Legal Definitions - Corporation for National and Community Service

The Corporation for National and Community Service is a U.S. federal agency dedicated to fostering civic engagement and strengthening communities through service. It achieves this by supporting and overseeing a variety of national service programs that encourage Americans of all ages to volunteer their time and skills. In return for their service, participants in some of these programs may receive educational awards or other benefits, promoting both individual growth and community well-being.

Here are some examples of how the Corporation for National and Community Service operates:

• Example 1: Disaster Response and Educational Opportunity

  After a devastating hurricane, a recent college graduate joins an AmeriCorps team deployed to help rebuild homes and community infrastructure in the affected region. For their year of dedicated service, which involves long hours of physical labor and community organizing, the graduate receives a living stipend and, upon completion, an educational award that they use to pay off student loans. This scenario illustrates the Corporation for National and Community Service's role in overseeing programs like AmeriCorps, which mobilizes volunteers for critical community needs, while also fulfilling its mission to provide educational opportunities in exchange for significant service contributions.

• Example 2: Senior Engagement and Community Support

  A retired teacher, looking for a way to stay active and contribute to her community, volunteers through the National Senior Service Corps. She spends several hours each week tutoring children in an underprivileged after-school program, helping them improve their reading and math skills. This example demonstrates how the Corporation for National and Community Service supports programs that foster civic responsibility among older adults, enabling them to share their valuable experience and make a tangible difference in the lives of others and the community at large.

• Example 3: Youth Service and Local Impact

  A high school in a rural area receives a grant through a program supported by the Corporation for National and Community Service to implement a "Learn and Serve" initiative. Students in an environmental science class design and execute a project to restore a local wetland, removing invasive species and planting native vegetation. This project not only teaches them about ecology but also instills a sense of civic responsibility by improving a shared natural resource. This illustrates the Corporation's broader goal of fostering civic engagement and providing opportunities for people, including youth, to contribute services that benefit their communities.