Dear Alums,
It’s the end of June, a month that gives us much to celebrate and reflect on. Pride Month, Juneteenth, Father’s Day, and the start of summer each invite us to recognize identity, community, history, and the people who help shape our lives. Together, they remind us of the importance of belonging, service, and the connections that sustain us.
For many service year alums, this is also a season of transition. It marks the end of a service year for some and the beginning of summer service opportunities for others. Whether you're wrapping up a chapter, preparing for a new one, or reflecting on where your service journey has taken you, this time of year offers a natural opportunity to pause and take stock. |
For many of us, we’re also entering a season for travel, whether to local parks and museums or to far-flung places across the globe. Yet most of us rarely stop to think about the planners, policymakers, and public servants working behind the scenes to keep people and communities connected. That’s why I’m so excited to share this conversation between two members of Alums Amplified, Allison Woodworth and Drew Mitrisin.
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In this conversation, they talk about their service year experiences and their pathways into transportation careers - including how learning to talk with elementary school students prepared them to engage in challenging discussions about how to reduce fatal crashes. This is one conversation you don’t want to miss.
As the pace of summer begins, we invite you to take a deep breath, celebrate the milestones and moments that matter, and step into the next season with renewed purpose and possibility. |
Peace Corps
Congress is considering the international affairs appropriations bill that includes the Peace Corps. As part of that, they will be voting on an amendment filed by Representative Scott Perry (PA), which calls for eliminating all funding for the Peace Corps in Fiscal Year 2027. This vote, originally scheduled for last week, has been postponed, which gives us additional time to contact Congress and ask them to vote 'No' on this amendment.
Please write to your House representative to urge them to oppose this amendment. |
AmeriCorps
Earlier this month, the House Appropriations Committee approved the Fiscal Year 2027 bill that funds the AmeriCorps agency.
The bill includes $1.22B for the agency, which is a $33M (2.6%) reduction from Fiscal Year 2026. Even with this small reduction, this is a win - it's substantially higher than recent House proposals and does not follow the President's proposal to eliminate AmeriCorps.
What does this all really mean? The House proposal sets the baseline for negotiations with the Senate. We still have a long way to go until we have final appropriations for FY27. Please ask your Members of Congress to provide robust funding for service years in Fiscal Year 2027. |
In this episode of the AmeriCorps Connections Podcast, we hear from Eric Ragone and Laura Rog. Eric was just recognized by Mayor Zohran Mamdani with the 2026 AmeriCorps Alum Impact Award, and Laura is the Chief Service Officer for New York City.
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Alums Amplified member Sarah Vagley Middleton shares how her AmeriCorps service year prepared her for a career in social impact - and she gives great advice along the way.
Check out the Idealist Career Advice blog. |
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Ten years ago, AmeriCorps alums Betsy Lay, Kate Power, and Jen Cuesta started a small brewery with a mission: give 100% of profits over cost to nonprofits supporting women, girls, and nonbinary people in Colorado.
Today, Lady Justice Brewing is a full taproom with a history of community engagement and a mission they meet every day. Learn more in this feature from Sue Hyatt. |
Better Together Film Festival
At a time when Americans’ trust in others - and in our institutions - is at an all time low, and our media is plagued by toxically polarizing narratives, the social fabric of our nation can feel beyond repair.
Through the Better Together Film Festival, local organizations across the country will host screenings of films that inspire hope, celebrate freedom, and model people uniting across differences to make their communities stronger. Audiences will have the opportunity to meet neighbors, reflect together, engage in conversations, and ultimately build relationships with fellow community members.
Any organization interested in hosting a free screening event is invited to sign up as a Hosting Partner! Hosting Partners receive a full resource kit and hands-on support to ensure their screening event runs smoothly and creates meaningful value for their community.
Learn more and consider serving as a hosting partner in your community! |
AmeriCorps Virtual Networking Session
Second Thursday of each month at 8:00 pm ET
AmeriCorps alum and founder of EM Wellness, Jennifer Pearsall, is launching a virtual networking series for AmeriCorps alums. This monthly virtual networking session is intentionally (lightly) structured to make connecting easier. Each session starts with a short insight or tip related to the month’s theme, followed by several small breakout rounds with prompts, so you always know what to talk about. The first session will be July 9. |
Peace Corps Connect
July 18 - 19, 2026 | Washington, DC at American University, Washington College of Law
Registration is open now for Peace Corps Connect 2026, which will bring together generations of RPCVs, students, and global changemakers in a collaborative space to shape the next era of global service. The National Peace Corps Association will lead a celebration of 65 years of Peace Corps and 250 years of American history. More than a reunion, Peace Corps Connect is a moment to use our stories, experience, and collective power to shape what comes next.
The conference will feature three program tracks:
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Peacebuilding: Sessions focused on fostering peace, equity, collaboration, and community resilience.
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Service: Sessions centered on civic engagement, leadership, and modern pathways to service at home and abroad.
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Pathways: Sessions focused on career development, domestic impact, and sustaining the Peace Corps legacy through mentorship and professional networking.
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ICYMI, this June, we also saw the release of Points of Light’s National Volunteer Strategy, a roadmap to double volunteering and make it a national priority within the next ten years. Check it out to see how you can get engaged in this national, collective effort to make volunteering more meaningful and more accessible for everyone.
Finally, lookout for an upcoming announcement of the 2026 AmeriCorps Alums Segal Leadership Awards. Being awarded automatically enrolls the awardee as a lifelong Segal Fellow in the Eli J. and Phyllis N. Segal Citizen Leadership Program and provides a cash award for professional development. The application will open in July and close in August. More details to come in the next few weeks!
As you enjoy your summer, let us know if you have an event or opportunity that you’d like to share with other alums. Contact alums@serviceyear.org.
Sincerely,
Maureen Eccleston
AmeriCorps Alum & Chief Impact Officer
Service Year Alliance |
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