AmeriCorps Alums: Portland, Maine Chapter

11/04/2025

Gobble, gobble. We hope to see you there. RSVP here: https://partiful.com/e/aw8JyKouEovHL2qcyhYW

10/06/2025

Did you see?! We are hosting an event this month! Sign up for our email list to stay in the loop about our events - including one for next month: https://forms.gle/oc2CoFkaPxVPWsGb9

08/01/2025

Advocacy Success Update!!

Thank YOU to everyone that chipped in by joining the Sign-On Letter to Senator Collins! And thanks to Senator Collins for taking key steps in pushing to keep AmeriCorps operational.

With over 350 individuals and organizations signing on in under 48 hours we had one of the most successful state sign-on letter campaigns!

Since the time our letter was submitted Senator Collins has done both things requested in the letter! I am not saying our letter was the sole reason but it did not hurt!!

On Wednesday evening Senator Collins signed-on to the letter being submitted by Senators Cassidy (R-LA) and C***s (D-DE) to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) requesting that the OMB release the ~$200 million in AmeriCorps funding that they have been withholding from grantees.

Additionally- on Thursday Senator Collins, as the head of the Senate Appropriations Committee, passed a draft budget that keeps AmeriCorps flat funded!

Senator Collins knows AmeriCorps is a smart use of federal funding but she is being pushed to make hard choices and without our letting her know Mainers care about AmeriCorps, the program would be at a more significant risk through the rest of the budget process.

To that end we have an ask of you now. If you have already joined the sign on letter it would be great if you could call Senator Collins office this weekend and leave a simple message of Thanks to the Senator for supporting AmeriCorps this past week. The DC phone number is (202) 224-2523.

If you have not yet joined the sign on letter please take this opportunity to do that. We have left it open so that we can add to the numbers for our next advocacy push. There will be many votes left before this year’s budget is finalized. For 2 minutes of your time the increased numbers on this list can be very meaningful.

Click here to read and sign the letter in support of AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors.https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSefw6S34gjV2vwZdIq5Rj8E8ji_aytZhRge6k56LA7BQfhraA/viewform

Thanks so much for taking the time to help in this effort! If you recruited other people to join please let them know of the success of the letter and thank them wholeheartedly!

Keep up the good work you do everyday and stay tuned for further updates.

Congress is in the middle of a challenging debate regarding the federal budget and the government's investment priorities. The President's FY26 budget request has proposed eliminating AmeriCorps, and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is withholding approximately $200 million in FY25 federal....

07/28/2025

Hello AmeriCorps friends.
As you likely have heard AmeriCorps has been targeted for elimination by DOGE and the Presidential Administration. This Thursday (July 31, 2025) the Senate Appropriations Committee is meeting to discuss the proposed funding level for AmeriCorps for next year. the President has recommended ZERO. Senator Collins leads this committee and although she has been very supportive of AmeriCorps over the years she has a lot of competing priorities right now and needs to know that Mainers want her to step up for AmeriCorps again. It would go a long way if you could follow this link and add your name (and/or organization) to the letter.
Thanks in advance. Close to 100,000 AmeriCorps members per year across the country support millions of Americans with services such as mentoring, support for rural isolated seniors, urban afterschool programs, workforce development and so much more. AmeriCorps continues to bring people together during this divisive time.
LINK TO LETTER
Maine Sign-On Letter in Support of AmeriCorps

Congress is in the middle of a challenging debate regarding the federal budget and the government's investment priorities. The President's FY26 budget request has proposed eliminating AmeriCorps, and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is withholding approximately $200 million in FY25 federal....

07/14/2025

URGENT - Please take a minute to complete and then share!

05/28/2025

Please help spread the word. Stand with Service is trying to bring AmeriCorps Alums and anyone that wants to save AmeriCorps together for organizing meetings. If you have a strong social media presence with AmeriCorps Alums - can you please share with your networks? The next meeting is Wednesday May 28th- but even if you get this after- the link gets you on the email list for the next meeting.
Thanks.
https://actionnetwork.org/forms/join-the-campaign-to-preserve-americorps-may-21-jun-18?source=may21cta&link_id=1&can_id=a9f14802682621879f58c345f89609a1&email_referrer=email_2748552&email_subject=next-steps-thanks-for-joining-stand-with-service&fbclid=IwY2xjawKjM-JleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFvUHYzOWdaWDRYYnY4dkZtAR4q6Z8XgQIxldbHW3z4pyNtPJKq43-Gwhy-cnUIyYZPej5C52FmjjDMCi14Vg_aem_YnyK_MnxeCb3w8CjVIDNpg
Sign Up Here

When you joined AmeriCorps, you answered a call to service and joined a lifelong community. Today, that community is calling on you again. In April 2025, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) ordered the cancellation of approximately $400 million in AmeriCorps grants — around 40 percent o...

05/07/2025

Thanks for the heads up from Marlie Flaherty. There is a virtual graduation for the NCCC members that were sent home. I would also suspect it will be a way to learn more about what national service advocates are doing in response to the program terminations and the recent Presidential Budget Proposal that zeroes out funding for AmeriCorps.

https://actionnetwork.org/events/recognition-of-service-for-americorps-nccc-2?link_id=2&can_id=a9f14802682621879f58c345f89609a1&source=email-reminder-tomorrow-may-8-nccc-graduation-event&email_referrer=email_2726477&email_subject=reminder-tomorrow-may-8-nccc-graduation-event&&

On April 14, 748 AmeriCorps NCCC members serving on projects across the nation were demobilized and sent home. Their terms of service were cut short and they were denied a graduation and recognition of service despite their contributions to America. DOGE wants to erase their service - we will not le...

04/21/2025

As many of you know AmeriCorps has been targeted by the Department of Government Efficiency. Please let your elected officials know how important AmeriCorps is to you. If you have a relationship with an elected official or their staff please let us know. Reach out to Steve Niles with Goodwill AmeriCorps via email if you want to help more [email protected] Or simply use the tools provided by Voices for National Service. https://voicesforservice.org/take-action/contact-congress/

Share your stories in the comments or feel free to ask questions.

Thanks for your service!!

10/26/2024

Join us for AmeriCorps Thanksgiving! Bring your partner or friend. Here is the link to RSVP. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1WYiM7gYhXp16VOj-8VwrRfUeWjaR0AFQPi0Qa1cXC9o/edit?usp=sharing

05/24/2024

Hello Alums!!

We have started a bi-monthly Alumni Webinar Series!! Last month Shenna Bellows spoke on how important her VISTA and Peace Corps service was in helping form her career. We are in the initial planning phase for summer in-person networking events as well. If you would like to stay more connected please fill out this short form. Thanks for your service!!

Interested in connecting with fellow AmeriCorps alumni? By adding your contact information, you will be connected to future alumni events, webinars, and information within Maine. Fill out the interest form below!