AmeriCorps Funding Crisis – Bulletin #15, September 3, 2003

Voices for AmeriCorps

Lenny Compton, a Michigan’s AmeriCorps alumnus, will represent AmeriCorps members nationwide as he shares personal testimony about how his AmeriCorps service helped children in the Pontiac Public Schools improve their reading and academic skills. Lenny leaves today for Washington, DC to participate in Voices for AmeriCorps: 100 Hours of National Service Testimony and will share his story as a member of AmeriCorps Oakland as he fights to reinstate funds for the embattled program.

Lenny will give his testimony on Thursday, September 4th, during the morning session from 8:00 a.m. to noon. Kyle Caldwell, executive director of the Michigan Community Service Commission and president of America’s Service Commissions, will also give testimony on September 4th and will moderate the morning session. Other AmeriCorps supporters from Michigan have submitted written testimony that will be read during Voices for AmeriCorps. They are Pam Cain, AmeriCorps member with the ReadingCorps; Kris Collee, AmeriCorps alumnus and director of Volunteer Muskegon’s AmeriCorps; Cheryl Horton, AmeriCorps member with the Michigan Neighborhood AmeriCorps Program; Dale Penny, consultant with the Baraga-Houghton-Keweenaw Child Development Board; Andrea Poleski, AmeriCorps alumnus of Downriver Reads; Randy Ross, program director with Downriver Reads; and Belinda Weber, AmeriCorps member with Success by Six.

For more information about the Voices for AmeriCorps hearing, visit

News and Clips

  • Buffalo News, September 3rd – Effort Seeks More Funds for AmeriCorps
  • Arizona Daily Sun, September 3rd – AmeriCorps Supporters Begin Bid For More Funding
  • Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, September 3rd – Alaska Braces For AmeriCorps Fund Cuts
  • Arizona Republic, September 3rd – A Teaching Disaster
  • CNN, September 2nd – Supporters Rally For AmeriCorps
  • News Observer (Raleigh, NC), September 2nd – AmeriCorps Boosters Begin Round-the-Clock Speeches
  • WIVB TV4 (New York), September 2nd – Local AmeriCorps Supporters Make Last Ditch Plea To Save Program
  • PNN (Nonprofit News), September 2nd – Leaders and Citizens to Offer 100 Hours of National Service Testimony
  • Daily Press (Victorville, CA), September 2nd – Volunteers Give Kids A Chance
  • For more news and clips, click here

Background Information

Without emergency funding Michigan’s AmeriCorps programs, which operate in communities throughout Michigan, will be cut 60 percent beginning September 1, 2003. This means that:

  • Michigan’s AmeriCorps program funding will be cut from $6.2 million to about $2.3 million.
  • Currently, there are about 700 Michigan’s AmeriCorps members. Next year there will be about 300.
  • Currently, Michigan’s AmeriCorps members serve 115,000 individuals each year. Next year only 46,000 people will be served.
  • Each year Michigan’s AmeriCorps members recruit more than 19,000 community volunteers to help them meet local needs. Next year because of the reduced number of members, only 7,600 volunteers will be recruited.

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