National service: Rebuilding America’s civic fabric
An event co-hosted by the Brookings Institution and Service Year Alliance
Past Event
Welcome & Keynote Panel
There is no question that America’s civic health is declining. Civic institutions that were the glue of tight-knit American communities—churches, unions, political parties—are disappearing or changing rapidly. In turn, Americans are feeling more isolated and disengaged than ever. At a time when the country is becoming more politically divided, new efforts are necessary to bridge the divide and restore a universal sense of community and belonging. Expanded national service has the potential to bridge that divide by connecting and engaging Americans with others from different economic, racial, and geographic backgrounds, while instilling values of civic responsibility, leadership, and commitment to country.
On October 10, the Future of the Middle Class Initiative at the Brookings Institution and Service Year Alliance hosted an event marking the release of a new report on universal national service by John Bridgeland, president of Civic and vice chair of Service Year Alliance, and John J. DiIulio Jr., professor of politics, religion, and civil society at the University of Pennsylvania. The event featured keynote remarks from Joe Heck of the Commission for Military, National, and Public Service, Jesse Colvin of Service Year Alliance, former Governor of Massachusetts Deval Patrick, and Barbara Stewart of the Corporation for National and Community Service. The event concluded with a panel of former and current participants in national service.
Agenda
Welcome
Keynote panel
Jesse Colvin
CEO - Service Year Alliance
Joseph J. Heck
Chairman - National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service
Former Representative (R-Nev.) - U.S. House of Representatives
The Hon. Deval Patrick
Founder & Chairman - TogetherFUND PAC
former Governor - State of Massachusetts
Barbara Stewart
CEO - Corporation for National and Community Service
Isabel V. Sawhill
Senior Fellow - Economic Studies, Center on Children and Families, Future of the Middle Class Initiative
Why we need national service
Taimarie Adams
Director, Government Relations - Service Year Alliance
John Bridgeland
Former Director - White House Domestic Policy Council under President George W. Bush
Vice Chair - Service Year Alliance
John J. DiIulio, Jr.
Former Brookings Expert
Frederic Fox Leadership Professor of Politics, Religion, and Civil Society - University of Pennsylvania
Panel: National service in practice
William Gartmann
AmeriCorps Alumnus - YouthBuild USA and The Education Alliance
Andrew E. Hansen III
Environmental Stewardship Program Team Leader - Delaware State Parks
U.S. Army Veteran
Tojuan C. Reed Jr.
Field Team Leader - FEMA Corps, AmeriCorps NCCC
Taylor Stone
AmeriCorps VISTA Member - Project Development, Habitat for Humanity International
Kayla Whetzel
AmeriCorps Member - City Year DC
Closing remarks
More Information
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