If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that people need other people. Membership in community helps us see our stake in our neighbors’ dreams and struggles, as well as our own. It deepens our understanding of others. We could use that in America right now. And that healing can begin with a robust investment in national service.
The American Rescue Plan, signed into law by President Biden this month, includes $1 billion for national service, the largest amount in decades. This funding will help provide living wages to young Americans and create additional positions that are accessible to Americans regardless of their financial means. Now we need to find the best ways to put that money to work in communities. And no one knows how to do that better than local leaders who are on the ground. That’s why everyone from the leaders in the statehouse to those in the schoolhouse should be at the forefront of deciding where to direct national service resources.
As a former governor, I know this firsthand. When I was in office, we wanted to find a way to unite the 351 cities and towns across the commonwealth. We decided to bring together eighth graders for a year of service. Project 351 was born, and in the decade since, nearly 4,000 youth have helped nearly one million people — and formed a strong bond among themselves and with the communities they served. When young people have the opportunity to work together, perceived differences take a back seat. We need to give more states and localities this chance.
National service has the potential to heal communities across America. And ensuring those opportunities are equitable is essential to building a stronger, more tolerant, more understanding national identity as we heal from a year of unprecedented challenges.
Religious, regional and racial differences have always been a part of the American equation. But in recent years those differences have inflamed into divisions. Social media amplifies the outrage, encouraging us to choose sides. More and more Americans are losing the ability to relate to one another, or have lost interest in doing so, jeopardizing the best hope on earth for a successful democracy.
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