AmeriCorps Alums 2015 Leadership Forum
Today’s blog is written by AmeriCorps Alums Co-Executive Directors Mary Bruce and Ben Duda and is part of AmeriCorps Alums’ REALTalk series on race, equity, and AmeriCorps alumni as leaders. All photographs are credited to Simon Luethi from 8 Salamander Productions.
Last week, with the support of the Annie E. Casey and Ford Foundations, AmeriCorps Alums convened 22 alums from across the country for the 2015 AmeriCorps Alums National Leadership Forum. The group of alumni were drawn from our 20th Anniversary Leadership Award winners and National Advisory Council members.Together, we represented a diversity of backgrounds and experiences including a state legislator, an urban farmer, a pediatrician, a spoken word poet, a chapter leader, and several non-profit executives.
During the forum, we examined our organization’s work and the results we’re seeking to achieve, using data from a range of sources on social sector leadership as well as our current programming that supports alumni. We considered talent pipelines from service to employment, work-readiness skills that members and alumni need, questions of race, gender, and economic equity of opportunity, and more.
Throughout our time together, this group of alums advised us and will continue to help shape the next generation of Alums’ work. We’re excited, inspired, and ready to get things done in partnership with all of you.
Alums’ Co-EDs with members of our National Advisory Council (from left to right, starting at top left: Seth Marbin, Council Vice Chair Andy Davis, Kevin N. Burke, Ben Duda, Mary Bruce, Council Chair Ana Estrada, and Nicole Gallant.
In the coming months, we’ll be using this space to continue a discussion on how we ensure all alumni are supported as engaged citizens and civic leaders after service. We’ll also offer ways for any alum who is interested to help guide our future work. In the meantime, and as always, if you have thoughts or feedback, please email us at Ben@AmeriCorpsAlums.org or Mary@AmeriCorpsAlums.org.
