Transforming Communities through Service: A Collection of 52 of the Most Innovative AmeriCorps Programs in the United States

With a recent surge of interest in national service, many existing AmeriCorps*State programs have been lauded as highly successful and innovative, yet, this information is not widely shared. State service commissions have therefore relied on word of mouth or chance workshops to learn how to create similar programs in their states.

To address this, ICP and ASC highlight  52 innovative AmeriCorps*State programs from 39 states in this publication. State service commissions from Alabama to Wyoming shared their tremendously creative and meaningful AmeriCorps*State programs that are making a difference in the lives of Americans, some of which incorporate service-learning to further enrich their practices. It is hoped that readers of this guide will use it to educate others on AmeriCorps’ role in transforming communities nationwide through service. By sharing information about innovative programming, the authors hope to support the role of states as laboratories for service and to foster new strategies for addressing a variety of social issues.

The breadth, creativity and contribution of these programs in communities throughout the US demonstrate that AmeriCorps Members are meeting a wide array of critical needs in effective and innovative ways. Whether a program recruits mentors, preserves the environment, helps children read, empowers persons with disabilities to serve, or provides direct assistance to at-risk, low-income seniors, AmeriCorps is “getting things done.”