AmeriCorps VISTA Alumnae, we thought we’d contribute!

Our Grad School Blog Project Blogger Eileen Gallagher served as an AmeriCorps VISTA and then VISTA Leader before heading to grad school at Brandeis’s Heller School. As a VISTA, she served at the Center for Experiential Learning at Allegheny College, her alma mater. She worked with students to plan service events, ran a tutoring program in local elementary schools and functioned as part of the college’s student affairs staff.

As a Leader, Eileen helped run the program and learned a lot about management. She knew that she loved the students, their idealism to create change, the community that she Continue reading →

03.11.09

by Amy Potthast

Public Allies Featured on Equality Arizona Radio

Representatives of a national AmeriCorps program that prepares the newest generation of nonprofit leaders speak with Equality Arizona host Donna Rossi.

Link to the show!

Public Allies Arizona guests include:

Program Director Michelle Lyons-Mayer
Program Assistant Andrea Glenn
Alum Celia Williams
Currently-serving Ally Milo Neild

They talk about the Public Allies program, how to apply, and personal experiences in the program that have helped them grow personally and professionally, while making a huge impact in their communities.

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