ANCHORAGE – Today, Mayor Berkowitz announced that the Municipality of Anchorage has signed on to become an Employer of National Service. As an Employer of National Service, the city commits to hire AmeriCorps and Peace Corps alumni and encourages them to apply for careers with the city.
Announced in September 2014 as part of the 20th anniversary of AmeriCorps, Employers of National Service builds a talent pipeline, which connects AmeriCorps and Peace Corps alumni with leading employers.
“Americorps and Peace Corps are programs focused on helping others, often in unfamiliar communities and new cultures. Anchorage is one of the most diverse communities in the country and those experiences are assets for our local government,” stated Mayor Ethan Berkowitz.
The Mayor’s office has sponsored several community engagement projects working alongside CNCS’ Anchorage based AmeriCorps members. Mayor Berkowitz held trial cleanup events during AmeriCorps Week and Mayor’s Week of Service. Earlier this month, two AmeriCorps vistas awarded to the Mayor’s office through a Cities of Service grant, constructed a greenhouse at Mt. View Elementary school.
“We are honored that Anchorage recognizes that AmeriCorps and Peace Corps alumni make good employees,” said Wendy Spencer, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the federal agency that administers AmeriCorps. “I applaud Mayor Berkowitz for his leadership in making Anchorage an Employer of National Service. His actions signal around the country that Anchorage wants motivated, flexible, innovative leaders who know how to get things done.”
Mayor Berkowitz made the announcement alongside, Wendy Spencer, CEO of CNCS, during her first-ever tour of AmeriCorps and Senior Corps programs in Alaska. They were joined by Assembly Members Forrest Dunbar and Pete Petersen, both returned Peace Corps volunteers, and First Lady Donna Walker.
In addition to this announcement, Spencer announced more than $2 million in new national service investments to the state. These investments include AmeriCorps grants, new AmeriCorps VISTA and Senior Corps projects, and a new Social Innovation Fund site.
Since the President’s launch of the initiative in 2014, more than 350 companies, nonprofits, and public agencies have signed on as Employers of National Service including Disney, Comcast, NBC Universal, MasterCard, Delta Air Lines, Sodexo, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, United Way Worldwide, the American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, the National Science Foundation, the cities of Nashville, Philadelphia and Phoenix, the states of Montana and Virginia, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and U.S. Department of State.
Altogether, more than 1.2 million Americans have served in AmeriCorps and Peace Corps. More than 960,000 individuals have participated in AmeriCorps since its inception in 1994. AmeriCorps members serve communities across the country through organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, City Year, Teach For America, and the American Red Cross.
For more information, contact Myer Hutchinson at (907) 343-7133.
###