LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Former President Bill Clinton has returned to Arkansas to mark the 30th anniversary of signing the National and Community Trust Act of 1993.
This legislation established AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism, and on Thursday, hundreds gathered for a summit at the Clinton Presidential Center commemorating the legacy of the group.
Since AmeriCorps was created, 1.25 million Americans have served, and this year alone there have been more than 2,500 AmeriCorps members and senior volunteers across Arkansas.
“I was first exposed to AmeriCorps and specifically City Year back in 2003-2004 when I was a senior in high school," said Derrick Rainey, previous AmeriCorps member and current mayor of Wrightsville.
Whether it's through education, emergency response and resiliency in the face of natural disasters, or even serving seniors, all efforts through AmeriCorps emphasize building community.
“I did a project at my elementary school, my middle school, my high school, and then actually serving as mayor of Wrightsville, my last project of City Year when I was a core member was at the city of Wrightsville," Rainey described. "Being able to go back to those places and to do a project, it may be one day, but it's a day that you remember, it's a day that you think about those who invested in you.”
Under the AmeriCorps umbrella, there are different programs and sites across the United States, such as City Year and VISTA
VISTA is a program that Arkansas State Representative Denise Ennett said she is proud to have participated in.
“I was charged with doing the after-school program in College Station. It's full circle for me because College Station is in my legislative district," Ennett said.
She added that the memories of the work she put in years ago still put a smile on her face today.
“That experience I had with AmeriCorps back in the late 90s laid the foundation for what I'm doing now. So building consensus with the community, reaching out to the school, the parents, business owners, all those things helped me now," Ennett explained.
Since 1994, AmeriCorps members have earned more than $4.25 billion in Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards for college or student loans. Arkansan members have earned $36.7 million of that in scholarships through their service.
AmeriCorps helps thousands grow and go, and those members never forget the ones who invested in them first.
“I want to pay homage to a mentor of mine, the late Bruce Moore, who was a longtime board member of City Year, an advocate for AmeriCorps and everything that's happening here in Little Rock. He was one of the reasons why I actually continued on in public service," Rainey said.
Rainey will also speak at the summit and he hopes through his speech those in attendance will take away the lasting impact AmeriCorps has had on his life.
“They knew us as the red jackets and that meant something. It wasn't about me as an individual, specifically doing a job, but it was about a collective group of people making a difference," he added.
If you are interested in learning more, connect here with Engage Arkansas, the state agency that supports all AmeriCorps state programs.