1.2  Million AmeriCorps Alumni STRONG!  We are a voice for national and community service.  We have all served in one way or another - let's engage, learn and connect with each other!  Let's Serve Life After AmeriCorps!

Today we talk with Robert Godfried
Connect with Robert on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-godfried-7b063bbb/
Checkout his national service reports and commentaries here  - https://thenext100.org/entrepreneur/robert-godfried/

• Served in Washington Heights New York in a State/National program - https://americorps.gov/serve/americorps/americorps-state-national

Big ideas and takeaways from our conversation:

1. His service consisted of helping folks fight against eviction and displacement. Helping folks fight for heat, water and housing and court problems.
2. His experience exposed some of the barriers and problems with an AmeriCorps service year.
   1. Low living wage.
   2. Lack of workforce development training and connection to post-service opportunities. 
3. Report and Recommendations | How Embracing Workforce Development Can Set Up AmeriCorps Members for Post-Service Success
4. The Bill: How Legislation Really Becomes Law: A Case Study of the National Service Bill 
5. Learn more about Jerome Tennille https://www.jerometennille.com/ Buy his book! Transforming Disruption to Impact 
6. Realized Worth Employee Volunteering https://www.realizedworth.com/
7. CEO Michael Smith - Is committed to improve Alumni work at the agency, updates coming out this summer or fall! 
8. Democracy & Bridge Building 
   1. Convergence - https://convergencepolicy.org/who-we-are/
   2. John Gomperts - https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-gomperts-dc/
   3. David Eisner - https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-eisner-convergence/
   4. Jennifer Leshnower - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferleshnower/
9. How State Service Commissions Can Advance Equity in AmeriCorps | read it here! 
10. Joint presentation on workforce development best practices - 
    1. ASC Regional Conferences 
    2. John Kelly - Serve Colorado
    3. Lyndie Kenlon- Trailhead Institute  
    4. Yasmine Shaheen-McConnell - AmeriCorps
    5. Climate Corps Volunteer California 
    6. Serve Washington Climate Corps Network
    7. Advancing Pre-Apprenticeship Programming Through National Service 
    8. The Washington Monthly AmeriCorps Must Embrace Workforce Development
    9. Public Health AmeriCorps 

How can AmeriCorps Alumni get involved?

1. Service Year Alliance
2. Americas Service Commissions 
3. CorpsNetwork
4. Voices for National Service 
5. Reach out to Robert- [email protected]

What do you foresee for us Alumni? What can we do!?

1. Rule Change Comment - public comment
2. Talk about your experience
3. Find a chapter! 
4. Reach out to your member of congress, senator or state service commission.
   1. Let them know this program is very important to you! 
5. Follow Nicki! [email protected]

Alumni Connections -

• AmeriCorps Alums LinkedIn Group 
• Join the official AmeriCorps Alumni network with Service Year by registering here as an alum & stay connected through the quarterly newsletter, The Alums Corner: The Scoop After Service.
• AmeriCorps Opportunities: Learn More! 
• Schools of National Service - Find an institute that will match/ honor or offer other incentives toward your Segal Education Award  
• Employers of National Service - Find employers who prioritize AmeriCorps Alumni service in their hiring 
• America's Service Commissions

Shout out!
Hosting and podcast consultation provided by Producer Dan of Time or Money Production.  Thank you Dan! (p.s., he's an AmeriCorps Alumni)
Check him out on IG - https://instagram.com/producrdan?igshid=ZDdkNTZiNTM=