Creating AmeriCorps: Bipartisanship in Action

Catherine Milton, the founding executive director of the Haas Center, has recently published a new book titled Creating AmeriCorps: Bipartisanship in Action.

Established 30 years ago, AmeriCorps stands as a national service program that mobilizes Americans to participate in various service activities, addressing critical needs in communities across the United States. The program offers opportunities for individuals to contribute in areas such as education, public safety, health, and the environment. To date, over 1.2 million Americans have served through AmeriCorps.

AmeriCorps was authorized by the National and Community Service Trust Act, signed into law by President Bill Clinton on September 21, 1993. The act was a product of bipartisan efforts and collaboration in the U.S. Congress. Milton headed up the team that launched the program in 1994.

In her book, Milton delves into the experience of collaborating with individuals from diverse backgrounds and ideologies towards a shared objective. 

“Politicians worked across the aisle to develop the concept in a bipartisan way, which is important to talk about in today’s political climate,” said Milton. “Just focus on what you’re trying to do with each other, not the politics.”

AmeriCorps is administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency that oversees several national service programs. Milton was inspired to write about its inception to celebrate the many people who helped turn policy areas into a real agency.

Milton was tapped to lead this effort while serving as the executive director of the Public Service Center at Stanford University (now the Haas Center for Public Service). 

“I was asked to head up the Commission on National and Community Service in 1992 and was granted a two-year leave,” she said. “I had planned to come back to the Haas Center, but made the decision to stay in DC and finish the job and stayed for four years to launch the first AmeriCorps programs.”

The goal of AmeriCorps is to strengthen communities and foster civic engagement while providing individuals with valuable experiences and skills. Participants in AmeriCorps receive education awards that can be used to pay for college or repay student loans, making it an attractive option for individuals looking for ways to attend college or training programs.

Three decades later, AmeriCorps continues to evolve and expand. Programs now exist for college students to engage in part-time service while earning money for their tuition. The American Climate Corps, launched last year, is a partnership between AmeriCorps, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Departments of Labor, the Interior, Agriculture, and Energy. The AmeriCorps Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) program aims to boost the capacity of nonprofit organizations focused on alleviating poverty. As a VISTA sponsor, the Haas Center employs a cohort of VISTAs each year. Participants are matched with a local nonprofit organization or government agency, splitting their time between the organization and the Haas Center.

To celebrate the book launch and acknowledge Stanford students and alumni engaged in public service, a gathering is scheduled for March 14 in Washington, DC. Speakers will include Fagan Harris, '09, and Jonny Dorsey, '09, MBA '14—chief of staff and deputy chief of staff, respectively, for Maryland Governor Wes Moore—along with Milton and Stanford in Washington’s director, Adrienne Jamieson.