1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

I would like to share my concerns with about the very upsetting news of steps being taken at the AmeriCorps agency that could deeply cut or eliminate AmeriCorps services in my community. Drastic cuts to AmeriCorps agency staff will impact non-profit, faith-based, and community organizations that depend on AmeriCorps funding to make a difference in communities across the nation. I am concerned that this reduction in force will impact the agency’s ability to execute grants and enroll AmeriCorps members and engage AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers – essentially dismantling the agency and jeopardizing critical resources for your constituents. Already we are seeing the impacts of force reductions at the agency leading to stop work orders for AmeriCorps NCCC members, which deploys teams of young adults to respond to urgent community needs, including natural disasters. The CivicSpark fellows program has been critical in implementing important local work. If AmeriCorps funding goes away, that means our communities would lose key services and resources. That would be devasting, since the work of AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers is needed now more than ever. Please protect and save AmeriCorps.