Advocating for National Service: A Message from Executive Director, Kevin Gross
Last month, Charlotte Petrie, our Experience Corps Program Manager, and I traveled to Washington, D.C. to advocate for Greater Cleveland Volunteers and the thousands of people we engage and support each year. With support from many of our partners and local leaders from across the region, we met with congressional offices to share what national service means to our community and why continued federal funding for AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors is essential to the work we do in Northeast Ohio.
Our message was simple and direct. National service works. It helps older adults age in place with dignity, uplifts students in schools, strengthens neighborhoods, and saves public resources by addressing local needs before they become crises. Every dollar invested in service programs like AmeriCorps RSVP, the Foster Grandparent Program, and the Senior Companion Program delivers value far beyond its cost. These programs are not just effective, they are necessary for vibrant communities.
The reality is, we are facing a tough funding environment. Cuts to national service programs are being debated, with some already enacted, and critical decisions are being made in real time. We did not walk away from our meetings with guaranteed outcomes, but we showed up and made sure our voices, and the voices of our volunteers, were heard. We reminded lawmakers that behind every program is a person. A child learning to read. A homebound senior receiving a friendly visit or a weekly phone call. A volunteer with purpose and pride in making a difference.
This is what advocacy looks like. It is not always about instant wins. It is about presence, persistence, and planting the seeds that lead to progress. We will keep showing up, not just in D.C. but here at home, because the impact our volunteers have on this community is too important to leave to chance or to leave to others to speak up and fight for.
The road ahead will take continued effort and collaboration. But I left Washington feeling hopeful, not because the work is easy, but because I know how powerful it is. We have the stories, the data, and the outcomes that prove national service is worth fighting for. With your support, we will keep fighting for the resources our volunteers need to continue serving others with compassion, commitment, and care.
You can help by staying connected and engaged, especially during times when the news feels overwhelming or uncertain. How can we come together to build a more collaborative, welcoming, and vibrant community despite all the mixed messages we hear each day? Start by talking to your neighbors, having conversations with people you may not usually connect with, and defending the causes and organizations you care about. Whether your passion is supporting animal shelters, arts and culture, helping older adults thrive, or any of the countless causes we all know are worthy, there is a place for your voice and your energy. Greater Cleveland Volunteers proudly supports a wide range of local nonprofits and causes, and we are here to help you get involved.
Support our work so we can remain resilient in the face of federal funding uncertainty. Just as importantly, reach out to your elected officials. Call them, email them, or write them a letter. Let them know that AmeriCorps and national service funding matters. It makes our communities stronger, more connected, and more resilient. And when we all raise our voices together, that message inevitably becomes impossible to ignore.
