America's Service Commissions

Today we celebrate and thank Kaira Esgate for her incredible leadership and dedication to ASC.

Over the past 11 years as CEO, and seven years prior on the ASC Board of Directors, Kaira has played a pivotal role in driving growth, leading change, and strengthening the state service commission network.

In recognition of her remarkable 18 years of service, we were proud to induct Kaira into the ASC Honor Roll last month.

Please join us in expressing our gratitude and best wishes as Kaira embarks on her next professional chapter. 👏✨

ASC staff and state service commission leaders enjoyed spending the past two days engaged in dialogue and learning labs at the event "When Communities Need Us Most: Empowering AmeriCorps Partners to Lead in Times Crisis" hosted by AmeriCorps and American University.

The past two days are an important reminder of the critical role state service commissions and national service programs play in disaster response and addressing pressing community needs.

ASC is proud to see state service commissions recognized for what they do best: convene partners, align systems, and turn big challenges into scalable solutions.

The expansion of the Youth Mental Health Corps reflects the power of state service commissions to build statewide infrastructure that supports youth, strengthens communities, and grows the behavioral health workforce.

With new states joining today, YMHC now reaches 16 states, with 11 more preparing for 2027. This momentum shows how commissions move from idea to implementation to scale and why they’re essential leaders in designing, launching, and expanding service strategies across many issues, including youth mental health.

Learn more: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260527225307/en/Youth-Mental-Health-Corps-Expands-To-16-States-In-2026

We are sharing this 2026 article published by Civic Science, "Americans Are Volunteering More -- Led by Gen Z -- as National Volunteer Month Wraps Up."

"New CivicScience data shows that participation is at an all-time high, with 50% of Americans now reporting that they volunteer. This figure marks a 12 percentage-point increase since CivicScience began asking Americans about volunteering in 2013 and a two percentage-point increase since last year."

Read the full article here: https://civicscience.com/americans-are-volunteering-more-led-by-gen-z-as-national-volunteer-month-wraps-up/

Happy from our network of 52 state service commissions who support and honor Veterans & Military Families every day of the year.

Here is a recap of our recent 2026 National Service Training in Dallas, Texas!✨

From April 14-16, professionals from across the national service field came together in Dallas for three days of workshops, sessions, and connections focused on building capacity and strengthening service networks.

We couldn't be more thrilled with the engagement this year. About 1,100 people participated between our in-person event in Texas and our virtual training.

Thank you to everyone, in-person and online, who attended and made it an unforgettable conference filled with community, learning, and growth. We are already looking forward to what's next, and we'll see you again in 2027!🙌

We are thrilled to congratulate ASC board members Jordan Snipes, Gretchen Stallings, and Jason Scott as they were recently named in the Service Year Alums Amplified 2026 Cohort!

Read about the cohort here: https://bit.ly/4tMp927

Marissa is an AmeriCorps State member serving in the Youth Mental Health Corps through Serve Colorado. She recently appeared on the Jennifer Hudson Show where she spoke about her experience as a Mental Health Navigator and shared the amazing work being done at Youth Mental Health Corps.

The Youth Mental Health Corps (YMHC) is a national service-to-career initiative designed to address two urgent challenges: the youth mental health crisis and the shortage of behavioral health professionals. Conceived by the Schultz Family Foundation and Pinterest and launched with AmeriCorps, state service commissions, national philanthropies, and corporate partners, the YMHC leverages national service to expand support for youth while creating meaningful career pathways for young adults.

Read the article here: https://bit.ly/4umOxMO

Join the ASC Board of Directors! We're seeking up to 2 new board members in the following categories:

♦️ Commissioners
♦️ Youth Commissioners
♦️ Commission Staff Members

Learn more & apply by June 12: https://bit.ly/4dhka4x.

Gianna Previte served as an NCCC member in the pacific region, which kickstarted her career in national service. Now, she serves as the AmeriCorps Program Manager at Volunteer Florida.

"My service experience not only reshaped the way I view the world, but it continues to impact my life on a daily basis. Serving as an AmeriCorps member created a pathway to my career where I now serve as an AmeriCorps Program Manager with Volunteer Florida, the Florida state service commission. Every day I get to share my passion for AmeriCorps with other organizations, staff, and members across the state."

Join Gianna and pursue your service-focused career by finding opportunities on the ASC Service Job Board: https://bit.ly/4069rSS