Service: A Way Forward
“A house divided against itself cannot stand.”
— Abraham Lincoln
America has never been more divided since the days leading up to the Civil War in 1861. Political polarization is the norm at all levels of government. Common ground seems elusive. Where can we look for a unifying framework, a message of hope, and a way forward?
Recently, I was in Washington, DC., for the Friends of National Service awards. This was an evening to recognize and celebrate members of Congress and state leaders for their tireless advocacy for national service. Each awardee that evening extolled the virtues of public service. “Our county was founded on service and service is the way forward,” said one Senator. And he is right.
Merriam-Webster defines service as “a contribution to the welfare of others.” This contribution looks different for everyone. Americans continuously answer the call to serve whether in a branch of the military, Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, and through careers in public service. Service is an American value on par with liberty, freedom and democracy. Service represents who we are and what we stand for.
Working for City Year and other AmeriCorps organizations, I come in regular contact with hundreds of young people who continue to answer the call of service to others. While our young AmeriCorps members come from diverse backgrounds and represent every state in the nation, they are unified by a desire to give to a cause greater than themselves.
Through regular conversation with City Year members on my weekly podcast, Why We Matter, I hear how their journey through their year(s) of service transforms them from a focus on “me to we.” Many arrive not clear on their destination, and they leave their service time committed to making a difference and serving their communities as teachers, social workers and countless other professions. Like Dallas Hill, whose year as a team-leader in a NYC inspired him to return home and run for public office, and Rayna Hayward, whose work as a mentor in a San Francisco middle school has encouraged her to pursue teaching.
Service: it helped make America strong and enduring, and service continues to be our beacon of hope for the future. From me to we — the first word in the U.S. Constitution — powerful!
